🏞️ 🏚️ “This is Where it Ends” (2023) 🏚️ 🏞️ – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

 

Paperback: 288 Pages
Publisher: Revell (June 27, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800740793
ISBN-13: 978-0800740795
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just 14 years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her was filled with gold. And when he died 50 years later, he made her promise to keep his secret. She is to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contains.

 

Now 94, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she's kept that secret. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva is visited by a reporter, Del Rankin, who wants to know more of her story. His friend who joins him only wants to find the location of the gold. Neither of them knows quite who they're up against when it comes to the old woman on the mountain.

 

As an unlikely friendship develops, Minerva is tempted to reveal her secret to Del. After all, how long is one bound by a promise? But the truth of what's really buried in the box may be hidden even from her.”

 

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through the author’s launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

 

The is the second book I’ve read by the author, the first being What Momma Left Behind. 

 

As someone who is quite finicky when it comes to historical fiction, this was one of those books that grabbed me from the “blurb”. I also had to admit that I enjoyed seeing the character named Minerva. The first time I heard of the name was the Harry Potter series (Professor Minerva McGonagall). So, seeing it in a fiction title – I was definitely intrigued. And, I will say this – there was another “slight” Harry Potter reference – it deals with a character’s “eyes”. And, those of us who know – know Harry had his mother’s eyes. 

Getting back to the genre – like What Momma Left Behind – This is Where it Ends is not one of those “feel-good”, gushy, happy reads. It is a poignant, stoic, reflective, and dramatic read. It relies more on the message conveyed rather than a “happy ending” or a romance. Like the previous book, this is a standalone read. 

 

Sproles gives us just TWO main characters: 

 

🏚️ Minerva Jenkins

📰 Delano “Del” Rankin

 

And, two support characters: 

 

⛪ Pastor Robert Blessing Jr. (son of the man that helps Minerva bury Stately)

🗞️ Colton Morris (typesetter, works for same paper as Del)

 

Towards the end, there are a few more characters as well. Despite it being Minerva and Del for most of the story; 99% of it is told in first person from Minerva’s POV. The use of real and authentic language brings Minerva to life. The last 1% of the book is told from Del’s POV.  

 

I would’ve liked Del’s POV shared alternately with Minerva’s. I wanted his thoughts with regard to Minerva’s attitude, her humor, as well as his “connection”. In addition, did he believe her about there not being any gold, or was he leading her on? 

 

That said …

 

This is Where it Ends begins in 1872 when Minerva, who has been married to Stately for 50 years, finds him dying. The final words he says is to protect his secret. A secret he has NEVER told Minerva, a woman who he wed when she was 14. A woman now left alone on the mountain. 

 

30 years later, Delano “Del” Rankin shows up, looking for a story. There’s a rumor that Stately and another man stole some gold while working for the Bishops. Minerva tells him there is NO gold, a running them throughout the story. But, she is wondering about what secret she’s keeping and whether or not she should continue to keep it. 

 

While she doesn’t want Del there, she also doesn’t want to die alone there on the mountain. Eventually, his sweetness wins her over and she lets him stay. He also then helps her around the farm. 

 

She is wondering what really brings him there – in truth, a story. A story brought on by a discover from a fellow journalist, Colton. That’s it. But, as readers know, there is always more. 

 

A name from her past brings up some harsh memories – Melba Bishop. And, it will also shadow the story as well. Of course, that is another thing – why Stately moved Minerva to the mountain. 

 

Over a period of several months, the two get to know each other. Minerva is still suspicious of Del though. 

 

It isn’t long until suspicious things start happening. At first, Del thinks Minerva is hallucinating, but it becomes clear something is going on. 

 

The longer Minerva holds on to the secret, the more danger comes her way, along with someone else looking for the secret. 

 

That isn’t all, Del has a confession, one that rocks Minerva and causes her to re-think everything she ever knew about her husband, and one that causes her to want to know what secret he wants her to keep. 

 

Overall, I was drawn right in, and it held my interest. However, “life” got in the way and I wasn’t able to finish the book when I’d wanted to. Thus, while it looks like it took about five (5) days to read [according to GoodReads] it was really a two (2) day read. 

 

The short chapters did keep the story going, though I have to admit – Minerva’s consistent begging of the Lord to end her life and take her was a bit overdone. I realize she was getting old, and tiring of living, but it was a bit annoying. I  also understood her struggle of keeping the secret – but, it would’ve, I think – given her some peace about Stately.

 

Del was the best part of the book. The connection was, once I read it, quite easy to expect. 

 

The “twist” with another character was interesting, though I did wonder what his motive was given that he had NO connection to the main characters. 

 

Despite the serious tone of the story, there are moments of humor, such as Minerva telling Del to stop calling her an old woman otherwise she’d turn him from a rooster to a hen. I’d first heard that from the movie 9-to-5. 

 

The title is mentioned twice in the book, mentioned by Minerva. Though what exactly the “this” is never stated.

 

Given this is a standalone read, Sproles wraps up most of the story, and the minor arcs by the end. I had some questions about a few characters. There was also the history of Stately’s father, yet this was never mentioned to Del. Nor was there anything else mentioned about it. It would’ve been another interesting arc to explore. And, I would’ve liked a bit more of the “ending”. Still, this was an enjoyable and memorable read. 

 

Those who enjoy this type of story will no doubt want to check this out. 

 

Distributed by Revell, a Christian/faith themed publisher, This is Where it Ends has strong themes of faith, bible quotes, forgiveness, and redemption. 

 

 

 

RATING: 

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads 

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub 

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

CINDY K. SPROLES is the author of What Momma Left Behind and the Christian Devotions Ministries. A popular speaker, Cindy teaches at writers conferences across the country and directs the Asheville Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina. She is the executive editor of ChristianDevotions.us and freelance editor for Iron Stream Media. Cindy has a BA in business and journalism and lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her family.

 

 

She can be found on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindy.sproles

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cindydevoted

 

Website: https://cindysproles.com/

 

 

 

 

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