Shadow Days

Cedar Hollow #4

by Melinda Clayton

On the anniversary of her husband’s death, forty-nine-year-old Emily Holt runs away, leaving an unmade bed, an unlocked house, two college-aged sons, and an overabundance of bad memories.

Struggling to make peace with the death of a husband who’d been lost to mental illness, she vows to drive to the end of the road, which, she’s surprised to find, is just outside the tiny mining town of Cedar Hollow, West Virginia.

As Emily struggles to redefine and rediscover herself, the good folks of Cedar Hollow are more than happy to help.

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2014

About the author

Melinda Clayton writes primarily southern psychological suspense, and is the author of eight novels, numerous articles and short stories, and two family genealogies. She has an Ed.D. in Education Administration, is a licensed psychotherapist in Colorado and Florida (now on retired status), and teaches MFA classes for SNHU COCE.

Reviews

[henry smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

great series

All four of these books are great. Reflect on a lifestyle of when I was younger in East Tennessee. Country people who all knew each other and had a closeness you don’t see today

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Holt struggles to find her foothold in this installment of the Cedar Hollow series. Having spent years trying to manage her husband, Greg’s, bipolar manic depression and keep the semblance of a normal life for their two sons, she runs away. On the first anniversary of Greg’s death with her two sons away at college she packs her bags and jumps in the car and drives with no particular destination in mind. She needs a place away from the memories to confront the past. Is it really a surprise that she ended up stranded in Cedar Hollow with car trouble?

When Emily’s sons, at separate colleges, can’t get a hold of their mother by phone they start feeling guilty about not going home for the anniversary of their father’s death. They both rush home to check up on their mom. It’s obvious that she has been gone all week so they file a missing person’s report with the local police in Florida. Riffling through their mother’s desk looking for clues on their mother’s whereabouts they come across their father’s medical files. Zack and Noah learn the truth about their father’s condition and reflect on their mother’s lies for all these years.

This story gives the reader a realistic inside look at what it is like to deal with a loved one who suffers with mental illness. In retrospect Emily begins second guessing herself, did she do the right thing hiding Greg’s illness from her sons? Did she do all she could to support Greg while he was battling his illness? She feels shame, confusion, and guilt. She has completely lost her sense of self. As Emily slowly comes to terms with the consequences of her decisions she made in the past, she is able to open up and make new friends with the residents of Cedar Hollow. Emily soon begins to find solace in this now quaint and quiet little town. She is getting ready to leave her own mark on this town and I think the Sheriff has more on his mind than fishing, but he won’t admit that to himself or anyone else.

FYI: This is the fourth book in the Cedar Hollow Series, it includes a guide for book club questions at the end of the story. As a Bonus there is also a short story added after the questions. Spirit of the Mountain: A Word from Billy May, I enjoyed this little addition. It was nice to hear from Billy May again. She left an indelible mark on this town and she keeps an eye on her people still.

Format/Typo Issues: Excellent editing and formatting.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** April 6, 2015

[Lynne Cantwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Days (Cedar Hollow #4) - Melinda Clayton Shadow Days was a tough, but ultimately cathartic, read for me.The main character is Emily Holt, a widow living in Florida whose sons are away at college. On the anniversary of her husband's death, Emily gives into an impulse to flee. She gets in her car and drives away, wandering aimlessly, until her car breaks down on a winding mountain road. The sheriff's deputy who picks her up takes her to the nearest town -- which happens to be Cedar Hollow. There, Emily begins to find her way out of her complicated emotions, and she also finds a way to tell her sons the truth about their father's illness.Clayton has created a realistic portrait of a woman with a loved one who's suffering from mental illness. Emily's husband, Greg, was manic-depressive, and she spent the vast majority of her marriage covering for him in one way or another: finding him work, dealing with his behavior and his medical needs, and raising their children pretty much by herself. To compound matters, she strove to shield the boys from all knowledge of Greg's illness.Without going into detail, I'll just say that I identified with Emily in a lot of ways. I was in tears more than once. And I was heartened that Emily's story might eventually have a happy ending.Shadow Days is available both on its own, and as part of Clayton's Cedar Hollow omnibus. All four novels are highly recommended, but I think this one might be my favorite.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shadow Days was a great story with wonderful characters and read as a stand alone book. There was enough information about the characters of the town of Cedar Hollows for me not to feel 'left out' by not having read the earlier books. (Although, I'm tempted to read the earlier ones now after the the final chapter written in the voice of a character only briefly referred to in Shadow Days.)

I loved the voice - I'm not American. I hail from New Zealand, but I recognise the voice of a country when I read it. Shadow Days appeared to me to be authentic - very small town, back country American (from my limited experience of having spent several months travelling through the USA too long ago to justify an opinion, but then we readers and writers always have opinions).

My main criticism - and the reason for the 3 stars - is that it ended too abruptly. I was surprised to find I'd reached the end when I did. Luckily for me I then waded through various pages of suggested book club questions and acknowledgements, and such like, to be rewarded with the final chapter. I nearly gave up. I'm glad I didn't, but it was a very odd format in my opinion. I would have liked to see that last chapter as the Epilogue before all the other stuff cluttered my reading.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book in the series. I didn't like this one as much as the last 3. The author tells a really good story! Each book has really capture the feel of the mountain, the woods and the creek. I could see them in my mind. I see the town with its diner, library and stores. This one didn't seem to flow as well. This book felt like it jumped around, more than the others. Just getting the feel for a character or scene, then moved to another and then back again.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Cedar Hollow series. Cedar Hollow is a sanctuary for main character Emily Holt, a place of healing that is expertly crafted by the author. The voice is authentic and the characters are alive. It's the only book in the series I've read so far, and since it's a stand-alone story, I didn't feel that anything was missing or unexplained. Well done, Ms. Clayton!

[D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loved the first three this one not so much

I loved the first three books but this one was a real let down not much of a story and reads like a bad romance