Finding Freedom

by Sharon L. Dean

Leaving Freedom took Connie Lewis from her home in Freedom, Massachusetts, to Florida with her aging mother, and then to Ashland, Oregon, where she found success as a writer and a place to call home. Now, forty years later, Connie is eighty years old and has exchanged the Volkswagen she called The Yellow Sub for a Honda Fit she’s nicknamed Last Chance. She’s ready for one last adventure. Finding Freedom follows her on a road trip back to the Freedom she left behind so many years ago. When she arrives, she faces the decision about where to spend her last years of living. Will it be the Massachusetts where she was born, the Oregon she has learned to call home, or somewhere she hasn’t expected?

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2023

About the author

Sharon L. Dean grew up in Massachusetts where she was immersed in the literature of New England. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of New Hampshire, a state she lived and taught in before moving to Oregon. Although she has given up writing scholarly books that require footnotes, she incorporates much of her academic research as background in her mysteries. She is the author of three Susan Warner mysteries and three Deborah Strong mysteries. Her collection Six Old Women and Other Stories explores settings in New Hampshire. Leaving Freedom has been re-released in June 2023 along with a sequel, Finding Freedom. Dean continues to write about New England while she is discovering the beauty of the West.

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again I am being charitable with my star rating. If, as I did, you have read the first volume Leaving Freedom and are curious to learn the rest of Connie’s narrative, you may overlook the weaknesses of this story . Otherwise it just doesn’t have that much to recommend it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving an honest review, letting the chips fall where they may. This sequel is padded with unimportant trivia that adds to the length but just bogs down the story. For the same reason it repeats the same musings of the character over and over. And exciting happenings that took place during the 40 years between the two volumes, are referred to in an off-handed manner that just frustrated this reader.

The greatest failing however was the fact that the most dramatic part of the story — the flight of a young woman and her baby — happens, for the most part, offstage. The first commandment of good writing is “show us, don’t tell us.” I’m afraid the author forgot this rule, and it weakened the story immeasurably.

[Teri Radogna-linquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad I was able to read this one immediately following the first book. The story of Connie 40 years after the start of her journey was amazing. Her ongoing journey to finding herself and where she belongs was once again well written with an engaging story line. Her naive trust in people continued and luckily it only served as a form of self awareness as she completed her journey through the rest of her life. While the end was predictable, the story line was tied up nicely and in the end I even grew to love the character of her sister.

If you enjoy strong women characters who are on a journey of self discovery you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andy Cochrane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read over two days, it was good to read about a strong, independent older woman, even though she was reminded of her age many times during her trip across the United States. Interesting descriptions of some of the country’s majestic scenery. I hadn’t read the first book in the series, and while that didn’t matter too much, there were some references to Connie’s past that would have benefited from being filled out. Overall, a quick read that for me, was a little lacking in substance, and somewhat implausible at times.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from Book Sirens. This sounded like a great adventure for Connie, who is traveling alone across the country. She is a famous author who has retired. Her travel documentary may become a book. She meets characters along the way. I had a hard time caring about Connie, thus my three star rating.