Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy

Enchanted Rock #1

by Kris Clink

For readers of Katherine Center and Kristan Higgins, an immersive, soul-nourishing novel that dares to hold onto hope when happily-ever-after seems lost. Full of character, wit, and wisdom, Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy explores second chances and the power of connection.

Lark’s lost her husband, and the expiration date has come and gone on her fake-it-till-you-make-it “Happy Mommy Show.” Healing her broken family requires drastic measures—like returning to her hometown in the Texas Hill Country. But she’s going to need more than clean air and a pastoral landscape to rebuild a life for her and her young sons.

After years of putting off her dream of becoming a winemaker, Lark puts every cent into a failing vineyard, determined to work through her grief and make a brighter future for her children. The last thing she expects is to fall in love again. Especially not with Wyatt Gifford, an injured Army vet with a past of his own to conquer.

Coming home may not be the reset Lark imagined, but it does take her on a journey filled with humor and reconciliation—one that prepares her for a courageous comeback.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit

376 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2021

About the author

Kris Clink is the author of Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy and Sissie Klein is Completely Normal. Her novels have received praise from Bustle, Midwest Book Review, Kirkus Reviews, San Francisco Book Review, Women.com, Lone Star Literary, Brit + Co, Travel and Leisure Magazine, and Entertainment Weekly, among others. Set in middle America, her novels are laced with love, heartbreak, and just enough snark to rock the boat as relatable characters confront transformative challenges.

She’s a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association and The Author’s Guild. Before becoming a novelist, she oversaw business development in medical environments and managed an office of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Since then, her work has been published in Moms Don’t Have Time to Write on Medium, diyMFA, Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, Women Writers Women’s Books, and Accent West Magazine. She is the host of Kris Clink’s Writing Table, a podcast about books and writing where she interviews a variety of publishing professionals and authors including Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), Zibby Owens, Camille Pagán, and Laurie Frankel.

Calling Texas home for most of her life, Kris now lives in Kansas, where she and "Hubs" have filled their empty nest with two spoiled-rotten pups--a mini-doxie and a rescue who thinks he's a mini-doxie. When not writing, Kris is playing pickleball with friends, riding her bike, counting cardinals in her backyard, reading in the hammock, or searching for an open karaoke mic and an understanding audience.

Kris welcomes the opportunity to appear at your book club. Visit krisclink.com for more information.

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored Kris Clink’s debut novel, and her deeply felt story of loss, grief and hope. Home-town humor and sunny scenes of Texas wine country lift spirits, as does young widow Lark’s budding relationship with injured ex-soldier Wyatt. It’s a story of renewal I did not want to end and I bet you won’t either. And hip, hip, hurrah — there’s more to come, as this is Book #1 in Clink’s Enchanted Rock series! Perfect for fans of fiction realer than real with characters you’ll love, spiced with Hill Country wit that makes your sides split. A gem!

5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 06 Apr 2021
#GoodbyeLarkLovejoy #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, SparkPress, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved and adored this book! It took me longer than normal to read it because I was moving but I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it!

What a real, raw story with such emotion and strongly developed characters. Wyatt, I absolutely loved and fell in love with him from the first page. This book sucks you I and you become immersed in the story. This is book 1 and I can not wait for the next book, what is going to happen next?? I will be thinking about Wyatt, Lark and Jamie for a long time to come.

I will be recommending this book to everyone!

Thanks to the author, Kris Clink for my advanced readers copy!

[Alison Hammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lark Lovejoy is fierce, funny and unforgettable. Clink’s debut is a heartwarming and uplifting story that reminds us it’s never too late to go after your dreams, that age is just a number, and you can find love in unexpected places. I can’t wait to see what Kris Clink writes next!

[Bethany Crandell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this beautifully-written, thoughtful book!
Clink did a fantastic job capturing the dynamics of *real* relationships: From the joys and frustrations of parenthood and extended families, to the thrill of finding love amidst the despair of deep loss, this book was a truly wonderful read.

[Cassie | Cassie’s Next Chapter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lark Lovejoy is fierce and resilient! Kris Clink’s debut is an uplifting story about a widow and her young kids making their way through grief and starting over. Lark’s journey reminds us that there is love to be found in the most unexpected places, and there’s always time to go after your dreams. Perfect for fans of wine, Texas, family meddling, war veterans, and second chances.

Thanks to Sparkpress for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Delynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually met Kris Clink at a recent author event so I bought her debut novel to read. This book involves Lark and Wyatt. The book starts off with Lark as a recent widow with two young children who makes the hard decision to move back to her hometown with her children and start over. While back home she meets Army vet Wyatt. This book is full of hope, grief, new beginnings and second chances.

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an absolute delight to read! Lark has lost her husband, and has decided to move herself and her two boys back home to the Hill Country to rebuild a life with her sons. She is trained as an attorney but has always dreamed of being a winemaker and finds a failing vineyard that allows her to do just that. Lark assumes she can work through her grief on her own with the support of her family and friends, but here comes Wyatt Gifford, an injured Army vet that has a past he is working through as well. I mean really, we knew better.

This was a wonderful read with a perfect setting and I flew through this one. There was just enough drama for me, it was not drawn out forever, nor was it unbelievable, and Lark was a fantastic protagonist. This was a debut novel and I will definitely be reading more from Clink in the future!

This was just published, and I recommend you add it to your list! Thank you to BookSparks for the gifted copy to review.

[Krista · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was very difficult getting into this book. The first half was very boring, and despite the introductions and backstory for the main character, Lark, I wasn’t invested in her character. Most of the characters were hard to be invested in, and there were very few that I actually liked. The second half got more interesting once the male lead, Wyatt, and Lark got together. This is where the romance starts, except there wasn’t really any spark between the two of them. With little to no build up to their relationship, they just got together. Along with this, the dialogue between them was choppy and annoying at times.
There were a few aspects of the book that I liked. I did appreciate the duel perspectives of Lark and Wyatt. It was nice to see what the other was thinking. I also liked how the author explored subjects of grief and loss through Lark and Wyatt. The execution of the storyline could have been better though. I’d give this 1.5 stars.

[CR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This uplifting and inspirational read was beautiful. Another fabulous debut that I could not put down. If you need a book about acceptance and love and life. Then check this one out. I really love that authors are doing difficult topics and giving characters real flaws. It just makes the story that much better. I would love to have this one as a movie or tv show.

[Lorelei's Lit Lair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy by debuting author Kris Clink! From the first sentence I was drawn into the story, touched by Lark’s status as a youngish widow, charmed by her two adorable boys, (ages 3 and 5) and taken by Wyatt’s charisma and big heart. Wyatt is a retired soldier, suffered injuries and battles with PTSD.

Lark and Wyatt meet when trying to heal from past hurts and trauma, to chase their dreams.
Secondary characters such as friends, family, the community and even a cranky mutt named Walter Cronkite make this story mighty entertaining. There’s drama, especially in a small town like Fredericksburg, TX, as well as a dash of mystery and a splash of humor. The chemistry between Lark and Wyatt sent sparks to my belly and heart. The passion and love is palpable and dialogue honest.
I highly recommend this story to others who enjoy stories about new beginnings and second chances in life.

I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review by the publisher

[Honi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sweet story.

[James Hallmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is her first novel and I can't imagine how much work this must have taken. First, authentic dialogue is very difficult to write, and yet this book is almost entirely dialogue and it is good authentic dialogue. It flows, and feels natural. That’s tough. Second, there are so many scenarios and characteristics that create factual challenges for the author, which if portrayed inaccurately would hurt the credibility of the writing. "Kris" mastered it well. (No spoilers, but the book includes ALS, PTSD, Viniculture, prosthetics, just to name a few, and all these components weave together naturally in the story.) At the end of the day this is a love story between two deeply scarred individuals, both early in their respective recoveries. As such, it is messy. And sweet. And Kris did a good job with her first novel. Buy it and support her! Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to the next one!

[T. Rosado · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I may have only given this book an average+ rating, but I enjoyed the story and I'm excited to see where this new author goes from here. It did have a few issues for me, but overall I feel like Kris Clink is a promising author whose work I’ll definitely read in the future.

After spending the last years of her marriage as a caretaker to her ailing husband, widowed Lark moves back to her childhood home with her two young children in tow. She's temporarily living with her parents as she considers life without her husband and what her next move might be.

What I really liked:
- characterizations (main and secondary)
- strong and entertaining heroine
- sweet and sexy hero
- a lovely May/December romance (OW/YM)
- witty banter
- character growth
- story arc
- an emotional connection to the characters

The story faltered with some unnecessary details, as well as having left a few unaddressed. With the removal of some extraneous details that did nothing to advance the storyline, the rudderless elements might not have been an issue. Maybe most readers would overlook them, but I found myself asking what was the point of a couple of significant scenes when never discussed again.

The story was primarily shared through Lark's POV, but with a few chapters from Wyatt where we learned additional details about the effects of his military service. Unfortunately, I felt it only ever grazed the surface of his mental health. As a reader, I'm supposed to accept how he'd worked through his issues and was now inviting Lark into his story. I wasn't convinced by the scene with Wyatt's psychologist and how it was sprung on Lark. That whole scene didn't ring true for me. It was unprofessional and without Lark's informed consent. Aside from that misstep, I enjoyed Wyatt and Lark's romance. Although, I would have either preferred the story told solely in Lark's POV or for some equanimity in the development of Wyatt's. Overall, Lark's POV was where the story shined. It was strong and well-developed. I also found it witty and moving. Especially, in the few flashback scenes with Lark's husband. I'll admit I had an ugly-cried moment during one highly poignant recollection.

With some tightening up of extraneous details and a little extra development in a couple of areas, this easily could have been a 5-star read. As it is, I'm giving it a positive 3.5 stars with some added enthusiasm for the author's future stories. The audio presentation was wonderful and had a great effect on story immersion.

[Kandace Denys (bookish_kayy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞���𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙗 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.”

This was such a beautiful story about a woman finding her way. In the time we spent in these pages, we get witness a woman’s struggles and successes, both her turmoil and joy, in such a relatable way.

Not only do we witness Lark’s transformation, but we also get to experience life as Wyatt, which was a whole layer I was unprepared for.

This one had me both wiping my tears, as well as smiling so hard, it was almost painful.
It’s safe to say that this one gets nothing but the highest recommendation from me.

[Ruthie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this sponsored/indie review at Lone Star Literary Life.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy by Kris Clink, book one in the Enchanted Rock series, is a heartwarming and emotional tale. Lark has not had an easy past few years. She lost her husband to ALS, her “fake-it-till-you-make-it “Happy Mommy Show” is taking its toll, and she needs to figure out to heal herself and her young sons. Returning to her small hometown in the Texas Hill Country, allows her and the boys to be closer to their grandparents and a chance for Lark to make some changes in her life. After moving in to her parent’s home, re-connecting with a former best friend, and settling the boys, Larks attempts to return to the field of law. Jobs for lawyers are few and far between, and after being treated with belittlement by the male lawyers, Lark reconsiders her future. After years of putting off her dream of becoming a winemaker, Lark decides to take a job, at any level, at a vineyard. A failing vineyard she eventually purchases as a way to fulfill her dreams, work through her grief, and create a brighter future for her children. Lark never expected to find love again, but when her inquisitive sons encounter an injured Army vet, Wyatt Gifford, life will never be the same. Wyatt has his own past, injuries, demons and trauma to overcome, but Lark and her sons intrigue him, making it easy to start dreaming about a future together. Coming home might not have been the reset Lark imagined, but it does take her on a journey filled with humor, compromise, and understanding; one that prepares her for a courageous return.

Ms Clink wrote a wonderful, emotional, and intriguing story that is definitely not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with the life of a single mom, magnetic attraction, sizzling chemistry, intense emotions, and endearing characters giving Wyatt, Lark and her boys a chance at a future together. I highly recommend Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Sophia Dyer • bookishly.vintage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through Booksparks, but all opinions are my own.

Oh. My. Goodness. This book!

I know I can be emotional sometimes with books, but this had me full on crying so hard I needed tissues for the tears! I mean, this book made me cry not once but twice. But still, I had a hard time putting this one down and I absolutely loved it!!

Lark is trying her hardest and you can see the shift from grief-ridden to happy, and she isn't afraid to dream big either. Parents are parents (and we see normal difficulties with the in-laws too), and kids are doing as fine as you expect after losing their dad. Wyatt felt like a deep character too, he was fully fleshed out and clearly had his own life and concerns outside that Lark and her family. It felt like there was a lot going on in this story, but in a good way, so it never felt like the story was dragging or I was reading mundane life nobody cares about.

I think this would work very well as a Hallmark movie, and this type of book is exactly what I was searching for during the moth of February (but nothing even came close). I loved every single moment of this book and I would shout it from the rooftops if I could! I feel like I cannot even talk about it without spoilers, but I can give a tiny synopsis below.

So this story picks up a year after Lark loses her husband, and after receiving an outrageous offer on her house she picks up and moves back home to her small town. She meets a cute local guy at the store after a very weird first interaction (thanks kids!), and is reluctant to open her heart up right away. Lark struggles to find work in this town and keeps being pulled toward her dream, which continually has her bumping into the cute guy until they go on a date. They have fun, they have hardships, you think all hope is lost....then bam! Some time passes and Lark has moved on with her dreams, than an unlikely event brings the two together. They apologize and profess their love, then live happily ever after. Well.... until book two maybe (which I cannot wait for!).

Does that not sound like a hallmark movie? I am not surprised how highly this book is rated on here, it was an amazing one. I loved it, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a feel good story.

[Sue Galuska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lark Lovejoy Mead never expected to be raising her two young sons, Jamie and Charlie on her own, but after losing her husband James to Lou Gehrig's disease, Lark was at a crossroad as what to do with her life. Lark decides to sell the house and move back to Fredericksburg, TX to be closer to her parents. Just before arriving at her parents house Lark stops at the local convenience store. While they are there, her 3 year old, Charlie becomes engrossed with a young guy who has a prosthetic leg. Enter Wyatt Gifford. Fourteen months ago Wyatt lost his leg to an IED when he was in Afghanistan in the army. At twenty-seven years old, Wyatt is at a crossroad in his life too!

When Lark and Wyatt cross paths again, something starts to happen between these two. The more time Lark and Wyatt spend together, the stronger their feelings become. Can these two lost souls, both looking for direction in their lives, find the one thing they need to help make them whole again? As they navigate through this new and exciting time in their lives, Lark and Wyatt are both going to have to figure out just where they want their relationship to be and if they are willing to work to find their happy ever after but in the end they get the best ending they could ever hope for.

I enjoyed this story of second chances. I cannot imagine what Lark went through after losing James, but it was fun watching her fall in love all over again. It was interesting learning about what Wyatt had to go through losing his leg....so many parts to that I had never realized. I just adored the epilogue.....brought tears to my eyes. Overall this was and enjoyable story of finding love again.

[Janet Fiorentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed “Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy by Kris Clink.

Lark Lovejoy is mourning the loss of her husband. Facing an uncertain future, she decides to relocate with her children to her hometown. Lark has always had a dream to be a winemaker, and that's exactly what she does, even though her parents don't encourage her. As she is adjusting to her new life, she meets Wyatt Gifford, an injured Army vet.

Kris Clink it quite skilled at developing her characters and putting them into believable situations as Lark wrestles with letting go of the past and moving forward.

This is a sweet story with plenty of heart. At a time when the news is so full of ugliness, it’s wonderful to read something that gives you hope.

Thanks to Kris Clink, the publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

[Maria.J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm, nostalgic story about the journeys we go on - something all can relate to - with a strong sense of atmosphere, wonderfully written by this debut author! Thoroughly enjoyed every page from beginning until the end, and so glad I found this gem of a book to enjoy.

[Audra McElyea Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

This masterpiece has it all you guys! Heart, romance, grief, loss, enlightenment, wine, friendship, hardship...and it’s written so beautifully (and with wit you won’t forget). Kris Clink is an auto-buy author right out of the gate with this stellar debut. Go read it now and get off goodreads!

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy by Kris Clink, is a sweet romance, and my first book by this author. Lark Lovejoy took care of her husband during his slow painful death. After he died, she decides to move her and her sons, back to Texas Hill Country, to her hometown. Lark has always had a dream to be a winemaker, and that's exactly what she does, even though her parents don't encourage her. Lark also finds her self attracted to Wyatt Gifford, an injured war veteran. Can Lark and Wyatt help each other heal? Better read this book and find out. I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more books by Ms. Clink. I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Michelle Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are tired of politics and all the other shenanigans going on in the world right now, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. You will find yourself immersed in the story of finding new paths and love as well as learning about winemaking which is always a win-win.

[Susie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

(thank you to the publisher for my copy of this book!)

I really enjoyed the plot of Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy, and something tells me that I'll totally be reading the next book in the series because I have to know what happens! But for me, the way the book was written wasn't totally my style. A lot of the dialogue felt strange to me and it just didn't flow like I generally like my books to flow. There isn't anything wrong with it, per say, it just felt off for me.

The book starts with Lark moving back to her childhood home with her two young children. Her husband sadly passed away from ALS the previous year and Lark knows they'd all benefit from being around her parents. Back in her small town, she meets Wyatt pretty quickly. He's an injured army vet who just seems like the sweetest guy with some pretty severe PSTD. I was confused that he didn't talk to Lark at all about his PSTD and instead brought her to his doctors appointments where the doctor told her. This just struck me as strange and jolted me a bit. She also seriously contemplates following her dream of opening her own winery.

Though I didn't love this book as much as others have, I am happy I read it and it certainly made me want to go visit Texas Wine Country!!

[Lainey Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kris Clink takes us on a delightful trip to Texas wine country in her heartwarming debut.

Lark Meade is surviving after the loss of her husband, if far from thriving. She’s applying the age-old adage of fake it until you make it. Determined not to ruin childhood for her two young sons, she’s putting on a brave face and crying in the shower when needed.

When she decides to move her family back to her childhood home in Texas and pursue her dream of owning a winery, there are laughs, tears, new friends, and a surprising second chance at love.
With a large and engaging cast of characters that never feels like too much, in GOODBYE, LARK LOVEJOY, Kris Clink introduces us to an endearing community you’ll want to revisit.

A touching tale about moving past grief, building the life you want, motherhood in all its forms, and finding love again against the odds.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I broke a rule reading this book (no new books until I read everything on my Kindle and nightstand - pffhhh, like that ever stood a chance) and I am so happy I did. Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy is a story of loss and love, family and second chances. The characters are so lifelike you feel like you know them. This is a beautiful story that will make you laugh, smile and fall in love.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy is an uplifting and heartwarming story about starting over. Lark is a widow with two young sons who decides to leave Houston and return to the Texas Hill Country to be closer to family. Lark’s emotional journey is filled with warmth, humor, and even some tough times as she and her boys adjust to their new life. I look forward to the next book in the series!

[Ellen Quigley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok for me. As someone who grew up near the hill country and is in between the age of the two main characters, I found myself thinking—who here actually talks like that? This was a sweet and predictable story. From start to finish it reads like you’re watching a hallmark movie.

[Angela Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was just fantastic. My favorite part was the letter from her husband. It had me bawling. I have been to the Intrepid Center and the description was spot on. As a member of the Wounded Warrior Unit this book was written well on the behalf of the many left with PTSD. Thank you.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why I even finished reading this one. Could not muster up sympathy for any of the characters, except maybe Walter the dog.