Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Song of the Brokenhearted by Sheila Walsh & Cindy Coloma

Song of the Brokenhearted is a must read. In fact, you may find it difficult to put aside. The plot of the story revolves around a wife who has everything. You know the type, the woman who drives the best cars, has the sweetest and most successful kids, lives in a large house and gets the monthly manicure/pedicure treatment. But, things aren't always what they seem. As the main character's life unfolds, her "perfect existence" begins to fade. The author uses a weeping willow tree as the symbol of the character's change of life. As the willow wilts, so does the main character. I could connect to the characters in this novel. First, who doesn't want to get have a monthly mani/pedi? Secondly, who doesn't have struggles? One thing that I didn't connect with was the character's faith in God. I, like many, struggle with leaning on God when things go badly. This story is a reminder that God will help through faith and hope. The story's plot moves along well and the characters are believable. This is definately a book to put on your reading list.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

The Choice by Robert Whitlow

For summer reading, the best choice is "The Choice". The plot is so engaging, I couldn't put it down. The Choice is about a pregnant teenager in 1975 Georgia. The setting is perfect as this is around the time of Roe vs. Wade. The teen, Sandy, has tough choices: abortion, adoption or keeping the baby. The father, another teenager and star athlete, says to Sandy, "Who's the father?". I moaned, okay, screamed, outloud. Whitlow makes the characters so realistic that I was totally involved in the storyline. In 1975, pregnant teen girls did not continue their education unless they went to a special school. Sandy, top of her class and head cheerleader, must leave her school. She could attend a special school or get her GED in hopes to eventually attend college. What a choice! The Choice follows Sandy through her life as she makes the tough choices. It is a wonderful story which shows how one choice can lead to another and then to another. The Choice is a choice you should make when adding to your library.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

A Path Toward Love: Cara Lynn James

Summer is my time to read as many good books as possible. I chose A Path Toward Love because of the historical fiction genre and its setting, the Gilded Age. I was thinking that this would be a fun, quick read: what a surprise! It was fun, but quick only because I found it diffult to put aside. First, the main character, Katherine, was very easy in which to relate. As a once stubborn teen who didn't follow parental wishes, I saw a lot of myself in Katherine's plight. Her stubborness creates a dominoe effect of events that could have demorilized her, yet she persevered. That is, until daddy comes around and brings more havoc into her life in the guise of helping her. Daddy also brings a dear friend from childhood, Andrew. Andrew is an ardent supporter of Katherine, but could he be much more? Sustaining Katherine through her ups and many downs is her faith in the Lord. Instead of wallowing in self pity, she finds strength and God. She asks Him repeatedly for guidance, but will she follow His intended path? A Path Toward Love is a great book for those of us who wonder if we are truly listening to God and following His path, or wandering aimlessly where we WANT to go. With memorable characters and a charming storyline, A Path Toward Love is a summer reading surprise in any season. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------