Caught in a Still Place, by Jonathan Lerner, is a quite, unassuming novel of love and need in desperate times. Four survivors of a deadly plague that wipes out nearly the entire population of the planet are forced to grapple with who they are, redefining the roles of friend, lover, and parent.
Jaydie is a self-sufficient, strong young woman; Julian is an equally strong young man whose last relationship was with another man; Miss Audrey is a dowager with Alzheimer's; and Sylvia is a child. The four have come together as an unconventional family, struggling to endure while searching for other survivors.
When Julian's former lover returns, he's forced to face his new feelings for Jaydie. And when other survivors begin showing up, the group's means of survival are at stake.
Lerner pulls together a fantastic cast of characters and manages to make an implausible storyline believable. Treat yourself to this simple and refreshing gem that restores faith in the human spirit.
This is Lerner's first novel.
