Lauren K. Denton is an author I can depend on for a story filled with rich characters and a beautiful sense of place. I loved this story of sisters Violet and Trudy and their quiet lives in Sugar Bend, Alabama. I found the parts about each of the sisters’ hobbies, Violet’s birds and Trudy’s crafting, particularly interesting. While the “mystery” was not truly a surprise, I still enjoyed every moment of this book.

The narrator did an excellent job capturing each character’s voice. She made me want to keep listening.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Net Galley for an audio ARC of A Place To Land by Lauren K. Denton. This is a new to me author and I like her writing style. You think you know what happened but you don't!

ARC audiobook provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“A Place to Land” is the story of Violet Figg and her sister, Trudy, who live in small-town Sugar Bend, Alabama. Since they were children, Violet has taken care of Trudy and fought to protect her at all costs. Told in the form of dual timelines, the story of the sisters’ past rushes forward on a collision course with their present. Now in their 60’s, the sisters own a store that Violet runs and that sells Trudy’s artwork. Trudy’s expression isn’t only through art, however; it is also through written notes, necessitated due to Trudy’s lack of speech that resulted from a trauma buried in the sisters’ past.

Also in the present, an eighteen-year-old girl, Maya, finds herself wandering into the unknown, seeking a place where she may belong. Maya grew up in foster care following the death of her grandmother seven years prior, and now, set free onto the world, Maya doesn’t know where to go or what to do. A glimpse at a flyer in a gas station window pulls at Maya’s gut instinct, compelling her to travel to the little town of Sugar Bend. One day, Maya finds herself in the Two Sisters shop run by Violet and Trudy, and something tells her it is where she is meant to be.

The winds of change are moving through Sugar Bend, and when a long-buried boat surfaces out of the local river, the past rears its head, ready to strike. Secrets threaten to tear apart the lives of Violet and Trudy, who must now choose whether to speak their truth or stand by and watch their lives crumble.

This book was absolutely brilliant. The story sucked me in right from the beginning, thanks in part to the author’s engaging writing style. The characters were well developed, and I became invested in the story of their lives. The narrative itself felt original and had a strong story arc. I was enraptured by the tale, feeling the emotions of the characters, from good to bad, highs and lows, finding myself on the edge of my seat as the end approached. I felt myself desperate to know what would happen while simultaneously never wanting the book to end. I loved this book so much that I just couldn’t walk away, tearing through the story in one day.

My copy of this book was an audiobook, so I must comment on the narrator. I thought she did an amazing job. The pacing was perfect, and her character voices were spot on (even the male voices). Her narration pulled me in and kept me engrossed. I would definitely look forward to listening to other books she has narrated.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. It felt fresh and original and kept me engrossed until the very end. I would highly recommend this book to fans of dual timelines, mysteries, suspense, women’s fiction, and simply fiction in general. I enjoyed this book so much that I will definitely be reading through her back catalog. I will also be picking up a written copy of this book upon its release, and you should, too.

To be honest, I could sort of see where this book was going. Even though it was a little predictable I still thought it was pretty good. It brought up spousal abuse, which is such a hard subject but also one that needs to be addressed more.

🌀Synopsis
Violet and Trudy Figg live a fairly quiet life in Sugar Abend. Ever since their mother left all those years ago Violet has taken care of Trudy. It was, after all, what her mother requested of her.

When Trudy marries an abusive husband Violet knows she must still keep her word to her mother. She tries many times to get Trudy out of the situation but isn’t able to. It all comes to a head one night when Trudy’s husband tries to kill Violet and he ends up being the one who is killed. Violet puts him in his boat and sinks it, where it stays until nearly 40 years later.

Trudy lost a part of herself that night too, though and no longer speaks. When a lonely kid rolls into town, things start to change. Maya helps Trudy achieve her dreams and bring her out of her shell.

When a figure from the past reappears and a missing bracelet shows up, the truth is finally revealed. Trudy is able to speak and both women find the peace that they’ve been seeking for many years.

When I received this book through Netgalley on behalf of HarperMuseAudio I had no idea what to expect.
I found this heartbreaking and enthralling in equal measure. The difficult subject matter is handled beautifully. I was rooting for both Trudy and Violet from the very start, I wanted them to get the fresh start they desperately deserved. The narrative in this story demonstrates that you never really know what happens behind closed doors. I don't want to say too much as it may spoil your reading experience.

Regardless of the subject it's definitely a must read and will certainly pick up more Lauren K Denton.

#APlaceToLand #LaurenKDenton #BrittanyPressley #HarperMuseAudiobooks #HarperMuse #NetGalley

Violet and Trudy are two sisters living a quiet life in the sleepy town of Sugar Bend, AL.

They own Two Sisters, an art shop that sells sculptures that Trudy creates, from objects like driftwood and shells, that she finds during her wanderings near the river.

Violet is fiercely protective of Trudy and gave up her dreams of higher education and a relationship to take care of her.

When a long-buried secret rises from the depths, Violet and Trudy find catharsis in the truth that sets them free.

This narrator provided an appropriate voice to every character in the story.

The somnolent atmosphere simmers with repressed trauma and pain.

This was an ALC.

Not gonna lie, despite the fact I am a horror, true crime, domestic thriller woman, when I read a Lauren K. Denton novel, I become southern in all the best ways. I love the settings. I love the characters. I love the deeply rooted generational communities.

The newest book, A Place to Land, is a coming home story with connections discovered through the tale. As a nearing 60s female myself, I especially related to the main characters, sisters Violet and Trudy, and appreciate so much when older women are still considered people worthy of a story. Part of the mystery in this book involves something traumatic 40 years earlier which took Trudy's voice, and since then Violet has been her protector. Enter a young woman, Maya, a foster system graduate in need of a safe place to land, and cue the tears.

I love that Denton can make me feel things I normally repress, and will always pick up her books when needing to experience emotions.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for allowing me to listen in advance of the October 4, 2022 release date.