Life seldom turns out the way we design it. We can plan wisely and sow with skill, but how we handle what comes up between the rows defines our character and ultimately our lives. In Ray Paul’s sequel novel, Between the Rows, his protagonist, George Konert, has settled into a peaceful co-existence with his new wife Catherine. This afterglow lasts until life’s inevitable nettles force him into action. Between the Rows is yet another wonderful novel about George Konert, who finds himself in endless trouble as usual. What I love about Ray Paul’s storytelling style is that he allows his characters to be real in every way. They’re well-drawn, faults and all, and therefore it’s easy to connect with them. George, his family, and his neighbors and their children go through a lot in this story, including grief when a shocking event occurs. This author’s books never fail to make me laugh and cry, and above all, fall in love with the gentle wisdom George always finds by the end. Christine DeSmet, a fiction teacher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is the author of the novel, Spirit Lake, and novellas in the Tales from the Treasure Trove series by Jewels of the Quill. She also directs writing retreats and conferences in Madison.