Stephen Bly Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago

Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago

Stephen Bly

Broadman and Holman, May 2006, $14.99

ISBN: 080543173X

Indiana school-teacher Develyn Worrell feels weary so she resolves to seek some refreshing changes during her summer vacation. When she was a child Devy spent time in Wyoming and to this day as a mother of an adult child she considers it was amongst one of the best of times in her childhood. Devy concludes that she should return to that Wyoming serene time she has not found in recent years.

However, the summer of her contentment does not work out quite the way Devy envisioned it as she learns you cannot go back as that dream place is not the same because you are not the same. Still she finds solace until her daughter Hurricane Dee arrives at the same time a close older friend suffers a heart attack. Other personal intrusions also occur, but the steadfast, calm and contentment she finds in her friendship with cowboy Cooper Tallon helps Devy through crisis after crisis almost as much as her faith in God enables her to help others like crazy Casey Cree ride out storms. Her faith also assists her in looking inside her heart to see a quiet kind cowboy beats there too.

The third Horse Dreams tale (see MEMORIES OF A DIRT ROAD TOWN and THE MUSTANG BREAKER) is a terrific ranch contemporary tale that stars a wonderful heroine who holds the character driven story line together. The eccentric support cast augments Devy's summer of contentment as she seeks and finds peace in spite of being at the center of chaos caused by her nurturing relationships with others. Everyone needs a Cooper (apt name for a quiet supportive cowboy) as his caring serves as a respite for Devy. Stephen Bly provides a warm inspirational character study of a woman who learns solace is found in the heart and soul of a person.

Harriet Klausner