Charles Watson

A dear friend recently recommended the book, From The River, by first time author James Gaertner. Gaertner chose a small fictional Michigan town as the setting for his novel. As I and my long time friend both grew up in a small Michigan community, I was intrigued. I bought the novel and did not regret the expenditure. No matter your roots, small town, medium or large city, this novel was a most enjoyable read. The author's ability with the written word, I believe, will capture you in the web of his characters lives as it did me. Gaertner adroitly weaves past and present events that continue to mold the personalities of his principle characters. I easily set aside my daily routine as it was difficult to put this book down. As the story progressed, I became so engrossed that I felt I had become a part of this community. I wished I could have driven to the town to shake some sense into a few characters, encourage others and soak up the wisdom of of others. From The River is a novel of character growth, family values, suspense, heartache, redemption, but most importantly, love. The novel has twists and turns, like the town's river, that can become an emotional rollercoaster and will definitely tug at your heart strings. Kudos to Mr. Gaertner. This author has written a winner. My only regret was that it had to end. Charles Watson, Toledo, Ohio