Category Archives: Fiction/Literature

I have read a number of Debbie Macomber’s books and with each new title, I am more amazed at her ability to portray the emotions that we all feel.

In “Cottage by the Sea”, which is a stand-alone book rather than a series book, Ms. Macomber presents the reader with a group of individuals who each carry the pain of a serious problem in life. Whether it is grief at loss, physical abuse or the emotional scarring of life gone wrong, the issue is explored. These characters then find a way of living life and, at least trying, to get beyond the problems that life has dealt to them.

Kind of like we all have to do.

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This is a debut novel by Libby Page. The book tells the story of a community and of the characters of individuals who come together to try to save the neighborhood pool or lido.

Each character is explored through their connection to the pool and then beyond. The action centers on Rosemary and Kate.

Rosemary is in her eighties and has gone to the lido for most of her life. While other children were taken out of the city during WWII to avoid bombs, her mother kept her close at hand so she has never been without the lido. When a posh apartment developer shows up to close the pool, Rosemary is inspired to try to save it.

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This is the first book by Rachel Hauck that I have read. It is a Christian story but without wielding a sledgehammer that may turn some people off.

The story is that of two couples, one in the present and one in the past. The present day couple are involved in making a film about the earlier couple.

There are forces that work together and against both couples. They have to find their own ways and, more importantly, look for salvation through the only way. By following Jesus Christ. That is a connecting tie between not only these four individuals but also all Christians.

The book is quite dramatic and while an event could be presented in low key, the author has made the choice to make everyday occurrences have deeper meaning. Such as writing a letter. While we don’t generally write many letters today, a letter a few hundred years ago was something to be prized and kept.

I liked the formal language of the past as it contrasted with the informal language and situations of the present. It made for a good break between the chapters of each time period.

I will certainly read more by this author in the future. She has a way with words and situations that is quite beautiful.

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It’s been quite a while since I have last read a Mary Kay Andrews book. I was expecting a more light-hearted romance and instead read a book about female bonding. While it wasn’t what I was expecting and hoping for, it was a good read nonetheless.

This is the story of women in the past as well as women in the future. The women of today are, with the expect of two individuals, all decedents of the women in the original group. The two exceptions are women, in their nineties, who formed one half of the original group.

The original group, the High Tide Club, got their name from their first meeting which was skinny dipping at night during the high tide/full moon. The young women were inseparable, that is, until a terrible event happens.

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I’m a huge fan of Hallmark movies, especially the Christmas ones, so reading a book based on one of their movies promised to be fun. I wondered, though, if the book could live up to the enjoyment of the film.

It did wonderfully. The book stayed through to the screenplay of the movie as far as action. What it added was the thoughts and emotions of the two main characters. It gave a great depth to the enjoyment of the story.

The story is about Hanna, a young war widow of WWI, who is feeling very lonely as Christmas approaches. She takes shelter in a storage shed from inclement weather when lightning strikes and sets the stage for her arrival in the future.

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I have long been a fan of Sophie Kinsella, beginning with the first I read by her “Undomestic Goddess”. Her stories always seem to tie to my own life in some fashion. In this, her latest, novel, I easily relate to the issues which come up and evolve in a married life.

Sylvie is a 32 year old woman who, along with her husband Dan (also 32) has just found out from their doctor that they should plan on another 68 years of married life based on their great genetics. They both respond with a fear of that kind of longevity with a single partner and how to keep from getting bored with each other.

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“The Saturday Night Supper Club” is the first novel I have read by Carla Laureano. While I am a Christian of many years, I have not read that many Christian novels. Based on the caliber of this book, I will be reading more in the future. It was an outstanding book to read both as a slice of life novel and as a representation of God working in our lives.

The story, while containing a romance, really revolves around Romans 8:28, (KJV) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” The majority of the characters in this story have had or are going through a major setback in their lives. We are shown that while the individual believes their live is falling apart, God has control of the situation and is leading them to the future He has planned.

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When I decided to read “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah, I had no idea where the subject would take me. It is a coming of age and beyond book about a young girl/woman, Leni, who is moved to Alaska when her father, Ernt decides it is the next place for them to live. This is after many other moves in the past as he tries to escape the emotional trauma he is left with after being a POW in Vietnam.

Living with her damaged father and her mother Cora, who will not stand up for herself against her husband, Leni
learns first to survive in the harsh Alaskan landscape and then to learn to love the land for all of its harsh beauty.

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I’ve read all of Phoebe Fox’s books in her Break-up Doctor series. I was expecting something similar with this new book, “A Little bit of Grace”. It was actually quite different from her previous books but nonetheless, an enjoyable story.

I found the writing to be excellent as usual from Ms. Fox. I also enjoyed the flow of the story and her sensitivity in working through a variety of difficult issues.

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This is a quick read novella about Grace. Grace is a woman of 37 who has been painfully shy her entire life. The one place she feels confident is as the chef in her family-owned restaurant. When the recession hits and it looks like the restaurant will suffer, Grace comes up with an idea to try to save the jobs of those who work with her. She wants to write a cookbook featuring recipes from people she meets.

The thing is, she never meets anyone new. She forces herself to leave the cocoon of the restaurant (even her apartment is the upper floor in the same building.) She decides to take a bus and try to talk to people and get them to give her recipes.

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