Whiter Than Snow - by Sandra Dallas (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Prayers for Sale comes a powerful novel about the intersection of redemption, forgiveness, and love. . . .

On a spring afternoon in 1920, Swandyke--a small town near Colorado's Tenmile Range--is changed forever. Just moments after four o'clock, a large split of snow separates from Jubilee Mountain high above the tiny hamlet and hurtles down the rocky slope, enveloping everything in its path.

Meet the residents whose lives this tragedy touches: Lucy and Dolly Patch, two sisters long estranged by a shocking betrayal. Joe Cobb, Swandyke's only black resident, whose love for his daughter forces him to flee Alabama. Then there's Grace Foote, who hides secrets and scandal that belie her genteel façade. And Minder Evans, a Civil War veteran who considers cowardice his greatest sin. Finally, there's Essie Snowball, born Esther Schnable to conservative Jewish parents, who now works as a prostitute and hides her child's parentage from the world.

Fate, chance, and perhaps divine providence all collide in the everyday lives of these people. And ultimately, no one is without sin, no one's soul is whiter than snow, and no one is without the need for forgiveness.

A quintessential American voice and a writer of exquisite historical detail, Sandra Dallas illuminates the resilience of the human spirit in her newest novel.

Review Quotes

"[Dallas'] sense of time and place is pitch perfect and her affection for her characters infectious." --Kirkus Reviews

"Dallas' ... latest truly leaves a mark on readers' souls. Using her hallmark clean, clear prose, Dallas portrays the gamut of emotions her characters experience and delivers a quietly eloquent and powerful story about how a town reacts to a devastating tragedy. This is a book that resonates with those who want to be touched." --RT Book Reviews

"Like Dallas' "Prayers for Sale," "Whiter Than Snow" is a fast and engrossing novel that will capture readers' hearts from the first few pages." --Deseret News

"In the capable hands of Sandra Dallas, readers are treated to a race-against-the-clock adventure tale as well as an intricate history of the early 20th century in the still slightly untamed west. Fans of Dallas's earlier novels, like PRAYERS FOR SALE and TALLGRASS, will not be disappointed with this exhilarating tale of rescue and redemption." --Bookreporter.com

"I love how Dallas uses smaller stories to get to the meat of the story, and how she takes time developing the characters so readers are emotionally connected to them by the final chapter. As long as Dallas continues to write fabulous novels in her unique way, I will look forward to reading and writing about them." --Craig Daily Press

"This is a heartwarming story about forgiveness and the kindness of strangers." --BookLoons.com

"If you've ever read a Sandra Dallas novel, then you already know that she is just a fantastic storyteller. She has the unique ability to capture the essence of a place and time period, but she also creates wonderful as well as memorable characters.... I thought this book was a wonderful story with so many powerful messages. I highly recommend it!" --Booking Mama

About the Author

Award-winning author Sandra Dallas was dubbed "a quintessential American voice" by Jane Smiley, in Vogue Magazine. She is the author of The Bride's House, Prayers for Sale and Tallgrass, among others. Her novels have been translated into a dozen languages and optioned for films. She is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award and the two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award. For 25 years, Dallas worked as a reporter covering the Rocky Mountain region for Business Week, and started writing fiction in 1990. She lives with her husband in Denver, Colorado.