"The River" by Michael Neale

Haunting memories surround "The River" for Gabriel Clark. Burying the memories has been his goal, something he really can't deal with. But, what happens when he has a job that removes any comfort from his world and forces him to deal with the past? Will he finally find peace? Can he rebuild his life?

When Gabriel was only five, he witnessed the death of his father while trying to rescue a kayaker on the river. His life from that moment is controlled by the trauma and anguish over that event. He can't bear to go anywhere near the river, choosing rather to stay far away and bury his pain. As an adult, his life takes many turns until one day he takes a job working for a company that offers river guides. Gabriel comes face to face with the past and is confronted with his own inability to move forward in his life. There are people who help him along the way - like Tabitha and Elias - but ultimately, Gabriel must be the one to choose forward movement in his life. Will he choose to deal with the past and finally move forward, or will the past retain its strong hold over him? Is this applicable to our own lives today? Pick up the book and find out!

This is a great story, one that can help each of us put away the past and move forward. The characters and story are compelling, making it difficult to put down. I recommend this book to readers of all types, and definitely think book groups will find this a valuable book to discuss. It will also make a great gift for someone having trouble moving forward in their life. I received my free review copy from the Book Sneeze program in exchange for an honest review.