When the Road Comes Around by Katie Powner: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Book

Only trouble can bring about the beauty of redemption and grace.

In the small town of Grady, Montana, twenty-four-year-old Tad Bungley has a reputation for trouble. When he lands a job at Come Around Ranch, however, his life seems to take a positive turn. As he develops a soft spot for Sam, the ranch owner's disabled son, and a special bond with TJ, a rescue horse with a poor reputation of his own, Tad becomes determined not to bungle it up this time.

Forty-eight-year-old Anita Wilson is too young to feel so old, but rheumatoid arthritis limits her ability to work on the guest ranch she owns with her husband. It was a risk to hire Tad for the summer, but Anita is convinced he just needs a bit of encouragement to find his footing. What she doesn't anticipate is that Tad's presence at the ranch will change everything, including her relationship with her son. And when Tad finds himself in more of a mess than ever, he and Anita must learn when to hold on, when to let go, and what grace really means.

For fans of Fredrik Backman, small-town stories, middle-age characters, redemption arcs, and second chances, a clean, gently humorous contemporary novel by Katie Powner set near the mountains of rural Montana.

The Author

Katie Powner is a Christy Award-winning author who lives in rural Montana, where cows still outnumber people. She writes contemporary fiction about redemption, relationships, and finding the dirt road home. She's a mom to the third power (biological, adoptive, and foster) who loves red shoes, Jesus, and candy--not necessarily in that order. Learn more at KatiePowner.com. 

Book Review

One think that I have discovered about Katie Powner's books is that, while they may not always be those that capture me right from the start, they will build more slowly and by the end, I will find myself completely invested in every character. This was certainly true for this story--- a story filled with imperfect characters who need grace and forgiveness. Each of these characters weaved their way into my heart and had me rooting for them in the end. They each had their own struggles-- Tad learning that he had a child ad having to learn to be a young, single dad, Anita in her struggles with RA and trying to navigate parenting an adult with special needs, and of course that child, Sam, whose disabilities sometimes left him vulnerable to others' ill intentions. This is a story that is messy at times, but also hopeful, beautiful and real. I've enjoyed other books by the author in the past as well, but I do think this might be a new favorite from her. If you enjoy smalltown, contemporary Christian fiction, this is certainly one to add to your TBR. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3Gq03TX