The town of Henry Adams, Kansas, has not much in it and not much to do, bar farming and dodging tornadoes. But these seem like good people. Let's meet some. Gemma Dahl, for a start, driving along when she meets a pair of young kids screaming for help. A twister overturned their uncle's car, and they fear he's dead. Gemma instantly goes to their aid and calls the sheriff. Lucas and his sister Jasmine had just been adopted -- will they be sent back to foster care? We also meet Rocky Dancer, a lively lady who is co-owner of the diner. One way or another, most people are CHASING DOWN A DREAM.

This series is called Blessings and the contemporary setting includes several African-American characters, getting along with their neighbours, such as Deputy Davida Ransom. After the police have done their best, Gemma, a single grandmother, is left in temporary care of Lucas and Jasmine. There are nine kids resident in this part of town, including her grandson Wyatt. Surely there is room for two more. Jasmine wants her hair done in cornrows, and even though Gemma isn't African-American she assures the child she can manage it. Life doesn't need to be complicated... but officialdom might make it so.

I've obviously missed quite a lot of excitement, as apparently five years ago, the mayor purchased the town on eBay. I don't know what that entailed, but a large cast has been assembled with tensions and back-stories, so if you have been following the series no doubt you'll be delighted to catch up on the gossip. I did find too many threads for a newcomer so I was happy to concentrate on the orphaned kids, Gemma and Rocky, and let the rest be a backing crew. They include a lady named Tamar who feels entitled to speed on the highway because her family has lived here for generations. Pride goes before a fall. A friendly rivalry exists with the town of Franklin, and some folks take it too seriously.

We learn that many stresses go with running a town -- financial, legal, criminal. And just plain social. While a romance occurs, it's not the focus of the book, so this tale of good hearts and twisted jealousies which resolves some generation-old issues is not just for romance fans. Beverly Jenkins spins a lively yarn with historical detail, and creates characters so real you feel you know them. CHASING DOWN A DREAM will please her current readers, and make anyone who hasn't followed the series want to go and explore town from the start.

Book Summary

NAACP nominee and USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins continues her beloved Blessings series with a heartwarming novel about what really makes a family.

There’s never a dull day in Henry Adams, Kansas.

Tamar July has never had a great relationship with certain members of her family. In fact, she’d characterize it as a “hate/hate relationship.” But when her cousin calls her with the news that she’s dying and wants Tamar to plan the funeral, she’s shocked but is willing to drop everything for her.

After a horrendous storm, Gemma finds a young boy and his little sister walking on the side of the road. She takes them in, and quickly falls in love with the orphaned siblings. But when Gemma contacts Social Services to try to become their foster mother, she’s told a white woman cannot foster African-American children.

In the midst of these trials, Jack and Rocky are trying to plan their wedding. The entire town comes together to lend a helping hand.

Though the residents of Henry Adams face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, each of them will discover that family comes in many forms, especially during the most trying of times.