Book Review and Author Interview - Kimberly Williamson of Riley Sloan is Nine: Raising a Medically Complex Boy

Riley Sloan is Nine: Raising a Medically Complex Boy is a mother’s heart song for her little boy. It is poetry poured from soul to page as the author weeps for joy at his arrival and heartache as he struggles, from difficult delivery to developmental delay. Regardless of your child’s abilities or disabilities, the feelings poured out within are relatable. We all watch our children grow and celebrate milestones. We all worry when they struggle and hurt for them when they hurt. Riley Sloan is Nine (RSi9) is a heartfelt exploration of one mother’s experiences that is an excellent bit of insight for parents, family members, and those dedicated service providers who work with children of various abilities. Although it is a quick read, there is plenty to absorb from its pages. It is as cozy as sitting down with the author over a cup of coffee and allowing her to pour her heart out for your benefit, and I can promise you Kimberly Williamson has heart worth hearing. Take a little sit down with Riley Sloan is Nine and savor it. You won’t regret it.

It was a joy and an honor to get the opportunity to discuss upcoming release Riley Sloan is Nine with the author, Kimberly Williamson. Read here to get to know a bit about this dear young man and consider sharing this post and this book with someone who might benefit from it. Riley Sloan is Nine: Raising a Medically Complex Boy releases on July 31 on Amazon and will be available at Kimberly’s studio, Once a Rose Studios in Calico Rock, Arkansas.

Woman by Grace: You and I both know Riley is an amazing young man with a big heart. What is one thing you want readers to know about him?

Kimberly Williamson: He does have a big heart. He is happy, overall, in spite of all the reasons he may not be if he was any typical person. He won’t go to college. He won’t be able to live on his own. He won’t be able to drive a car or get a driver’s license. He sees his peers getting married and beginning to have children. He loves children. He has expressed a desire to have a wife and kids, and while we love his heart, and don’t want to discourage him; we just don’t know what the future holds. Riley says in his interview not to stress about it or it will ruin your life. Live each day as it comes, and do your schoolwork! How profound of my young man!

RSi9 covers the first few years of his life, but Riley will be 20 by the time of publication. (On the day of!) Can you tell us a bit about the path this story took to get to publication?

I have always been a writer, and very fond of poetry. I think I wrote my first little rhyming couplet when I was six years old. Since the idea started as a poem, it made sense to me to continue with that when writing the rest of the story.

We were in a particularly hard season of his life at around age nine (2014). Behavior was a huge issue. We were seeing a psychiatrist every three months, and we changed medications at least that often. He had a diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder at the time, and we were warned that this would progress into conduct disorder, which is the same diagnosis, with criminal charges. This terrified me, of course, but it didn’t feel like the right fit. Every medication he was given to calm him had the opposite of the intended effect. This was very telling, but we didn’t know it yet. We were on the cusp of a breakthrough, telling us that he did NOT have ODD, but rather, a host of other comorbid conditions, anxiety and intellectual disability chief among them. He was under the care of behavioral therapy while at school, and one particularly horrific therapist wanted to send Riley to a group behavioral hospital because she felt he was a danger to himself and others for throwing a backpack on the school bus. We discontinued behavioral therapy immediately and pursued a program at UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) we were recommended by the intake person at the behavioral hospital we were referred to. I’ve never been so grateful for a conversation with a stranger. The program, the Psychological Research Institute (PRI) was a 28-day inpatient program meant to safely remove all non-essential medications and do tons of baseline testing. We learned so much from this. Cramming all we had just learned into this book didn’t seem like the right place to end this story, since for us, it felt so much more like a beginning. So, I wrote Riley Sloan is Nine, the last poem in this book, at that crossroads. I shared it with his educators, and the reception was surprising. The principal asked if she could share it with other colleagues. Given such positive feedback, I decided that I needed to write his story from the actual beginning.

What a journey it was to go all the way back, and feel those feelings again. I kept working on it until it felt reasonably ‘finished’, which took the next 11 years. Last spring, I got a very strong feeling that it needed to be released on his 20th birthday. Thanks very much to you, Emily, for helping me believe it could happen.

Your heart’s rollercoaster is penned on page in RSi9. Please tell us about your reason for sharing the difficulty along with the joys of raising your disabled child.

I actually touch on this in the book. I did tons of research on where he should be in relation to where he was at every given time. There was not much content 15-20 years ago. Living in rural Arkansas, to boot, made the search difficult. And the longer we went on, and the more we learned about our boy, the less I was able to find. Spoiler alert: as of the publication of this book, Riley Sloan has around twelve different diagnoses. I do cover them in the introduction of this book, mainly to ensure that people looking for support may be able to find it here.

At the end of the day, Riley Sloan is a boy, not a collection of diagnoses. His life has been hard for those of us raising him, but he is able to find and spread joy in living it. He makes me laugh. He makes me cry. I’ve never met any other child like Riley in my entire life. If I struggle to understand things about him, how can I expect others to? So I wanted a total picture. Diagnoses, disappointments, hope and happiness. It’s all in this story.

What is a childhood story about Riley that makes your heart happy?

One thing that lots of people notice about Riley is his sense of humor. He may be mentally age 10 at present, but he’s quite sharp! A story that will follow us always, is the “makin’ cookies” story.

Riley Sloan was probably 7 or so, and he was playing inside while I was cleaning the bathroom. He is a repetitive kiddo. He would alternate between “mama, love you!” And “mama, whatcha doing?” on every path past me. I’d finally had enough “I love you too” and “I’m cleaning out the litter box” that this time he dashed past, he said “whatcha doing mama?” I replied “Making cookies! What’s it look like I’m doing!?” He giggled and dashed away. A little time went by, and by this time I was on to folding laundry. He ran up this time and stopped short. “Hey mama, whatcha doing? Making cookies?” I turned to see him wearing an impish grin, and he dashed off cackling without waiting for an answer.

What are some of the daily challenges he faces?

Riley has developed daily routines over the years that require sameness. Same schedule, same questions, same habits, be they good or bad. And aversions. He doesn’t like to change clothes. He doesn’t like to shower. He can barely stand to brush his teeth. He doesn’t want to take the time to apply deodorant. There are so many things. One of the most limiting things is his impulsivity. He cannot have unsupervised access to the remote control or anything related to the internet because of that. We have to put more than one day’s snacks behind lock and key to protect him from getting sick eating an entire box of Swiss rolls or pop tarts in one day.

A support system is crucial in raising children, especially so when certain factors are involved. Who is your support system?

Thanks to the Arkansas CES waiver program (more on that later), Mom and Dad provide full-time care for Riley now, and one of his grandmothers works as a part-time caregiver. We also have a dear friend who does part-time. Over the years, we have been SO grateful for anyone and everyone who helped us. Everyone who has ever met Riley remembers him. I feel like trying to mention every family member, every caregiver, every healthcare provider in our support system is impossible. We have this interesting synergistic support “ocean”. When one ebbs, another flows, and we support Riley and each other like buoys on the surface.

What are some resources available for parents of disabled children that have been helpful for your family?

If you find yourself living a life of uncertainty with a medically complex child, reach out to your state department of human services. Ask about programs like Early Intervention. Early Intervention was amazing for us. We met with a caseworker periodically who helped get Riley things he needed. His was mostly nutritional supplements, but for kids with mobility issues or medical equipment needs (braces, wheelchairs, etc.), they can be a huge help, and will often know of programs or organizations that would be more specific to a family’s needs.

The big one for us was the CES Waiver program. It has a very long waiting list (ours was 10 years), and the idea is to get on the list early, and keep up with it until the person nears adulthood. We started Riley on the list just of out Early Intervention, around age 8, and he reached the top of the list just before his 18th birthday.

Every child and every state is different, but advocacy for your child is key. At times, I felt like a bulldog. I may have even been called one a time or two. It’s not a bad trait to nurture when living this life. I have included Arkansas’ links here:

Early Intervention: https://portal.arkansas.gov/service/ar-early-childhood-intervention-first-connection/

CES Waiver: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/developmental-disabilities-services/ces-waiver/

Passe Program - PASSE - Provider -Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/medical-services/healthcare-programs/passe/

Readers can’t help but get emotionally attached to Riley through the book. What does the future hold for him?

This may be the single toughest question, and the one we have yet to fully answer. We just don’t know. Perhaps in a few more years, we’ll have a better idea about who of our younger generation might be willing to take over care for Riley if/when we’re gone. We have a lot of work to do, and we always will. But would we do it all again?

Read and find out.    

Book Review - The Strength of Samson

Tyler Kraft sheds light on Old Testament judge Samson in his new biblical fiction release, The Strength of Samson.. Beginning with the messenger’s first appearance and delivery of instructions to his mother Abigail and father Manoah, Kraft brings Samson to life before our very eyes and gives us an idea of what life might have been like for the only known Nazirite who didn’t actually choose that path for himself. 

Kraft has developed carefully created characters to support Samson through his lifelong journey. Their strengths and weaknesses are clearly written to help develop Samson’s struggle to be accepted and live a normal life when he was preordained to be anything but ordinary. The adventure seeking young Nazirite with a penchant for getting into less than desirable situations is not surprising as the adult Samson with a fondness for enemy’s women. Though Kraft’s Samson is not a particularly lovable character, he is an effective portrayal of man’s sinful nature being used by and ultimately redeemed by God. I appreciate Kraft’s attention to detail and exploration of Samson’s understanding of his calling and the world around him, as well as the inner turmoil that must come from constantly wearing the mantle of his people’s expectations. It is an opportunity to sit with Samson and gain a bit of insight.

The Strength of Samson by Tyler Kraft is available now from Amazon.

Thank you to the author of allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Sunrise Reef

If you are also a longtime resident of Hope Harbor, I welcome you home. If you are a visitor, I hope you enjoy your stay. In the decade since Irene Hannon released her first Hope Harbor novel, many people have found home in this place where hearts heal and love blooms. Some are characters in the eleven novels of the series, but many are readers who have fallen in love with the town and its cast of vibrant characters.

Sunrise Reef is the eleventh Hope Harbor novel and focuses on Bren Ryan, one of our favorite baristas at The Perfect Blend. With a past full of heartache, Bren has started to find healing in her new home. Everything seems well settled for her until the day she finds herself in need of a temporary home, accosted in the middle of the night, and opening her arms to a stranger who feels like a kindred spirit. Noah Ward has a laser focused plan for his visit to Hope Harbor, and the sooner he can convince his father to move back to St. Louis, the sooner he can end this faux vacation and get back to work. That laser focus is how Noah has climbed to success in his world and how he will achieve his goal. This naturally means that Bren and Noah inevitably collide in glorious fashion on a regular basis. Hannon takes this seriously and delivers one run-in after another that will have to make or break this opposites-attract couple in a cozy and adorable page turner that keeps all of Hope Harbor on their toes.

Not one to shirk her supporting character duty, Hannon creates a supporting cast like no other. A job partially done by the lovingly crafted characters of the previous novels, the supporting characters are rounded out by some new additions, including Emma Blair. Emma has been riding a wave of bad luck for several years and it seems to have run out when her car dies in Hope Harbor. Fortunately, it never seems to be bad luck for anyone to get stuck in Hope Harbor, and though I enjoyed the way Hannon developed her story, I do hope Emma gets her own book someday. Sunrise Reef is a charming addition to the Hope Harbor series, but I am not going to judge too harshly if you decide to read it as a standalone. It will flow just fine. However, for real richness, indulge in the series and build all that backstory that comes with a decade of knowing and loving the residents of this hopeful little seaside town with big heart.

Sunrise Reef, the eleventh novel in the Hope Harbor series by Irene Hannon, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Some Like It Scot

Sometimes home is where you find it. Katie Campbell has been globetrotting since her grandparents’ deaths, untethered and free, a social media star for her travel adventures and misadventures. A three week Edwardian Experience in Scotland is eccentric, but right up her alley. A thieving parrot and a tumble into the loch are hairy situations that make perfect stories for her followers; it is the #hotScot that whips them into a frenzy, though. And for some reason, Graeme MacKerrow seems to be present for every misadventure, seeing her only in the worst possible light while saving her life time and again. If only he was not so grumpy. And so infernally hot.

Some Like It Scot is heavy on the grump, the #hotScot and misadventure. Pepper Basham has created a community of quirky, lovable characters and brought them together in a spellbinding setting with experiences, both Edwardian and modern, that weave them together like the sturdiest plaid. A fair amount of frustration, a good bit of humor, and the nicest bit of heat make this a fun story to read about finding home, even when you did not realize you were searching for it. If you are looking for a fun romp with a good heart, a handful of humor and a dash of sweet heat, Some Like It Scot is a great pick.

Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham will be available April 8, 2025 from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review - Break My Fall

Break My Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn is a return to Gossamer Falls and our friends, the Quinn family. This time, Dr. Meredith Quinn has seen and heard too much during her trips to neighboring Neeson in her mobile dentistry van, a fact that becomes painfully obvious when she finds herself stranded on the side of the road with an empty gas tank that should have still been full. It is a good thing Chief Grayson Ward is nearby to save the day. But why is he sticking so close to Meredith, especially when he keeps pushing her away? Drugs and trafficking run rampant in the county next door, but Gray has a problem with letting crime run amok on his doorstep. Fortunately, he has allies in his fight. Unfortunately, the woman he cannot let himself love is in the crosshairs of the worst of the perpetrators. And we all know what happens to those carefully constructed walls when the people who construct them find themselves in the line of fire.

If you read Never Fall Again, you are already a member of the Gossamer Falls community and are practically a Quinn, as well. Meredith and Mo, Cal and Cassie, Donovan and Gray are our people and we know them. Of course, we also know something has got to give between Meredith and Gray. And happy dance of happy dances, we get just that in Break My Fall. Blackburn’s characters stick with you; they are vibrant and relatable, and it is easy to want good things for them. The tension is very real, both in the romance and in the action of trying to keep headstrong Meredith safe when her primary concern is taking care of others. And the romance is so sweet. Maybe I am just a sucker right now, but I think it is more likely that this book is just one of the most downright delicious romances I have read in I don’t know how long. No need to worry, though… Mo keeps it from getting too sappy. Because that is just gross. (By the way, now that my hopes for Meredith and Gray are fulfilled, i have turned my sights on Mo and Bronwyn. Someone has some explaining to do there!) I like when characters from parallel storylines converge, and I have a great appreciation for the way Blackburn weaves in some beloved characters from her other novels to give this one some extra depth. Break My Fall absolutely earns 5 stars, and also a little heart in the margin of my book tracking spreadsheet!

Break My Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn, the second book in the Gossamer Falls series, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Storm Warning

Storm season in the Pacific Northwest is particularly harrowing this year, as it finds Remi Grant facing her demons and running for her life. A chance run in with a foreign physicist has made her the target of arms dealers and government operatives hungry to get their hands on the dead man’s technology. Hiding was an effective strategy until it was not. Now the winds, waves, and storms pummeling her beloved coast are just added complications as she struggles to stay alive. Hawk Beckett is also a complication; he seems to arrive at just the right time and is oddly attached to Remi, unless there is an ulterior motive. Struggling to regain her memory seems more urgent when she cannot tell who to trust. But Hawk knows a thing or two about trust; learning that his brother and his mentor are both involved in this situation with Remi in one way or another is enough to shake all he thinks he knows.

Elizabeth Goddard knows romance and suspense. Storm Warning is no exception. With characters so well developed they feel like family and settings so vivid you cannot help but feel like you are there, Goddard pulls you in and holds your attention securely through the entire story. Storm Warning is a gutsy, action packed wallop that is the first in a series I can’t wait to continue.

Storm Warning, the first book in the Hidden Bay series by Elizabeth Goddard, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - I Think I Was Murdered

When you live on the bleeding edge of technology, you’ll eventually get cut. On the worst day of Katrina Foster’s life, she lost her husband in a car accident. To help ease the pain, her employer loaded Jason’s information into a bleeding edge AI chatbot, which Katrina used to talk to her beloved after losing him. And on the second worst day of her life, as everything that remained after losing Jason came raining down in ashes around her, Katrina asked him to tell her something she doesn’t know. I Think I Was Murdered is a million tiny cuts to leave Katrina, and the reader, reeling from the swipes as the truth unfolds. Nestled in a Pacific Coast setting that can be both cozy and chilling, and with characters equally lovable and despicable, this is a story to keep you on your toes from start to finish. Colleen Coble and Rick Acker have fabricated a tale that gives no rest for the weary until the last bitter truth is told.

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review - Brave

As a reader of biblical fiction, I have a process that precedes actually reading a new novel. First, I look to the author to determine the original text from which they draw their work. Then I read the original text and sit with it for a time to digest God’s holy word before diving into the novel. I want to hold the fact separate from the fiction, but have grown to love the way the fiction fills in context and points toward God’s truth while helping us consider things we sometimes don’t want to stop to consider. One thing many of us hesitate to ponder for long is the relationship between David ben Jesse, God’s anointed king, and his wives. It makes sense that we do not want to linger on the polygamist relationship of a historical figure we tend to put on a pedestal as the icon of a man after God’s own heart. This is an incredibly sensitive subject to cover, but I have great respect for Mesu Andrews and her approach to it in her latest release, Brave. Because the fact of the matter is that even a man after God’s own heart is still a man. David did have multiple wives. And they are important enough that God inspired man to record them by name in the Old Testament.

Brave is the story of Ahinoam of Jezreel, who is interpreted by Andrews as a Kenite with exceptional dagger throwing skills and who works with her father to forge weapons for David’s ragtag army during the years of running from King Saul. She is spirited, fierce, and loyal. She is also not interested in marriage or being a silly woman, like the mother who abandoned her and her father so many years ago. Yet the Lord works in mysterious ways. In this instance, it is to bring Ahinoam and David together as husband and wife, to forge their relationship as the Lord gives and takes away. Giving and taking provision, giving and taking friendships, giving and taking family. Through it all, they must learn grace and forgiveness. They must learn to praise Him and seek His will. They must learn to keep their focus on Him instead of their human desires. Especially when Abigail, widow of Nabal of Carmel, also becomes David’s wife.

Andrews is a voracious researcher and I am always fascinated by the context provided in her novels. It is an honor to camp in the wilderness with Ahinoam, feeling the cool walls of the cave at my back, if only in my mind. It is hard to avoid building relationships with the characters she brings to life in text, particularly this strong dagger throwing, God seeking match for the future king. Brave’s narrative switches between Ahinoam’s point of view and David’s, and though I initially thought I just wanted her POV, it did not take long to see that his is essential for greater understanding. Brave is an enlightening read, if not an easy one, and I now wait as patiently as I can for the next installment of the King David’s Brides series.

Brave, book one of the King David’s Brides series from Mesu Andrews, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Tea with Elephants

Robin Jones Gunn takes readers on an awe inspiring and faith filled journey to Africa in her latest release, Tea with Elephants, which is the first book of her new Suitcase Sisters series. This delight for the senses has a soul stirring storyline, which follows long distance best friends through a swanky safari while they deal with personal struggles that are an easier load to bear when shared. Fern and Lily both board the plane to Nairobi with heavy hearts, exploring their stages of grief while reveling in the messages from Heaven that come through the various people they meet. Big hearts, big adventures, big animals, and big blessings abound over cups of tea and shared confidences. Gunn paints such vivid pictures of the settings and people the Sisters meet throughout their journey; it is no surprise that I eagerly await the next chapter in the Suitcase Sisters saga!

Tea with Elephants, the first novel in the Suitcase Sisters series by Robin Jones Gunn is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.