The River (The River Series Book 1)

?The River is a story that will transform how you see yourself and the world.? -Andy Andrews, New York Times best-selling author of The Noticer, The Traveler?s Gift, and How Do You Kill 11 Million People??You were made for The River . . .?Gabriel Clarke is mysteriously drawn to The River, a ribbon of frothy white water carving its way through steep canyons high in the Colorado Rockies. The rushing waters beckon him to experience freedom and adventure.But something holds him back-the memory of the terrible event he witnessed on The River when he was just five years old-something no child should ever see.Chains of fear and resentment imprison Gabriel, keeping him from discovering the treasures of The River. He remains trapped, afraid to take hold of the life awaiting him.When he returns to The River after years away, his heart knows he is finally home. His destiny is within reach. Claiming that destiny will be the hardest-and bravest-thing he has ever done. From Booklist Gabriel Clarke?s life is wholly devoted to ?the River,? a stretch of rapids in the Colorado Rockies. He can?t bear to be away from it; its power is undeniable. Neale?s novel is a powerful allegory about faith in something more powerful and mysterious than oneself. Gabriel loved the River as a child, but when it took his father and he was sent to live with his mother in Kansas, he developed a fear of the water. A trip to the River as a teenager reminds him of his connection to this wild place. As he trusts the River to lead him forward, Gabriel?s life flourishes into more than he dreamed it could be while in Kansas. Neale evokes a relationship between his protagonist and nature as real as any Gabriel has with the people around him as he learns that by trusting the River to guide him, he will end up where he is meant to be. The River is not without its rough patches, enabling Neale to illustrate how it is in the toughest situations that we find our way. --Carolyn Richard Review ?Michael Neale?s The River gently sweeps readers along like a leaf in a current as Gabriel struggles with beginning a new life after a terrible loss. Throughout this artfully crafted story is a genu ine sense of The River as a force of nature to be reckoned with, respected and learned from.? ---Bookpage Review -- Bookpage Review?Neale?s novel is a powerful allegory about faith in something more powerful and mysterious than oneself . . . Neale evokes a relation ship between his protagonist and nature as real as any Gabriel has with the people around him as he learns that by trusting The River to guide him, he will end up where he is meant to be. The River is not without its rough patches, enabling Neale to illustrate how it is in the toughest situations that we find our way.? ---Booklist Review -- Booklist Review?Neale?s novel is filled with likeable characters, and The River itself is one of them, suffused with mystery and power. This is a gentle, nostalgic story that should draw in many readers with its heartwarming tone.? ---CBA Retailers and Resources -- CBA Retailers & Resources About the Author Michael Neale is a best-selling author and Dove Award-winning songwriter. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Michael W. Smith.