Buckeye - two couples navigate life across the decades, impacted by wars and long-hidden secrets.

The small, fictional town of Bonhomie, Ohio, serves as the backdrop of this poignant story of two married couples spanning many decades. Sweet Cal Jenkins is disappointed when he is told in 1942 that a congenital condition that causes him to limp has prevented him from enlisting to serve his country. His father, Everett, a traumatized WWI veteran, is his only living relative. Cal falls in love and marries Becky, who he will soon discover has the special ability to communicate with the dead. On May 8, 1945, VE Day, a beautiful woman enters the hardware store he manages, and upon hearing the radio announcement that the war in Europe has ended, Margaret Salt, whose husband Felix is serving overseas in the Pacific, kisses Cal. This seemingly innocent moment will ultimately alter their lives and forever intertwine the couples. As the country undergoes changes and evolves through wars and cultural shifts, the two couples are bound by secrets, which will have consequences for the next generation.  

Author Patrick Ryan has created a deeply emotional family saga in Buckeye. The detailed backstories for each character create great empathy and caring. The horrors of wartime are presented with such vivid detail that you can feel what the characters are experiencing. This is a quiet, beautifully written tale that requires taking your time to absorb. These complex characters will stay with you long after you've finished reading and dabbing your eyes dry. 

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Literary Fiction | Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: Sept 2, 2025.

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