The Lost Saints of Tennessee

THE LOST SAINTS OF TENNESSEE - by Amy Franklin - Willis

Published by Atlantic Monthly Press

Publication Date: 2-7-2012

     A stirring novel about love, lost loves and how the death of a loved one can affect who we are. This story is about a

Tennessee family, but mostly about twin brothers named Ezekiel and Carter. At first I didn't care for the character of Ezekiel very much at all, but as I read this book I found myself coming to understand him and liking him.  Ezekiel is now a middle aged man whose life has not turned out as he expected.  In his early 40's Ezekiel finds himself  divorced, and a father of 2 teenish aged girls. His ex -wife and high school sweetheart has just gotten remarried. He has lost his job, one he never cared for, and is at the lowest ebb in his life.  Ezekiel had better expectations for himself, his family had better expectations for him as well.  Now all he could think about was ending his miserable life. But, even that endeavour goes sour and Ezekiel finds himself very much alive and in need of a big change in his life.  Ezekiel decides to head to Virginia and visit his cousins.  He arrives at Lacey Farms the home of his cousin Georgia and her husband Osborne, and they welcome him with love and open arms.  The love he finds at Lacey Farms will indeed change his life for the better.

      The book flashes back and forth from the past to the present, but it really helps you understand how the events of the past have molded who Ezekiel is today. It especially shows how the loss of someone we love can have a deep effect on our lives. Especially when we can't seem to get over the loss of that someone. All in all I liked this book. It has a southern flair and quality that I enjoyed. It shows that even when we are at our lowest and feel there is nothing left out there, someone can reach out and touch our lives and make us feel loved and wanted and needed. We can find ourselves again! There is always HOPE for a better life!