One More Sunrise

Michael Landon Jr. and Tracie Peterson
Bethany House (2008)
ISBN 9780764203626
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (3/08)


Joe Daley is a crop duster. He is also a man allowing his past to destroy his present life as a husband and father. In Kansas in the late 1950s, Joe is still unable to forgive himself for not being able to fight in World War II to revenge his brother’s death and make his family proud of him. His self-hatred has resulted in marital problems, heavy drinking, and fear an old friend will take his wife from him.

Then one day Joe has an accident with his airplane. Out of nowhere a giant bird, or what appears to be a bird, hits his plane. As he struggles to regain control of his plane, he begs God to spare his life so he can change and become a better man. His transformation does not happen overnight, but with the advent of a new situation facing his community, and a mysterious stranger who shows up in town, Joe begins his journey to become the man he needs to be for his family. He finds out others in his family have their own secrets and guilt, and he learns that miracles are still possible.

The book’s biography of the author, Michael Landon Jr., states that he wishes to bring the same quality family entertainment to his writing as his father did to his television programs. He has succeeded in creating a story closer to the plots of “Highway to Heaven” episodes than “Bonanza” or “Little House on the Prairie.” While “One More Sunrise” has room for improvement, Landon has done well with his first novel. (I imagine he was largely assisted by his co-author, Tracie Peterson, who has written or contributed to seventy novels).

I found the first hundred pages of “One More Sunrise” rather slow, but I grew more interested in the story when the mysterious stranger came to town. While the stranger had some important messages to give Joe, the stranger’s presence was rather anti-climactic and his role not very large in the book. Joe was largely left to figure out things on his own, but perhaps the book was more realistic for that. I thought the novel’s conclusion, where the villain overreacts, was out of touch with the rest of the novel, turning it into almost a suspense thriller. The book also tended to be overly descriptive, probably a quarter longer than it needed to be.

Nevertheless, people who enjoy good family entertainment will enjoy “One More Sunrise.” I will anticipate another story from this writing duo.

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