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Of Metal and Earth
Seven ordinary lives are changed by their extraordinary relationships with a little green Jeep in Of Metal and Earth, a tale of restoration and redemption.
James survives a fierce Vietnam battle by hiding beneath his Jeep. He loses his friends and returns home alone, surviving the town's pity by hiding in the bar. Emotionally scarred, he only finds the determination to lift himself up when he realizes what remains to be lost. He buys a little green Jeep, like the one that gave him shelter in the war, and hopes it will lead to salvation again. But the fortune it brings tarnishes, and James is left to sacrifice the thing that gave him hope for the people who need him most.
Over the next thirty years, the Jeep changes hands, passing between friends, family, strangers, and lovers. A single mother who buys a car for her reckless son nearly destroys a friendship with a man who silently loved her for two decades. An insecure youth at the start of his career learns that the most important lessons are the ones you never set out to learn. A family torn apart by their differences finds that love can be the hardest road to take. And a city architect must choose between the easy way to restoration or a difficult path that could save more than a rusty old Jeep.
Readers of Mitch Albom, Nicholas Sparks, Jeep owners everywhere, and viewers of This is Us will enjoy this heart-warming tale of restoration and redemption, a must read book for anyone inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit.
Winner of the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel. Finalist in the 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards in the category of Literary / General Fiction!
"I am sitting here trying to find the words to convey what an absolutely incredible novel this is...The writing was flawless...I can't think of a specific audience that would enjoy this novel, it is simply a must-read for everyone." - Dandelions Inspired
James survives a fierce Vietnam battle by hiding beneath his Jeep. He loses his friends and returns home alone, surviving the town's pity by hiding in the bar. Emotionally scarred, he only finds the determination to lift himself up when he realizes what remains to be lost. He buys a little green Jeep, like the one that gave him shelter in the war, and hopes it will lead to salvation again. But the fortune it brings tarnishes, and James is left to sacrifice the thing that gave him hope for the people who need him most.
Over the next thirty years, the Jeep changes hands, passing between friends, family, strangers, and lovers. A single mother who buys a car for her reckless son nearly destroys a friendship with a man who silently loved her for two decades. An insecure youth at the start of his career learns that the most important lessons are the ones you never set out to learn. A family torn apart by their differences finds that love can be the hardest road to take. And a city architect must choose between the easy way to restoration or a difficult path that could save more than a rusty old Jeep.
Readers of Mitch Albom, Nicholas Sparks, Jeep owners everywhere, and viewers of This is Us will enjoy this heart-warming tale of restoration and redemption, a must read book for anyone inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit.
Winner of the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel. Finalist in the 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards in the category of Literary / General Fiction!
"I am sitting here trying to find the words to convey what an absolutely incredible novel this is...The writing was flawless...I can't think of a specific audience that would enjoy this novel, it is simply a must-read for everyone." - Dandelions Inspired
- GenresFiction
305 pages, Paperback
First published July 18, 2019
85 people are currently reading
2130 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer M. Lane
12 books44 followersA Maryland native and Pennsylvanian at heart, Jennifer M. Lane holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Barton College and a master's in liberal arts with a focus on museum studies from the University of Delaware, where she wrote her thesis on the material culture of roadside memorials. Her interest in writing historical fiction is rooted in her research of historic house museum residents and building interpretive plans. She is a member of the Authors Guild and the Historical Novel Society.
Lane's debut book, Of Metal and Earth, won the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel and was a finalist in the 2018 IAN awards for General / Literary fiction.
She is also the author of Stick Figures from Rockport; the six-book series of The Collected Stories of Ramsbolt; Downriver and Upstream, the Poison River Duology; and the upcoming Tinker, an alternate historical romance.
Lane's debut book, Of Metal and Earth, won the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel and was a finalist in the 2018 IAN awards for General / Literary fiction.
She is also the author of Stick Figures from Rockport; the six-book series of The Collected Stories of Ramsbolt; Downriver and Upstream, the Poison River Duology; and the upcoming Tinker, an alternate historical romance.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 22, 2018
I was lucky enough to read this during a beta swap, and was wowed by the novel! (I did not receive any compensation for this read, and believe me, I don't enjoy every beta swap nearly this much.)
I don't read a lot of litfic anymore but this was a gorgeous, heartfelt novel with a really unusual structure. Maybe I should get back into the genre! The writing is stunning, too, and that always matters to me (as a reader).
Trying to avoid spoilers so--the story follows a chain of people as James' Jeep passes from person to person, connecting their interweaving stories which they each document in a black binder (that also keeps the Jeep's records) before passing on to the next owner. The story follows the threads that connect us as individuals--because we are always more tightly bound than we realise--and plays out the ways in which redemption manifests for different people.
I don't read a lot of litfic anymore but this was a gorgeous, heartfelt novel with a really unusual structure. Maybe I should get back into the genre! The writing is stunning, too, and that always matters to me (as a reader).
Trying to avoid spoilers so--the story follows a chain of people as James' Jeep passes from person to person, connecting their interweaving stories which they each document in a black binder (that also keeps the Jeep's records) before passing on to the next owner. The story follows the threads that connect us as individuals--because we are always more tightly bound than we realise--and plays out the ways in which redemption manifests for different people.
July 21, 2018
I was lucky enough to get to beta-read this book.
It's an awesome story with a twist that makes you curse at the brilliance of it.
Also, it will make you want to drink bourbon.
It's an awesome story with a twist that makes you curse at the brilliance of it.
Also, it will make you want to drink bourbon.
August 29, 2018
This is about the history of a jeep, a notebook follows all the owners for years.....all the owners have their own stories
January 10, 2019
This novel begins in 1964 when James is returning to his small hometown from Vietnam. Broken and guilt-ridden of being the only one of his friends that made it back from the war, James attempts to rebuild his life and eventually buys a little green Jeep. This Jeep serves as a sign of hope and starting over and is loved and cared for by James for many years until, unfortunately, circumstances require that he sell it. Over the years James has to learn to work on and take care of his Jeep and started recording maintenance and important information in a notebook, even adding in some narratives and photos. When James sells the Jeep, he gives the new owner the notebook, complete with the original bill of sale and the pen James used to sign it, and asks that he also update the notebook and keep it with the Jeep. Thus begins a series of stories about the Jeep and its owners that is an honest, moving, and beautifully written novel about joy, regrets, losses, and finding hope again.
I am typically a very fast reader and fly through books, but this one I read over several days. The writing was flawless and flowed well, so it wasn’t a challenging read. I think I just wanted to take my time to really embrace the characters and the stories. The book is divided into parts or chapters each time the Jeep changed ownership and I found myself wanting to set the book down and think about each part I had just finished, before moving forward in time and meeting the next owner.
Lane’s characterization was outstanding, completely bringing to life each of the characters so that I felt as if I could see and hear them myself. From the beginning with James until the last story about Alex and Kate, each character and the challenge(s) in their life was unique, important, and involved some sort of change whether physically, emotionally, family-related, career-related, and so on. Even the Jeep seemed to have a life of its own, and like a person or a family, it went through ups and downs, was treated differently, and was loved differently depending on the owner. However, regardless of which owner it was, the Jeep served its purpose and impacted their lives.
Of Metal and Earth invoked emotions ranging from laughter, to tears, to frustration, to happiness. The stories of these characters and their Jeep will stay with me long after this and this is a novel that numerous people will be receiving from me as gifts this year. I can’t think of a specific audience that would enjoy this novel, it is simply a must-read for everyone. I know without a doubt that all readers will identify with one or more of the characters, and as far as the other characters, there are wonderful lessons to be learned. Bravo to the wonderfully talented Jennifer M. Lane for creating such a touching novel that I will not ever forget.
I am typically a very fast reader and fly through books, but this one I read over several days. The writing was flawless and flowed well, so it wasn’t a challenging read. I think I just wanted to take my time to really embrace the characters and the stories. The book is divided into parts or chapters each time the Jeep changed ownership and I found myself wanting to set the book down and think about each part I had just finished, before moving forward in time and meeting the next owner.
Lane’s characterization was outstanding, completely bringing to life each of the characters so that I felt as if I could see and hear them myself. From the beginning with James until the last story about Alex and Kate, each character and the challenge(s) in their life was unique, important, and involved some sort of change whether physically, emotionally, family-related, career-related, and so on. Even the Jeep seemed to have a life of its own, and like a person or a family, it went through ups and downs, was treated differently, and was loved differently depending on the owner. However, regardless of which owner it was, the Jeep served its purpose and impacted their lives.
Of Metal and Earth invoked emotions ranging from laughter, to tears, to frustration, to happiness. The stories of these characters and their Jeep will stay with me long after this and this is a novel that numerous people will be receiving from me as gifts this year. I can’t think of a specific audience that would enjoy this novel, it is simply a must-read for everyone. I know without a doubt that all readers will identify with one or more of the characters, and as far as the other characters, there are wonderful lessons to be learned. Bravo to the wonderfully talented Jennifer M. Lane for creating such a touching novel that I will not ever forget.
February 18, 2019
If you’ve ever loved a car – or if you’ve ever driven a car whose battered condition was an allegory for your life – you’ll find something to love in this book. What I loved most is something we rarely see in contemporary literature: A glimpse into the unglamorous but full lives of people who live along the state highways of small-town America.
I loved this book for the smell of oil and old tires. The standard story of a young man yearning to move into white-collar America – juxtaposed with a story about a young man who finds that college is not the right choice.
In reading the book, which tracks 40 years of the life of a ’64 CJ-5, you feel like an eavesdropper at the kitchen tables of people who struggle. Along the way, you can inhale, along with the earthy loam and the car exhaust, some wonderful insights.
It opens with the story of James, the Jeep’s first owner, who is the lone son among seven friends from Elk River to have returned from Vietnam. Here’s a beautiful line as he opens up to his future wife: “I do get lonely. Something funny happens, and I want to tell you. I read a good book and want to give it to you. . . . Before you, I never looked forward at all.”
Later, about 30 years later into the life of the Jeep, there’s this wonderful, compact summary of the truth behind the Jeep’s new home: “When the veins of coal were bled dry, little but pride remained to support the people.”
This is the first spot, midway through, that identifies the setting as coal country. If anything, I would have loved to have gotten more of a broad sense of the region and its past glory and its eventual fall, which, in my mind, is *the* story of America right now. I wouldn’t have minded being told that we were in Pennsylvania or Ohio or West Virginia, just to get a better fix on the region and its history.
I was connected enough to these characters to have wanted to see, feel and know more about them.
I was interested in these people, every single one. As a reader, I felt, to some degree, like I was even invading their privacy. Bottom line: I don’t need a litany of crazy plot turns to keep me reading or a thesaurus of nervous tics to make these characters seem real. I’m sorely satisfied with a book that does not try to thrill me with its glibness, but that spins the tales of people who work on a car while they work on themselves.
I loved this book for the smell of oil and old tires. The standard story of a young man yearning to move into white-collar America – juxtaposed with a story about a young man who finds that college is not the right choice.
In reading the book, which tracks 40 years of the life of a ’64 CJ-5, you feel like an eavesdropper at the kitchen tables of people who struggle. Along the way, you can inhale, along with the earthy loam and the car exhaust, some wonderful insights.
It opens with the story of James, the Jeep’s first owner, who is the lone son among seven friends from Elk River to have returned from Vietnam. Here’s a beautiful line as he opens up to his future wife: “I do get lonely. Something funny happens, and I want to tell you. I read a good book and want to give it to you. . . . Before you, I never looked forward at all.”
Later, about 30 years later into the life of the Jeep, there’s this wonderful, compact summary of the truth behind the Jeep’s new home: “When the veins of coal were bled dry, little but pride remained to support the people.”
This is the first spot, midway through, that identifies the setting as coal country. If anything, I would have loved to have gotten more of a broad sense of the region and its past glory and its eventual fall, which, in my mind, is *the* story of America right now. I wouldn’t have minded being told that we were in Pennsylvania or Ohio or West Virginia, just to get a better fix on the region and its history.
I was connected enough to these characters to have wanted to see, feel and know more about them.
I was interested in these people, every single one. As a reader, I felt, to some degree, like I was even invading their privacy. Bottom line: I don’t need a litany of crazy plot turns to keep me reading or a thesaurus of nervous tics to make these characters seem real. I’m sorely satisfied with a book that does not try to thrill me with its glibness, but that spins the tales of people who work on a car while they work on themselves.
May 2, 2019
1964, 4 friends: James, Andrew, Norman, & David had volunteered to go to Quế Sơn Valley, Vietnam.
Elk River. James (Vietnam War vet) was the only 1 who came back.
Tom (bar owner), & Lily (wife) offered James a place to stay, until he got back on his feet.
1967, Tom had his own apartment & a CJ-5 Jeep.
Dr. Claire (granddaughter, vet) moved to Elk River, took over the farm & opened up her own vet clinic.
James helped her get things done/organized.
It wasn’t long & they became an item & later got married.
1974, Claire got sick, & was diagnosed with cancer.
Catherine (James/Claire’s daughter) would miss her mom.
Elmwood (Elk River). Rebecca (MS finance student) had known William “Billy” A. Norman (MS Econ student) for a long time.
The 2 of them got to know each other & she moved in with him.
They both graduated & were moving to Washington, DC.
Olivia “Liv” (mother), had bought Ben (son) William’s old Jeep.
Officer Martin (Montgomery County Sheriff’s dept) had called Mark (mechanic shop owner). Ben had been charged with; trespassing. underage drinking, & a DUI.
Mark picked Ben up & took him home in the morning.
All hell broke loose with he/Oliva.
Kate, & Alex had got the 1964, CJ-5 Jeep restored/running. Was it just a summer romance?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written family heirloom book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great family heirloom movie, or better yet a TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; BookSends; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Elk River. James (Vietnam War vet) was the only 1 who came back.
Tom (bar owner), & Lily (wife) offered James a place to stay, until he got back on his feet.
1967, Tom had his own apartment & a CJ-5 Jeep.
Dr. Claire (granddaughter, vet) moved to Elk River, took over the farm & opened up her own vet clinic.
James helped her get things done/organized.
It wasn’t long & they became an item & later got married.
1974, Claire got sick, & was diagnosed with cancer.
Catherine (James/Claire’s daughter) would miss her mom.
Elmwood (Elk River). Rebecca (MS finance student) had known William “Billy” A. Norman (MS Econ student) for a long time.
The 2 of them got to know each other & she moved in with him.
They both graduated & were moving to Washington, DC.
Olivia “Liv” (mother), had bought Ben (son) William’s old Jeep.
Officer Martin (Montgomery County Sheriff’s dept) had called Mark (mechanic shop owner). Ben had been charged with; trespassing. underage drinking, & a DUI.
Mark picked Ben up & took him home in the morning.
All hell broke loose with he/Oliva.
Kate, & Alex had got the 1964, CJ-5 Jeep restored/running. Was it just a summer romance?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written family heirloom book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great family heirloom movie, or better yet a TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; BookSends; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
January 17, 2019
Lane chose the perfect title for this novel. Metal and Earth referred to the jeep, the one constant factor in this novel. Along with the title, Lane’s cover of a jeep in the middle of nowhere gives the reader the insight of what to expect. Seeing a jeep on the cover gave me an image to picture of what the jeep looked like.
Lane’s plot to have the story start with a soldier coming home from the Vietnam War was compelling. We could really see inside his head all that he was going through from what he saw while fighting in the war. From there, we see how much his jeep meant to him once he got home and how it was an important key in the book. The whole plot is set up around the jeep and the jeep alone. It is important to remember that fact. The dialogue between the characters really brought them to life. I felt connected to them and when one of them passed away, I was full of sadness. The conversations moved the story along at just the right pace, never making you lose interest.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a different kind of book and likes a story that comes around right at the end, leaving you with an “I knew it!” moment.
Lane’s plot to have the story start with a soldier coming home from the Vietnam War was compelling. We could really see inside his head all that he was going through from what he saw while fighting in the war. From there, we see how much his jeep meant to him once he got home and how it was an important key in the book. The whole plot is set up around the jeep and the jeep alone. It is important to remember that fact. The dialogue between the characters really brought them to life. I felt connected to them and when one of them passed away, I was full of sadness. The conversations moved the story along at just the right pace, never making you lose interest.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a different kind of book and likes a story that comes around right at the end, leaving you with an “I knew it!” moment.
February 15, 2022
Seven ordinary lives are changed by their extraordinary relationships with a little green Jeep. This unique story starts with James, a young war vet who—upon arriving home—buys a little green jeep similar to the one he hid beneath to survive a fierce Vietnam battle. Over the years, the jeep changes hands and restores it’s owners as they restore it.
Of Metal and Earth is so aptly named. Reading this book is as satisfying as the smell of digging into deep dirt, and as multi-textured as rusting metal. Jennifer does an incredible job of breathing life into each character and letting us in on their personal journeys as the Jeep pushes each of them to tackle life from a different angle. This book is fresh and nostalgic at the same time. Like a restored car, take your time enjoying this read, because they just don’t make them like this anymore.
I recommend this read to anyone who has ever loved an old vehicle and for those who love searching for serendipitous connections in life. If you love a feel good story, this will stick with you.
Of Metal and Earth is so aptly named. Reading this book is as satisfying as the smell of digging into deep dirt, and as multi-textured as rusting metal. Jennifer does an incredible job of breathing life into each character and letting us in on their personal journeys as the Jeep pushes each of them to tackle life from a different angle. This book is fresh and nostalgic at the same time. Like a restored car, take your time enjoying this read, because they just don’t make them like this anymore.
I recommend this read to anyone who has ever loved an old vehicle and for those who love searching for serendipitous connections in life. If you love a feel good story, this will stick with you.
August 3, 2019
Of Metal and Earth by Jennifer M. Lane is the story of a Jeep through which people's lives, and stories, become connected. Each transfer of title is a transition into a new set of characters, and their personal experiences. A notebook accompanies the Jeep as it travels from owner to owner. In it, a collection of memories is documented and added to. Each of the stories present relationships that need fixing, much like the Jeep itself does. The various owners come together because of the Jeep, and as it gets repaired, attempts are also made to repair their connections with loved ones, or themselves.
The old vehicle is nothing particularly special, just some metal with wheels that gets people from point A to B. It endures. The people it belongs to are just as simple. They are earthy, hard-working people who face their day-to-day challenges, and endure. The Jeep is the "vehicle" with which they
connect with each other, and examine the parts that need fixing. Lovely read.
The old vehicle is nothing particularly special, just some metal with wheels that gets people from point A to B. It endures. The people it belongs to are just as simple. They are earthy, hard-working people who face their day-to-day challenges, and endure. The Jeep is the "vehicle" with which they
connect with each other, and examine the parts that need fixing. Lovely read.
September 16, 2020
This story, like the main character, the jeep, meanders through numerous owners and circumstances, helping each owner along the way, until it makes its way home.
After returning from Vietnam, a man buys a Jeep, which breaks down in front of a farm. That luck turns his life around, and as the Jeep and it’s binder of repairs and relationships travel from person to person, love abounds.
The writing is paced in such a way that it reflects the eras the Jeep passes through, from the 70’s to the 2000s. The people aren’t special or strange, but are interesting in their own way, and deserve the love they each find.
I especially loved the first and last couples, but all of them were good, the characters real and varied.
Very good read.
KU
After returning from Vietnam, a man buys a Jeep, which breaks down in front of a farm. That luck turns his life around, and as the Jeep and it’s binder of repairs and relationships travel from person to person, love abounds.
The writing is paced in such a way that it reflects the eras the Jeep passes through, from the 70’s to the 2000s. The people aren’t special or strange, but are interesting in their own way, and deserve the love they each find.
I especially loved the first and last couples, but all of them were good, the characters real and varied.
Very good read.
KU
October 2, 2018
What a beautifully written book filled with stories of love, life, grief, healing and restoration. I am generally a fast reader. I found myself wanting to read this book slower just to savor the words. Jennifer Lane does a superb job of bringing the characters to life and making the reader feel what life is like in their shoes. I would suggest this book for anyone who is a fan of the TV show "This is Us"...reminded me so much of it. Masterful storytelling that made me want to buy an old car and restore it. Well done Jennifer.
September 8, 2020
Knowing I had little in reserve, waiting for one of my go to authors to release a book I went for a mooch around what was available on KindleUnlimited, this one caught my eye.
Very enjoyable read about the lives that one touched, even altered by a little jeep. Half way through I knew how I wanted it to end, whether I got my wish, that the jeep would return "home" that's up to you to find out yourself.
Very enjoyable read about the lives that one touched, even altered by a little jeep. Half way through I knew how I wanted it to end, whether I got my wish, that the jeep would return "home" that's up to you to find out yourself.
December 29, 2024
I don't think of myself as the kind of person who reads romances, but this is definitely a love story--or, a string of love stories--and I read it. So, there you go. A man lost all of his friends in combat in Viet Nam. He returned home spirit-dead, but the purchase of a Jeep CJ-5 started a series of life-changing events for him.
The story starts with him, but it's really about the Jeep, and the lives that it touches and changes. Satisfying read.
The story starts with him, but it's really about the Jeep, and the lives that it touches and changes. Satisfying read.
December 26, 2018
Oh my goodness!. Just finished, and this is now my new favorite book.. I'm crying like a baby!. I started it then got distracted by work and finally (as a Christmas gift to myself) I took some time to finish it's. I was also suprised how easy it was to pick back up after having put it down for 3 months.
Anyway, wonderful story!
Anyway, wonderful story!
June 18, 2020
Delightful read! Well formed characters across a forty five year span. The relationships are really where this book shines. Lane has rendered them imperfect and shaggy, anxious and human, and they’re all linked together by a little Jeep, a shaggy, imperfect and lovable character itself. Definitely recommend.
August 15, 2018
I loved it. I had trouble putting it down. I would go to bed each night and intend to read a few pages, as I normally do, and put it down when I became drowsy. I ended up reading 50-70 pages each night. The general theme of the book, following a car through its owners, is a great idea and is poignant for "car people.” For those of us who have used our car as an escape, gone on drives as a refuge, bonded and made friends of other "car people" this was a touching read. The descriptive writing is impressive. I found myself smiling in appreciation at the use of language to describe moments, things, and situations. I found the characters and their lives relatable. Everyone goes through relationship tension, regrets, family tension, illness, loss and I think the expression of the emotions and reactions of the characters in those situations was realistic and relatable. I loved the Jeep's title change documents between character sections; I found the addition very touching. This book made me think of objects in my life that I share with others and objects that other people share with me, and it made me realize that this is the type of book that I will re-read again.
August 8, 2018
Pick it up, you won't be disappointed!
Wonderful! I kept waiting to be done for the day so that I could start reading again. Love James a d how the story weaves the history and people together.
Wonderful! I kept waiting to be done for the day so that I could start reading again. Love James a d how the story weaves the history and people together.
February 14, 2020
Great story!
Well written, unique story. I’m a Jeep owner times three so understand completely the allure. The characters are well rounded, and the scenes and setting drew me in. Looking for more from this author.
Well written, unique story. I’m a Jeep owner times three so understand completely the allure. The characters are well rounded, and the scenes and setting drew me in. Looking for more from this author.
October 31, 2020
A Wrench Turner’s Romance
A stoic icon in this story, never says a word, but unspools a vine that creeps through life seasons of a collage of characters, and blossoms into a surprise bouquet at the end.
A stoic icon in this story, never says a word, but unspools a vine that creeps through life seasons of a collage of characters, and blossoms into a surprise bouquet at the end.
January 26, 2023
such a good book
I love the way this book brings the jeep to life. I love the way it teaches us we can learn to love again, it isn’t always something romantic that brings two people together. And it embodies the love a human can have for their Jeep
I love the way this book brings the jeep to life. I love the way it teaches us we can learn to love again, it isn’t always something romantic that brings two people together. And it embodies the love a human can have for their Jeep
April 25, 2024
I just loved this book. Original idea. It’s a collection of short stories that weave into each other. Like other short stories the character development and details are lighter than a full book on each story. But if you can put that aside give this book a try!
August 25, 2018
A Very Good Read
I found this to be a very engaging story and also well written. I was hooked from the first pages to the last and enjoyed how the story came full circle.
I found this to be a very engaging story and also well written. I was hooked from the first pages to the last and enjoyed how the story came full circle.
September 19, 2020
Great lockdown read
Very believable storyline. Loved every moment.
Very good feel good factor to see us through a farther unhappy period of civic 19.
Very believable storyline. Loved every moment.
Very good feel good factor to see us through a farther unhappy period of civic 19.
March 14, 2021
Easy & delightful read.
Easy story that pulls you in & keeps you reading. Brought back lots of memories from my childhood with my dad's jeep.
Easy story that pulls you in & keeps you reading. Brought back lots of memories from my childhood with my dad's jeep.
December 24, 2020
Entertaining, feel-good read. Enjoyable.
September 14, 2022
This was my first read by Jennifer M. Lane, and it's such an emotional and beautiful story that still sticks with me years later. Lane's writing so effortlessly wraps you up in the lives of these characters. The little green Jeep is a unique and memorable link connecting these very different people.
Lane is an expert at conveying emotion through character quirks and little actions, and all of the sensory details - the scents of the Jeep, the condensation weeping on the outside of a beer bottle - help pull the reader into the story.
An absolutely unique and satisfying read. 💚
Lane is an expert at conveying emotion through character quirks and little actions, and all of the sensory details - the scents of the Jeep, the condensation weeping on the outside of a beer bottle - help pull the reader into the story.
An absolutely unique and satisfying read. 💚
November 10, 2019
This book was hard for me to read. The story of James and Clare was especially painful. I recommend this book to any man who cannot deal with his inner feelings, or even know what they are. This doesn't mean women won't like it or find value in it. Quite the contrary. Beautifully written. And the contrast between city and rural living is eloquently done. For me, this is a book that will go into my "Keepers" collection.
May 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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