Jan 27, 2018

Aransas Morning by Jeff Hampton REVIEW

ARANSAS MORNING by JEFF HAMPTON

Genre: Literary Fiction / Family Life

Date of Publication: September 22, 2017

Number of Pages: 304

When Sam Barnes’ high-flying life in Dallas falls apart, he flees to the coastal town of Port Aransas, Texas and fades into the life of a reclusive beach bum. But things start to change when he meets Dave, a young widower working through his own loss; Shelly, owner of the Dream Bean coffee shop; Bo, a crusty old shrimper; and Allie, Bo’s free-spirited daughter. Together they are tested and forced to confront their own issues. In doing so they discover family and community.

CLICK TO PURCHASE: Barnes & Noble ◾ Jeff Hampton Writer ◾ Etsy ◾ Amazon

A few of the conversations and interactions between the characters were a bit awkward and dry, but I think that had to do with the characters' personal peculiarities. This story had a group of shy, recluse, broken people coming together and relearning how to interact with others again. The characters' backstories were incredible and clever. They meshed together beautifully and each story complemented the others.

I personally think it should have been titled, Dream Bean, because it seemed to be centered around that little coffee shop and joining forces to fight for its survival.

Watching these unlikely friends join together and grow to depend on one another as they slowly lift each other's spirits while improving their own confidence and fight for life was inspirational and uplifting.

During a 35-year career in journalism and communications, Jeff Hampton has covered and written about topics ranging from business and finance to history and faith. His bylines have appeared in publications ranging from The Dallas Morning News to The New York Times.

He attended Baylor University where he majored in journalism and was editor of the Baylor Lariat campus newspaper. He began his professional career at the Waco Tribune-Herald and has written for newspapers, magazines, businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies.

Hampton has based his life and career in Texas where his interest in observing the people around him has led him to write essays, short stories, and novels that explore relationships and communities in their many forms.

Aransas Morning is his fifth book, following Grandpa Jack, When the Light Returned to Main Street, Jonah Prophet and The Snowman Uprising on Hickory Lane.

Watch for Aransas Evening, a sequel to Aransas Morning, in 2018.

Author Links: Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram║ Goodreads ║