Dandelion Summer, By Lisa Wingate

Title: Dandelion Summer
Author: Lisa Wingate
Length: 381 pages
Publishing Company: New American Library
Publishing Date: 2011
Summary:(from book) All her life, Epiphany Jones has been tossed like a dandelion seed on the wind. Now, with the death of Mrs. Lora-the family friend who took Epie into her home-the sixteen year old must move to Dallas to live with her indifferent mother and new stepfather. Trapped in the low-rent area of Blue Sky Hill, Epie doesn't fit in-and soon finds herself on the wrong side of the law. To make restitution, she's sent to work in another place she's not wanted: a home on the upscale streets of the Hill.
When J. Norman Alvord learns that his daughter has hired a teenager to stay with him in the afternoons, he's determined the nix the arrangement. Widowed and suffering from heart trouble, Norman wants to be left alone. But in Epie's presence, Norman finds a mystery, Deep in his mind, lies memories of another house another life, and a young, black woman, a housekeeper who saved him....
As summer comes to Blue Sky Hill, two residents from different worlds will journey through a turbulent past and find that with an unexpected road trip through sleepy Southern towns come a life changing friendship...and clues to a family secret hidden for a lifetime.

My Thoughts: What a wonderful book! It was full of warm fuzzies and good messages and lots of mystery.  I loved it, just like all the books my Grandma gives me to read. The name Epiphany Jones is charming and I loved her spunk and courage. J. Norman was just awesome. I loved the switches between POV and the different details and opinions you would receive depending on who was speaking.  
Things To Be Cautious Of: Epie gets involved with a bad boy from school and he wants to do a little more than make out. She resists.
What I Learned: Family is very important and knowing where you come from is a wonderful thing to have.
 
 

Review: One Last Chance, Jerry Borrowman

Title: One Last Chance
Author: Jerry Borrowman
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Publishing Date: April 2009
Length: 267 Pages
Summary: (From author's website)Artie Call can't get a break. Orphaned during the Depression, he steals food to survive. When mischief lands him in juvenile court, he's offered a home by fellow ward member David Boone, but then suffers under Boone's unkind and unyielding treatment. And after Artie helps the victim of a robbery gone bad, he's abandoned by Boone and is almost sentenced to juvenile hall.

Then his luck and life suddenly  change.

Mary Wilkerson, the feisty widow who was robbed, sees potential in Artie and takes him into her custody. Ray McCandless, the wise yet firm chauffeur, teaches Artie about cars, life, and the connections between the two. Under their care, Artie develops the desire and the ability to leave his past behind and grasp the hope in his future, which shines like Mary's luxurious Duesenberg. But when cornered by old enemies, will he defend his honor with his life?

My Thoughts:  Yes,  the cover is slightly creepy with his distant, half smile and all that, but this book was wonderful. I cried through the entire second half and then started bawling again at the last sentence. This author clearly has a talent for weaving beautiful, emotionally connecting stories.  The hero of the story, Artie, is a character dear to my heart; truth be told, this entire story is something I feel very strongly about.  For over a year my head has been filled with the stories of orphan children and their struggling to make a home in a place where it feels like they are not wanted because of their backgrounds. To have a story so closely tied to the one I am writing be put in front of me was like finding a dear friend. 

As this is a historical fiction novel, the attention to detail was beautiful, though a little tedious at times. I enjoyed reading about a subject where the author had clearly taken his time in careful research.  The characters were dominant personalities and quickly lovable. I laughed and cried and worried with them. 

It was so refreshing to sit down to a story and have it be clean and well paced. Not once did I cringe or find anything to be obscene or suggestive.  I have picked up another historical fiction novel by this author about the two World Wars (cue the water works) and am quite excited to see what heart touching tales he weaves in that new series.

Review: A Wrinkle In Time, Madeleine L'Engle

Title: A Wrinkle In Time
Author: Madeleine L'Engle
Publisher: Square Fish
Publishing Date:  1962
Length: 203 pages
Summary: Fifty years ago, Madeleine L’Engle introduced the world to A Wrinkle in Time and the wonderful and unforgettable characters Meg and Charles Wallace Murry, and their friend Calvin O’Keefe. When the children learn that Mr. Murry has been captured by the Dark Thing, they time travel to Camazotz, where they must face the leader IT in the ultimate battle between good and evil—a journey that threatens their lives and our universe
My Thoughts: Thought provoking, and much deeper than it appears on the surface. I thought it reminiscent to C.S. Lewis's space trilogy and Narnian Chronicles. I wish this book was still as popular as it was when it was first published. I enjoyed reading about the author's life and now feel like we are fast friends. The symbolism was catching and made one pause and I can tell this is going to be one I'll have to read over again to fully understand. The Christian morals were refreshing and it reminded me that I am here on earth to fight a great and ongoing battle against the Adversary and that the light and love of Christ is truly the only way to overcome anything.

Review: The Arthurian Omen, G.G. Vandagriff

Title: The Arthurian Omen
Author: G.G. Vandagriff
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publishing Date: April 2, 2008
Length: 322 pages
Summary: (from book)  Is the story of King Arthur history or myth?  A Celtic scholar is brutally murdered when she discovers a clue to a priceless fifth-century manuscript that could prove the identity of King Arthur. Determined to find the ancient relic and avenge her sister's death, Maren Southcott begins a quest that immediately puts her own life in danger.
In the tradition of Mary Higgins Clark, The Arthurian Omen weaves a tale of mystery and suspense as pursuit of the manuscript winds through the medieval castles and monasteries of Wales. 
Stalked by a psychopath with delusions of a Welsh revolution, Maren is shaken to the core when a new crisis threatens to destroy the one person s he loves most. Can she find the manuscript before the murderer strikes again? Or is the manuscript-and the legend- better left buried in the past?
My Thoughts: This book, to put it in Welsh, was bendigedig. The author's story even more so. She suffered a health problem that left her with no memories and lacking the ability to write. Due to a miraculous recovery, she gained her ability to write back, but her memories are still gone. Her husband found an old computer file that was the first few pages of this book and she finished the manuscript from there. It's nothing less than a miracle.
The writing was a bit confusing at times, due to the several character's involved, but understanding the author's background, I can let that one slide.
The story was fascinating. I have a deep love for mysteries and folklore and this one did not disappoint. The story weaved in and out with several plot twists and I honestly did not see the end of this one coming. I spent the entire novel believing the wrong character to be the culprit.  I love a story that surprises me.
This book made me want to speak Welsh, and I had to Google a sound recording of the language to hear how beautiful it is.
I enjoyed the depth of the characters and the emotional pull I felt along the storyline. The author has a love for genealogy and you can tell that in the importance laid on family ties. The book felt well researched and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
Things To Be Cautious Of: This was a suspense novel, and there is mention of several murders, and brief, non detailed violence.

Review: The Evolution of Thomas Hall By Kieth Merrill

Title: The Evolution of Thomas Hall
Author: Kieth Merrill
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publishing Date: May 9, 2011
Length: 454 Pages
Summary: (From book) Thomas Hall is an artist with astonishing talent-and a vainglorious sense of self. Since his days as a child prodigy he has reveled in recognition and believed in his inevitable destiny. Chosen. Entitled. He presumes his artistic brilliance deserves a lavish life of independence, fast cars and drop-dead gorgeous women. 
Thomas Hall wants it all and more.
Destiny has other plans. When "Cass," the woman from the Healing Place, walks into his life, nothing can ever be the same again. 
Thomas finds himself faced with a challenge he never could have imagined, suspended between the snarling beasts of his fanciful imagination that belie the existence of God and the undaunted faith of a little girl named Christina. What he discovers about the child's harrowing escape from death-and the impossibility of what happened at the bottom of the cliff-brings him face -to-face with the most frightening question of his life.
My Thoughts: This book was brilliant. It reaffirmed my testimony in the Savior and strengthened my resolve to use my talents for good. The author has such a way with words and I found myself swept up in his stunning descriptions as he portrayed the several different points of view. I loved every second of the book and enjoyed all the minor characters that influenced and helped create such a wonderful world. I cried in the middle of the book and then sobbed at the end. (It's been an emotion week. MASH reruns put me in tears) The Spirit was very much present in this story and this is a book I am going to cherish for a long time.
Things To Be Cautious Of: There were a few swear words. Never the Lord's name in vain, but the words, 'heck' 'dang' and 'jack__' were used infrequently.