This Is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles

For 30 years, 93-year-old Minerva has been keeping a secret for her now-deceased husband. Granted, she does not know exactly what the secret is, but she wrestles with how long she should remain loyal to her husband, especially now that she knows the truth about him. Complicating her dilemma is her new relationship with Del, a young reporter who is digging into her past to find the truth. Can she trust Del, and can she bring herself to reveal what she knows before she dies?

This book explores the question of loyalty, family ties and honor. It is a captivating story that transports the reader into the hills of Appalachia during the early 1900’s. Minerva is a complex character who is trying to prepare for her death by coming to grips with her past.

I enjoyed the description of Minerva’s way of life as well as the landscape. I found some of Minerva’s ruminating over her dilemma to be a bit repetitive. I felt the plot could have moved a bit faster and still accomplished the same ending.

I did enjoy Cindy’s writing and found her message to be of value. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will like this one, especially Minerva’s feisty character. I am grateful to the publisher and netgalley for this complimentary copy in exchange for this, my honest review.

No author writes Appalachian historical fiction like Cindy K. Sproles. When you read This Is Where It Ends, you will find yourself on an emotional roller coaster throughout, so grab a box of tissues but be ready to laugh out loud at the same time as you join 94-year-old Minerva Jane Jenkins at the end of her life.

Minerva, a tough-as-nails mountain woman, promises to keep a secret that is not hers and then asks the question how long do you keep it? Oh, what a dilemma that secret caused. As Minerva tries to find the answer to this question, the secret itself manifests into something that may not be true but could put her life in danger. Due to this promised secret, visitors suddenly started arriving at her farm thirty years after Stately died.

A reporter, Delano Rankin, arrives first and is not interested in the secret so much as in Minerva herself. As their relationship develops and the true secret starts to unfold, they find themselves growing closer. Overall I cannot say enough about the main character Minerva, except you go, girl!

This beautiful heartfelt story has many Christian messages that will stay with you long after the last page is read. Thank you, Cindy, for writing this awesome story, as you had me hooked from the first page of your beautiful prose and kept me engrossed until the very end.

I requested and received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. All the opinions are my own, and I was not required to give a positive review.

Talented storyteller Cindy Sproles excels in telling an Appalachian tale with fervor and authenticity. Set in Kentucky in the early 1900s, the character driven plot of This Is Where It Ends drew me in quickly and kept me reading with anticipation. The first person narrative is very fitting for Minerva’s story as it allows for deeper insight into her thoughts and feelings and helps develop an emotional connection with her which is very important in this type of story. I enjoyed the local dialect and vivid descriptions that add flavor to the mountain setting. I especially enjoyed the descriptions regarding kudzu which I know, from first-hand experience, are spot-on! I love Minerva and her strong, faithful spirit reminiscent of a special mountain lady from my childhood. Del also stole my heart with the patience and sweet love he showed for Minerva. I greatly appreciate how the story conveys the spiritual truths of forgiveness and living life looking “beyond what is temporal to what is eternal.” This book touched my heart, and I highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sniff. Sniff. Excuse me while I blow my nose and wipe my eyes. Just finished this new soon-to-be released book by Cindy Sproles. This was my first time experiencing a book by this author, and it will NOT be my last.

Unlike many Christian fiction, This is Where it Ends has a lead character who is elderly--94 years old to be exact. The story begins 30 years prior with the death of her husband Stately and him extracting a promise "Promise to keep the box a secret"--Then it moves to 30 years later when she's 94 years old and recognizing that she's at the end of her life with nothing but her dog, cat, the lonely mountain, and box of secrets. And so she prays "Please God. Don't let me die alone."

Little does she realize the way that God was going to answer her prayer bringing the young man, Delano Rankin into her life---and with him, her life is suddenly upended and her past is brought to the present with all the secrets it holds. Secrets that threaten to break her in two.

The story takes place on a southern Kentucky mountain 1902. The dialogue and the thoughts of Miss Minerva are what you would expect of the region. So you will have to relax your mind and soak in the Kentucky Appalachian region dialect. Because I LIVE in Kentucky, this book was a treat. Even though it is set in 1902, so much of that vocabulary and dialogue still exists today in our "hollers". I could easily imagine my husband's Nan as Miss Minerva. Down to the way she looked and acted.

I highlighted SOOO many passages in this. It was one time I was glad it was on Kindle! I highlighted NINE passages to remember. One of the best ones were about family:

"Blood doesn't make a relationship. Kindness, caring, love makes a family. You don't have to be blood to be a perfect fit."

The end of this book crept up on me much like the book The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. I knew what was going to happen...but when it does it just gets you in the heart. I teared up and had to bite my lip due to emotions several times.

I loved the tidbits the author gives through the story to try to help you figure out the secret Minerva was keeping for Stately. But oh how the reader's heart will break FOR Minerva throughout this story.

5 ⭐ for this touching story. Highly recommend.

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to leave a review. The opinion is my own.

At fourteen years old Minerva marries Stately, a young man of seventeen. Stately moves his young bride away from the only town she knows and the family she loves live in a very secluded home in the mountains. When Stately left town with his new bride he carried a box that held a secret. On Stately’s death bed he insisted that Minerva promise to keep his secret forever even though she doesn’t know the contents of the box. Thirty years after Stately’s death, Del a young report from town, comes asking questions about old rumors that Stateley and a friend stole a box of gold and it’s believed to be on Minerva’s property. At ninety-four years old, Minerva knows her remaining days on earth are few. As she begins to bond and trust the young reporter she questions her resolve to hold the long standing promise to keep Stately’s secret. Minerva can be cantankerous with a great sense of humor. This is about a time when a promise was a promise, a person’s word was their worth and trust and friendship highly valued.

It’s the early 1900s. Minerva Jenkins lives alone on a mountain in Kentucky. She’s ninety-four years old, and she’s been widowed for three decades. Her husband made her promise to keep his secret. She buried it in a box next to his grave. But the thing is, even she doesn’t know what’s in the box. She doesn’t know exactly what the secret is.

Probably stolen gold.

Minerva is an interesting character. She’s got grit and know-how. She’s humorously cantankerous (which is good or else this might be a depressing story). She’s a woman of wisdom, patience, and faith.

Sproles creates a wonderful setting for the story. I enjoyed the fragrant wisteria and the whispering river. I sighed at the sunset descriptions. And I appreciated the very real, aggressive nature of the kudzu on the hill behind Minerva’s cabin.

Minerva suffers in life with grief, loneliness, guilt, and anger. But love (by and for Minerva) covers a multitude of sins, so again, this is not a depressing story.

This book is slow and contemplative. It’s the sort of story you have to read slowly to take it all in, to learn from Minerva’s wisdom and glean the author’s Godly message.

Five stars!

I was on the fence on this book, but I did not give up, and kept reading. The writing style repeated over and over the same song and verse. So many times, Minerva would go over telling what we had already listened to. Until I realized, this is exactly the way an elderly woman, being 94 would tell a story. Once I quit trying to rush Ms. Minerva Jane along, I truly started enjoying her telling and was certainly not disappointed in the end.
This is a lovely tale of young love and expectations broken, heartache, decisions not made, time wasted, the ability to forgive and then a most pleasant surprise in the end. You cannot help but reflect on your own life and who will be with you when the Good Lord calls.
I received an ARC from Revell and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with 5 stars.

The story of Minerva who is 94 years of age.
She is visited by a reporter looking for a secret stash of gold.
Minerva is a great character with plenty of courage, humour and love to spare.
A slow moving tale about a life of hard work and sacrifice.
Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is Where It Ends is a beautiful tale of love, loyalty, faith and keeping secrets.

The opening chapter captures your attention right away, and you are immediately in the mind of the main character, Minerva Jenkins. She is 94 years old and tough as nails. But she has a secret she's been keeping, one she shouldn't have to keep, and it's not even her secret. Her husband makes her promise as he's dying to keep his secret. This secret is hidden in a box, and now people are showing up at her farm because they believe the rumours that the secret is about gold.

The story is captivating, as is Minerva. She's a spunky little thing for 94. And her new "visitor," Del, is someone she's suspicious about, and rightly so. He says he is a reporter sent to find out about her story and why she was alone on the mountain. Unfortunately, while friendly and well-intentioned, his visit brings someone else to the mountain with a more sinister plan.

While the story is intriguing, it does get bogged down with a constant rehashing of Stately's secret and Minerva grappling with how long she should keep it.

With excellent detail and clear descriptions of the setting, I felt I was on the mountain with the characters. It is a book that many will probably need tissues for.

You will like This is Where It Ends if you enjoy historical fiction.

​I received a complimentary copy from Revell through NetGalley for my honest review.

This is a new to me author and I look forward to checking out more of her books! Minerva was quite a character but I also really enjoyed Del. The story was so precious as it gives an idea of what an older person may be experiencing at the end of life but how much wisdom is there.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

A story that will pull you in and not leave until the end.

Prayers to not die alone, are answered here, but is the person here for Minerva, or for what wealth he is hoping to find?

Well more than one person shows up on the old mountain looking for Minerva Jenkins, and they are looking for the gold, but one look at the place that this 94 year old woman lives in, and they should know there isn't any gold, but sometimes gold isn't what we think!

A woman who has lived her life playing second fiddle, but as we page turner we learn more and more. I felt sad for Minerva, such a young age to marry, 14, and never see her folks again.

There is drama, and there is feisty Minerva, and she sure tells it like it is. Enter Del, she tells him to get lost and not return! He does of course!

What a wonderful job the author does bringing this story alive, we get to know Minerva, and how she guards secrets, and in the end I was glad she did.

This is a read that shows how prayers are answered, not always as we want, but how they should be!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

Everyone once in a while you find a book that reaches in and tugs on all of your emotions changing you with each page you read. This is Where it Ends is one of those books. It is the story of Minerva Jenkins, a ninety-four year old woman who has been tasked with keeping a secret by her deceased husband. The secret, a buried box of "gold", draws attention from a newspaper reporter, Del Rankin, and his friend. Del shows up asking about the gold, but more interested in the story behind it. Sassy Minerva is more than prepared to give him a story. Oh, what a story it is! Minerva is sassy, stubborn, independent, vulnerable, and full of grit. This book gave me a new appreciation for the elderly, especially since I am edging my way there myself. Cindy Sproles made me think of my grandmother who passed away when I was nine, yet I still miss her fiercely. I can't wait to read more books by this author as she is a new favorite of mine. I recommend this book to everyone not just for the story, but for the respect and appreciation of the elderly that you will gain from reading it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Revell for the advanced reader copy it in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

Very sad story set in Appalachia about a woman looking back on her life and her years with a husband who didn't deserve her love or loyalty. Although it ended on a hopeful note, I just thought was too depressing to really enjoy.

I'm not sure about this book. Is it that the book just wasn't what I was in the mood for when I picked it up to read? Did I not find the story compelling enough? Is the writing substandard? Yes, Yes, and No. The first two questions are opinions. Overall, it was an interesting story, and one that proves the age old wisdom that secrets are never good and harm those who keep them.

Minerva's story is one that was probably common in the time and place of events. She is married at the age of fourteen and within a couple of months she moves into the mountains of Appalachia. Her husband, Stately, gives her a box to keep hidden and tells her never to say anything about the box to anyone.

Delano Rankin, or Del, as he preferred to be called, has been put on the trail of the secret box by one of his coworkers. He is a reporter and believes this box holds a human interest angle that will entice readership. The box is supposed to hold the gold treasure from Stately's employer that he allegedly stole.

Cindy Sproles does write well. I appreciated the settings and the characters. The plot didn't leave me wanting more, but the main characters were likable and believable. Like I said earlier, this book just may have been the wrong book to read for my reading mood. It happens. But it will be a great fit for someone else. Four stars

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This is a beautiful, heartfelt, and emotional story with relatable, unforgettable characters.
At age 14, Minerva married 18-year-old Stately Jenkins and left her home and family and moved with him to the mountains of Kentucky. She never saw her parents again. By now it is 1872 and she has been married over fifty years before he died. As Stately took his last breath, the last words he spoke to Minerva was “Keep the secret. You promise to keep the box a secret.” Of course, she promised him, and never knowing what was in the box, she buried it right beside him.
Minerva continued to live in the mountains alone all the succeeding years. What Stately had referred to as “gold” when speaking of the mysterious box, Minerva thought was nothing more than an annoying burden and began wondering how long does one keep a promise to keep a secret? A rumor about a stolen box of gold surfaced that caused a reporter from Lexington to arrive at Minerva’s humble mountain home. Delano Rankin simply wanted some facts to be able to write a story. Although she assured him there was no box of gold anywhere, he stuck around because he noticed she could use some help with some chores and repairs. Such an unlikely pair to strike up a lasting friendship.
This is an inspirational story of perseverance, often times sad, however, God’s love shines through time and time again. There are surprising circumstances, and some secrets are revealed that are life changing. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. This story will stay with you long after the last page I turned.
I received a complimentary copy of this book All opinions are my own.

Oh my! Minerva Minerva!
So many emotions and feelings you've rolled through me!
Lots of twists and turns too.
What a raw an emotional story you've told! Times I've felt just like you. I've a husband like yours. I feel like I'm 2nd best to him and someone else
But, you taught me a lot of things a long the way, too. I just hope that I can put them into practice.
Times I've wanted to scream at you because you are saying the same thing over and over, but what good's that gonna do? Absolutely nothing!
Times I've wanted to hug you. You're someone special, Minerva Jenkins!
You've taught us all some difficult lessons about life in general.
I'm glad I've gotten to know you. You've made my heart that much fuller for knowing you.
Yes, the older generation is full of memories and history that shouldn't disappear just because we are too busy in our lives to make time for our parents and grandparents.
I'm so glad that I can honestly say that I did. They're worth knowing!
I enjoyed this sweet story so much!
I do know one thing! That I'm NOT second best in Christ's eyes. He knows me and loves me for who I am. After all, He created me and you.
Thank you Ms Sproles for a story of redemption and forgiveness that touches the heart deeply.
Well done! I couldn't put it down until I was done! 5 stars!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is Where it Ends is a well written book. Good plot and character dynamics. I definitely recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Minerva Jane Jenkins is a rare lady. Reading her story through Sproles' prose drew me into the Appalachian Mountains to another time. Through an account told through Minerva's eyes, I clung to the hope she'd have a happy ending to her hard-scrabble life. Though at times hard to read because Minerva's story was so difficult, I appreciated the true-to-life story portrayed in This is Where It Ends. If you enjoy books set in the Appalachian Mountains that hold true to life, you'll want to read this one. Sproles sketches out a meager existence while capturing the treasures of life in the mountains. I received a free copy. Opinions are my own.