Junction, Utah

by Rebecca Lawton

WINNER, Ellen Meloy Desert Writers Award
WINNER, WILLA in Original Softcover Fiction
HONOREE, indieB.R.A.G. Medallion in Fiction

"A fresh female voice and a bold take on environmental awareness. Great read!” —Women Writing the West

From the award-winning author of Reading Water and other modern river classics, Rebecca Lawton’s Junction, Utah, is a timeless novel about love, endangered ways of life, and one woman’s search for a voice in the world.

River guide Madeline Kruse has to choose. On the run from the pain of never knowing her missing-in-action father and failing to help her critically ill mother, Maddie’s flight takes her to the tiny town of Junction, Utah. There she meets attractive alfalfa grower Chris Sorensen, who—along with an outlaw group of activists and her own family—helps Madeline see the lives she cherishes are more threatened than she knew. How far will she go to fight for the places and people she loves?

Full of deep connections, an unlikely love story, and dazzling scenes of canyon country, Junction, Utah, is a novel you won’t soon forget.

Genres: Fiction

340 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 2013

About the author

Rebecca Lawton is an award-winning author and fluvial geologist, former Grand Canyon river guide, and aspiring bodhisattva. She lives and writes on an ephemeral stream in northern California steelhead country, at the foot of mountains walked forever by Miwok and Pomo.

Her writing has won a Fulbright Visiting Research Chair, Nautilus Book Award, Ellen Meloy Fund Award for Desert Writers, Waterston Desert Writing Prize, WILLA for original softcover fiction, three Pushcart Prize nominations, and residencies at Hedgebrook and The Island Institute.

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becca Lawton is my favorite kind of writer: she uses beautiful language to tell a deeply important story, with a gripping plot. This tale of two worlds meeting and clashing is timely on so many fronts: environmental, political, and deeply personal, this story urges us to look more deeply at our values and opinions about how we care for the world we live in, and the people we come into contact with, no matter how we feel about them. Plus, you can't help but fall in love with Maddy and Chris, and root for their love as they struggle to find a way past their differences. And of course you can't help but root for the beautiful Green River Valley, so truly threatened by big oil. I couldn't put it down either of the times I read it (it's that good).

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! The plot and subplots crackle with tension as characters deal with clashes in personalities and priorities. Each is at a junction in his or her own life and how they navigate next steps makes for an absorbing read. With her beautifully vivid imagery and deep affection for this land, Lawton is a skilled guide across the most thrilling of landscapes, both natural and emotional. The romance of Madeline and Chris, the tug-of-war between Madeline and her mother, the struggle to protect the river from Big Oil – each of these stories is marvelously intertwined in a breathtaking conclusion. When you close the book, you’ll be left craving long days outdoors, adventure and apple pie, but you’ll be so glad you took this ride.

[Maggie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are things about Becca that draw me to her. In reading her work, I think it’s not only a certain understanding of life that comes with the age bracket in which we find ourselves, but the clear and evident signs of having “been there” many times over. Our love for things environmentally sound is obviously a shared love, as well.

Becca is eloquent and shows beautiful grace as she tells us the story of the valley, the river and the inside, so to speak, of Maddy. She has touched on so many things in this book, and exquisitely so. The environmental viewpoint, forthright Mormonism outside of Salt Lake, the touching stories of both Vietnam and Iraq brought here perhaps accidentally, but perhaps not...

It is a clash of worlds, as some have said, between Maddy and Chris. Those worlds seem to clash in many places, but come together in so many more, as they appear to show each other where their two worlds do not collide.

I loved Junction, Utah. I look forward to more from Becca.

[J. Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't truly prepared, to feel the chill of the mountain air, or the spray of the river from the rapids-bounding boat, or the emotions of characters I liked and those I wouldn't have wanted to know. But in the end, I felt it all. Life, man, woman, and nature in the push-pull, yin and yang of existence. Vivid sights, sounds, smells, and characters in a very satisfying read.

[Joyce Romano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. In the first chapter it was a bit challenging with all the technical terms used by river guides, but the action was clear and the character development well done, and by the second chapter I was hooked. I loved the sense of place and the variety of characters. I feel that the author did well in avoiding stereotypes and predictability. The love story was sweet and all in all, this was a story that I was sorry to have come to an end.

[Jennifer Defoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the scenes that were painted in this book. It was so well described that I could visualize myself on the river, in the canyon, at the farm, everywhere the characters were. There’s a scene where a character falls into the river, and the visualization was so vivid that I realized I was holding my breath with them. I get caught up emotionally in stories and share the characters feelings, but never have I gotten so caught up in the story that I had the same physical sensations as the characters. It was weird feeling, but I liked that I was able to get so attached to this one.

I didn’t think I would get as attached to these characters as I did. I really don’t have much in common with them – as I am not a river guide, farmer, or Marine. Despite the differences I was able to fall in love with Madeline and Chris. There were things going on in Maddie’s life that didn’t involve Chris, things going on in Chris’ life that didn’t involve Maddie, and then there were the things that they were both a part of. I liked that Maddie and Chris weren’t glued to each other throughout the story. It gave me a chance to get to know them as individuals as opposed to as a couple. From the first time they met I thought they would make a good couple. Madeline was a very stoic character. She kind of kept to herself and observe the world around her. Chris wasn’t necessarily an extrovert, but he didn’t seem to close himself off as much.

The story itself was pretty good too. There was a lot to the story, but it wasn’t overwhelming. Each story line played itself out without interfering with the other story lines – well until they all become the same story line. It was intriguing to see how all these different parts were going to come into play. I usually have a pretty good idea of what the resolution to a story will be. But with this one I couldn’t see how all the different parts were going to come together. I love reading books that I can’t predict. There were so many pieces of the story that I didn’t think were going to directly affect each other, so I was surprised when they did. Once all the pieces started falling in place I still had no idea that I would be in tears by the end of the book. The ending really through me for a loop. I honestly can say I was shocked and saddened while also being hopeful and excited.

While there’s a romance built into the story there was also the environmentalist side of the book. I try to be earth conscious, but I’m far from perfect. But even at that I still was kind of appalled at some of the actions taken on behalf of the energy company involved in the story. I’ve never really read anything like it. It made me realize how uninformed I am. I know I can’t change the world, but this book definitely makes me want to do more.

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for a review. This review is my truthful honest opinion.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madeline Kruse is from a river guide's family, she prefers to live outside and beat the wild rivers. Once she met the farmer Chris, she can't get him out of her head, will they come together and settle?

His brother goes to join the army after 9/11 happened, he comes back a changed man, Will he get over this ? or keep on fighting against all around him?

The oil company ruins a lot along green river, a beautiful wild river where Mandeline and her group take the people along. After the summer is done, Mandeline is a tough choice, Go home to spend time with her sick mother or stay with Chris.Will their love win everything over, is it strong enough to survive anything?

Buy this book you won't regret it, it has romance in it some adventure, even a thrilling moment, all in all a good book!

I received a copy of this book for a honest review.

[Lisa Markson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Junction, Utah in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion. The author really was very descriptive in her developing of her characters. Each character brought something very interesting and unique to the story. The story was so involved with many different topics and direction the reader doesn’t ever get a chance to get bored. This is a book that was a page turner you were wanting to see what could possibly be next. The description in the book entices the reader and gives them a great picture of the things that the character is going though. I recommend this book if you are looking for something just a little bit different and have many different outlets for you to read into.

[Merisha28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Junction, Utah by Rebecca Lawton
I received this book in exchange for an unbiased honest review.

This is a wonderful story about a girl who changes through events that takes place in the book. This book is very well written and you feel like you are in the story with the characters and the scenes she describes. I loved Mad because she is such a relatable character. This book captures the care free nature of river guides and the freedom they have in the wild. The book also captures things that happen in real life like big oil companies trying to hurt our national wildlife parks. This book wasn't my normal genre I read, but I loved it from the characters to the scenes it was a fantastic read. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants adventure romance in the outdoors.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this because it was a Kindle deal, not out of familiarity with the author or subject. It turned out to be a great book - one that I stayed up half the night to finish. Looking forward to reading more of Rebecca Lawton's work.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

So disappointed. Not at all what I expected, or wanted, from this book.

I thought this would discuss the differing viewpoints of ranchers and environmentalists for a class discussion. It was a terrible failure. My second reading in November showed me nothing else.

[Karen Flinn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't understand how this got such good reviews.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the sections of the book when the author describes running the river. I took a sixteen-day trip through the Grand Canyon, and the author has described the thrill of running the rapids step by step with precision and emotion. I know how hard this is because I have tried to describe the trip to friends and it is very difficult. It was like riding down a river again. The love story was not as interesting, because Chris was such a low-key character.
I had a strange reading experience when reading this book. Perhaps another Goodreads reviewer will solve this problem. When Chris and Madeline go to the Hidden Canyon, I thought I had read about this magical place in another book. I knew it was going to be despoiled by the drillers, the water polluted and the vegetation crushed and destroyed. It seemed like a scene from a different book was being repeated here. I read a lot of western fiction, such as CJ Box, the Longmire books. This was a scenario from another book, I am sure. Does anyone else remember another book with a similar place with a similar fate?

[Donna Mulvenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Lawton's beautifully written novel, Junction Utah is a romance and adventure story that draws from the author’s adventures as one of the first female river guides in the Grand Canyon. From her beautiful imagery, “Across the Green River, miles of high plateau stood at about my eye level. That was the old floodplain, called the Bench by locals. It had been cut by the river over time as a knife eases into cake that’s still hot and rising. Red, gray, and brown stone made up layers covered with a pale jade frosting of sagebrush,” it is obvious Lawton shares a true affinity with the wilderness, particularly wild rivers. A delightful and captivating story of romance, transformation, and a largely forgotten way of life, it is interwoven with an environmental viewpoint examining nature’s fragility and unstable nature when threatened by a big oil company. A gripping plot with real-life characters carries a timely message of having the courage to defend what you love. I loved it.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madeline Kruse is a river guide in Utah who has always led a nomadic life. Her father has been MIA from the Vietnam War since before she was born, and her mother's life has been consumed with finding him. In the tiny town of Junction, Utah, she confronts her noncommittal ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, oil drilling that infringes on protected lands, and an alfalfa farmer Chris Sorensen, who is grieving over the loss of his wife and the absence of his brother, who has gone to fight in Iraq after 9/11. I enjoyed the story of Madeline trying to find herself and her place in the world among family, coworkers, friends, a new community, and larger environmental challenges.

[Giselle Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure if I would finish this book when I started but I gave it a fair shot and I’m glad I did. The author did a great job of creating and developing the characters and describing the place where the story happens. (rural Utah)
I loved the descriptions of the Yampa & Green rivers, the farming and ranching in the area, the extraction industry (she did mention that these activities can be done properly to protect the land & environment).
I would suggest you give the book a read especially if you love rivers and open spaces.

[Joleen Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the story and characters until the end. I couldn’t sleep for the ending. So i imagined my own happier ending. The characters were so wonderful!! The story had onderful depth and pulled at the heart in so many ways

[Lisa Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bridge Between Two Worlds

I enjoyed the characters in this book and their connection to the Green River and the land surrounding it. I think the people who work the land and the boaters who pass through along the river can learn from each other.

[Christine Townes · Rating 3 out of 5]

simple love story. it was an easy read

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I received my copy of this book, I have to be honest, I was a little skeptical about whether I was going to like it or not. I was shocked that I actually did more than like it, I LOVED IT. The author did an amazing job of describing the characters and developing the storyline. I felt like I was there and experiencing everything first hand. The detail was unreal. I could close my eyes and know exactly what the scenery and feel was of what the author was describing. Every character had their own rhyme and reason to be included in the story and I like that. I despise filler characters that really have no bearing to the real timeline. There was never a chance for me to get settled into the story because there were so many different elements and topics introduced. Anyone that reads this will not get complacent, and I know that is one key element that I look for in a great book. I know it may sound cliche to say that this book was a page turner and kept me interested the whole time, but it is the truth! You really feel and get connected to the characters in this book. I felt like their feelings were mine. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Even if you think it may not be something you would enjoy as I did, you will be shocked by the reality that it is a gripping book and story full of storyline and emotion that will suck you in and you won't want to put it down.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much cowboy romance, not enough monkeywrenching.

[Monte · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. Was attracted to the narrative about a Utah place and time. Enjoyed the tale. Lost points for nothing definitive.

[William Graney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good writing and storytelling but I didn't have good chemistry with the characters.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars