Where Heaven Meets Cheyenne

by Charles MacDuff Westerman

Where Heaven Meets Cheyenne tells the story of four middle-class American families and how their unlikely fates intertwined. This narrative unfolds through the varying perspectives of five main characters, touching upon timeless themes such as the nature of God, perception versus reality, and finding grace in the midst of hardship.

As Luke Bainbridge nears forty, everything is going as planned. He loves his work as a cattle rancher on the gusty plains of Chugwater, Wyoming, as well as his wife and their two young daughters. However, his world is shaken when his wife finds a lump in her left breast, leading Luke to question the goodness of life as they struggle for hers.

Forty-five miles south in Cheyenne, Diana faces similar questions when her husband, Chuck Westerman, a Dartmouth graduate and ordained minister, is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Where Heaven Meets Cheyenne contrasts the brokenness of living with its hope in the beauty of it. The humanity and originality of its characters will have readers laughing with them on one page and welling up the next.

216 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2024

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an emotional read this was! Reading this 'brought back' so many people I love and added so much to their stories, and also added pieces that I didn't know. I loved the telling of the three different stories and how they were all brought together.

[Gretchen Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel left me craving more books by Charles Westerman.
It reflects a true wordsmith who gently draws out the heart while he delves into theological and medical challenges. The plot revolves around the journey of two couples as they lose their spouses to cancer. A rancher and a pastor’s wife wrestle with grief as cancer consumes their spouses. Additionally, both must deal with their young children’s pain.
As I was drawn into each character’s personality, Westerman doesn’t allow his characters to lean into soft platitudes and cliches. He combines their pain with the struggle of hope. He doesn’t try to answer the question of why there is suffering, but Westerman infuses his characters with a battered faith in God who is stronger than death.
Inspired by a true story, Where Heaven Meets Cheyenne cuts through life’s meaningless fluff. It is a book of courage and beauty that can rise from ashes.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew the author in college and wanted to check out his book. This story tracks his family history and is hopeful, poignant, sad, and reflective. It is well written and honest. Recommend!

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Charlie Westerman’s debut novel. I know his family, and I already knew the basics of the family story, but there was a lot that I didn’t know, too. I was delighted when I realized that this book relates the family’s unusual history. It’s a remarkable story about some brave salt-of-the-earth Wyoming people in some of the most trying times of their lives, how they handled it, and what happened next.

The author calls this “autobiographical fiction.” I don’t know how much is autobiographical and how much is fiction, but knowing the basics of the true story, I’m inclined to think that this book tells it just the way it happened, with the author imagining the conversations and details as needed, and changing some names. Liking the real people this book is based on as much as I do – really, I think they’re some of the best people that I’ve ever met – I’m so grateful to learn more about them.

The About the Author section at the back of the book concludes saying the author “. . . just might even be married by the time this book finally comes out.” Spoiler alert: His dream came true! Charlie married a wonderful young woman named Whitney, a beloved addition to the extended family, and they now have a baby. It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

And thanks for that beautiful cover. It sure does bring back to my heart the horse and rider up on the bluff south of Chugwater . . . and how I felt, the first time I finally got back to Cheyenne.

[Beth Enderle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done, Charles MacDuff Western! I must admit, I have a personal tie to this story, as I knew and first met the characters, Chuck and Diana, in 1981 when working at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. (Also visited them in Cabrini-Green, went to Chuck's service in Cheyenne in 1991, and have since gotten to meet up with Diana, where I briefly met Luke.) Charlie, you are a talented wordsmith, which comes across on every page, from beginning to end. I also love the cover art, and couldn't help but wonder whether it represents Chuck, Luke, you or either of your brothers - maybe it's all of you? I found myself moved to tears, laughing out loud (I heard Chuck and Diana's voices so clearly throughout much of the dialogue) and then hopeful because of those stars in the sky, being reminded that there is a heaven, where Chuck and the souls of so many others live on. Thanks for sharing, Charlie - write on!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunningly beautiful, beautifully-written, and heartrending book. It’s perfect for fans of thoughtful books with Christian characters who still seek God through painful times (e.g., Peace Like a River by Leif Enger or Gilead by Marilynne Robinson). The characters aren’t strait-laced - there’s swearing, sexual comments, and crying out to God in despair and anger - but it’s real and raw and human. There is hope and love still in the struggle. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.

[Morgan Drouin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this book, and was surprised at how much I throughly enjoyed it. I am not a devout Christian, so this is not normally a book I would gravitate towards.

Charles does a fantastic job of timely character development. After just a few pages of reading, I already felt upset at finding out news about a character (don’t worry, no spoilers here), and Charles continued to do a great job expanding on these characters throughout the book.

Some characters were witty, others were cheesy, and all held a special spot in the reader’s heart. Recommend.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Westerman beautifully intertwines together multiple perspectives and storylines in this book. This book was hard to put down and brought me to tears more than once. Highly recommend!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles MacDuff took on a big challenge with this story, tackling complex themes many avoid. It was an overall 3.5 stars for me.

It’s clear there is immense potential! The author’s talent shines through, and I deeply connected with their exploration of grief and meaning. Because of my background as an ABC (Adult Bereaved in Childhood), I really liked the moral of this book.

I absolutely loved the themes. This author was great at using analogies. I particularly like the barn being “like a sturdy cowboy who softens in his old age.” There were lots of these that made me smile or feel inner satisfaction.

I liked the ending as it revealed the depth the author felt writing it. It cut open the vein and revealed what I felt had been beating around on the inside of these pages all along– his preoccupation with the human soul and the meaning of life.

There were a few areas for growth, including some overly detailed character backgrounds and moments where the writing felt a bit heavy-handed, slowing the pace down. With some refinement, I’m confident the author will continue to develop their style and connect even more deeply with readers.

The author’s passion and potential shine through, and while there’s room for growth, I’m confident they’ll continue crafting powerful stories. The themes in Where Heaven Meets Cheyenne are important, and the bravery in tackling them is commendable. The cover and title are 10/10.

As this book is, I'd say it's ideal for Christians, people interested in exploring theology, the afterlife and American audiences.