Before I Go

 By

Colleen Oakley

When I sat down to read this book, I sat down in my big easy chair with my favorite blanket, a big box of tissue and a cup of tea.  I was all ready for a teary afternoon or two as I prepared myself to struggle through a book about dealing with cancer and dying.  I WAS WRONG.  Only someone who has lived through the experience of chemo and the Big “C” and/or shared the final days of a life well spent could have even attempted such a monumental task, as to cause me to be pulling tissue because I am wiping my tears from laughing so hard. 

Colleen gave us a wonderful ray of sunshine for this potentially bleak subject matter that has and can hit so many readers so close to home.  In the telling of the day-to-day struggles of a young couple who are facing the hard fact of stage four cancer and a love affair cut short, she poured out the foibles, and allowed us to see life from the inside out. 
The book made me stop and think, just how important were my priorities?  Would I?  Could I, go out and systematically search for my husband a future wife?  Why did the window caulk stay at the top of her priority list, but never get addressed?  No matter how hard she worked to hold her organized world together, it was slowly unravelling, because nothing was the same-nor would ever be again. 
A good book to help understand what life is like and what it can be like.  Even with the thorns, life’s roses can still be sweet and smell beautiful to the end.

Karen Laird

Http://ShadeTreeBlogging.blogspot.com

ARTIFACTS

By

Mary Anna Evans

This book came highly recommended by a fellow reviewer who had read and reviewed the book for her website.  Even though I have never had the privilege of visiting the beautiful state of Florida, I discovered that there was a place of beauty that drew me to wanting to visit this state far more than Disney World ever has.

Artifacts was more than a story of a young want-to-be archeologist in the backwaters of the coastal islands off the Florida panhandle.  It was a deep dive into the history of this little known piece of America, that has a history about as old as you get, when it comes to the settling of the Americas.  Ms Evans did a masterful job of immersing the reader into the locale of the islands and its’ people.  Turning the pages, I could almost smell the moss and seaweed on the pages and hear the ebb and flow of the tide as it moved in and out of the channels between the islands. 

Artifacts is about what life can still be like, away from the fast lane in the American South.  It is about mystery and the “piece of pie” that someone always wants that is not theirs to take.  But most of all, it is about home, the true meaning of home and the depth the meaning of home has to some people.  Ultimately, it is all about what it takes to keep and protect this place we call home.

It was with great disappointment that I found myself at the last page of the novel, for I was so far into the lives and story of the Faye Longchamp and her friends that I wasn’t ready for the story to end.  But, alas the mystery was solved and finished for the day.  It is my sincere hope that I will continue to discover more about Faye, her background and history with the other books in the series.

This book is an excellent read, well written, with a well-paced story line that keeps the pages turning at a fast pace, but still allows you to slow down and enjoy the places of discovery.  I give it a definite 5 stars on my list! 

I will be back for second helpings, Mary Anna Evans.  I have fallen in love with Faye Longchamp.

Karen Laird

Shade Tree Book Reviews and Blog

http://ShadeTreeBlogging.blogspot.com

THE BRACELET - A Review

By

Dorothy Love

The Bracelet, by Dorothy Love falls under a few sub-categories in the fiction genre- historical, historical romance, and romance.  Set in the Deep South just prior to the start of the Civil War, the story gave us a picture postcard view of life in the upper crust of Savannah Aristocracy.  Dorothy did a beautiful job of painting her detailed pictures of the social life of society and their social events.  Many of her descriptions were true word paintings of the homes and other settings of the time.

There were three distinct storylines to follow within the book:  the courtship of a young socialite couple in the Savannah pre-civil war society, an old murder mystery about the family that raises its’ head in the midst of wedding planning, and the pre-civil war political story.  It was apparent that Ms. Love spent some time researching and digging into the history of the era and into the detail of the workings of society of the period for the writing of the novel.  Great detail went into the scenes and portions of the story about and around great society gatherings.  You could easily visualize yourself moving through the swirling skirts under the candlelight chandeliers and observe the tete’ a tete’ of the cliques within the room as the event was judged behind fans and gloved hands. 

Much as a couple at soiree or picnic on a summer evening in the Deep South, the main storyline wove its way through the novel at a slow meandering pace, stopping to visit or off to wander down a path, leaving wondering where it was going, or if it would get there… But due diligence and patience has its’ rewards, as each of the rabbit trails and seemingly meaningless visits were truly not as they appeared.  For the story was told in the slow southern style that forces one to slow down and enjoy the read, not rush through like a jack rabbit running from the fox.

The elements of the story slowly came together, with a few surprises and hiccups en-route.  A good story, but not a book recommended for the speed reader.  Definitely a book for the porch swing and a big glass or two of that southern sweet tea.

Karen Laird

Shade Tree Book Reviews and Blog

Http://shadetreeblogging.blogspot.com

Every Valley - Advent Reflections

Every Valley

Advent with the Scriptures of

Handel’s Messiah

Compiled by

Jessica Miller Kelley

Unlike most other books and devotionals that we read, this wonderful book of devotionals for the Advent Season is a compilation of devotionals put together by Ms. Kelley.  The “majority of the reflections in this volume are excerpted and adapted from essays in the Feasting on the Word commentary series.”  There was a long list of contributing scholars and pastors whose wonderful prose was utilized and adapted for the creation of each of the forty, yes forty wonderful reflections.  One reflection devoted for each of the glorious masterpiece musical works within Handel’s Messiah.

The libretto of each song is provided at the start of each reflection to be read and enjoyed. Having participated in the performances of The Messiah and listening to many and various renditions over the years, just reading the words exploded the majestic sounds of voices and strings in my head.  Yes, and sent me digging for my copy to put in my player to listen to as I read the expounding of the text. 

I found each of the reflections to be far more than just casual light fare.  The message of the verses and the surrounding scripture were explored, filling out the story and bringing even more light and glory to the genius of the libretto of this great work.

This collection of reflection could easily be utilized as a daily devotional or as reflections in liturgical services.  Each reflection stands alone or can be used in a series.  As a musician and biblical student, I would consider this collection one of the best reminders of how deep and true the Love of God is.  What a gift He has given us to hear of this love through the glorious music and song of The Messiah by Handel. 

A must for the Christmas library!

Matty - A Matt Turner Series Short

Matty - A Matt Turner Series Short
by
Michael Siemsen

All kids want to be like everyone else.  They want to be accepted to play and have fun.  But what if you are a little kid and discover you are different.  What if you can't afford to play with the other kids.  The pain of doing so is just to great.
The act of touching for Matty, unlike the rest of us, is not a tactile experience.  It is a psychological paranormal out of body experience, for his experience brings empathy to a new height.  Unfortunately for Matt, this is not limited to touching just people, but touching any object that they have touched.  A bit much for a young kid.
Matty was the older of two children of a young couple.  Mom, a stay at home mom, and dad a police officer with the local department.
Mom and Dad have been very protective of Matty every since they finally figured out his extraordinary gift.  It has been a closely guarded family secret and used in family games and to find lost keys or wallets... until one day while on a family outing dad got an emergency call.
There was a little girl about Matty's age that had been kidnapped.  All officers had been called in on an all points bulletin.  The car seen taking the girl had already been located.
Dad knew Matt might be the only answer.
A shorty, but an excellent prequel to set the stage for the upcoming release of the third book in the Matt Turner Series due for release in December... in time for the Christmas Stocking.
Haven't read the first two?  Oo  (Hint, I have read The Dig three times)  You have time before Christmas to read them all.
ShadeTree Book Reviews and Blog