July 11, 2022
Sawyer (Return to Boone’s Hollow) delivers a sweet historical romance set in the Mennonite community of Falke, Kans. In 1905, Gil Baty leaves New York City after failing to make it as a composer and moves back to his hometown Falke, hoping to regroup and finally compose his breakthrough piece. Once back, he starts a band for the town’s boys, and they sign up to play in a competition at the End of Harvest celebration. Gil reconnects with Ava Flaming, his ex-girlfriend and muse, but Ava, having been heartbroken by him before, remains hesitant about reviving their romance until her mother tells her, “If God the Father is prompting you to go... with Gil, I believe you will have more joy than regret.” Then, Ava overhears the boys’ band practicing the composition Gil had written for her years before, and she feels betrayed that Gil would sully that song by using it to further his career. Gil must find a way to restore her trust in him while deciding if there’s a future for him in Falke. In addition to the richly realized leads, memorable secondary characters—such as plucky nine-year-old Timmy and clumsy but kind 13-year-old Earl, who play in Gil’s band—flesh out the cast. The result is a melodious second-chance romance.