Voices in the Wind

by Judy Bruce

[kimbacaffeinate]

I was not sure what genre to place Voices in the Wind and ultimately decided on literary fiction. At its heart, it is Megan’s journey of self-discovery but Bruce also weaved in mystery and a little suspense to this contemporary story.

We meet Megan as she travels  home to the rugged High Plains of Nebraska. Her father’s law partner has passed away and her father needs her. Megan has recently graduated from law school and finds herself at a crossroads. She has been offered a position in a law firm in Omaha. She has built a life with her boyfriend but her father has made it clear he wants her to join the family law offices. As we travel through cornfields, and across the wide-open plains of Nebraska, Bruce gives us a clear picture of Megan and the decisions she faces.

When Megan arrives home, it is clear her father needs her even as home stirs up questions regarding her mother and the voices she hears on the plains. As the story unfolds, we get to know Megan and the secondary characters who fill their home and those of the small rural town. Bruce does an excellent job of fleshing them out  while weaving in danger, heart and a new romance for Megan. The dilemma’s she faces, her deep-rooted love and conflict regarding her father and the countryside spring to life. Bruce added twists, turns and conflict all while keeping the story realistic and allowing Megan to grow. The tale is delivered through Megan allowing the reader to understand her on a deeper level.

The mystery surrounding Megan’s mother, the strange voices Megan hears on the bluffs and her complicated relationships kept me engaged. A few threads in the story felt misplaced or unnecessary particularly those concerning an old flame which caused a few hiccups but overall I enjoyed Megan’s journey. I love that she is smart, educated and despite a few issues was grounded. The tale has a spiritual base, but felt natural to the story.

On a personal note, I loved the references to Nebraska found in Voices in the Wind and it is clear that Bruce is a native, from the root beer to the sunsets. A picnic set in the town I reside in made me smile.

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Copy provided by author. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer