Review: The Chimney Still Stands by Tammy Snyder

ISBN-10: 0012027774

ISBN-13: 2940012027771

Publish Date: December 2010

About the Author:

(Taken from B&N website)

Tammy Snyder was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1991 she moved south to Arkansas, where she still resides, in the heart of the Ozarks, just a stones throw away from the Buffalo River she writes about in her debut novel, The Chimney Still Stands. Always reading and writing (and regrettably tossing previous works away!), she finally found time in 1999 to begin writing her first serious novel. She loves to read a variety of genres but, when it comes to her own writing, she prefers fiction with a bit of real history woven within. Tammy is happily married with a seventeenth anniversary coming up and together they have three amazing sons - all teenagers! (Prayers are welcome!) Tammy loves to hear from her readers! You can contact her at: novelimagination@yahoo.com

Summary:

(Taken from B&N website)

A dying man, returning to his childhood home, must relive a past that has cost him everything in order to find the peace and forgiveness he desperately needs.

1970: Tandon Bowman, newly promoted as manager of a survey team for the National Park Service, is told his new job is to go to the one place he had tried hard to stay away from - Jasper, Arkansas. It is to be his job to help the distraught landowners along the Buffalo River understand why they will lose their land to the nationalizing of the river.

JulieAnn Peterson, editor of the local newspaper, while always wishing her old high school sweetheart would return, is stunned that evening at the town meeting when she sees Tandon standing there before the podium. Knowing that Tandon works for the very government that is taking homes and land from the ones he loves would put a strain on any relationship. But, will it stand in the way of healing an old rift between he and his father? Will it ruin his chance to be with the only woman he has ever loved? Or will giving up his dream job be his only chance at real happiness?

My Review:

This novel is one of those that starts off in the present, but quickly proceeds to the past and stays there for the majority of the novel.

I thought this to be a tale of two long lost loves reunited with nothing but happiness in their future.  Boy, was I wrong!  I don't want to put any spoilers in here, but this novel was not what I expected.  It seemed so at first, but by the time I finally finished the novel, I was floored!  It's not very often that an author can twist the plot and surprise me, but Tammy did a fine job of that in The Chimney Still Stands, her debut novel.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a love story with a twist.  It will definitely draw you in and keep you hooked until the last page.

Happy Reading! =)