Junction, Utah by Rebecca Lawton - Review and Giveaway

Junction, Utah

River guide Madeline Kruse has always preferred the nomadic life over a settled home. In early 2003, she's on the run from the long-standing pain of a missing father and critically ill mother trying to save the world. Madeline's wandering takes her to northeastern Utah, a corner of the West time has passed over, with its stunningly beautiful wilderness, rivers to run, and room to breathe.

In the tiny town of Junction, she meets alfalfa farmer Chris Sorensen, whose family has split apart since September 11 and the enlistment of his brother in the U.S. Marines. Through Chris and a drama taking place deep in the Utah backcountry, Madeline learns that the pristine canyons she loves are being threatened, and she must overcome many obstacles if she is to find peace and her place by the river.


My Thoughts: I've never gotten into many books that feature political or environmental issues. Junction, Utah had both, and in a way that I started to think more about those issues. This isn't a book that pushes it's beliefs at people. I thought that Rebecca Lawton did a good job in showing different sides to several issues.

When I read a book, I love being able to picture the places in my mind. Rebecca Lawton wrote this book with such beautiful descriptions that it was easy to picture it. I enjoyed seeing the river and the canyons so vividly through my reading. She also described the experiences, like getting through the rapids of the river, with so much detail.

Madeline and Chris were believable characters. They both seemed to jump in and handle problems around them. Their interactions made me chuckle sometimes. I enjoyed the other characters, too. Madeline's mother, Ruth, was a bit of a favorite of mine. She has a quote for every moment in life, and she is the epitome of never giving up.

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About Rebecca Lawton

Rebecca Lawton was among the first women whitewater guides on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon and on other rivers in the West. Her essay collection on the guiding life, Reading Water: Lessons from the River (Capital Books), was a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller and ForeWordNature Book of the Year finalist. Her essays, poems, and stories have been published in Orion, Sierra, The San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Shenandoah, THEMA, More, and other magazines. She blogs about writing and environmental issues at Writer in Residence. Lawton's writing about the West has won the Ellen Meloy Fund Award for Desert Writers, three Pushcart Prize nominations (in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry), and other honors. She has received residencies at The Island Institute in Sitka, Alaska, and Hedgebrook Retreat for Women Writers in Langley, Washington. Her debut novel, Junction, Utah, set in the resource-rich Green River valley, is available as an original e-book from van Haitsma Literary. She works as a writer and scientist and serves on the Board of Directors of Friends of the River. Follow Rebecca Lawton: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter Tour Schedule 5/15 My Cozie Corner Review 31 Days Early I Rise Exc 5/16 So many Books Review Mommy Reads too Much Review 5/17 Just Jennifer Review Simply at Home GP 5/20 Maniac Mom of 2 Review Literary Addicts Int 5/21 Taking Time for Mommy Review Niki's Book Blog Review 5/22 Reading It All Review Blissful Book Reviews Review Mama's Got Flair Review The author is giving away an Amazon GC and ebook. Fill out the form below to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway