Book review: 'Just Shy of Paradise' tells the story of a unique friendship torn apart by a family dispute

"JUST SHY OF PARADISE," by Carole Thayne Warburton, Walnut Springs Press, $17.95, 316 pages (f)

"Just Shy of Paradise" revolves around a young woman named Lily Anderson and her desire to start a new life in the small Cache Valley town of Paradise, Utah.

As Lily struggles with some of the demons from her past, she is also searching to find a future in a small town that refuses to let go of the past. Along the way, Lily makes a new friend by the name of Sky Brown. Sky, a Native American, was born and raised in Cache Valley. He also is struggling to come to terms with his past and forge a new future, and meeting Lily seems to be a step in the right direction.

Just as Lily and Sky's friendship begins to blossom, a question of ownership of a valuable fly rod threatens to tear them apart. Suddenly, Lily begins to question her new friend's motives. Is it possible she has made the mistake of trusting the wrong man?

"Just Shy of Paradise" is a fine example of LDS fiction. It tells a story of friendship and forgiveness. Utah and Mormon author Carole Thayne Warburton does a masterful job of telling a fictional story of friendship and betrayal using some of the actual history of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation.

Set in Cache Valley, this story contains numerous references to Utah communities and the culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Just Shy of Paradise" is Warburton's fourth novel to be published. She and her husband live in Avon, Cache County, Utah.

Steve Larson is one of the founders of Information Alliance, a Utah-based data collection company. He spends his free time writing and practicing photography. He also enjoys spending time outdoors.