Dayna Dunbar

It is the summer of 1976, and it seems that the entire state of Oklahoma is celebrating America's bicentennial. Meanwhile, in the tiny town of Okay, Aletta Honor is just barely struggling to get through each day. She hasn't seen her husband, Jimmy in weeks, she is pregnant with her fourth child and she can just imagine where her hound dog of a husband has parked his red-white-and-blue van - probably in front of the nearest gin mill or outside the home of the closest, warmest, most feminine form he can find who isn't her.

Flat broke and desperate for some cash, Aletta decides to set up a food stand on the front lawn during the Okay Czech Festival. However, when a woman touches her hand in sympathy, Aletta becomes truly unsettled. She never touches anyone outside of her family; if she does, she is overwhelmed by visions of their lives and futures. This "gift" has been part of her life since she was a little girl, and she has always been seriously spooked by it. Aletta sees that the woman will die in a tragic accident and warns her to be careful. When the woman returns the next day to thank Aletta for saving her life, Aletta sees a way out of her current situation.

Throwing caution to the wind, expecting that the townspeople will probably believe her to be crazy, Aletta sets up a sign in the front yard advertizing her psychic gifts. But doing readings for people opens a door that Aletta thought she had locked years ago. As the memories of a terrible event come flooding back, Aletta begins to realize that she must face the demons of her past if she and her children are to have any hope of a prosperous future.

This is the first time that I've actually read this book. Mareena found it for me; stowed away on my bookshelf and almost forgotten. I had bought it from my local library's book sale in 2009 and had for some reason never read it. What a shame for me! I had almost missed reading a sweet little gem of a book that I give an A+! I have set it back on my bookshelf and look forward to reading it again sometime soon.… (altro)