I was a bit hesitant to start this book. I was in the midst of some overwhelming things and I didn't think that I wanted a book that appeared to be a bit on the somber side. Thankfully I was completely wrong about the tone of the book.

Minerva Jane Jenkins is a 94 year old woman with one foot in the grave. But that other foot of hers is still walking down life's path. A bit slower than earlier years, but she's still movin'. I completely fell in love with Minerva. In my head she has my grandma's voice which made the story even better.

Minerva is feisty and puts up with very little. She's spent the last 30 plus years as a widow and has done a pretty good job of keeping the farm going. When Del Rankin shows up asking questions about the past, Minerva's isolated world is upended.

The story is about a woman at the end of her life so death is a topic. But it is definitely in context to a life well lived. We are privy to her regrets and long lost dreams. There's also the mystery of the box of gold that has been the source of so much loss. All of these things put together made for a deeply moving story.

I would classify this as one of my top ten reads of the year. Cindy Sproles is a new author to me but you can bet that I will be on the lookout for more from her.

Once in a while there comes a book that is so beautifully written that I find pure joy in it. I want to read it out loud to someone that I know will appreciate the wit, the 'realness', the words themselves and the vision they give. This is the first book written by Cindy K. Sprole that I've read and I'm an instant fan. I received my advanced reader's copy from Greenleaf Book Group through NetGalley. This is my unsolicited opinion. I love this book and its characters.

When I started reading the thoughts and words of 94-year-old Minerva Jane Jenkins I was immediately caught up in her world. She is experiencing the sudden loss of her husband, Stately, who puts a tremendous burden on her shoulders when he makes her promise to keep his decades old secret. The secret and rumors around it's possibilities bring strangers to her mountain and threats to her door.

Del is one of the strangers. He knows about the rumors. The treasure that may be on the mountain. He has secrets too.

I love Minerva, her quirks, her crankiness and the descriptions of life as a 94-year-old. I knew when I started to get to know her, she would make me cry. And she did.

This is a review for This is Where it Ends by Cindy Sproles. Very rarely does a book touch my heart like this one did! If I could rate it 100 stars out of 100, I would because it was so good!! It was one of the best books I have ever read, and I sometimes skim read some books as to finish them early, and skipping parts that I feel aren't important. Well, this book I read every word because it completely held my attention. I laughed, I cried, I felt the raw emotion of Miss Minerva, and like I said, my heart was so touched. This book was like a ray of sunshine, even though Minerva went thru some hard things, and made me so grateful for the elderly saints in my life who have loved me, and taught me to become the woman of God that I am! In my opinion, we have lost our respect for the elderly in our nation, and this book reminds us of the treasures that our elderly are!!! At the end of the review I will include a powerful message from the author.

This story is set in the Appalachian mountains in early 1900s, and it tells the story of a sweet but a bit cantankerous old woman named Minerva Jenkins, age 94, whose husband, Stately Jenkins, dragged her up the the mountain when she was only 14 and he 17, and made her keep a secret that may involve stolen gold, and that she promised to take to the grave. Well, Stately ends up dying 30 years before the story begins after many years of marriage, and Minerva, continuing to hold onto that secret, begs the good Lord not to let her die alone, and He answers that prayer by bringing her a stranger who eventually becomes very dear to her.

Delano Rankin is a newspaper writer, and he gets wind of an interesting story, and heads up to the Appalachian mountains, and ends up on Miss Minerva's doorstep. Minerva thinks he is there to find the stolen gold, and at first she is very hesitant to even let him through the door. Del, who is a kind-hearted man, came to the mountain for a story, but not about the gold, and ends up takes a shine to Miss Minerva. Del decides to stay around to help this old lady he met because she has been alone since Stately died, and he just wants to help her out. He was raised right, as Miss Minerva says, and together they both realize that even the story brought him to her door ended up including them both, and through that story, the Good Lord had much more in store for them both, including a relationship they both were hungering for, but that only comes with time and trust.

This story was so funny at times, watching Del and Minerva learn to trust each other, but also we see into the heart and mind of Minerva, who is 94 years old and on death's door, open up her heart to things she would've liked to have left alone, but God wanted exposed, and in the process brought such love and grace to her in such a beautiful way through Del's coming and caring. I also cried at times during that process, but just had to keep reading because I had to know what happened. I don't call stories beautiful very often, but this story was beautifully written, the characters were incredible, and the plot was amazing! So I highly recommend you read this book. 5 zillion out of 5 stars is my rating!!! I loved this book!!!!

Cindy Sproles has knocked it out of the ballpark once again with this book.

You can almost smell the wisteria and taste the cool spring water as she describes them.

I see Minerva in so many women I have admired.

You are never too old to do some soul searching is one of the things I take away from this fantastic book.

Cindy captures the mountains in their true beauty that God gave them.

Some books have a way of moving right in and taking up residence in our hearts. In This Is Where It Ends, 94-year-old Minerva Jane Jenkins, widowed for 30 years, is one of those characters who will remain with you long after the last word has been read. Set in the heart of Appalachia, life in the Kentucky mountains comes alive through the mastery of the language so unique to the people of that part of our country. As Minerva nears the end of her lonely life, reporter Del Rankin comes to her mountain and begins to ask questions about rumors of a box of gold. The two form an unlikely bond which has us asking if it is the blood in our veins that makes us family, or if it is love. Inspirational, Appalachian fiction at its finest that will have you pondering your values, and maybe even your eternity. An emotional read with laughter and tears. Highly recommended.

In full disclosure, I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher with no expectations for a review. The words are my own.