All the Broken Angels

Finalist for the upcoming 2024 Royal Palm Literary Awards from the Florida Writers Association.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Younger audiences will appreciate the richness of Americana, and older audiences will be kissed by nostalgia." - Indies Today

"...keeps readers engaged throughout the story and beyond the final page."- Kirkus Reviews

History comes alive in this family saga. Flash back to the vibrant 1960s and '70s through the eyes of Cate and her cousin Albie. Life throws them curveballs, and through humor and pathos, they learn lessons never taught in Catholic school. Their childhood bond seems unbreakable until the Vietnam War drives a wedge between them and strains their close-knit family. Albie's gung-ho for God and country. Cate rebels against her religious upbringing, protests the war, and yearns for the vibrant flower-power lifestyle of New York's Greenwich Village.

But all she can afford is a tenement in the Hell's Kitchen district while scraping by as a typist for an insufferable boss nicknamed Dragon Lady. An eclectic group of newfound friends make life bearable-and not a moment too soon.

Tragedy strikes, turning her world upside down. Cate's quest for purpose and meaning becomes one of resilience and personal transformation. As the '60s give way to the '70s, Cate and her friends must find their way-and themselves-through the complexities of the women's movement, interfaith relationships, the birth of LGBTQ+ liberation, and the impact of war on returning veterans.

All the Broken Angels is a profound exploration of love, loss, and the indomitable spirit of a generation that resonates far beyond the final page.

If you're a fan of Susan Meissner or Kristin Hannah, All the Broken Angels is for you.

Fantastic themes and discussion questions for your book club!

Editorial Reviews:

"Readers are treated to a 'you are here' story of action, reaction, and discovery that proves winningly realistic, psychologically alluring, and hard to put down. ... Libraries that choose All the Broken Angels for its promise of following a life that moves from the late 1950s to the early 1980s will appreciate not just the decades-long experiences that come to life, but the accompanying social exploration that will lend well to book club discussion groups and leisure readers alike." - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

"...keeps readers engaged throughout the story and beyond the final page. Cate, in particular, travels an arc that satisfies both in its literary aims and its emotional resonance. A well-rendered examination of the Vietnam War on the home front." - Kirkus Reviews

"The book moves toward a satisfying conclusion that highlights themes of family, reconciliation, concern for veterans, and friendship." - Clarion Reviews

"Society shifts, presidents come and go, and childhood lands in the rearview mirror, but readers will be struck by how often history repeats itself, putting a shiny new spin on the same old problems. ... In addition to a well-rounded plot, clever wordplay, and genuine conversations, audiences will love the dynamic cast. ... Racism, feminism, religionism, heroism, and patriotism synthesize into a beautiful story of loyalty and tenacity." - Indies Today, five-star review

"The narrative brings joy, sorrow, and gladness ... as the story reaches its unexpected and unusual end." - Readers' Favorite, five-star review