Kingfisher Lane: An Alder Island Love Story

by Grant Gosch

Driven by a desire for adventure and escape from day-to-day life, mother, wife, and gallery owner Rose Stephenson departs Spokane, Washington, for a long weekend trip to a bed and breakfast on an Island in the Pacific Northwest.

Soon after arriving at Alder Island, Rose discovers a community of eccentric characters, including Henry David James, a beautiful songwriter and dream follower. Through adventure, nature, music, and connection, Rose discovers a part of herself she thought she had lost. A discovery that leads her to ask what she will do with her one wild and precious life.

Inspired by nature, music, and poetry from the likes of Mary Oliver, Kingfisher lane is a sensory escape into a world of adventure, desire, and the natural world.

Genres: Romance

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2022

About the author

Grant began writing and telling stories as a child in Eugene, Oregon. He found his stride as a storyteller when he started a creative agency in Portland, Oregon serving some of the world’s largest brands. As a creative director, Grant has written and directed content for Nike, Intel, and other global brands. While working for large brands, his passion for storytelling translated to a weekly live storytelling performance called Live from Ocean Creek. Grant’s novel Kingfisher Lane is set on Alder Island.

Grant lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and children. When he is not writing, he can be found with his family, reading, fly-fishing, and exploring wild places.

For updates on events, books, and recipes, you can sign up for Grant’s newsletter by tapping the link in his bio.

http://eepurl.com/hU9Ewn

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put it down, and read it in one go. I cried (quite a bit), and laughed aloud a little too. This is such a romantic romance. The prose and imagery create a beautiful, immersive story. It helps when you can completely identify with the main character and your heart beats, breaks and flies right along with hers. I truly enjoyed the supporting characters too and found them charming, endearing and quirky. I thoroughly enjoyed my journey with Henry and Rose.

[Kelly R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book; the only complaint I had, I felt the author ended too soon. It felt rushed. The 12 year separation was glossed over w/out a great deal of discussion. I would've liked a bit more story, especially on Rose's end. Otherwise, congratulations to the author on a lovely story - Henry & Rose are characters I won't soon forget.

[Tatiana Radovicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know its going to be good when you cry after the first chapter. I was completely immersed in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and long to visit one day. The writing swept me away and I could see, smell, hear, and feel it all. I connected so much with Rose as a wife , Mother, and romantic myself. I think we all have a wild spirit that yearns to be heard and set free. If you've ever been in love or experienced a love lost this book will fill your cup. I didn't want it to end. There was something so comforting and cozy about it. I just loved it so much.

[Rene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has found me at a season in my life that has made me feel seen, no longer alone.
A love story to remind us that it’s okay to feel alive. It’s okay to be creative. It’s okay to give in to passion.
A younger person will not value this story but I hope they can learn from it.
I’ve never been to Oregon but Grant transported me there to the simple cabin. How I long to find that place of my own before I die.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers? Maybe. I wanted to read this book after seeing snippets of it on the Author's Instagram page. There's something about a man, reading aloud a romantic scene... Enjoyed the book, easily finished in 2 days.

Believable characters and a believable "love at first sight" relationship between Henry and Rose.
Awkward in that Rose is married with young children, but unfulfilled and feels like she has lost her true self. I find it intriguing that a man can write so insightfully about the anguish a woman feels when she is everything to everyone except herself; the perfect wife and mother, yet invisible as an individual being.

All the elements were there for romance. Two artistic souls connecting - chemistry, attraction, desire, need. The setting - nature, the water, a cabin in a remote location. The Author softly describes their physical connection, but throws in a few words that were not right for the tone of the book. I'm surprised the editor didn't suggest changing them.

I found several of the other characters - Thelma, Bob, Gail - a bit too kooky for my taste, but they play a minor role in the story.

Struggled with giving 4 or 5 stars, but the overall writing is poetic, lyrical and in sync with the genre of romance.

I look forward to the hard copy release (not fond of e-reading), and hope there will be more from this Author.

[Susan Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It will be well worth your time to take a little journey down Kingfisher Lane and linger awhile in its pages, where you will discover the beauty and call of Alder Island, the charm of its residents, and the heart and soul of Henry James and Rose Stephenson.

With expertise and ease, Grant Gosch has written his first novel like a fisherman in full command of his line, gently and methodically reeling the reader all the way in. In the first chapter, his protagonist Henry, a song writer and gifted musician, offers us the rhythm and lyrics of the whole story. “This is how things go for me. One observation, one song, one walk, one pie, one day after the next. It’s a good life, I think. But underneath it all is the story of her. Underneath it all is a love that still finds me in my dreams.” Who doesn’t love a love story? The good news is that the one in Kingfisher Lane makes you glad you’ve been caught once again.

With the beginning group of well-crafted ‘parallel’ chapters alternating between the two main characters, between their own past histories, their own dreams, and their own current longings, we are acutely aware that something more than just a good story is developing. Henry is an ‘old soul’; Rose is whimsical. Henry is driven by his dreams; Rose, an artist at heart, is driven by the awareness that “her life felt like someone else’s painting.” Henry longs to settle in back home in his family’s old cabin; Rose longs to get away from home and be a ‘wild child’ again. Henry is equally grounded by his song-writing Muse and his connection to the natural world; Rose is tired of being grounded at all. Just as the ebb and flow of tension in a fishing line keeps the fish on the hook, the ebb and flow of tension between Henry and Rose keeps the reader hooked.

You will not be disappointed in the way their story quickly unfolds, nor will you have the time or inclination to grow weary as you journey along with Henry and Rose, surrounded by a breathtaking setting and the author’s meaningful attention to details, powerfully charged descriptions, spot-on dialogue, and timely cuts to the chase.

[Sita Kaylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in one night! Grant’s such a talented wordsmith. With his feet (and soul) deeply-rooted in starry-eyed, whimsical storytelling. I felt as if I was on the island, listening to the sounds of the Pacific Northwest while standing in front of a stunningly handsome man with his heart in his eyes. Sounds like heaven. Kingfisher Lane is an enveloping step inside a a simpler existence. A transport into instant, soul-recognizing love with touching, humorous characters. A wonderful read. I highly recommend!

[Stephani · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad to have finished this beautiful love story. I truly didn't want it to end. So exquisitely written...the prose seems almost like poetry. Agonizingly sexy, yet with no hint of feeling trite or banal. It's fascinating how a male author can be so intuitively in sync with the female spirit. I resonated so strongly with Rose and her inescapable, magnetic draw towards Henry.

I yearn to discover more about this talented author and what he will create next.

[Kristi Letsche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grant has a unique form of writing that makes you feel the words he has put on paper. The storyline isn’t unusual, but he’s written in a way that allows a reader to immerse themselves and he hits in the secret places of someone’s mind where they’ve yearned to be just a little bit wild.

[Friel Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and immersive romance. I was swept away by the lyrical prose and deeply moving narrative, not to mention the cosy and moody setting. It was sensual and heartbreaking. I won’t deny that I cried…more than once. It was just so achy and hopeful. Henry and Rose were complex and relatable, and I could feel their longing right down to my bones. I plan to read this again and again.

[Pam Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find my soul still humming in tempo with this captivating story as I virtually just turned the final page of Kingfisher Lane. Though there were a number of times this book reminded me it was a first offering, this immersive experience catapulted me past those and did not hinder the enjoyment of the book as a whole. Diving deep from the first glimpse of these engaging characters, I found my heart walking in tandem with Rose through much of the entirety of this poignant intertwining of linked souls.

Tears and occasional laughter abound as each interaction unfolds, and though I would have enjoyed a bit more fleshing out of the minor characters — the time constraints left little room for more than a cursory glance at each of them. Thelma definitely needs to make cameo appearances in any future novels the Author may set in this region.

The focus is clearly the telling of Henry and Rose’s story, and that the Author does with panache and a silken drawstring that wraps you in itself for the long haul. I did not want to put the story down, as I found myself all too much a kindred spirit of Rose — right down to the painting and dancing — sometimes simultaneously.

The poetry via songs and lyrical nature of this Author’s style is appealing and keeps the reader fully enrobed in all the feelings of both main characters throughout. I do look forward to seeing more from him and also seeing him hone his craft as his writing continues to grow and evolve.

[Bridget Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an achingly gorgeous book! I have only been in the Pacific Northwest long enough to change planes traveling for work, but the rich descriptions gave me a sense of being there. I'm an artist and was also married to a man who was "good on paper" but did not see or feel the world as I do, or see and appreciate "me." What got me out of that marriage was randomly meeting a man who DID see me, along with all the colors of life on this plane. Grant Gosch perfectly articulated what this feels like to a woman living it, as well as how it feels to finally wake up. I nodded my head, I smiled, I laughed a few times and got teary eyed. I read this in one sitting because it engaged me that much. I want to know now...what happens? Why did it take Rose 12 years to return? What happens next? Please write more about these two and the Island. I'm not ready for this story to end and also need the backstory.

[Jackie Hamby]

From the first chapter on I knew I wanted to take my time with this book. The characters of Rose and Henry were created with such depth I felt as if they were real people whom I wanted to know. I savored every word, and read only when I could place my full attention on the characters. Watching Rose come into her own was beautiful, and seeing Henry become complete was satisfying. I, too, felt the book ended too soon, and would have loved to read what happened during the twelve years they were apart. I'm hoping the author will turn Kingfisher Lane into a series and give the two characters their own books for those missing years. And then there's Featherbeard....perhaps his story as well?....I will read this book again, and again.

[Lois French-Nikkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got into the book with intentions of doing a quick read. Well, that didn't happen as I found myself reading, re-reading and savouring the entire novel. Harry and Rose are so relatable, and it felt like I was eavesdropping on my best friends. Mr. Gosch has the ability to take the reader so deeply into the story that one can just be right there. Just be there. I thought, early on, that I knew where the storyline was heading, but it was so much better than I imagined. I have ordered a paper copy of the book, so that I can curl up on my chair with a glass of wine and thoroughly savour this book all over again.

[Laurie Popp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet fun love story.
Enjoyed every page.

[Kristin Widing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kingfisher Lane is a delightful, easy-reading love story. With evocative language and a relatable storyline, Gosch offers the tale of Henry and Rose. The characters at every level are likeable.

It was a quick read in the spirit of Bridges of Madison County. Definitely worth a try.

[Janna Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, yes ,yes! Kingfisher Lane is a welcomed addition to my romance library. It's beautifully and poetically written. With just enough grit to keep me grounded as a reader. Perfect quick read for cool autumn nights. You need this book in your life!

[Temple Kinyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Mr. Gosch, your book is a must read! The cover lured me in; I wanted to go to that place and stay a while. And you took me there in an exquisite way. Your character development of Rose and Henry is superb. Readers will definitely get to know and relate to both. Your setting is marvelous--even without the cover to entice and set the stage, your words paint a picturesque scene for the story to unfold. And what an exceptional story...a warm and intimate look into how two strangers tangle with Fate and wrestle with the question of "what now?" I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting a well-written, well executed escape. Perfect read for those cold fall and winter evenings by a fireplace. PS I love the ending. It's never too late.

[Vangie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fully engaged and eagerly reading after the first few sentences. The book opens with Henry, lost in his thoughts about his life and his one true love, Rose. Henry's character, warmth, self-assured, confidence radiate from the pages as does each character, their personalities, their quirkiness, all so real and relatable. The description of Alder Island and its animal inhabitants is so vivid and colorful...not sure its a real place but it sure seemed as such. It is a story of the adventure of finding love, unexpectedly, and knowing that it's true and real. There's also sex, but its no cheap thrills or mind-play games. Its two people who realize they are each others. Well written and a wonderful story.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A leap to security could land you on a pedestal of loneliness” Grant Gosch somehow was able to capture what many in their lifetime have probably felt at some point or another. I mourned this book for days after reading it; you truly don’t want it to end. I agree with other readers that you want more of Henry and Rose, but also realize that’s part of the story; wanting more. This is a must read and when the paperback version comes out it shall live on my nightstand. Can’t wait to see what - and more importantly - who this author brings to us next.

[Marcie John · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a PNW resident, this love story felt like home for me, just like the salmon returning to Oyster Creek!

[Gardenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful!!!! So rich in imagery and feeling!!! An absolute MUST READ!!!😭❤❤❤

[Allison Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

 
I thoroughly enjoyed Kingfisher Lane from start to finish and once I started, it was hard to put down. I knew what I hoped the story would be like and I can say I was not disappointed. Grant takes the reader through a artfully woven tale of wild Rose’s somewhat unsatisfying yet “good on paper” life trajectory and how it was suddenly thrown off course by the steady and passionate Henry. Grant has an unexpected insight into the female experience and dabbles there throughout the novel. Grant’s lyrical style paints a vivid picture and at times, I felt myself holding my breath or sometimes laughing out loud. The only criticism is that I wish the book was longer with more development and entanglement of the characters. I sincerely believe this book could be a movie someday. I can’t wait to read Grant’s next book!

[Amy Holowach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed a simple pallet cleanser after reading a particularly disturbing book. This was the perfect antidote. Set on the west coast, which I love. The author does a great job of creating sparks and connection through his writing.

[Diane Staman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in one day…the words, the descriptions came to life in your mind…I couldn’t wait to see how their story grew, where their love took them…it was a comfort and anticipation at the same time…excellent read…very muc recommend it💙💙♥️💙💙

[Diana Linnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. I couldn't put it down. I really like the characters and the openness and honesty that they show. For my it was a little nostalgic too because Rose traveled through an area I grew up in.

[Colleen C Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grant Gosch tells a sweet story here. The characters are relatable and the tale is captivating! He makes the setting another main character, beautifully describing it and intertwining it with the plot. Kingfisher Lane is a great read!

[Lyz Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this beautiful and descriptive love story and didn't put it down until I was done. I felt like I was watching a dance of two people's lives, and at the end, not only did I know them, I knew the island as well. I hope the author continues to write about the characters in the book, including the couple next door as well as the time the main characters were apart.

[Sarah Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kingfisher Lane, for me, was like reading a beautiful, lyrical narration. The love story the melody, the brilliance and elegance of nature the harmony. Told from past and present, the perspectives intertwined in a dance that kept me turning the pages. The only kicker is that it ended to soon. A great debut!

[Christina Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really lovely Sunday read. Highly recommended!!!