DANDELION SUMMER

By Lisa Wingate

Epiphany (e-piph-a-ny /iˈpifÉ™nÄ“/ Noun)— a sudden intuitive leap of understanding.

An epiphany takes place in the spirit of Dandelion Summer. Two people coming from two entirely different places of life, from two different directions, intersect in this story where pasts are brought together. Epiphany, a fatherless teenager has learned from an uncaring mother what it means to be unwanted and branded unworthy by society. J. Norman Alvord, recently widowed, once placed great value upon his work as part of the team that sent rockets to the moon. Now he finds himself aging and a burden as his daughter reluctantly takes over his care. When the daughter, Deborah hired Epiphany to cook for Norman in the afternoons, she has no idea the explosion of discovery that has been set in place.

Epiphany and J. Norman find themselves drawn to each other as reluctant allies and co-conspirators. Each has a past with no answers and family mysteries to solve. J. Norm is haunted by dreams of a past has been erased from his mind. Epiphany helps him to find the pieces, and soon they are off on a trip that will astonish you and have you laughing and gasping at once. They make a delightful investigative team as they search for answers for J. Norm. They become not only become friends but family, each a drink of water for the other's thirsty soul.

J. Norm and Epiphany will leave you crying with joy. While most hearts will mend in this story, some won't. The end leaves you wanting more of this awesome team as each find the pieces of their puzzles falling into place. You will melt as past becomes present and future. Take the journey with Epiphany and J. Norm, you won't be disappointed!

Lisa Wingate is tops in my book. This story is absolutely inspirational, absolutely uplifting and totally a page turner. As always, Wingate's characters just come alive. I read it a few days ago and can't stop thinking about J. Norm and Epie. I'm praying that Lisa will continue their stories in another books. I love all of Lisa's books, but think the Blue Sky Hills series are THE BEST. Most guys would like this book, I think because of the busy career, space career, and father daughter themes. Great book for adult daughter and father to read and discuss, for sure.

"Dandelion Summer" by Lisa Wingate is an extraordinarily moving and inspirational book. To those who followed early launches from Cape Canaveral during America's unmanned and manned moon missions, her book brings back many exciting memories. Memories like the Surveyor Spacecraft was launched to the moon on Memorial Day 1966. The Spacecraft successfully soft-landed and transmitted back thousands of pictures. The first American Spacecraft to do so.

One of the characters in the book, Norman, a retired engineer had worked for Hughes on the Surveyor Project. Norman has just about given up. He lives alone and has heart problems. His daughter hires a young girl, Epiphany, to fix Norman's meals and help with the house work. He doesn't want anyone else in his house and devises ways to get her to leave. She needs the money and is as tenacious as Norman, so she stays.

Over time they work together to try to solve Norman's mystery. He relates many of his experiences at Cape Canaveral to Epiphany.

Dandelion Summer has many inspirational messages: "We were young then, certain of our own importance. Convinced that our presence in the world, that our work, was destined to change it."

"So much of life can pass without a thought of where the journey might end."

The book also gives the reader an update on Dell Jordan, the young girl from Tending Roses.

The Conversation Guide in the back of the book is filled with helpful information on America's early Cape Canaveral launches including the Surveyor Program. Additionally really good suggestions for building positive relationships between fathers and daughters are also included.

Dandelion Summer trips many memories and let's us relive some remarkable moments in America's early space exploration.

The first two chapters of Dandelion Summer can be found on Lisa Wingate's website

Dandelion Summer is a remarkable and exciting book. It is off the charts! In my opinion, it is a best seller and will be an extraordinary movie! I highly recommend Dandelion Summer!

Please note: Dandelion Summer is special for me. I worked for Hughes Aircraft on the Surveyor Project both in California and Cape Canaveral. I was there on Memorial Day 1966 when Surveyor was launched to the moon. Some of my Cape experiences are in Dandelion Summer. My thanks to Lisa Wingate for writing this wonderful book!

Ed

First, friends if you have yet to pick up a, Lisa Wingate book, you are missing out! This girl can write. Yes, she is at the top of my favorites list and this book? Oh, you are going to love it. Dandelion Summer is powerful, poignant and has characters that pack a punch. It had my attention at the very first page and held my heart until I closed the last. Leaving me with a overwhelming feeling of hope. We have Miss Epiphany Jones, Epie as she likes to be called and we have J. Norman Alvord. Two characters, both trying to find themselves in a world that is telling them who they are.

Epie, is a teenage girl, living on the low rent side of Blue Sky Hill. Her momma doesn't much care about anything she does. She is tossed around and ignored by all at school. She has begun to believe she has no value. Until that is, she meets, J. Norm. The chemistry between these two characters is breathtaking. J. Norm lives in an upscale neighborhood, one Epie, only dreams of. J. Norm is an elderly man, who has lost his wife and feels as though he has lost at life. His daughter is trying to take care of him. Lets say, she's trying to fit him into her schedule and world. They have a communication break down.

Epie's momma is hired to clean the home of J. Norm and mentions she has a daughter looking for work. Epie is hired to cook for J. Norm and stay with him in the evenings. Neither character knows the impact they are about to have on one another. They form a friendship. A bond of togetherness that they have been missing. I laughed and I cried as these two characters exposed their hearts and were able to open up and find themselves amidst the secrets holding them captive.

There are secrets in each of their lives. Family secrets that are deep. As they have no idea and little time as how to uncover these truths, together they form a united front to, "Have each other's backs", as Epie would say. If only we all had an, Epie or J. Norm in our lives. Maybe we do, we just haven't uncovered them yet. Nothing is of chance. God brought these two people together for great things and it is awesome seeing just how God works when we open our hearts and give Him a chance to show us all He is and all we are.

I encourage you to come. Come and find out the journey, Epie and J. Norm, take together. Love, friendship, redemption, grace, forgiveness. Most of all, finding themselves through opening their heart to another. They find all they are looking for and more.

This book was a gift from Lisa Wingate.

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It is a beautiful story. I have been pondering it for days now since I finished reading it. Lisa Wingate is my new favorite author. This is the 3rd book of hers that I have read and I love the manner if which she writes. Her stories never get dull and each page is interesting and unpredictable. So inspirational!