Amid the astounding achievements and enthralling energy of the 1960s space race in the U.S., Joe Mitchell is chosen for a mission to orbit the moon in Chanel Cleeton's An Infinite Love Story. But Joe's dream quickly turns into his wife Vivian's nightmare: communication with Joe's aircraft is lost, forcing those on the ground to assume the worst. Overwhelmed by fear, anger, and uncertainty, Vivian begins to hear and see clues that Joe is trying to communicate with her. Curiosity and hope guide Vivian to attempt to make sense of what happened to Joe and his crew, protect his memory, and understand if--and how--her husband may be trying to reach her.
Cleeton's poignant prose launches readers into the riveting spirit of the space age to explore the extraordinary strength of true and enduring love. Vivian's memories reveal the endearing story of how she and Joe came together. Their connection was instant and intertwined with lofty dreams. Vivian's journalistic pursuits illuminate themes of women's roles in the 1960s workforce, and Joe's aspirations of becoming an astronaut highlight the burgeoning efforts of space travel.
Through incredibly skilled and well-researched writing, Cleeton (Next Year in Havana; The Cuban Heiress) celebrates the successes of the space program while also drawing attention to the devastating hardships and high expectations of the early astronauts' wives and families. An Infinite Love Story is a gripping portrayal of overwhelming grief that turns one woman's greatest love and hardest loss into an inspiring message. --Clara Newton, freelance reviewer