What do you think?
Rate this book
Half Truths Under a Broken Moon
Luna Andersen is reticent to return to her small town of Alton, Minnesota, but she has no choice because the woman who raised her is dying of cancer. Seeing her actual mother alive and well, on the other hand, is one of the reasons she stayed away for so long. When Luna glimpses a photo of a man closely resembling her dead twin sister, she wonders if he could be the father she never knew. And if he is, it throws a wrench in pursuing a romantic relationship with the one person she ever considered loving-her childhood friend Brad. Just as she inches closer to uncovering the mystery, Luna gets scared and does the thing she's always done when things get hard. She packs her bags. Again. Ruining her chances with Brad. But this time Alton has other plans for her.
278 pages, Paperback
Published November 22, 2023
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Jody Wenner
21 books74 followersJody Wenner is a Midwestern author with several independently published mystery novels as well as two works released by The Wild Rose Press. Shorter stories and articles can be found in the pages of Mystery Magazine Weekly, Punk Noir, Urban Pigs Press, Pistol Jim Press, The Keepthings, and Thriller101. When not writing, reading, or editing, you can find her walking her dog or obsessively knitting. Visit her at www.jodywenner.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 22, 2023
Will going home again bring added pain—or profound joy?
About the Book: After a decade away from her hometown of Alton, Minnesota, Luna Anderson is reticent to return but she has no choice. The woman who raised her is dying of cancer. While working through her grief over the loss, Luna encounters her birth mother—another of the reasons she stayed away for so long—alive and well and thriving. To complicate matters, after seeing Brad, her childhood friend, the same confusing feelings Luna once had for him resurface.
So do the panic attacks she’s not suffered since fleeing Alton. Is Brad the trigger? Or is it the loss of the only woman who nurtured her? Then, perhaps the cause lies with the emotionally charged relationship she has with her mother.
Luna owes it to her recently deceased grandma to stay in Alton and care for the man who stood as the only father figure she’s ever known. It might be time to stop running and finally confront everything she has tried to move on from—which means figuring out the cause of the panic attacks and whether she is ready to risk falling in love again.
.
Our Review: this is a compelling and complex tale of family systems and the wrath that once wreaked on the innocent leads to lifelong pain and uncertainty. In order to survive, Luna escaped but only by developing multiple protective layers. It is therefore a pure joy to watch author Wenner peel the layers away like the skin of an onion. As each layer is shed, the reader sees light and clarity enter Luna’s damaged spirit. This is a journey into one woman’s self-actualization, as well as a joyous and happily ever after. Well done!
Based on a scale of 1-5, Half Truths Under a Broken Moon merits a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
About the Book: After a decade away from her hometown of Alton, Minnesota, Luna Anderson is reticent to return but she has no choice. The woman who raised her is dying of cancer. While working through her grief over the loss, Luna encounters her birth mother—another of the reasons she stayed away for so long—alive and well and thriving. To complicate matters, after seeing Brad, her childhood friend, the same confusing feelings Luna once had for him resurface.
So do the panic attacks she’s not suffered since fleeing Alton. Is Brad the trigger? Or is it the loss of the only woman who nurtured her? Then, perhaps the cause lies with the emotionally charged relationship she has with her mother.
Luna owes it to her recently deceased grandma to stay in Alton and care for the man who stood as the only father figure she’s ever known. It might be time to stop running and finally confront everything she has tried to move on from—which means figuring out the cause of the panic attacks and whether she is ready to risk falling in love again.
.
Our Review: this is a compelling and complex tale of family systems and the wrath that once wreaked on the innocent leads to lifelong pain and uncertainty. In order to survive, Luna escaped but only by developing multiple protective layers. It is therefore a pure joy to watch author Wenner peel the layers away like the skin of an onion. As each layer is shed, the reader sees light and clarity enter Luna’s damaged spirit. This is a journey into one woman’s self-actualization, as well as a joyous and happily ever after. Well done!
Based on a scale of 1-5, Half Truths Under a Broken Moon merits a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
September 13, 2024
An emotional read in which Luna's struggles with panic attacks, conflicting emotions and unanswered questions were really well described. There were many layers to her story and the complexities of different relationships within families. Loved Brad he was a perfect friend with his own painful demons. An excellent ending completed a great story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews