Absolutely loved this! Loved the "reality" of it--families aren't perfect--we love them anyway. Dreams we search so hard to track down, are sometimes right in front of us. The characters were vivid, the emotions, very real. I felt like I was living on the mountain with them, and it was a beautiful place to be! ( )

The In-Between Hour by Barbara Claypool White is an extremely emotional and poignant read. The various storylines converge into an incredibly powerful story of healing that I found impossible to put down.

In the aftermath of losing his young son, Freddie, in a tragic accident, Will Shepard is deeply grieving his loss when he is forced to return to North Carolina to take care of his aging father Jacob. Will is planning a quick trip to settle his dad in a new retirement home but he is soon enmeshed in the lives of his temporary landlady, Hannah Linden and her deeply depressed adult son, Galen. Unable to escape memories of his painful childhood and trapped by the falsehood he told Jacob about Freddie's prolonged absence, Will is soon desperate to escape back to his life in New York. A crisis with Galen forces Will to admit to his growing feelings for Hannah, but is love enough to heal the shattered pieces of their lives?

Will is devastated by Freddie's death and angry at the circumstances surrounding the accident that took his son's life. He loves his father but he is struggling to understand Jacob's devotion to the mother who destroyed his childhood with her untreated mental illness. The lie Will tells to protect Jacob keeps him from discussing his loss with anyone and his grief is quickly becoming all consuming as he tries to find a viable solution for Jacob. Hannah is a calming influence in both his and Jacob's lives but it is his unexpected friendship with Galen that brings the most comfort to Will.

Hannah is probably one of the most unflappable characters I have encountered. Calm and serene, she has an instant rapport with Jacob and they bond over their love of the land. Able to help everyone but Galen, Hannah finds it difficult to maintain her tranquility once her son returns home.

Desperate to maintain his dignity as he slowly declines, Jacob finds peace in returning the mountains he loves so much. Despite Will's best efforts to protect him, the knowledge of Freddie's death lingers around the edges of his fragmented memory. Watching him fight his memory loss is absolutely heartbreaking but there are also touching glimpses of the gentle and loving man he once was as well.

Galen is such an incredibly sensitive person that it is not surprising he feels life so deeply. His struggle with depression is handled with sensitivity and offer amazing insight into a little discussed illness. The descriptions of the medications' side effects, the crippling hopelessness and abject despair provide readers with an up close and personal view of depression that is not easy to forget.

A much needed counterpoint to everyone else's sadness, Hannah's lifelong friend Poppy is a bright spot in story. Vivacious and energetic, she is irreverent and funny. Although Poppy is facing a few setbacks of her own, she is always upbeat and her enthusiasm is infectious. Given her current circumstances Poppy is the logical person to become Jacob's caregiver and their relationship is quite charming.

Full of deep emotion, The In-Between Hour is beautifully written and quite riveting. Barbara Claypool White brilliantly weaves grief and loss into an uplifting and hopeful story of love that will stay with readers long after the last page has been turned. ( )

A lovely story, beautiful setting that you feel is right outside your door while you're reading, and characters you don't want to leave behind. This book has it all. A rich, lovely book. ( )

I was lucky enough to win this book through the first-reads giveaway.

This was my first time reading a book by this author but it will definitely not be the last. "The In-Between Hour" is a beautifully written book that draws the reader in through likable characters and real issues that people deal with everyday such as; the loss of life, mental illness, and Alzheimers. As soon as I started this book I didn't want to put it down. A must read for 2014! ( )

Once in awhile I find one of those books that consumes me emotionally. The In-Between Hour by Barbara Claypole White is one of those books. I knew that this would not be one of those stories that I could just pick up and read at random - once I started, I had to read it all the way to the end. And as I finished the last page, the story stayed with me to the point where I had to tell someone about it. So, I emailed a "bookie" friend of mine and told her to find this book as soon as possible.

I am not going to give a summary of this book, as you can find that on the back cover. But, I will tell you that The In-Between Hour is a book that you should not pass up - especially if you are drawn to tender, beautifully written stories that deal with sensitive life topics such as grief, aging, and death. And you'd be correct in assuming that this is not one of those "happy" books that puts a smile on your face as you close the cover. It is not that kind of story. What it will do though is make you think - and sometimes that is just what we need to bring things back into perspective and allow us to take a step back and re-examine some things in our own lives.

This is a book that is very true to life. Anyone who has aging parents or has suffered any kind a loss in their life will be able to identify with this book. It presents a tale not only about loss and grieving, but also shows us the power of love and the promise of healing as well.

Barbara Claypole White writes this intensely emotional tale that addresses many delicate issues with skill and compassion. I highly recommend this book and I feel that you would be missing out if you passed on this one. It is an beautiful story that I will not soon forget.

I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the publisher for the opportunity to review this poignant story. ( )