Brenda Sorrels

#Review – The Way Back ‘Round by Brenda Sorrels – @brendasorrels #5StarRead

The Way Back ‘Round by Brenda Sorrels

61qAOZpQzOL._SL1000_

 

Synopsis:

Set in rural Minnesota in the 1930’s, The Way Back ‘Round follows young Jake Frye, who enjoys nothing more than sitting between his father’s legs while driving a wagon team of horses. However, when a large buck juts across their path and pitches Jake from the seat, his mother, tender from a string of miscarriages, reins him in. Jake’s frustration builds and he makes a devastating mistake. Rejected by his mother and wracked with guilt, Jake hops a freight train joining the thousands of men and boys riding the rails during the depression. He meets Franz, another runaway, and they become brothers. Picking fruit in California, and cotton in Texas, they beg at back doors, eat in soup kitchens, sleep in “jungle” camps – all under the threat of brutal railroad “Bulls” who patrol the tracks. While Franz dreams about marrying a red-headed girl, Jake yearns for his family. When a farmer tells them about Roosevelt’s Conservation Corps camps set up to help young men like themselves, they head to California and join up.

 

Review:

Review by Kayla

Grade: A+ (5 Stars)

I was very excited that Brenda sent me a copy of this book to review for her. I loved the Bachelor farmer so I knew that I would love the way back ‘round as well. Brenda has a very unique way of writing and I absolutely love it. This book is set back in the 1930’s in Minnesota. This book follows Jake who enjoys sitting with his father on the wagon with the horses. Jake’s mother is always trying to rein him in and he hates it. As Jake gets more and more frustrated he makes a devastating mistake. Being rejected by his mother and full of guilt Jake gets on a train and rides the rail during the depression. He meets Franz, he is another runaway and they become brothers. They picked fruit in California, cotton in Texas and beg at people’s doors and eat in soup kitchens. They sleep in random places. Franz wants to marry a red headed girl and Jake misses his family. A farmer tells the boys about the Conservation Corps in California and they go to join up. This book has some adventure and heartbreak but it is a wonderful journey through these young men’s lives in the 1930’s. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it. I loved it Brenda! Well done!

**I was given a copy of the way back ‘Round by Brenda Sorrels for an honest review.

Review Time! The Bachelor Famers by Brenda Sorrels

BFamers

Amazon | B&N |Goodreads

Synopsis:

Set in Northern Minnesota in the winter of 1919, THE BACHELOR FARMERS tells a story of two Norwegian brothers who learn the meaning of love from a most unlikely source.

Hans and Jon, the youngest of four immigrant brothers, have just inherited land from their recently deceased father and set out to develop it, thus perpetuating the family dream of success in America. When Jon learns that the husband of Mahal, a beautiful half-breed, Ojibwa woman, has been injured on their property and cannot work, he hires her to be their personal cook.

Under the eye of his disapproving brother, Jon finds himself falling in love, but when a terrible blizzard blows into town without warning, the three of them must deal with the consequences and make decisions that will ultimately reshape their lives in profound and unimaginable ways.

THE BACHELOR FARMERS takes us into a world where true meaning and healing are found in the complexity of human relationships and in the choices that are made in the face of adversity.

Add it to your TBR on Goodreads

Review:

Reviewed for Sunshine & Mountains by Kayla

This review does contain spoilers.

Grade: A+

I could not put this book down! I love the way this book started out! The prologue was so heartwarming. The love that their father had for them was wonderful. This family may have been separated for years but when they finally got to come back together they took care of one another. This is a story of love and loss. Hans and his brother Jon both fall in love with Mahal. Mahal is married and working for the brothers until her husband can get on his feet. Mahal finally realizes that she has feelings for Hans when she lives with Hans. She gives into him after being snowed in together. However her husband comes and takes her as soon as the snow clears. The brothers never see her again. Then you jump forward 20 years when Jon meets a young man at a horse auction and realizes it’s his nephew, who was abandoned after Mahal died during child birth. When Jon confronts Hans and something bad happens and Hans is killed. The story ends with Jon speaking to his nephew, Nathaniel about his mother, and possibly about his real father. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so different than anything else that I have read. Brenda did a wonderful job on this book and I am so thankful that Brenda gifted this book to me at Sunshine and Mountains blog!

Thank you Brenda!!!