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About this item
Highlights
- Secrets are like pennies.
- About the Author: Katie Powner is an award-winning author who lives in rural Montana, where cows still outnumber people.
- 352 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Christian
Description
About the Book
Widower Mitch Jensen is at a loss for how to handle his mother's odd, forgetful behaviors, as well as his daughter's sudden return home and unexpected life choices. Little does he know Grandma June has long been keeping a secret about her past--but if she doesn't tell the truth about it, someone she loves will suffer, and the lives of three generations will never be the same.Book Synopsis
Secrets are like pennies. Everybody's got one, even the poorest among us.For generations, the Jensens have raised their families in the small Montana town of Moose Creek, where gossip spreads faster than the wind. Yet some secrets need to be told.
When twenty-one-year-old Bea discovers she's pregnant on the heels of her husband losing his job, she's forced to admit she needs help and asks her dad for a place to stay. But past resentments keep her from telling him all that's going on.
Mitch Jensen is thrilled to have a full house again, though he's unimpressed with Bea's decisions: dropping out of college, marrying so young--and to an idealistic city kid, of all things. Mitch hopes to convince Bea to return to the path he's always envisioned for her, but she's changed since her mom died. And he refuses to admit how much he's changed, too, especially now that he might be losing his mother as well.
Grandma June is good at spinning stories, but there's one she's never told. Now that her mind is starting to fade, her time to tell it is running out. But if she reveals the truth before her memories are gone forever, the Jensen family will never be the same.
"Powner will be the next big star in Christian fiction."--Library Journal starred review
From the Back Cover
Secrets are like pennies. Everybody's got one, even the poorest among us.For generations, the Jensens have raised their families in the small Montana town of Moose Creek, where gossip spreads faster than the wind. Yet some secrets need to be told.
When twenty-one-year-old Bea discovers she's pregnant on the heels of her husband losing his job, she's forced to admit she needs help and asks her dad for a place to stay. But past resentments keep her from telling him all that's going on.
Mitch Jensen is thrilled to have a full house again, though he's unimpressed with Bea's decisions: dropping out of college, marrying so young--and to an idealistic city kid, of all things. Mitch hopes to convince Bea to return to the path he's always envisioned for her, but she's changed since her mom died. And he refuses to admit how much he's changed, too, especially now that he might be losing his mother as well.
Grandma June is good at spinning stories, but there's one she's never told. Now that her mind is starting to fade, her time to tell it is running out. But if she reveals the truth before her memories are gone forever, the Jensen family will never be the same.
"Powner will be the next big star in Christian fiction."--Library Journal starred review
"Powner delivers a powerful sophomore novel in which helping hands and faithful prayers are flickers of light that pierce the darkness of suffering. Fans of thoughtful contemporary fiction such as Susie Finkbeiner's Stories That Bind Us and Cynthia Ruchti's Facing the Dawn will want to add Powner to their lists."--Library Journal
About the Author
Katie Powner is an award-winning author who lives in rural Montana, where cows still outnumber people. She is a two-time OCW Cascade Award and ACFW First Impressions Award winner. Katie is a biological and adoptive mother of three and foster mother to many more. Visit www.katiepowner.com to learn more.Dimensions (Overall): 8.43 Inches (H) x 5.51 Inches (W) x 1.02 Inches (D)
Weight: .7 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Christian
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Format: Paperback
Author: Katie Powner
Language: English
Street Date: October 5, 2021
TCIN: 82627488
UPC: 9780764238314
Item Number (DPCI): 247-28-8722
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.02 inches length x 5.51 inches width x 8.43 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.7 pounds
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5 out of 5 stars with 6 ratings
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4.4 out of 5 stars with 7 reviews
100% would recommend
3 recommendations
Katie Powner writes real life & real challenges
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
PhyllisR - 3 years ago
This is a story that explores the insecurities of embarking into uncharted territory. For Bea, motherhood. For June, the possibility of dementia. Katie Powner takes us on a journey through everyday life in a small Montana town. One from which Bea meant to leave for good at the prompting of her father and school teachers. One from which her school friend could not escape. Back to the familiar. Back to the memories of the loss of her mom. Back to her Grandma June. Who has unexpectedly changed. Not so familiar. She keeps looking for something. Something from the past. A slow paced, layered, emotional story about real people with real hurts trying to finally push forward. I have this book in ebook and audiobook. I have just broken into audiobooks and enjoyed Christina Moore’s narration of these characters. She had a unique way of setting each character apart with audible nuisances and distinct voice inflections. She also reads with exceptional clarity, pausing slightly to define scene breaks and announcements of a new chapter. I found that 1.4x was the perfect speed for listening to this audiobook. I am sure I would enjoy other books with her as the narrator. This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this audiobook in a giveaway by the author free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.
Small Town America Springs to Life!
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Rebecca Maney - 3 years ago
4.5 stars "Secrets are like pennies. Everybody's got one, even the poorest among us. Some are new and shiny, and some are tarnished and worn smooth by age." Coming back to the small town of Moose Creek, Montana, barely past newlywed status wasn't in Bea Michael's playbook; her husband Jeremy's job in California had suddenly dried up, and they were expecting an addition to their family. Leaving home in the first place had been tough; her mother had just died, her father's grief had been suffocating, and heading miles away to an east coast college had seemed like the next best step. Now, she and Jeremy just needed a place to stay while her husband rebuilt his career. Three months. That was the plan. After all, wasn't it her grandmother June who was always saying, "Today was more important than yesterday . . ". Of course her father Mitch was skeptical about her big city husband's ability to be useful in the wilds of Montana, sniping about their little car, bringing along a house cat, not knowing how to dress for a football game, . . .. but it was Bea's grandmother who was causing the most uproar . . . something was definitely wrong, especially after she baked an over abundance of practically raw apple pies. It seemed like the local legend of Miner McGee was the only thing that could bring June Jensen back into focus. A small "flicker of light". Small town America springs to life under the watchful eye of this particular writer, whose witty, winsome perspective digs carefully under layers of generations in order to find precious diamonds of truth. Life as it was, or life as it should be . . . .maybe even life as we want it to be. . . . or perhaps, just accepting life as it is. This story is a treasure chest of the past, present and future! ". . . . the words she hadn't been able to get out of her mind. 'I need you to choose me'."
A Christian tale!
4 out of 5 stars
- 3 years ago
A Flicker of Light contains good writing and realistic characters. I did find the pacing to be slow as we follow the characters as they go about their day to day lives of the characters (Mitch, June, Rand, Bea, Jeremy, and the cat, Steve). I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the Montana mountains and Moose Creek. It sounds like a beautiful area. Each member of the family is having a problem. Mitch lost his wife to cancer two years prior and misses her every single day. June, Bea’s grandmother, is having memory issues. Bea and Jeremy are having a rough time. Jeremy lost his job, their apartment is in terrible condition, and Bea is pregnant. They need a place to live until Jeremy can decide about the business he wishes to begin. I thought the situations were realistic. Life is full of ups and downs. You just need to have hope and faith. Mitch is lucky to have a generous church family, though, he has yet to realize it. I was never able to get into A Flicker of Light. The story moves along slowly as we follow the characters as they go about their daily lives. There is no action, and I found it to be a depressing story. The ending is nice, but it seemed to take forever to get there. I suggest you obtain a sample to see if A Flicker of Light is the right fit for you. A Flicker of Light is a Christian tale about healing, regret, letting go, faith, forgiveness, hope, community, and family.
Poignant Family Drama
5 out of 5 stars
Lucy Reynolds - 4 years ago
Ms. Powner delivers another poignant novel that is slow and steady like the mountain characters portrayed. It delivers a powerful punch that has you needing tissues as a family deals with navigating life after the loss of a loved one to face more life altering changes. Family is precious and we need to hold on to the moments as one day they can be wiped out by the devastating news of Alzheimer’s. I loved the family dynamics and how they find their way and how faith leads the way. I loved the community feel and how they rallied around to help when needed. So many good things in the book that I don’t want to divulge as I don’t want to spoil it but the writing keeps you spellbound in the story and Miner McGee reminds me of Gods light that shines even on the darkest days if we just look for it. Another must read by an author I enjoy tremendously. I won this book. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Well Written
4 out of 5 stars
ChritianFictionandMore - 4 years ago
Each generation of the Jensen family is facing its own set of challenges in this contemporary fiction novel. Two years after losing his wife to cancer, Mitch Jensen continues to struggle with his grief. His daughter, Beatrice, finds out she is expecting not long after her husband loses his job, and they decide that they will have to temporarily move from Santa Clara, California to Moose Creek, Montana to live with him. His mother has become more and more forgetful, and his once stalwart father more and more worried about her. The family faces these significant challenges, not to mention all of the cares and concerns that come to pass in the day to day of life. Through it all the Jensen's learn more about themselves and the importance of family and community, and readers learn right along with them. At first I didn't think this book was going to be my cup of tea, mainly because I typically avoid books where cancer is a pat of the story. I was glad that I continued to read on though because this book did take hold of me, especially Mitch's mother's story. I found the characters to be realistic, the emotions raw, and the dialogue authentic. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of A Flicker of Light from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Poignant story of family
5 out of 5 stars
- 4 years ago
A Flicker of Light is a powerfully captivating story of family, a family in the throes of several struggles. A grief-stricken father who "hadn't smiled much in the past two years", a daughter and her husband, pregnant and jobless, a grandmother whose mind is fading and yet has a desperate need to find something, or is it, someone? Such a poignant story of this family as they navigate these crises trying to move forward. Katie Powner in her second novel has created situations and characters that are so real and relatable. The author has given the readers access to the characters' innermost thoughts and actions and in doing so, endeared the characters to them. There are song lyric references throughout the book which reminded me of how strongly music can touch the spirit whether we are in easy times or in difficult times of our lives. This is a story of the power of love and acceptance and the process of learning to let go. The past has such a hold and yet "today was more important than yesterday after all." And as we all know...nothing can stay the same forever. Readers who enjoy heartwarming stories of families as they navigate the changes in their lives will definitely want to read A Flicker of Light. I read a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
Heartfelt Read
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Thoughtsofareader - 4 years ago
This is my first book that I have read by Katie Powner and the second book she has had published. I first wanted to read this book because the blurb for the book grabbed my attention. I just had a feeling this book was going to be a good one and I was not wrong. While reading this book, I feel as if I know these people personally. One of the characters has dementia and I have had a couple of family members with this disease so I could really relate to this experience from her family’s perspective. Even though none of the characters go from childhood to adulthood in this book it still feels somewhat like a coming of age story to me. I recommend this book to anyone. Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in order to give an honest review.