Rolling Towards Clear Skies takes us into the lives of a family dealing with adopting two teenage girls who suffered tragedy and heartbreak. So you can imagine what happens when they are mixed into the home with the two other teenage girls who have to learn to share.
This story has some real life drama that makes us realize that bad things are sometimes needed to help us move forward.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 stars rounded up
Rolling toward clear skies is the story of 41-year-old Dr. Maggie Blount, a divorced mother of 2 teenage girls who volunteers with Doctors on wheels. Her boyfriend, Alex is a nurse who established the organization to respond to disasters such as forest fires, hurricanes and tornadoes. During one such disaster Maggie assists 2 teenage sisters with pneumonia, and through various circumstances ends up fostering and then adopting them. How this blended family manages completes the rest of the story.

This novel did hold my attention throughout but I did struggle with the portrayal of the 2 sets of sisters. Maggie's 2 biological daughters are spoiled brats with no redeemable qualities throughout most of the book., while the foster sisters are perfect teenagers being kind, gentle and forgiving all the time. This very black & white portrayal set me on edge and made it hard for me to empathize with any of the characters. The impact of social media posts on young lives is also addressed here and the story resolves with the author's typical uplifting ending. Thank you to net galley and the publisher for an e.Galley of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Another ‘couldn’t put it down’ book by Ryan Hyde. It’s really refreshing to read books with a strong sense of rightness and morality. Once again the author didn’t disappoint. I, like many others no doubt had no patience with Willa and Gemma, however, there were many insights into why they were acting the way they were, and how they overcame the negative aspects of their lives. Highly recommend this book.

The writing style of this book seems much different than previous novels by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I have read almost all of her books. Her novels always teach a lesson and usually have a feel good ending . This newest endeavor stands far above the last half dozen. She has taken really at least two topics – one of those who go into harms way to help their fellow man, and the other of adoptive and blended families, along with their many complicated issues, and woven everything into a beautiful novel. Ms. Hyde makes it all sound so simple, yet for those going through such trauma it must be horrific. I think everyone can relate to one or more of the characters. A must read for all the millions of Ryan Hyde fans.

Loved it. Having been a teenage girl I could relate to their issues. Also grateful not to have raised teenagers. Don't think I was as bad or as good as either pair of girls. Parents deserve much credit for their patience. Delightful story. I was eager to see things resolved.

Another excellent book by this Author. She is an automatic read for me. I just love her books. Dr. Maggie Blount was a Saint. I wanted to smack Willa and Gemma! This was such a great book. Put it on your TBR list for November 12. I highly recommend it and everything this Author writes. Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is a novel that is realistic. Teenage daughters…rescued girls…doctors who help others during catastrophes…family and friends…chaos and happy times…sacrificing…children who don’t want to share…orphans…recipe for a heartwarming story, the good and the not so good. I really liked this book. One timeline…I really like this author. A quick, enjoyable read with meaning…value..worth…lessons learned…Thanks Netgalley/

What can I say Catherine Ryan Hydes books NEVER disappoint. I have read so many of hers and whenever I see one become available I snatch it up because it know its gonna be amazing. Highly recommend this book and all of her other books!

I am a BIG FAN of Catherine Ryan Hyde her latest novel Rolling Toward Clear Skies did not disappoint. Her books have true heartfelt story lines. They make you think. This is an uplifting story about family dynamics and overcoming obstacles.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hmm definitely not my favourite book by this author, but it was still beautifully written and emotional. I tend to like novels about family drama (and this one deals with adopted children), so this one was lovely. Just couldn't connect with any of the characters.
I'll keep picking up future releases by Ryan Hyde, though.
I'd easily recommend this book to everyone who's read a book by this author before.

Absolutely delightful, inspiring, heartwarming and challenging! Dr. Maggie Blount and her partner and boyfriend Alex run Doctors on Wheels who go to areas where there has been a disaster such as a hurricane. On one occasion they came across two girls whose parents were killed. Maggie could not bear to leave them behind so she eventually adopted them. The household was chaos! Maggie’s two birth daughters were not happy with the situation, they are privileged, demanding and used to getting everything they wanted. The adopted two were the opposite, polite, helpful, wanting nothing except love. A beautiful story of a blended family and the difficulties.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank You Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing

Publish Date: Nov 12th, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

This book explores the impact that the adoption of two orphaned teenagers has on a broken family and Maggie Blount, a divorced mother of two and a former California physician, left her practice due to a disaster. Now, she's part of a mobile medical service, Doctor on Wheels, alongside Alex, her professional and romantic partner. When a category five hurricane hits Louisiana. Maggie forms a bond with two sisters.

They are all trying to navigate life together, facing challenges, but that's their new reality.

Rolling Toward Clear Skies is the latest offering from my favourite contemporary women’s fiction writer, Catherine Ryan Hyde. It still amazes me that she finds something new to write about twice a year. This one explores the impact that adoption of two orphaned teenagers has on a broken family. I didn’t love it as much as some of her previous novels, mainly because of the characters, who are at best bland and difficult to cheer for, and at worst odious narcissists, but it’s still an uplifting comfort read with the usual heartwarming resolution.

Maggie Blount is a primary care physician and the divorced mother of two impossible to please teenage girls, Willa and Gemma. She recognises her role in spoiling them, but doesn’t know how to fix it. Her escape is her role with emergency response charity, Doctors on Wheels, that she runs with her handsome younger boyfriend, nurse Alex. When they travel to Louisiana after a severe hurricane in their clinic on wheels, the last thing she expects is to bring home two shellshocked girls and their hungry rescue puppy. Jean and Rose are kind, polite and humble - everything her own selfish children are not. Can Maggie unite her new blended family or has she made a terrible mistake?

This was a quick read and I enjoyed the first part about the medics helping the victims of the hurricane in various ways and meeting the two orphans. The middle part, where they return to California and have to face the wrath of Maggie’s monstrous offspring, was harder to read about - it got rather repetitive and I found the new girls’ saccharine passivity and pliability too good to be true. The denouement is no great surprise, although the social media aspects were at least thought-provoking, and we get an appropriately happy ending. 3.5 rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the ARC. Rolling Toward Clear Skies is published on November 12th.

This book was a funny choice as I spontaneously picked it as Hurricane Beryl hit Houston. Not to mention how the first chapter referenced a hurricane missing Galveston as the wind whirled around my home.
This was a refreshing book. Interesting storyline and a nice introduction to the author for me. I appreciated how it told the story of the selflessness and sacrifices emergency medical workers face and how it can spill over into their families.
Overall, it was a quick read. Bite sized chapters. There were a few lines that were odd making me think content was edited out and the lines were left.

Thank you for allowing me to read this

This author never ceases to amaze me! This book kept me captivated till the very last page! Wonderful characters and storyline. You won't be disappointed! Highly recommend!

What a wonderful story about being grateful for all that you have and understanding that a lot of things we think we need are actually extras, and that the most important thing is to be loved and care for.
I loved the comparisons between Jean and Rose and Maggie's own children Willa and Gemma. How grateful Jean and Rose are for everything they receive from Maggie and are willing to do chores and help out with Doctors on Wheel because they just want to. I also like how Jean and Rose don't intrude on Willa and Gemma's space and have volunteered to move to the basement instead of using Willa and Gemma's bedrooms, because they know it's the right thing to do.
It was sad that Maggie's own daughters Willa and Gemma used things to fill that empty space inside themselves, which was create not only by the divorce between Maggie and her ex-husband, but also the absence of Maggie when she went off to volunteer for Doctors on Wheel and left them with her ex-husband, not knowing any of this was effecting them, and it wasn't until Maggie foster Jean and Rose that she could see what was happening with her own daughters and see the comparison. That comparison allowed all of them to look hard at their lives and make changes that made everyone feel better about themselves and work out that empty feeling inside.
I don't know how Catherine Ryan Hyde comes up with these thoughtful and surprising stories but each one has taught me something about my own life and makes me wish I was part of the story.
I want to Thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this thought provoking story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Rolling Toward Clear Skies by Catherine Ryan Hyde is a novel all about family dynamics. Maggie, a medical doctor, works with her longtime boyfriend Alex on a Doctors On Wheels RV. They travel around the United States to various disasters to help people in need when hospitals are overflowing and help is often out of reach for many victims. One evening while working in a disaster zone following a hurricane, Maggie befriends two girls. What happens next is nothing short of someone representing the true human spirit we all should have and strive for. Maggie‘s daughters are not at all what she had envisioned they’d be as teenagers, but throughout the turmoil, they learn that there are more important things in life than materialistic things. They learn to set aside their differences and their self centred beliefs for the greater good. Overall, this was a heartwarming story that I would recommend to others.

this book is full of emotions and family turmoil.
I have never read a book by this renowned author Catherine Ryan Hyde and I will definitely be looking for more written by her.
Excellent.

Rolling Toward Clear Skies by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Maggie Blount, divorced mother of two and California physician, puts her private practice on hold when disaster strikes. Doctors on Wheels takes her and Alex—Maggie’s professional and romantic partner—wherever they’re needed. After rolling into rural Louisiana in the wake of a category five hurricane, Maggie immediately bonds with two sisters and their puppy, all orphaned by the storm. It’s enough to break Maggie’s heart, and she’s not leaving them behind.
Wow such a brilliant and engaging story I didn't want it to end.

Is a book filled with emotions, happiness, anxiety, struggling and some other sad moments. It involves you in the sequence of the story that far that It'll make you feel the emotions the characters are going through. If you're a parent you'll feel in touch with Maggie, the struggle that she goes through with being a mom, a working woman and also having a couple, If you're a teen you might also feel close to the kids... The story gives you some tips on how to handle situations, and when it's just best to let it be, also how your surroundings may influence your feelings.
My admiration is to Maggie, with all the battle she goes through throughout the story and how on top of everything she decides to tell her life story to the world.