Life in a Box

How much would you sacrifice to hide a secret? Andee Camp inherits a box of family history after tragedy strikes along with a challenge to write a novel based on her ancestors. To fulfill this dream, she would exchange her book reviewer hat for one of a writer, forcing the seeds of self-doubt aside. With obstacles littering her path, she discovers the mystery surrounding her relationship with her parents and theirs with each other alongside new pieces in a complicated puzzle. Catherine and Fulton Smith added twins, Victoria Jeanne and Benjamin Thomas, to their family in Portland, Oregon on August 13, 1922, the same day twins, William Theodore and Joanna Abigail, blessed Eve and Leon Brown with an addition to theirs in Amarillo, Texas. Many years later behind the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California, whether by fate or destiny, the Smiths and Browns form a bond lasting three-quarters of a century. Life in a Box is like leaping off the diving board and seeing the sky from the bottom of the pool. When the author breaks through the ripples, a layered story rich with humor and heartache, discovery, and growth emerges and in the end, readers understand the depth of the story.

Review :
"This book could be called fascinating, but that's not even close to the reality of the entangled relationships and intriguing story this novel brings to the reader. Beautifully written, I highly recommend it." Ginnie Siena Bivona, author of Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Traveling Tea Party and The Secret Lives of Ordinary Women. "Incredibly lyrical like the beautiful symphony of a constant breeze ruffling the palms. Lovely, yet powerful - with the force and impact of a hurricane. The character development creates friends that you want to keep forever in your circle. The descriptions paint a poignant backdrop for the story to develop and come to life. You will fall in love with this family and wonder what secrets your own might hold." MN Spafford Stanky lecturer, reading specialist, founder of two bookclubs, library volunteer. "Life in a Box is a literary masterpiece. You will encounter characters that are so clearly defined you will love them, maybe even recognize them, but you will not forget them. Historical eras combine with complexity, intrigue and blend with familiarity...a roller coaster ride until the end. Life In A Box is beautifully written, a colorful page-turner indeed." Patti Branco entrepreneur, author of The Path to Million Dollar Production. "In Life in a Box, JoDee Neathery presents a narrative of two families united by marriage and a daughter who is charged by her mother to chronicle their story. In the process, secrets emerge that alter the very fabric of previously held beliefs. The result is a tapestry woven with love, betrayal, joy, tragedy, humor, melancholy, and an infusion of mystery. It begs the question, 'Would we want the opportunity to examine our life in a box?' The question is not easily answered and will resonate for many years to come." Penny Barshop, High school English Literature teacher, specializing in the study of the American novel.