"This Is Where It Ends," by Cindy K. Sproles

 "This Is Where It Ends," by Cindy K. Sproles

How long is a body expected to keep a secret?

When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just fourteen years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her held gold. And when he died fifty years later, he made her promise to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contained.

Now at ninety-four, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she's kept her promise. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva is visited by a reporter, Del Rankin, who wants to know more of her story.

As an unlikely friendship develops, Minerva is tempted to reveal her secret to Del. But the truth of what's really buried in the box may be hidden even from her.

How long is a body expected to keep a secret? Now that is the million dollar question, and one that no one has the right answer too.  It will all depend on what you think!

I read this book in a day.  I just couldn't put it down; and not just for one reason, for many reasons.  There are so many twists and turns in this book that I had to keep turning the page.  It will come as no surprise that Minerva will die; she is 94.  The way the author wrote about her last few minutes on this earth was so moving, I was in floods of tears.  I knew what was happening, but I just couldn't stop those tears.

I think throughout this book it made you question things in your mind that were probably already there, but this book moved them up to the fore front of you brain.  It makes you think about death.  Minerva was concerned about dying alone.  I think that is a worry for many people.  Not long ago there was a documentary about older people in the UK, and it featured a man who had no living relatives left.  Every night before he went to bed, he laid out his will and all other official documents that people would need if he died through the night.  Minerva always made sure she had clean clothes on.

This book makes you realize how important friendship is, and how good for the soul having people around that cares for you.  I loved the way Del broke down the barriers of Minerva's hardened heart.  I think we all put up barriers to protect ourselves against people who have hurt us in the past.  Del chipped away at Minerva's barriers and broke through.

This would make a great book club book, as there are many topics of conversation and discussion to be had.

Stars out of 5 : 5 and very solid 5 at that.  Even the cover made me want to pick up this book.  It is well worth reading.  I wonder though if this will appeal to the older reader more than the younger readers?

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".