Review: Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff

Lily Woodward and the other citizens of Toccoa, Georgia are eagerly awaiting the return of the town’s soldiers from World War II.  To celebrate their return, the town has hired Jake Russo, an expert in pyrotechnics, to create a fabulous fireworks show.

Lily and her husband, Paul, were married three and a half years ago and haven’t seen one another since. Paul was shipped off to war within weeks of their wedding.  Lily is excited about Paul’s return, but she’s also a bit anxious. So much has changed in the past few years.  She was a mere teen when she and Paul wed.  She’s matured, both physically and mentally.

As she’s returning home from a trip to the grocery, Lily sees fireworks sparkling in the sky.  She pulls off the road and unknowingly walks into Jake Russo’s testing ground.  She’s standing right where the sparks from the fireworks will fall.  Jake bolts in her direction and knocks her to the ground.  A chance meeting?  Perhaps.

After Jake cleans up the scrapes Lily receives as a result of the fall, they both begin to talk about their shared love of fireworks.  There is an instant and obvious connection between them that can’t be denied.  It is now up to Lily to decide what road to take in life: the safe, familiar road back to Toccoa with Paul, or off into the unknown with Jake?

Other reviewers compare Stepakoff’s writing to that of Nicholas Sparks.  Really?  I think that does a diservice to Stepakoff and his book.  Stepakoff has The Wonder Years, Sisters, and Dawson’s Creek on his resume.  Sparks has interviews in which he identifies his own book as his favorite book.  Seriously!

Ok, I digress.

Fireworks Over Toccoa is a wonderfully engaging book with beautiful, lyrical prose.  The writing pulls you from the real world and transports you to another time and place. Following are just a few samplings:

Jake had learned during his time at war that there are moments in one’s life, critical moments, small moments, passing flutters of a second, in which decisions are made and actions taken, perhaps the slightest of offers extended, that at the time on the surface seem simple and transpartent but upon consideration or reflection are proven to be instants that can change the course of everything

And…

Enwrapped in this closeness so completely, cocooned by it, Lily knew that this was what had been missing from her life, this feeling of wholeness and connection, fulfillment of her capacity to share  the entirety of herself with all of another.  This man.  She knew it with the same force of nature flowing through any spent creature slumbering in its silk.  And now that she had found it, could she go back to her life as it was?

Fireworks Over Toccoa is a perfect weekend book.  I literally read it in one evening, I couldn’t bear to put it down for a moment. The characters are endearing, well-developed,  and multifaceted.  The romance the characters share is endearing and spans decades. I honestly can’t say enough great things about this book!  Coming from someone who generally doesn’t read romance, that says a lot!

I should warn you-there is a pretty detailed love scene that sort of pops up unexpectantly.  Nothing explicit or graphic, but still deserves warning. Go out and get this one…I highly recommend it.