Borrowed Things by Doris Schneider (5 stars)

About Borrowed Things
(from GoodReads)

Borrowed Things takes place in North Carolina, alternating between Durham and Pearl, a fading town on the Lockwood Folly River. It traces a year in the separate yet symbiotic lives of five characters whose paths cross and ultimately connect.

Wishing to reinvent herself, Anne Gray sells her Durham home and the care of a Great Blue Heron to Noah Levinson, who also negotiates for the temporary use of her things and their stories in the desperate hope they will infuse some of Anne's spirit and resilience into his ailing wife, Elizabeth.

Anne finds a new home in the forgotten town of Pearl where she releases the memories of two failed marriages as she sails the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway with a haunted Latino priest and an elderly woman who rides a bicycle and wears No Fear t-shirts.

Through Anne's not-so-divine intervention, Father Paul and old Marjorie unveil their long held secrets, and come face to face with the embodiment of their abandoned hope. Anne is finally forced to come to terms with her past and find the courage to accept or reject the opportunity for a last and lasting love.

Review

Anne Gray is struggling to redefine her life. She's the single mom of two girls who have their own lives. When Noah Levinson offers Anne the chance to move on and help him and his dying wife, Anne takes the opportunity to examine her past and consider a new future.

Fate brings a new home and new families into her life. Anne is determined to follow her heart down the path of self-discovery as she ponders past loves and failed relationships. Along the way, she meets some amazing people with their own secrets and pain.

Borrowed Things is Southern women's fiction at its best, capturing your heart within the first few pages. Anne Gray is a rare character, equal parts strength and compassion. Readers will identify with her struggles and lingering questions as they enjoy her exploits and journey toward friendship and love. But most of all, they will find themselves transported into a town rich in memorable characters, intriguing history, and many secrets.

Rating: 5 stars

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About Doris Schneider
(from Amazon)

Doris Schneider is a writer, artist, and former professor of theatre at North Carolina Central University. While directing a play in Singapore, extra time in a lush hotel room prompted her to continue writing a story she had begun years before in a not-so-lush tent in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The result is Borrowed Things.

For more information, check out GoodReads or follow Doris on Facebook.

Note: I was the editor for this book. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the opinions expressed are my own.