The Gathering

Common Threads in the Life #4

by Ronald L. Donaghe

The Gathering is the fourth book in the Common Threads in the Life series, which began with Common Sons, and continued in The Blind Season and The Salvation Mongers. The Gathering is the fourth book in the series. It is set in 1999, four months before the coming new millennium. The Reece family had planned to gather to celebrate the new era by gathering on New Year's eve. Instead tragedy strikes, and the family gathers for a very different reason in the sweltering heat of August 1999 because tragedy has het again struck the very heart of the Reece family. An old nemesis and a new friend have also come among the family-one has done harm, the other has come to avenge it.

370 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2006

About the author

Ronald L. Donaghe was raised on a farm in southern New Mexico. The setting for many of his novels involves the desert and the mountains of New Mexico. He is a master at evoking the stark beauty and sheer majesty of such settings but also the unforgiving and harsh side.

Reviews

[Neet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th in the Common Threads in the Life series and in this wonderful book we are back in Common, New Mexico with our favorite couple Tom & Joel.We find these two 34 years later since the events of Common Sons, and still happily married.All, that comes close to happening when a tragic and senseless event happens that finds the family converging to help and protect these two men.We find Sharon and Shara arriving from San Francisco,Joel and Tom's adopted brothers and sister, Patrick, Deitrick,and Henry returning to the old homestead, Sally,and Joel's s sisters returning home.Then we find a friend of Tom & Joel, Kelly O'Kelly deciding to go see Tom & Joel (not knowing what has happened) after a nightmare and thoughts of the two men who have become important to him.This is a book about family and the bonds we form that can't break even if distance does.This is a great series and indeed a good read.There is suppose to be more in this series titled A Summer of Change that is supposed to be divided into 3 books and released hopefully,next year.I'll be waiting patiently.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tom and Joel have been attacked by an old enemy, and their family gathers around in support. Too busy and all over the place, not enough focus on the individual characters I've come to like over the previous book. Potential suspense plot also fizzled.