Lilies in Moonlight by Allison Pittman

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis from the publisher: He’d lost his zest for life. She was just lost. Will they find the healing and love they long for?

After a roaring night on the town, fun-loving flapper Lilly Margolis, dazed and disoriented, twists her ankle and falls into the backyard of a wealthy family where the effects of the Great War—over for more than half a decade—are still endured. Inside the walls of the Burnside mansion, Cullen Burnside, a disillusioned and disfigured veteran, and his widowed mother, Betty Ruth, who daily slips a little further into dementia, lead a lonely existence … until Lilly. Whimsical, lighthearted, and beautiful, she rejuvenates their sad, disconnected lives and blossoms in the light of their attention.

But Lilly, like Cullen, is hiding from a painful past. And when Cullen insists on returning her to her faraway home, their budding attraction seems destined to die on the vine. The resulting road trip becomes a journey of self-discovery—but what will Cullen and Lilly find at journey’s end?

Review:   When I have a book by one of my favorite authors, I tend to put off reading it and just let it sit on my bookshelf for a time, while I anticipate the great story that lies within.  Allison Pittman is one of my favorite authors; and with the release of Lilies in Moonlight, she has hit another home run!  Once again she has crafted a well-written novel that drew me into a whimsical, yet meaningful story that I did not want to end.  As much as I wanted to proceed slowly, it's one of those books that kept me turning the pages for more until there were no more pages remaining!  Not only does Pittman have a way of bringing her characters to life, but she also has very original story-lines that are refreshing to read.  Set during the Roaring Twenties, Lilies in Moonlight  focuses on two individuals that seem to have very little in common.  Though living a life of wealth and privilege, Cullen Burnside is only a shadow of  the young man that he left behind before the war, and seemingly irrepressible Lily is really just searching for a place to belong.  I fell in love with each of the characters in this novel and experienced their emotions throughout the journey.  Betty Ruth, Cullen's mother, is such an endearing character that added dimension to the story.  While Lilies in Moonlight has its light and humorous moments, there is such depth and insight just beneath the surface. 

I know that I will continue to revisit Lilies in Moonlight in the future, and I eagerly anticipate Allison Pittman's next release, Forsaking All Others in October 2011. 

Rain Song by Alice Wisler

Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis from cbd.com: Nicole Michelin avoids airplanes, motorcycles, and most of all, Japan, where her parents once were missionaries. Something happened in Japan...something that sent Nicole and her father back to America alone...something of which Nicole knows only bits and pieces. But she is content with life in little Mount Olive, North Carolina, with her quirky relatives, tank of lively fish, and plenty of homemade pineapple chutney. Through her online column for the Pretty Fishy Web site, she meets Harrison Michaels, who, much to her dismay, lives in Japan. She attempts to avoid him, but his e-mails tug at her heart. Then Harrison reveals that he knew her as a child in Japan. In fact, he knows more about her childhood than she does...

Review:  There are certain books that I always save for vacation, for a time that I can relax and best appreciate them.  I have enjoyed seeing Rain Song on my shelf since receiving it as a Christmas gift several months ago, and I just treated myself to reading it during a recent trip to the Hudson River Valley. 

As I began reading Rain Song, I expected the plot to consist mainly of Nicole's experiences in Japan, but I soon realized that taking the steps to travel to Japan is the greatest part of the journey.  Like me, Nicole Michelin does not like the thought of flying, and she has her share of insecurities.   Like all of us, she has certain fears and past experiences that she must face before she begins to fully embrace her future.  We may have dreams and desires to accomplish something, and we may know how to take a series of small steps to get there, but taking action is often the most difficult part. Opportunities can be overshadowed by our own fears.   

Rain Song is a deeply moving novel that resonates with the part of each of us that has experienced loss, self-doubt, and fear.  Written in first person, Nicole shares her daily thoughts about her relatives and past in a way that often jumps from topic to topic, much like our own minds.  She has avoided her painful past and the mystery that surrounds the death of her mother, but the loss has left a gaping hole in her heart.  Nicole deeply loves her aging grandmother, but fears losing the only mother-figure that she can remember.  After beginning her correspondence with Harrison,  she is given the opportunity to learn about the past, but only she can fully overcome her fears.

Alice Wisler has crafted a very well-written and thought-provoking novel that will both inspire and challenge each reader.  I highly recommend Rain Song to be used in a reading group as well because it offers many possibilities for  discussions.

A Visit to the Hudson River Valley

Last week we travelled to the scenic and historic Hudson River Valley. Along the way, we spotted some cute and stunning libraries and schools.  We also had the chance to visit the homes of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Washington Irving, and the town of Sleepy Hollow!  We didn't spot any headless horsemen, but we did visit the bridge that inspired the legend. To see some of our travel images, visit our Side Trips page.


Sleepy Hollow Church



The Headless Horseman Bridge



On the Loose by Jenny B. Jones

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis from NavPress: Six months into her stay with her foster parents, Katie Parker is finally adjusting to her new family. But after a tornado rips through the town of In Between, nothing is ever the same again.

When her foster mom, Millie, is diagnosed with cancer, Katie begins to doubt if God really does care. What will happen to Katie? Could she possibly have to leave In Between and the family she's come to depend on? Things spiral even further out of control when Katie juggles a science fair project, a malfunctioning best friend, spring break plans, and holding the attention of her own Prince Charming. It's going to take more than a glass slipper and some fairy dust to fix Katie Parker's problems. But will help come in time?

Review: After reading In Between, the first book in A Katie Parker Production, I was excited to read On the Loose.  One of the benefits to discovering books after a series is complete is that you don't have to wait for the release of the sequel! Although the series is designated as young adult, you do not have to be a teen to relate to Katie's struggles and to laugh at the infectious humor.  Katie is a great example for teens who are trying to find themselves in the face of pressure and doubts.

Jenny B. Jones never fails to completely draw me into her novels with the wit, sarcasm, and quirkiness that are unique to her work.  She balances such traits with relatable problems, touching moments, and infusions of faith.  On the Loose is a shining example of this balance.  There are some extremely funny scenes throughout the novel; but there are also very tender moments, especially at the end of the book. Jones' writing is so engaging that I can clearly visualize each situation and empathize with the characters.

 I love the cast of characters in A Katie Parker Production. Katie is the star of course, but the supporting stars shine as well. Maxine, Katie's foster grandmother, is particularly humorous, and her interactions with Katie and the rest of the family offer plenty of comedic moments. James and Millie, Katie's foster parents, are heart-warming examples of sacrifice and unconditional love.  I look forward to catching up with Katie, her family, and the rest of In Between in the last book The Big Picture.  I whole-heartedly recommend losing yourself "in between" the pages of A Katie Parker Production or any other novel by Jenny B. Jones.

The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis from Summerside Press: Cleveland, Ohio, 1928. Secrets bind the notorious Cardano family together, but Detective Rollin Wells is close to exposing the family’s dark secrets. The Cardanos are working in the hills south of Cleveland, and when Rollin travels to Sugarcreek to investigate, he discovers that the Cardanos want him dead.

Rollin hides out in an Amish home, trying to uncover why the Cardanos are in Amish country and who is collaborating with them. As he gets closer to the truth, he also attempts to find out what a beautiful Amish woman named Katie Lehman—a woman who reminds him of the girl he once loved—is hiding.

Will Katie trust him with her secret…and her heart? Or will the Cardano code of honor silence them both?


Review:  The Silent Order is a refreshing and exciting departure from the traditional Amish and historical fiction novels.  I was first drawn to the setting of the novel - 1928 Ohio. The 1920s was both an exciting and turbulent time in history, yet I have read so few novels set during that period.  My interest was further piqued by the summary.  How often do we see the mafia, detectives, and the passive Amish community in the same plot?  My expectations were set: this was not going to be a traditional Amish fiction novel.  I was not disappointed.

Melanie Dobson's writing and suspenseful story-line gripped me from the beginning.  The novel maintains a steady pace until the end, woven with secrecy, danger, and of course faith and a bit of romance.  Both main characters, Katie and Rollin are likable and well-developed.  They each wear scars from their pasts, and they are bound by the losses and traumas they suffered at the hands of cruel men.  As Katie's and Rollin's lives cross in Amish country, they reveal hidden secrets to each other and the reader.  In the midst of peril and fear, they experience healing, which provide heartfelt and tender moments.  The Silent Order is a fast and intriguing read that I highly recommend!