In the spring of 1970, as Katie Munson celebrated her twenty-fifth birthday, the single mother of four young children looked back on her life. In the wake of her ex-husband's relentless abuse and manipulative tactics, Katie Munson had emerged a stronger, wiser woman. Feeling grateful and relieved that her violent ex-husband, Darren Munson, had remarried and moved on, Katie was finally able to leave her sordid past behind. At long last, the young mother and her family had risen from the depths of despair, eager to rebuild their shattered lives. But starting over is never easy. After relocating to a small rural town in southeastern Minnesota, the young divorcee felt isolated, frightened and alone. Katie's first priority was finding a decent job so that she could support her four little children. Once she had established herself financially, Katie set her sights on restoring some form of social life for herself...and she never lost hope of finding that special someone with whom she might fall in love, settle down, and enjoy a happy, healthy relationship. After years of being on her own, Katie Munson decided that it was time to start dating again. Unfortunately, not all of her encounters were good ones. One dating disaster, in particular, turned out to be downright frightful, nearly destroying Katie's will and determination to find a man who could make her happy and give her children a father that they could admire, love and respect. Although her life wasn't quite complete, as she still yearned to find her soul mate, Katie counted her many blessings each and every day--most importantly, her four precious children, her loving and benevolent parents, and the old white house that sheltered her spirited family, which quickly became the center of activity for the Munson brood and their numerous childhood friends. In this second installment of the Munson family saga, you will become more familiar with Katie's four children, whose unique personalities materialize as they experience their own individual trials, tribulations and triumphs. In the springtime of their lives, with the love and support of their mother, grandparents and childhood friends, the extraordinary Munson children evolve into fun-loving, compassionate and kindhearted kids, despite the blemish of their father's terrifying memory and legacy of abuse. From the merry-go-round to slumber parties, bicycles to skateboards, roller skates to disco, and The Game of Life to real life, the Munson children create countless memories, cementing friendships that will last a lifetime. No matter what obstacles or detours stood in their way, Katie's children persevered, having learned from their elders' moral and momentous examples. By weathering their storms together, the confident, strong-willed foursome are able to conquer their disappointment, fear, heartbreak and loss, which bonds them ever closer and strengthens their family ties. Set against the backdrop of small-town Minnesota life in the carefree 1970s, this exhilarating drama is overflowing with nostalgia, history, music, suspense and shocking events. Whether you're young or young at heart, there's something for everyone in this thrilling joyride back in time as Katie Munson and her children navigate the river of life, both together as a family and independently from one another, in hopes of discovering the ultimate treasure...in search of "the good stuff."
About the Author: This is the second novel in the "Detours" series of books by Vickie McGillis, an award-winning published poet. Vickie is a longtime supporter of animal rights groups and a lifelong native of Winona, Minnesota, where she and her wonderfully supportive husband reside with their rescued four-legged companions.