Fair to Middlin’

Juliana’s aging parents are now acting like indulgent teenagers and worse her mother, who was the editor of Juliana’s hiking book series and used to have all the answers, has now lost her intellect and short term memory.

Taking a break from the sadness of trying to save her parents, Juliana and her husband, Mat, arrive in Tuscany, Italy. Outside the historic Siena home of St. Catherine Juliana hears a soft whisper. The heart has no memory loss, dear, the heart remembers everything.

This soothing voice begins Juliana’s journey back to her own heart, remembering growing up in Minnesota while getting lost along ancient paths and experiencing the sweetness of doing nothing while sitting in cafés and tasting the delicious Italian cuisine. But when she returns home can she appreciate the beauty of her ordinary life and find joy in the last years with her parents?

★★★★★

Highly recommend! There was a reciprocity, a joy, a kindness and a generosity to the tone of Fair to Middlin’. Linda’s vivid and present narrative and description brought me along to taste the delicious food, feel the character of the local people and witness the beauty of the Tuscan landscape as if I was walking there and seeing it with my own eyes. The afterward was revealing of the author and the soft texture of the book cover and Linda’s cover photo of the cat are inviting to settle into a good read. Her hand -drawn Tuscan map is a fun addition.

Betty Flores
Middle School Teacher
San Francisco

★★★★★

The voice of this novel is lovely.

Susan Wyler
Los Angeles author
and teacher of writing