Glasswing Media Sassafras

I just finished your book and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!Your book starts out at an old folks home and I have to admit it isn't my favorite subject. I'm getting older and a place like Egret's Pond—well I hope I never have to go to a place like that. But as I read a little further I was so excited that Champs broke free and went back to where he felt comfortable, his cabin at Deadrise Cove. I was rooting for him all the way as he reclaimed his space on the Sasssafras. And I didn't like what Laura did to the place, I could totally sympathize with Champs.The more I read the more I saw your book as a work of art!Your metaphors are brilliant and the way you wove the lives of all the characters into the story worked really well. I loved coming to know them more and more as the story progressed.Your interjection of words of wisdom about life was right on, like when Josanne talked about death as great fissure thrown in our path and the way to deal with it is to build a bridge...and all your characters ended up building lots of bridges after many intense interactions.All the healing that went on between all the characters was inspirational.I also loved all the descriptive details, I felt like I was right there living along side the characters and sometimes wanted to tell them what I thought.The day I finished the book I stayed up until 2:30 in the morning...I had about 20 pages to go but I couldn't keep my eyes open so I had to wait until the next morning to finish it. I love the way the story was unpredictable and fantastic all the way up until the bitter end. Great ending by the way, I didn't see that coming!!!!!!!!Hi five Trish, I will recommend your book to everyone I know.

I purchased the book a good month before getting the chance to sit down and read it. I fell ill for a couple of days and ended up reading Sassafras over the course of an evening and the following morning. I found myself siding with Champs , getting annoyed at Laura, laughing at Hannah and Zoe, falling in love Larry and Josanna, and quite frankly puzzling over how Chicken Ray fit into everything. Then I found myself siding with Laura and getting annoyed at Champs, laughing at Larry and Josanna and falling in love with Hannah and Zoe. I love the way the author shows the multidimensional nature of peoples character, and it really makes this an excellent read. The whole thing is an emotional roller-coaster, and my review cannot give it justice. It's not a thriller, action, history, sci-fi, or fantasy, it's just a great story on the journey we take as family and friends when coping with loss.Now of course the bad thing about finding a new author whose work you enjoy is the waiting until their next book is released..

A beautifully crafted observation of an older guy, his family and the river he loved. Funny, sensitive and absorbing from start to end

My book club read this book and I was afraid at first that it was a quick summer read, with the Shelter In Place I thought that I could stretch myself and take in a quick summer read. I was pleasantly surprised that the book had a lot of depth and the characters were all pretty interesting, including the unruly dog in the story. There were some in my book club that were demanding more of the story but i think that they are just angry that it ended and waiting for a sequel.The main character Champs goes off on a personal quest to recreate the tiny pieces of who he is after downsizing and moving into a retirement community with his long term bride, only to have her get diagnosed with cancer and pass away. Champs wasn't up for the idea of being fresh meat for the ladies in the retirement community that wanted to "comfort him," and took the urn under his arm and headed to his family summer home/fishing spot where so many memories are intertwined. Grown kids, nosey neighbors and no time to heal his own thoughts turned this into a really compelling story that anyone can relate to no matter what their age. I am look forward to watching the Netflix or Amazon series that will be made of this original story.

I was hooked the moment Champs makes his escape from the Egrets retirement home. Trish Heald's prose rips right along pulling me into a suspenseful journey that just keeps adding layers with her many characters and revelations. Funny and profound at the same time, the story opens up into surprising discoveries of the heart and what it means to be family, moving me to tears in parts. The character of Champs provided me with such companionship in his curmudgeonly complaints of how things had changed I looked forward to visiting with him every night I opened the book. Trish Heald offers that rare opportunity to witness the sparing way men think and relate to each other. The setting of the Sassafras river is so richly alive, I could feel the mud sticking to my toes. It is clear this is a much loved landscape. The scenes that take place here adding to a memorable story that is both timeless and very much a part of our times. A satisfying read that left me with fond memories like a good vacation.