If you are a fan of small town contemporary fiction then look no further!

Pete has been alone for years. He’s moved back to his childhood home and works as a garbage man. He also has a pet pig named Pearl

One day, Pete notices on his route that a rather well routined older lady didn’t put her trash can out. He startled upon her having fallen. Luckily she’s ok and this little blip is the start of a friendship

Wilma has had her eye on Pete. She knows things about his past but is worried what those secrets will do to Pete. She’s made some terrible choices in the past, some of which could have caused Pete the years of trouble and heartache he experienced

Over time, and with the inclusion of more friendships, Pete’s small world slowly gets bigger. This story is truly humbling and an enjoyable read

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass is set in Montana and as always, Author Katie Powner artfully sets the scene for this moving story.

The book contains a well-written cast of characters and multiple layers of dealing with the past, righting wrongs, forgiveness, being the best person you can be, not staying bitter when life hurts, continuing to move forward...
all while keeping the joy and healing in the story.

Pearl the potbellied pig steals the show multiple times. She is such a fun character and I like that Katie writes animal friends into her books.

The ending was absolutely touching, as well. It truly is one of Author Katie Powner's best books and I hope you check it out if you like moving Faith-Based contemporary fiction.

I really enjoyed this book! How could I not enjoy it, when the first chapter introduced a pet potbelly pig and a person saving usable items from the dump, and the second chapter started out with a game that my family enjoys? Even though it deals with some very heavy subjects, The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass has a lot of comic relief, too. It has a very realistic, normal man for a hero, a villainous villain, hurting women and an old lady living with regrets--in short, the kind of people you would have for neighbors.
Pete Ryman spends his time, these days, picking up garbage in Sleeping Grass, Montana. He had never planned to come back to Sleeping Grass, but as a high school dropout who kept losing his temper and getting into fights, he didn’t have many options. Sleeping Grass holds too many memories for him of loneliness and abandonment. He now has a pig to keep him company, though, and meets up with his friend Windy Ray and his 3-legged dog every week to play chicken foot.
Wilma watches Pete every week, praying for him and trying to muster up the courage to admit to Pete how she failed him so many years ago. She also tries to figure out how to help Lily, the young woman she hire to help her take care of her house. She knows what God is telling her to do—but how could she imagine what would the cost would be to her?
Pete is a fun character to read about. I liked the things he thought when he was tempted to swear, like “Tyke on a bike.” There was quite a variety of them. I also loved the way he related to his pig, and how he bumbled through building a relationship with his nephew. The time he talked to him about how each person has value was beautiful. I also really liked Windy Ray’s way of talking about the Creator and how only finding peace with the Creator will satisfy a person. Wilma is a dear lady, too. Overall, I found The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass an enjoyable read with just the right mixture of romance (two different romances, with endings that surprised me by how realistic they were), mystery, humor and tragedy. I really appreciated this author’s portrayal of life and how she showed people dealing with hard things. I liked how she wrote characters who were so believable, talking and acting just like real people, with a normal mixture of good and bad character qualities. I’ll be watching for more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: Chapter 16: Dang. Around Chapter 24 a boy bullies other children at school. Chapter 27: Son of a gun. Chapter 33: Darn it. Chapter 36: Why the heck, two men fight. Chapter 39: An animal is abused. In several chapters, a woman is verbally or physically abused, and considers abortion.

4.5 rounded up to 5

I really enjoyed this heartwarming book.  It  gave me all the feels.  The story was so sweet, and I found myself very invested in it right from the beginning. This was my first book by Katie Powner and most definitely will not be my last.

Pete Ryman is back in Sleeping Grass, MT.  After being abandoned by his mother and separated from his sister, Pete had a rough childhood being bounced from foster family to foster family.  He endures a rough adulthood as well, with a stint in jail.  Now that he's 50, he's decided to turn his life around and lay low in his hometown on the Hi-Line.  His potbellied pig Pearl and his poetry keep him company.  He tries to see his best and only friend Windy Ray as much as possible.  When Pete meets Wilma Jacobsen, an elderly widow, they seem to have a connection.   Wilma has guilt from a secret she's been keeping for a very long time.  Is it now time to come forward with the truth and to make things right?  Especially since Dani, Pete's younger sister, has also returned to Sleeping Grass with her son Braedon. 

I absolutely loved the setting of this book, and I was lucky enough to be in MT while reading it😊  This book was very well written with drama to pull you in and a great list of characters.  I really liked Pete. He was always trying to help someone even though he didn't have a lot.  This book about hope, second chances, and forgiveness is definitely worth a read, and I highly recommend it.

It's such a heartwarming feel good story full of amazing characters. This is my first book by this author and her ability to create characters is amazing!

I highly recommend to anyone who likes a great story with amazing characters that just make you feel good.

I could not have enjoyed this book more. In fact, I was flying through the book and realized I was 90% through the book. I had to explain to my husband that I had to stop reading because I didn't want to finish.

I went in to the book blind and came out loving everything about the characters... Well, not Jason. I will go back and read previous books by the author.

This was my first book by Katie Powner, and it was such a good read! I sat there thinking about it after I was done reading, which to me warrants a rating of 4.5 stars!

I loved the story and was immersed in the characters' lives. It followed Pete, a trash collector who returned to his hometown after facing ups and downs and Wilma, an elderly woman who wants to make things correct with Pete. The supporting characters were enjoyable, and the plot, while simplistic at times, was very memorable.

Title: The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass
Author: Katie Powner
Pub Date: September 26, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass is an absolutely beautiful character driven novel with such an engaging and realistic storyline. I just loved everything about this book!

After returning to the place he never expected to see again, Pete Ryman has settled in the small Montana town of Sleeping Grass, along with his potbellied pig, Pearl. Now, at the age of 50, Pete is a garbage collector with one friend, Windy Ray, and his three-legged dog. When Pete’s sister comes back in town, with an eleven-year-old son, he must face the past the he had hoped to leave behind. Wilma Jacobsen, an elderly woman, has always felt guilty over her part in the events that led Pete to leave Sleeping Grass so many years ago. With Pete back, Wilma hopes this is the perfect opportunity to make things right.

I loved the themes of friendship, love, loss, forgiveness and move forward. This book, as its surface, was so hopeful and I found myself not wanting it to end. The characters will stick with me for such a long time because they were flawed and so realistic. I think this would make an excellent book club pick!

This was amazing. I truly loved it so much. The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass was just the wholesome, warm hug that I didn't even know that I needed. Immediately, my heart felt for Pete. I feel that he was just doing the best that he could after a life of adversity. And can we talk about the fact that he had a pet pot bellied pig???

While it didn't necessarily end the way that I had hoped, I can appreciate how it did end because it was real. I cannot recommend this read enough and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read and review it.

Read if you enjoy:
1. Found family
2. A pet pot bellied pig
3. Small town setting

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass, by Katie Powner is such a good story that takes place in Sleeping Grass, Montana. This well written story was easy to read and imagine, all the way to the smell of Pete’s potbelly pig. I enjoyed the characters, especially the way they care for each other and help each other. This story contains secrets of Pete and his sister’s’ mother that Wilma holds. I enjoyed how Pete met Wilma and the friendship that his friend formed with her. The simple gift of a rock holds a much more meaning to them. This is a wonderful story that tells the story of Pete’s life and the mistakes he made and how he is overcoming them. I totally enjoyed reading all parts of this book. This story does have mention of drug abuse, child abandonment, the foster care system and physical and emotional abuse.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

Although this book had a slower pace than I am used to, I really did enjoy my time reading it. I can definitely see my patrons loving this book as well. And I will be recommending this book for purchase in my library for circulation purposes.

This was a unique book of coming home and facing your past. Pete has come back to Sleeping Grass, Montana and is the garbage man. He goes to work each day with his pot bellied pig named Pearl. The pig was a rescue and shows what a kind hearted person Pete is by bringing him home.

This had a group of misfit characters that warm your heart as they are all struggling with something. Together they manage to share and heal.

My favorite person was Wilma the loving, caring and meddling old lady on the block.

This is a great book to show what a huge impact one person can have on your life.

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass is a precious story about the fallout from broken relationships and the healing for their long-lasting effects.

Set on the Hi-Line in Northern Montana, where many miles separate small towns and where long winters foster tightknit communities but also breed the perils of isolation, author Katie Powner spins a touching tale about simple but flawed characters: A garbage collector in search of himself, an elderly widow disconnected from her adult children, a woman trapped in an abusive relationship, and a pig. That’s right, a pig! Pearl, as she’s called, offers levity throughout but also becomes a central figure in one of the more intense scenes in the book.

Family dysfunction is so prevalent in today’s culture, and this story extends hope and healing for it. No platitudes, no fantasy endings, no romantic fluff, but instead courageous, simple decisions by heart-wounded, vulnerable characters who dare grasp for the freedom and closeness they’ve been denied. The writing is solid throughout—beautiful and powerful in the poignant scenes.

It’s well worth your time to crack the cover of this book to see if you find a piece of yourself somewhere inside.

I received a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a review and the opinions expressed are my own.

The small Montana town of Sleeping Grass seems to be a quiet sanctuary but looks can be deceiving. Pete, a return resident has found a means to eke out a living along with his pet pot-bellied pig, Pearl. The author has chosen to build the story in a slow manner, which I appreciate because it makes it easier to keep track of the multiple characters that are involved. Be prepared for a warm story full of life, both good and bad. Redemption is a cornerstone and I must say that the redemption portion is definitely the authors’ strong suit. She always does it in an incredibly subtle way. My favorite quote: “Every day she reminded him that not everything tossed aside by others was worthless garbage. Sometimes it was treasure.” (Pete pondering about Pearl the pig). And yes, the pot-bellied Pearl is adorable!
This is the author’s fourth novel and I have read and thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them. I really wanted to pick a favorite, but I can’t, so I highly recommend them all. You will not be disappointed!
I received a copy of this book from the author and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Katie Powner has such a beautiful way of telling stories that will stick with the reader long after the final page... and The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass is another beautiful example of that.

I will admit, it took me a little bit to get into this story... but I think more than anything, this is just because it's a slower pace than most of the books that I've been reading lately so it took a minute for my brain to slow down to enjoy it. Though I generally DO prefer faster paced reads, I found it worked well for this type of story.

There were several wonderful characters that we get to know in this story. Each of them is unique and has their own struggles and regrets that they are dealing with. I loved seeing how their lives intertwine and seeing their growth throughout the story. It took on some very difficult topics such as abandonment, foster care, abuse, etc. As such, it wasn't always the easiest to read at points, but it handled these hard moments gracefully and had an overall feeling of friendship, moving forward and faith that was really beautiful. There was also some humor mixed in at points that helped balance it out too. (Looking at you, Pearl!)

Overall, I thought this was a beautifully written story and one that fans of Christian fiction are sure to enjoy.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book seems to touch on several different real life issues. It’s another well written book by this author.
It keeps you turning the pages I liked Pearl too!
Thanks to the author and Netgalley for the early copy

Couldn’t wait to pick this book back up again!

I absolutely loved this character driven tale! The book is centered around the lives of Pete, Wilma, Lily, Ray, Dani and her son Braedon. Author, Katie Powner follows Pete, who has returned to the small town of Sleeping Grass, Montana, as he works towards building a better life for himself.

I highly recommend reading this one—It was a welcome break from my usual thrillers.

I love General Fiction novels and Katie Powner writes them so well. She expertly blends a mix of heart and humor into an engaging story line.

Main character Pete has had a difficult life with his mother leaving him and his sister at a young age. He used his fists to fight battles which has led to a transient life as an adult. After returning to Sleeping Grass, Montana, his life has settled into a comfortable one. Pete drives a garbage truck with his faithful pig Pearl in the passenger seat. And then God brings a few different wounded souls into his life.

This tale is a beautiful one of friendship, love, loss and moving on.

The heart of this book is about value of each of God’s creatures, “He says (Windy Ray) everything the Creator makes has value, but a man must choose whether he wants to see it.” This book is filled with people with broken lives and tough choices. The question is can you forget what you have been told your whole life and move forward to a new and promising future. Katie Powner has such insight, and the characters all have depth. I found myself cheering for Pearl, the potbellied pet pig in the story. The main character is Pete Ryman, a fifty-one-year-old that has finally settled down in Sleeping Grass after drifting most of his adult life. Pete has been a loner suddenly finds himself with family and friends here in this small town. Will he find what he may have been looking for his whole life, forgiveness, love and acceptance?

My thanks to the author and publisher for an early copy of this book. The opinions here are entirely my own.

Oh my goodness, loved it! I so quickly became invested in the lives of the dear characters in The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass. Such is a gentle story told with humor and a whole lot of life and depth kept me turning pages to see how everything works out.

I think everyone should have a friend that teaches him funny rhyming expressions, instead of cuss words. This is way more creative! "Snake on a rake, it was cold." "Snitch in a ditch." "Tank in a bank." "Moose on the loose." "Tike on a bike, what was he going to do?" "Mole in a hole."

And who can forget Pearl the pet pig?

From Wilma not wanting to fail her friend's children again, and the guilt that she's carried for years, to Pete and Dani who had difficult lives since their mother left them, to Windy Ray and his humor, encouragement and wisdom, to Lily in a difficult situation, the author weaves a beautiful story with threads of mystery. Windy Ray's advice is perfect. "Windy Ray says the Creator made us to need each other and to need Him." "Everything God makes has value, whether we choose to see it or not."

I highly recommend this beautiful story by author Katie Powner.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.