The Lost Husband    by Katherine Center Order:  USA  Can Ballantine, 2013 (2013) Softcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson After the sudden death of her wonderful husband Danny, Libby Moran and her two small children lived with her difficult, constantly critical mother. After 'two passive-aggressive years' of driving each other crazy, Libby's aunt Jean has offered them refuge at her Texas Hill Country goat farm. Libby accepts without thinking twice about it. She soon finds herself enjoying her cheese-making chores. With more freedom, independence and responsibilities, her kids change for the better. Though at first Libby doesn't know quite what to make of 'Muppet shaggy. Caveman shaggy. Bigfoot shaggy' farm manager O'Connor, an attraction grows between them. And Libby forms a sound friendship with yet another quirky character, ex-celebrity feed-store clerk Sunshine, who offers to contact her dead husband for her. Eventually Libby learns shocking facts about O'Connor's personal situation and about her own early years. She discovers that 'You can't just wish strength for yourself. Or wisdom. Or resilience. Those things have to be earned.' It's all about finding 'wisps of happiness snagged on brambles.' The Lost Husband is a sweet, quirky story about family and life after loss. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews