In a Distant Valley by Shannon Bowring @shannonbowring.author @shannonbowring.bsky.social @tantoraudio @tantoraudio.bsky.social #PatriciaShade #DaltonMaine #InADistantValley

the setup…
The story continues with Rose Douglas who has grown comfortable and confident now that her abusive ex, Tommy Merchant, left town five years ago. She’s loving her job at the clinic, her two boys are thriving and she’s tiptoeing around a potential relationship with widower Nate Theroux. But when Tommy suddenly shows back up, their lives are disrupted even though he professes to be a changed man. Meanwhile, Greg Fortin is reluctantly back from college for the holidays, fully expecting his father to continue pressuring him to continue the family business legacy and commit to running the hardware store. Things look up when he discovers Angela Muse, his high school best friend and secret crush, has returned home to Dalton. But she’s still battling demons and he still needs to come clean with her and his family about his sexual identity.

the heart of the story…
While there isn’t a lot of explosive drama in Dalton, the quiet reflections of the people in this town expose the issues they face that are common in any city, large or small. Domestic abuse, fear of rejection because of sexual identity differences, drug and alcohol abuse are just some of the issues dealt with here. But what’s different is how this small community looks out for one another, sensing when someone needs support and when they just need space. The connections are real and substantive.

the narration…
Patricia Shade is the voice of this series and I love what she contributes to the storytelling. Her subtlety and voice tone are perfectly suited to the writing.

the bottom line…
I felt so much tension for Rose throughout the story and was rooting for her and Nate, despite the potential disaster from her ex. The other plot lines were equally compelling if less dramatic but underneath all was a sensitivity and authenticity that reflects real life. The strong sense of community resonates powerfully, one of the elements I’ve found endearing this series. I hate saying goodbye to these characters and Dalton, Maine but the author left me in a really good place.

Book Info

• Release Date: October 7, 2025
• Series: Dalton, Maine #3
• Narrator: Patricia Shade
• Audio Length: 10 hours, 35 minutes
• Publisher: Tantor Audio

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(Thanks to Tantor Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)