Norman McCombs' fast moving, exciting new novel covers a wide swath of time between 15th century Scotland to present day New York City. It starts in the Scottish Highlands where readers learn about how warriors defended their land and families. We then meet the star of the book, Douglas McCombs, from New York City, where the story is woven in with past tales of his ancestors. Douglas' saga was the most heartfelt, going from a millionaire who has it all to being so depressed, he doesn't want to show up in life.
Many times while reading, authors will jump back and forth between the past and present and it can be bothersome. Not so with "A Reason To Be," it feels like flipping through a photo album. McCombs' no nonsense glimpses into the past are stark at times, but shows how the family conquered and made paths forward.
