NYT Bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hydes (my favorite author) returns following Life, Loss, and Puffins with her latest family domestic drama, ROLLING TOWARD CLEAR SKIES. In this heartfelt novel of hope and second chances, a foster mother must deal with the emotional turmoil of her new blended family.

LOVE SURVIVES ALL DISASTERS.

About...

Meet Dr. Maggie Blount, a 41-year-old divorced doctor and a mother of two teenage girls, Willa (16) and Gemma (14). She works as a GP in California and volunteers for Doctors on Wheels, going to disaster sites with a team where she experiences the extremes of life. Her journey is filled with emotional challenges that many can relate to.

Her daughters have lived a very privileged life, and Maggie thought she was giving them everything. But now she struggles with their behavior and expectations (like most teens), and her girls try to use the threat about going to live with their dad. (I liked how Maggie held her ground.)

There was a natural disaster leaving two teen girls (Jean and Rose Bradshaw) without parents and homeless and a dog, and it breaks Maggie's heart.

Despite their privileged upbringing, Maggie's daughters, Willa and Gemma, often display selfish, entitled, and uncaring behavior. In contrast, the foster girls, Jean and Rose Bradshaw, make Maggie feel loved, needed, and respected. This stark difference in the girls' attitudes is a significant part of Maggie's emotional journey.

Maggie decides to foster and later adopt the girls; however, there is a tough road ahead when her daughters resent their new blended family with many challenges and a good supply of tough love.

Broken into:
Part One: Two Girls
Part Two: A Different Two Girls
Part Three: All Four Girls
Epilogue: One Year Later

My thoughts...

ROLLING TOWARD CLEAR SKIES is a compelling tale that is heartfelt and relevant in today's world. There are two sides to a coin (good and evil) and as always, Catherine Ryan Hyde is a pro at getting to the heart of the matter and important life lessons and wisdom we gain from others.

Captivating! The author brilliantly explores challenging, emotionally charged themes, including the loss and tragic death of the girl's parents and a family friend, cyberbullying, identity, social media, jealousy, and self-discovery while exploring nature versus nurture.

I love the creative chapter titles.

Tragic events in our lives can often be a wake-up call. The novel is a great example of two families blended with different backgrounds. In our age of social media, people often project a perfect life and happy family, which pressures others to live up to these ideals.

Knowing how much/little to give our children is tough for parents. There is a fine line between giving them too much and not enough. I enjoyed the contrast between the four girls and their backgrounds. If only all teens could look at life without all the stuff and those less fortunate.

A blending of family drama, domestic, sisters, friendship, humor, women's fiction, and coming of age. CRH is a long-time favorite author; I have read all her books. She is in a class all her own. This is an ideal book club pick (book club questions included). It is a must-read book with a strong takeaway message.

I am so glad I had sons, as I hear girls bring a lot of drama. (And four in one house with different personalities and backgrounds? You can only imagine.)

Recs...

This novel is for readers who enjoy tales of love, family dynamics, and uplifting stories of overcoming loss and tragedy with hope. Her fans and those who enjoy reading books by Fredrik Backman, T. Greenwood, Kristin Hannah, and Diane Chamberlain will adore..

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for providing an advanced review copy for an honest opinion.

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Pub Date: Nov 12, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
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I went into this book really not knowing what to expect.

Rolling Toward Clear Skies by Catherine Ryan Hyde follows Maggie Blount, a divorced mother of two teenage daughters, Willa and Gemma. As a dedicated GP in Vista Del Mar, California, Maggie volunteers with Doctors on Wheels, traveling with her partner, nurse Alex, to offer free medical aid in disaster zones. When a category-five hurricane devastates rural Louisiana, Maggie and her team arrive to help, and she encounters two teenage girls, Jean and Rose, who have lost their parents in the storm.

Moved by their kindness and resilience, Maggie contrasts Jean and Rose with her own daughters, whose behavior has been entitled and ungrateful. Maggie decides to foster Jean and Rose, bringing them, along with their rescued puppy, into her home. This decision sparks conflict with Willa and Gemma, who resist the changes to their family. Maggie, determined to blend this new family, faces the challenges of raising teens with differing values, attitudes, and past traumas.

The novel explores themes of parenting, empathy, and the journey of rebuilding family bonds. As Maggie learns to balance love, discipline, and understanding, Hyde presents a story of growth, resilience, and the challenges of fostering a compassionate family environment.

Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised with this book! A big thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is a prolific author, yet never writes enough of her excellent stories to keep her fans happy. CRH writes with the intent of making you think and touching your heart. She ably accomplishes both goals at every turn of the page. I've read many of her back titles and ALWAYS recommend them to every reader I know. Her topics cross genre to find fans with each new adventure.

In ROLLING TOWARD CLEAR SKIES, we meet medical personnel Maggie and Alex. They have travelled with Doctors on Wheels to provide emergency treatment in a hurricane damaged area. Jean and Rose are teenage victims who have lost their parents, their homes, and their futures. Maggie is the mother of two teens the same age as Jean and Rose and cannot help seeing her girls in the same helpless situation. She and Alex decide to foster the survivors, blending them into their family along with a puppy Rose has rescued. The four young women must work through their differences for any hope of the family's survival. As emotions build and tension strains everyone, CRH gently reminds everyone of the grace so many of us look past to see the good in everyone. Her books always leave a tender spot in your heart for a few days and a lasting impression on your view of the world.

What a heartwarming story about family! In this emotional tale, a family is suddenly expanded to include two more teenaged girls for a total of four. Over time, they will become closer, but it sure is a struggle. Once again, as with all things I’ve read by this author, I loved this story!

Rolling Toward Clear Skies by Catherine Ryan Hyde is an absolutely great book! It is about compassionate people and those who are learning to be compassionate. It is a realistic look at families, teens, and expectations.

ROLLING TOWARD CLEAR SKIES is the latest heartfelt and emotional story from one of my favorite authors, Catherine Ryan Hyde. Her books never disappoint and this one is no exception. This is a story of motherhood, blended families and hope for the future. Maggie Blount is the divorced mother of two teen girls and also a physician. She has a private practice but when natural disasters occur, Maggie and her partner, Alex, the founder of Doctors on Wheels, hit the road and do whatever they can to help. After a Category 5 hurricane in Louisiana, Alex and Maggie arrive on the scene and soon encounter two teen sisters and a puppy that have been orphaned by the storm. They quickly form a strong bond and before she knows it, Maggie has agreed to foster the girls. But what impact will that decision have on her two biological children and her relationship with Alex? What follows is a heart-wrenching and intense story of the impact of the adoption on everyone in the family. It is also a story of dealing with trauma, putting other’s need before one’s own and finding gratitude and acceptance. As always, Catherine Ryan Hyde writes with wisdom, compassion, and insight and I know this story will stay on my mind for a long time to come. Another winner that I highly recommend. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Maggie Blount is a doctor that helps in disaster zones. After a hurricane she bonds with two sisters who have become orphaned. She fosters them at her home, but her two daughters are not adjusting to the new blended family.

Catherine Ryan Hyde always writes such real stories. While fiction, it felt very realistic. The story is about adjustment and change in time of adversity and adolescents learning how to deal with that. We see two groups of teenagers, with very different experiences and how that affects their ability to adapt and mature. I was expecting some major life threatening adventure at the end, but instead it stayed true to reality with events that do happen every day.

Rolling Toward Clear Skies comes out 11/12.

An engaging story that looks at the complications of a family that changes when orphan teen girls are adopted. The two biological teen sisters resent the addition of the girls and their behavior reflects their resentment and their privilege. It is a telling remark and contrasts with the behavior of the adopted daughters. Their mother struggles with her own lack of judgment in raising her biological daughters, indulging their every whim. The road to creating a cohesive family is long and painful.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rolling Towards Clear Skies is the story of Maggie Blount, a divorcee, mother of two and doctor with her own practice. Maggie is also involved with Doctors on Wheels, a team of four medics who travel to disaster areas to assist. The opening chapters see Maggie and the team travelling to Louisiana to assist in the wake of Hurricane Mina. During her time there, she becomes involved with two teenage sisters, Rose and Jean, who have tragically lost their parents. With no one else able to care for them, she makes arrangements to take them back home with her. introducing not only two new teenagers, but also a boisterous puppy into the household. Predictably, Maggie is soon in trouble. While Rose and Jean are well mannered appreciative girls, her own tow - Willa and Gemma - are not.

At first I thought this storyline was going to be predictable, and in a way I guess it is. Her daughter's reaction to the new arrivals is hostile, and sometimes quite spiteful. The family break up has seen stability continue as Maggie and ex-husband Dan continue to co-parent. The two girls lack for nothing materially, but Maggie realises her job has taken priority and on occasions blames herself for their current behaviour - argumentative, rude and entitled! Conversely, Rose and Jean, who have lost both their parents and had the trauma of witnessing their deaths, are a delight. They appreciate everything, are helpful and have perfect manners. At first they tolerate their treatment from Willa and Gemma, but they soon find their voices and learn to stand up for themselves . Of course, there is a day of reckoning for Willa and Gemma, one which comes with a few shocks and home truths, shaking up their attitude and behaviour.

An interesting and entertaining read from Catherine Ryan Hyde. I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of Rolling Towards Clear Skies in exchange for an honest review.

Another warm novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde that will make you think. Maggie's somewhat impulsive decision to bring the orphaned Rose and Jean home changes everything, not only for those girls but also for Maggie's daughters Willa and Gemma. This is all about blending a family and the challenges everyone faces. Know that Willa and Gemma are almost obnoxious in their attitude and that Rose and Jean are almost too precious-the contrast is a lot. That said, it's a realistic situation and a good read.

This was the perfect time to read a new novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde. Her heartwarming stories about unconventional families always lift my spirits. Her newest one deals with several important issues like blended families, grief, climate disasters and cyber bullying. It would be an excellent read for teen readers as well as adults. Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is an amazing storyteller who knows how to capture the reader emotionally and inspires them to be better. She takes realistic issues and hopefully helps us to grow and see that there is still goodness and kindness in the world.

In this story, Maggie Blount, a divorced mom of two teenage daughters and a California physician devotes her time to work with Doctors on Wheels. The group provides free medical care to disaster-stricken areas. It is while she is working with Doctors on Wheels in Louisiana, her heart is captured by two orphaned girls, Jean and Rose. The backstory and impact of the hurricane on these girls is just heartbreaking.

When Maggie ultimately decides to foster these girls, there is a major battle between Jean and Rose and Maggie’s own teenage daughters, Willa and Gemma. Jean and Rose have been through a horrible experience and are appreciative of the opportunity to have a home and family after losing everything. In contrast, Willa and Gemma seem to act little two spoiled brats who are used to getting everything they want and having their own way.

I absolutely loved this book and strongly recommend it to anyone who is interested in family dynamics and want a read that makes you think and will stick with you for a long time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

#NetGalley #RollingTowardClearSkies #CatherineRyanHyde

I’ve never read a Catherine Ryan Hyde book before, until now, wow can she tell a story.
Emotional
Heartache
Devastation
Love
Family

Everything wrapped up into a sweet read about a family and their adopted daughters.

Excited to read another of her books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Books for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

This book has a brilliant message and theme to it. This is my first book by the author and straight away I could feel how talented a writer This was
And how I'm definitely going to search out more of her books. You know when you.can just read such accomplished skill, well Catherine has it for writing.
This was all about blended families. And also what It means when people's behaviours impact us and others. But then how much is a parents or those supporting them fault. And what we can do about it.
The characters were really well described. I could conjure up my own personality picture for all of them.
Great first book of the author for me!

Maggie Blount is a California physician, divorced with two teenaged daughters, Willa and Gemma. She has a live in boyfriend, Alex, a male nurse who , with Maggie, runs a volunteer medical aid program which heads for disaster areas to give treatment to victims of such nightmarish phenomena as hurricanes ,earthquakes and wildfires.

In Louisiana, after a storm, Maggie comes across two teenaged sisters, Rose and Jean, suffering from severe pneumonia. The girls’ parents were killed in the storm although the sisters never speak of that horrendous incident the witnessed abd seem to move right onto a new and better life ( what???). After just a few days Maggie decides to takes the two orphans home and raise them together with her two very self centered daughters, Willa and Gemma. When a lost puppy arrives on the scene he too is taken back to California.

What ensues is a seemingly good premise with a lot of promise. For me it fizzled out early on and never lived up to my expectations. It was clear from the onset who was good or not good with characterization that lacked balance or deep emotion. As the story moved on to include coping with social media platforms and challenges, the characters remain so predictable that I was unable to identify with anyone nor could I muster up any real empathy even under sad or trying circumstances.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is among my favorite authors. This book, however, was disappointing. The characters are linear; one dimensional. Maggie is a wonder doctor, a do gooder; kind and focused on others to a fault, although having been a mostly uninvolved mother to her natural children up until this point. Alex is just window dressing. He is Maggie’s side kick without much personal depth or deep feelings Willa and Gemma are nasty, selfish spoiled brats. Ugh. Just not at all likable. Rose and Jean are just ever so grateful , perfectly behaved and unconvincingly well mannered that they don’t resemble and real teenager I’ve ever met. They seem to have both successfully detached from unimaginable trauma. The past is behind them. Really???

Two and a half stars rounded to three for a story that had some merit and addressed some important issues such as mothering, fostering, adopting, cost of medical care, family relationships, sibling rivalry divorce, and the influence of media on young people . This author can write books that creep into your heart and soul. Rolling Toward Clear Skies is not among her best efforts. My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. This book will be published on November 12, 2024, perhaps you will enjoy it more than I did.

This was an incredibly moving read from Catherine Ryan Hyde. The characters are so authentic and beautifully written, they felt so real to me and found a place in my heart. Jean and Rose were just such adorable young women that I would not have been able to leave them either. Rolling toward clear skies has many layers to it, the accessibility of healthcare, blended families, the struggle to parent, social media and many more. Like real lives the characters are complicated and complex. I could empathise with Maggie's children, but I'd have struggled to deal with their behaviour much like their mother. While she loved her daughters there were times she really didn't like them as people which is a part of parenthood that is not explored enough. This is a wonderful book that offers hope and comfort while not being sentimental and overly preachy. It is incredibly well written and I'll be seeking out more from the author.

As I took breaks from reading this book, I was wondering “why am I so drawn into every single book by this author that I read?”. It is not just that I enjoy them and think the story is interesting. It is that I am emotionally attached to every character that she has ever created! Every story becomes deeply imbedded in my mind and they do not leave. The answer I have arrived at is that she writes about “normal, everyday” people. These characters are not celebrities or anyone that would be front page news. They are you and me, living our normal lives. Of course, that is not totally the answer. It is also that Catherine Ryan Hyde has the immense talent to not only create these wonderful characters but also can mold a truly exceptional plot around them.

I have never been disappointed by one of her books and I am fascinated over and over again when I read a new book of hers that she has explored another unique idea in her newest release, such is the case with Rolling Toward Clear Skies. This book has given me the opportunity to experience many things I would never have otherwise. Throughout the pages, I saw that people can change, love can heal, grief will not go away but can fade, good people surround us, and family is more than blood related. There is so much within this book and once again, I am blessed to have found this insightful author that has given me so much enjoyment and education in her books.

I definitely recommend her newest release and hope that she has many more books to come in the future.

I want to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC. #rollingtowardclearskies #NetGalley #catherineryanhyde

This was my first Catherine Ryan Hide book and it will not be my last! I enjoyed the storyline as it as engaging from the family perspective as I can not imagine fostering 2 teenage girls out of the blue. Maggie also has a very interesting work life as a doctor in her regular practice but also going into disasters and providing pro bono health care to emergency responders and victims that would not otherwise be able to afford this care. It as a quick read due to the her writing style. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing and Catherine Ryan Hyde for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.

Rolling Towards Clear Skies is expected to be released Nov. 12, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. Rolling Toward Clear Skies follows Maggie, a divorced mother who is struggling with her daughters. She is also a physician who travels to disaster sites to help the victims. While helping at a site of a hurricane, Maggie meets two teenage girls who need a home. Maggie decides to foster the girls, which causes tension between her daughters. I enjoyed the story. Catherine Ryan Hyde writes stories that ultimately end happy, but there are a few bumps along the way.

Taking on teenagers👭👥👭

Catherine Ryan Hyde has such an easy writing style that makes even the thorniest issues real and interesting. Here she takes on a charitable-minded physician who decides to adopt two orphan sisters she encounters while providing medical care to the victims of a devastating hurricane. But her teenage daughters back at home who don't seem able to see past their own wants and needs are resistant and believe their grievances at giving the orphans a loving home are totally right and justified. What's the mother to do? Can they be melded into a united family?

It's a good story but not one of my favorites by the author. For some reason, I was never strongly drawn to any characters other than polite, empathetic and grateful Rose and Jean, the storm orphans. Perhaps I found daughters Gemma and Willa a bit too realistically flawed and stubborn in their self righteous complaints about Maggie and their new sisters.

The novel does a good job of highlighting the conflicts a working mother guilts over in balancing personal and professional life, the peer pressure teens face and the wide reach of social media, especially when it comes to naysayers and armchair critics.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.