I received a free copy of Fill the Sky for my honest review.
About the Book:
- Publisher: SixOneSeven Books (20 October 2016)
- Paperback: 251 pages
- ISBN: 9780984824533
Biotech entrepreneur Tess Whitford has built her life around the certainty of logic and thrives on solving problems. But when one of her dearest friends exhausts the reaches of medicine while fighting cancer and grabs onto the hope that traditional healers in Ecuador might save her, Tess has to let go of everything she knows—and every instinct she has. Unable to deny Ellie a request that might be her last, Tess flies to Ecuador to help.
Together with Joline, another close college friend whose spiritual work inspired the trip, they travel to the small mountain village of Otavalo. Immersed in nature and introduced to strange ancient ceremonies, the three friends are pushed to recognize that good health is not only physical. Tess grapples with her inability to trust; Ellie struggles with a painful secret; and Joline worries about the contract she made with an aggressive businessman whose ambitions could destroy the delicate fabric of the local community. When an ayahuasca ceremony goes awry and an unlikely betrayal suddenly threatens to unravel their decades-long friendship, these three very different women awaken to a shared realization: they each have a deep need for healing.
FILL THE SKY captures the challenges of mid-life, the hope we seek when we explore alternative paths, and the profound nature of women’s friendships. It’s a beautifully told and moving story about lifelong friends, the power of the spirit, and the age-old quest to not simply fight death but to shape an authentic life.
About the Author:
KATHERINE A. SHERBROOKE received her B.A. from Dartmouth College and M.B.A. from Stanford University. An entrepreneur and writer, she is the author of Finding Home, a family memoir about her parents’ tumultuous and inspiring love affair. This is her first novel. She lives outside Boston with her husband, two sons, and black lab.
Connect with Katherine
Follow the Tour:
Blog Tour:
10/20: Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus: Spotlight & giveaway
10/21: Under My Apple Tree: Spotlight & giveaway
10/25: A Literary Vacation: Spotlight & giveaway
10/27: Bibliotica, review
10/28: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers: review
10/31: Broken Teepee: review
11/1: Life of a Female Bibliophile: review
11/3: Celtic Lady’s Reviews: review & giveaway
Please check the author’s website for upcoming events
My Opinion:
This book is way out of my wheelhouse as I continue in my efforts to try and stretch my reading muscles. It’s a story about a very strong friendship between three women and the stresses placed on that relationship by several forces; the terminal cancer diagnoses for one of them, the very different personalities they all have, their interpersonal relationships, business problems and as always – love and the challenges it always provides.
Tess, Ellie and Joline have been friends for a long time. Tess has a need to be in charge and control things. Joline and Ellie are sisters in law – Ellie is married to Joline’s brother. Joline is a free spirit fully believing in the power of the energy of Mother Earth and the Shamans that can harness it. Ellie is suffering from a relapse of her cancer and this time she has been told that there is no hope. There are no more drugs, no more trials that can help. Tess is desperate to find something that will cure her friend – she will try anything.
Joline is working to create a place of healing and hope in Ecuador and she puts together a trip for the three of them to meet with some of the Shamans that she knows. Tess is less than convinced that this is going to work but Joline feels it deep inside that this is the answer.
Nothing, though is as simple and straightforward as this may seem as each is also dealing with personal problems – even Ellie. The questions for each one will be if they can let it all go and let the energy and positive forces work to heal not just Ellie but the the other two.
I must admit that I don’t tend to read relationship books like this but I did, for the most part, find myself enjoying this amazing friendship. I’ve never had one like this and suspect that like with all of those romance novels they really don’t exist quite like this. But nonetheless I found myself enjoying the strong dynamic between these women. Where I lost my interest was when the book veered to far into the world of the Shamans and their “work.” I tend to be a more pragmatic and less spiritual type. But it didn’t detract from the women’s stories for me.
The individual stories and the interwoven relationship were all equally developed and made for a page turning read. But all that being written the book ended more with a whisper than a shout. There were questions left hanging; whether this was author intent or there is another book coming I don’t know. This is not the type of book that lends itself to a sequel so I am going to assume the author was leaving us with an ending more true to life as in there are no easy or firm answers. I just don’t know. Satisfactory for everyday life but somewhat less so in a novel.
Rating:
4
The Giveaway:
One lucky US reader will win a copy of Fill the Sky. Just enter as many ways as you would like on the Gleam widget below. Full rules are on the widget. Good luck everyone.
