#awardwinningbook – Rosepoint Publishing

Book Blurb:

1944, Oklahoma. With their family farm on the brink of ruin, Paul’s life takes an unexpected turn—but newfound fortune comes at an unimaginable cost.

In rural Oklahoma, 13-year-old Paul wrestles with more than the typical burdens of adolescence. With a struggling farm, Allied boots marching through Europe, and whispers surrounding his mother’s death, life feels anything but simple. But when an unexpected windfall saves them from poverty, Paul discovers that wealth brings complications he never imagined.

Paul’s rags-to-riches move to Tulsa thrusts him into a world of private schools and sprawling mansions, where he and his brother face bullies, a distant father’s impossible expectations, and the weight of devastating loss. Haunted by guilt and buried secrets, Paul’s journey spans decades as he searches for forgiveness and a way to bridge the chasm between himself and the father he never truly knew.
Award-winning and praised for its unforgettable characters, The Promise of Unbroken Straw is a journey of heartbreak, secrets, and redemption.

His Review:

The promise of free land sent many homesteaders to Oklahoma’s panhandle. Life there is very difficult but love and a strong will holds the families together. Tending animals, weeding, caring for the soil, and resting at night is their only reward for this lifestyle.

There are affluent families in Tulsa but the homestead is three plus hours away from the city. Then, the discovery of oil on their property alters the fortunes of the family. Moving into a fine house in the city changes the entire family’s future.

Rich youth take advantage of the situation, and the two sons are harassed and bullied at school. There is no respite from the bullies who push around the boys who have been taught not to respond. This story is tension-filled and very poignant and reminds me of my youth long ago. Read and enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical World War II & Holocaust Fiction, Historical World War II Fiction, World War II Historical Fiction
Publisher: Yorkshire Publishing
ASIN: B0D3QR6M1Q
Print Length: 374 pages
Publication Date: May 8, 2024
Source: Author and publisher

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ken Steele holds degrees in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University and MIT. The Promise of Unbroken Straw is Ken’s debut novel, a work of historical fiction. He resides in Colorado with his wife of 41 years where his days are filled with skiing, pickleball, golf, hiking, and all that the mountains can offer.