Time Is a River - (Indie Next Pick) by Mary Alice Monroe (Paperback)

About the Book

Mia Landon travels to a mountain sanctuary near Asheville, North Carolina, while she begins her recovery from breast cancer. There, she discovers the long lost journal of a well-known fly-fisherwoman from the 1920s--an account which draws her back into the world around her.

Book Synopsis

"Every book that Mary Alice Monroe has written has felt like a homecoming to me." --Pat Conroy, bestselling author of The Prince of Tides

With the warmth of the South and the insight of a seasoned storyteller, Mary Alice Monroe delivers a moving tale of healing, friendship, and the powerful bonds that tie us to each other and the natural world.

Recovering from breast cancer and reeling from her husband's infidelity, Mia Landan flees her Charleston home for the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, and takes refuge in a neglected cabin recently inherited by her fly-fishing instructor, Belle Carson.

The cabin once belonged to Belle's grandmother--the legendary fly fisher and journalist of the 1920s, Kate Watkins, whose life fell into ruins after she was accused of murdering her lover, a scandal that plagued Belle's family for generations. But Mia is compelled to find out more about Kate...especially when she discovers Kate's journal.

The inspiring words of the remarkable woman echo across the years. Mia has been finding new strength and profound challenges in fly-fishing, and Kate's wise words comparing life to a river resonate deeply. As she separates the truth from the lies behind Kate's fall from grace, Mia feels a strange kinship with Kate, who suffered fears, betrayal, and heartwrenching loss--yet found strength, compassion and, ultimately, forgiveness. A story timeless in its appeal emerges, with a power that brings a transforming healing for Mia, for Kate's descendants, and for all those in Mia's new community.

Review Quotes

"[An] exquisite, many-layered novel." -- Booklist

About the Author

Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-seven books, including the bestselling The Beach House series. Monroe also writes children's picture books, and a middle grade fiction series called The Islanders. She is a member of the South Carolina Academy of Authors' Hall of Fame, and her books have received numerous awards, including the South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing; the South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; the SW Florida Author of Distinction Award; the RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction; the Henry Bergh Children's Book Award; and her novel, A Lowcountry Christmas, won the prestigious Southern Prize for Fiction. The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, starring Andie MacDowell. Several of her novels have been optioned for film. She is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction. Monroe is also an active conservationist and serves on several boards. She lives on the South Carolina coast, which is a source of inspiration for many of her books.