While the Munson/Pomerance family had endured innumerable events in the past that tested the boundaries of their courage, strength, loyalty, dedication, faith and love, they will soon discover that the future holds many more challenges for them, which they must face together as a family, and separately in their individual adult lives. In the final decade of the twentieth century, while the country was in a recession, and its people were embroiled in the tantalizing headlines of the day, the Munson/Pomerance clan encountered their own crises, mysteries, and shocking events. Life continues to catch them completely off guard, testing their limits yet again as they grapple with heartache, depression, hardship, tragedy and grief. In the aftermath of divorce, what will become of the small-town girl, Judy (Munson) Woodard, as she begins a new life in the suburbs of a major metropolis? Having left her despairing past and her entire world behind, will Judy's exodus finally free her from the torment of her ex-husband? What obstacles must the 29-year-old divorcEe confront in this foreign land? Will Judy's latest journey lead her to true love? And lastly, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? The answers to these and many other burning questions will be revealed in this fourth and final installment in the -Detours- series of books as the clan writes their final chapter. There are many surprises and twists yet to come in this exhilarating roller-coaster ride through the remaining 1990s, concluding an epic family saga that has spanned four decades, from 1962 to 2002, and four generations. Although the close-knit family will encounter many more potholes and detours on that long and winding road, they refuse to lose hope in their relentless quest to find peace, happiness, closure, and all -the good stuff- that life has to offer. Having endured plenty of hard knocks in the past, the Munson/Pomerance family remain determined to lick the tough outer shell of a world that seems to be against them, in order to savor the sweet, soft center that awaits. Set against the scenic backdrop of the Upper Mississippi River Valley in Southeastern Minnesota, this thought-provoking, inspirational and uplifting drama is overflowing with nostalgia, history, music, suspense and shocking events. Whether you're young or young at heart, there's something for everyone in this thrilling joyride back through the last decade of the twentieth century and into the new millennium.
In the spring of 1970, as Katie Munson celebrated her twenty-fifth birthday, the single mother of four looked back on her life. Feeling grateful and relieved that her estranged and violent ex-husband had moved on, Katie was finally able to leave her sordid past behind. At long last, the young mother and her family had risen from the depths of despair, eager to rebuild their shattered lives. But starting over is never easy. After relocating to a small rural town, the young divorcee felt isolated, frightened and alone. Katie's first priority was finding a decent job so that she could support her four little children. Once she had established herself financially, Katie set her sights on restoring some form of social life for herself...and she never lost hope of finding that special someone with whom she could fall in love, settle down, and enjoy a happy, healthy relationship. In this second installment of the epic Munson family saga, you will become more familiar with the young Munson children, whose unique personalities materialize as they experience their own individual trials, tribulations and triumphs. Set in southeastern Minnesota during the carefree 1970s, this exhilarating drama is overflowing with nostalgia, history, music, suspense and shocking events. Whether you're young or young at heart, there's something for everyone in this thrilling joyride back in time as Katie Munson and her four children navigate the river of life, both together as a family and independently from one another, in search of "the good stuff.
Evelyn Smithson had just finished her shift at Rooney’s Diner in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when the pregnant eighteen-year-old girl was mugged and brutally stabbed. Since Evelyn was the fourth young woman attacked that summer of 1964, residents feared they had a serial killer in their midst. As Evelyn lay there dying on the sidewalk, she reflected on her life, praying to God to save her unborn baby. Minutes later, she was discovered by her best friend, who summoned an ambulance. Unfortunately, hospital staff were unable to save Evelyn, but the viable fetus was delivered via cesarean section. Sadly, just as her newborn daughter took her first breath of life, Evelyn Smithson exhaled her last. Since the baby’s father was purportedly killed in Vietnam, and the mother was now deceased, the orphaned child was adopted by a couple in Rochester, Minnesota. Franklin and LaVonne Barth named their newborn daughter Cassandra, and she enjoyed a typical happy childhood…until thirteen years later, when she became plagued by nightmares of a murdered pregnant woman she had never seen or met. As a result, Cassandra’s health, disposition and schoolwork suffered, so her parents took her to a psychiatrist. Through hypnotherapy, they learn that the murdered woman was Cassandra’s birth mother, and a composite artist sketch reveals Evelyn’s killer to be someone other than the convicted serial killer. Will Cassandra’s extraordinary connection to her deceased mother ultimately lead authorities to the real killer, or has this gifted adolescent unwittingly constructed a portal, making her his next target?
Detours to the Good Stuff is an epic and gripping true story of a young woman and her family s unforgettable journey to find peace and happiness. The road ahead was littered with obstacles that oftentimes appeared impossible to avert, but despite the many unavoidable detours that changed the course of their lives, Katie never lost sight of the potential rewards at the end of their relentless expedition. In the early 1960s, Katie Wiederman was a well-bred, corn-fed, Midwestern teenager, blessed with beauty and brains, a loving family, close friends and aspirations, complemented by a steady older boyfriend with a groovy car. The attractive high-school senior was living the all-American dream, the envy of all her friends, and she seemed to have it all until one dreary April morning, when her world spiraled out of control. A teenaged pregnancy at the age of 17 was never a consideration in Katie s long-range plans, and the last thing her parents had ever anticipated from their youngest child. At the urging of her parents and her church, Katie married her steady beau, Darren Munson, shortly after her 18th birthday, in May of 1963. The newlyweds subsequently rented a house near Katie s parents in Huntington, Minnesota, where they decided to raise their forthcoming child together as a family. Just a few short months after their wedding, however, during an intense Minnesota heat wave in the summer of 63, Katie noticed her husband starting to change. Darren was just 21, but he was already becoming a very angry young man, even though he didn t drink or use drugs. Katie couldn t understand why the charming boy she had met at the New Year's Eve party less than a year before had changed so drastically. Although she tried desperately to become the pleasing wife her husband had envisioned, the young bride fell short of Darren s unreasonable expectations. Katie, in turn, grew increasingly despondent and fearful, as her husband was constantly critical and belittling, comparing Katie to his mother (the perfect homemaker), which infuriated his new bride. Concealing her pain from everyone, there came a time when she could no longer hide. Darren s rage had taken control, and when he unleashed his anger upon his pregnant wife, Katie had no choice but to flee. Strengthened by the love of her supportive parents, Katie divorced her husband and moved back home, where she gave birth to a son in December of that year. That wasn t the end of Darren Munson, not by any means. In fact, that was only the beginning of a dramatic and traumatic journey for Katie, after she had remarried her ex-husband and bore three more daughters. Sadly, history was doomed to repeat itself, and Katie found herself divorced from her estranged ex-husband once again. With her four young children in tow, Katie relocated her young family to their new home in a small rural town in southeastern Minnesota. In the comfort of her new surroundings, Katie presumed that she, along with her son and three baby girls, were safe from harm s way. She believed they had escaped the iniquity from her past and were free to begin a renewed and happy life together. December 2, 1967, was a very special day for Katie Munson, but while she prepared for her son s fourth birthday party, nothing could have prepared her for the unforeseeable winter storm that was blowing in her direction, or the unspeakable terror that accompanied it
It had been ten long years since Katie Munson divorced her husband, Darren Munson. In the wake of his rage and violent abuse, the 32-year-old single mother of four young children had, at last, found the peace, happiness and stability that had eluded her during all those years of fear, dating disasters, loneliness and uncertainty. In the summer of 1977, Katie married her soul mate, 34-year-old Burt Pomerance, who brought joy, security, love and kindness into their lives. Katie s children finally had the kind of father they deserved and could be proud of. Those first months together as a blended family were the happiest days of their lives but how long will the family s euphoria last? Sadly, all good things must come to an end. As the children grew older, they were being bussed to school in Lumberton, where their parents also worked. Thus, a move to the city was imminent, despite the kids defiant and outward objections. Having vacated their home town of Stone Valley, Minnesota, which was as much a part of them as their clothes, the small-town Munson kids faced many new challenges and people in this foreign land known as the big city. Soon after moving to central Lumberton, some strange things started happening, which triggered a chain of events that most would find impossible to believe. In this heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, dramatic family saga, the young Munson children learn some harsh realities as they assert their independence as teenagers. Then, in the summer of 1983, a terrible tragedy befalls one of the teenaged Munson children, turning all of their lives completely upside down. The Munson/Pomerance clan are forced to start over yet again, but in ways they never could have imagined. Life as they knew it would never be the same. Katie took solace in her wonderfully supportive husband, Burt, who remained steadfast and true throughout the entire ordeal. Unlike her first husband, Katie now had someone to lean on and hold her up when her world was crumbling down. For better or worse, the strength of their marriage will be sorely tested, and the family ties strained to the limit. Through the years, as they strive to become happy, stable, responsible and principled citizens and adults, the Munson siblings realize that their battles have only just begun. Katie Pomerance worried that her tumultuous relationship and marriage to their biological father might impact her three young daughters choices when it came to boyfriends and, ultimately, a husband. During this gripping journey of self-discovery, it will be revealed to some that true love, once attained, is often contaminated with heartbreak, disappointment, betrayal, abandonment, fear and grief. In this epic third installment in the Detours series of books, the Munson/Pomerance family encounter one obstacle after another, weathering their storms together as a family, and independently from one another. Set against the scenic backdrop of the Upper Mississippi River Valley in Southeastern Minnesota, this exhilarating drama is overflowing with nostalgia, history, music, suspense and shocking events. Whether you re young or young at heart, there s something for everyone in this thrilling joyride back through the 1980s (the decade of AIDS, MTV and yuppies ) as the Munson/Pomerance clan navigate the river of life, with dogged determination, to restore their happiness and rebuild their shattered lives in search of the good stuff.
Evelyn Smithson had just finished her shift at Rooney’s Diner in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when the pregnant eighteen-year-old girl was mugged and brutally stabbed. Since Evelyn was the fourth young woman attacked that summer of 1964, residents feared they had a serial killer in their midst. As Evelyn lay there dying on the sidewalk, she reflected on her life, praying to God to save her unborn baby. Minutes later, she was discovered by her best friend, who summoned an ambulance. Unfortunately, hospital staff were unable to save Evelyn, but the viable fetus was delivered via cesarean section. Sadly, just as her newborn daughter took her first breath of life, Evelyn Smithson exhaled her last. Since the baby’s father was purportedly killed in Vietnam, and the mother was now deceased, the orphaned child was adopted by a couple in Rochester, Minnesota. Franklin and LaVonne Barth named their newborn daughter Cassandra, and she enjoyed a typical happy childhood…until thirteen years later, when she became plagued by nightmares of a murdered pregnant woman she had never seen or met. As a result, Cassandra’s health, disposition and schoolwork suffered, so her parents took her to a psychiatrist. Through hypnotherapy, they learn that the murdered woman was Cassandra’s birth mother, and a composite artist sketch reveals Evelyn’s killer to be someone other than the convicted serial killer. Will Cassandra’s extraordinary connection to her deceased mother ultimately lead authorities to the real killer, or has this gifted adolescent unwittingly constructed a portal, making her his next target?
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