Godsmack Part I: The Mother Earth by Josie Peterson

A moving novel weaving together crime and romance, Godsmack Part I: The Mother Earth by Josie Peterson explores what it takes to heal from a traumatic past and still find the courage to love.

Yahn’s years in the corrupt corporate world are taking their toll – the dirty power dynamics, secret handshakes, and soulless money-grubbing are all gnawing at him. When one of his clients gets involved with a dangerous crime group, Yahn is forced to leave his job, as well as his boss and lover, Gregory, and move to the countryside.

With the help of his best friend George and some exceptional new friends, Yahn starts a farm, turning his life upside down. Trouble is not far away though – the criminal group involved in his client’s death is after him, and it is obvious that Yahn has a lot to learn about himself, and Mother Earth.

Peterson skillfully brings to the surface each character’s psychology, scarred by violence, abuse, and neglect, which gives context to their actions and inspires a deep sense of empathy and connection for the reader. The prose is both layered and precise, and although some of the busier scenes can come across as confusing, these moments are usually clarified later on. At times poetic, at times action-packed, Godsmack is an intense, emotional novel with an impactful thematic focus on love and healing in the cruel real world.

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