Love and Tragedy. Loyalty and Betrayal. In the end, there is only Truth. Beautifully imagined, Meetings with Jake and Joe is a poignant tale of loss, betrayal, and redemption. Set in 1997, Henry Engel lives alone on an estate near the sleepy rural town of Lewis, MO. His is a seemingly simpler world not dominated by smart phones, technology, or social media. He is a good and decent man; a patriot and philanthropist. He is well-liked and greatly respected within the community. However, Henry's emotional walls allow no one to get close to him. The events of his life and his own subsequent decisions have created a solitary existence very much of his choosing. Henry is quite happy, but blissfully oblivious to the intimacy and richest parts of humanity he is forgoing. A stray Siamese cat's mysterious appearance on the estate, and Henry's inability to dispatch it, set in motion events and flashbacks from Henry's life that captivate and entertain. In a surprising conclusion, salvation is had by some and denied to others. Well-crafted and vividly told, Meetings with Jake and Joe is a complex and delightful story full of twists, turns, and surprises that leave the reader wanting more.