Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy (Enchanted Rock Series #1)

by Kris Clink

Overview

For readers of Katherine Center and Kristan Higgins, an immersive, soul-nourishing novel that dares to hold onto hope when happily-ever-after seems lost. Full of character, wit, and wisdom, Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy explores second chances and the power of connection.

Lark’s lost her husband, and the expiration date has come and gone on her fake-it-till-you-make-it “Happy Mommy Show.” Healing her broken family requires drastic measures—like returning to her hometown in the Texas Hill Country. But she’s going to need more than clean air and a pastoral landscape to rebuild a life for her and her young sons.

After years of putting off her dream of becoming a winemaker, Lark puts every cent into a failing vineyard, determined to work through her grief and make a brighter future for her children. The last thing she expects is to fall in love again. Especially not with Wyatt Gifford, an injured Army vet with a past of his own to conquer.

Coming home may not be the reset Lark imagined, but it does take her on a journey filled with humor and reconciliation—one that prepares her for a courageous comeback.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684630738
Publisher:	SparkPress
Publication date:	04/06/2021
Series:	Enchanted Rock Series , #1
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Kris Clink’s relatable characters rely on humor and tenderness to navigate complicated relationships. Set in middle America, her novels are laced with romance, heartbreak, and just enough snarky humor to rock the boat. When not writing, Kris spends her time searching for an open karaoke mic and an understanding audience. Her pups run the house Kris shares with her doctor husband, who’s stretching his skills as an editor-in-training. Kris is a mom, an empty nester, and a huge fan of Willie Nelson. She loves talking about writing and books, and looks forward to attending your book club by Zoom until she can meet you in person. Kris lives in Wichita, Kansas.

Editorial Reviews

Featured in Bustle's “The Best New Books To Read This April”

“An uplifting tale about family, second chances, and the complexity of making fine Texas wine.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy is a deftly crafted, inherently absorbing, and unfailingly entertaining read from cover to cover. . . . very highly recommended . . . ”
—Midwest Book Review

“The Texas wine country setting is delightful, the characters warm and inspiring, and the story itself is romantic, humorous, and uplifting.”
—San Francisco Book Review

“A wonderful new voice in women’s fiction.”
—Kristan Higgins, author of Life and Other Inconveniences

“In her debut, Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy, Kris Clink explores what happens after the traumatic events that shaped her characters’ lives, and the hope that love and acceptance offers. You’ll want to say hello to these charming, complicated, and refreshingly flawed characters.”
—Amy E. Reichert, author of The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go

“I didn’t want to say goodbye to Lark and the cast of characters in Kris Clink’s debut. With a confident voice, smart humor, and masterful handling of difficult subjects, this story is full of heart and has so much to love.”
—Leah DeCesare, author of Forks, Knives, and Spoons

“A sweet, charming, romantic interlude in the winemaking hill country of Texas—a lovely vicarious vacation, and just the rosy dose of optimism and hope we need right now.”
—Phoebe Fox, author of A Little Bit of Grace

“Kris Clink takes us on a delightful trip to Texas wine country in her heartwarming debut. With a large and engaging cast of characters that never feels like too much, Clink introduces us to an endearing community you’ll want to revisit. Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy is a touching tale about moving past grief, building the life you want, motherhood in all its forms, and finding love again against the odds.”
—Lainey Cameron, author of The Exit Strategy

“Lark Lovejoy is fierce, funny and unforgettable. Clink’s debut is a heartwarming and uplifting story that reminds us it’s never too late to go after your dreams, that age is just a number, and you can find love in unexpected places. I can’t wait to see what Kris Clink writes next!”
—Alison Hammer, author of You and Me and Us

From the Publisher

2020-11-25
After the death of her husband, a young woman moves back to her hometown to build a new life for herself and her children in this novel.

Lark Mead has just lost her husband to Lou Gehrig’s disease and is faced with the daunting task of raising their two sons on her own. When a real estate broker comes calling soon after her husband’s death, Lark is offended. But after learning how much the house is worth, she decides that a return to her hometown may just be the fresh start her family needs. When she arrives back in Fredericksburg, Texas, she finds a newly renovated, not-so-child-friendly house and grandparents that are very busy with lives of their own. Lark begins searching for employment, but there aren’t many jobs for attorneys in town, and she’s not that interested in the law anyway. Instead, she decides to pursue a career in winemaking, a dream she had long ago given up. As Lark reconnects with old friends and attempts to navigate single motherhood, she meets a handsome, young Army veteran named Wyatt Gifford. As Lark and Wyatt get to know each other, she learns he has emotional baggage of his own, and she begins to doubt their compatibility. As the story progresses, Lark wonders whether she will ever figure out how to find a promising future. Told primarily from Lark’s point of view, the narrative shifts periodically to Wyatt’s perspective, providing readers a useful second lens through which to view events. Full of humorous moments about the pitfalls of parenting, including kids who say inappropriate things at the worst times and catty parent volunteers who attempt to commandeer school events, this plot-focused tale also explores deeper issues like grief, PTSD, and self-sufficiency. Although Clink’s series opener gets off to a slow start, introducing too many subplots and supporting characters before focusing on the main action, individual scenes are well crafted throughout, and relationships consistently come across as authentic. A few surprises toward the story’s end make it a worthwhile read.

An uplifting tale about family, second chances, and the complexity of making fine Texas wine.

Kirkus Reviews