An Absence So Great

Shawna won the drawing for this book. Congratulations Shawna!


An Absence So Great is the second book in a series by Jane Kirkpatrick following photographer Jessie Ann Grabele.

Inspired by the engaging stories told through her grandmother’s photographs taken at the turn of the century, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick provides a portrait of the tension between darkness and light in the soul of a young woman pursuing her professional dreams.

Despite growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is still at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those ill with mercury poisoning.

Jessie gains footing on her dream to one day own her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep those painful memories from seeping into her heart, and the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

For more information or to purchase a copy of this book:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569816

If you would like to win a copy of this book please leave me a comment with a way to contact you by April 9th.

Jody

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman is a Southern charmer.

Cecelia Rose (CeeCee) Honeycutt lives in Willoughby Ohio with her mentally ill mother. Her father, unable to handle his wife's illness, works as a traveling salesman. Seldom home and completely unhelpful to CeeCee when he's there, she bears the brunt of her mother's illness on her own. Until the day her mother is hit and killed by an ice cream truck.

In swoops great-aunt Tootie to scoop CeeCee up and take her home to Savannah Georgia. The summer that follows brings many different women into CeeCee's life with experiences that thrill and amaze her. There are flashbacks to "episodes" of her mother's mental illness, triggered by events in her "new" life.

CeeCee is 12 going on 40 and has seen a lot so she makes for a very mature 12 year old. Sometimes reading it I had to remember this girl is only 12. I love stories set in the 60s, as this one is, and this was no disappointment for me.

A light read with lots of charm. I highly recommend it.

Jody

Here Burns My Candle

Congratulations Julie!



Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs is a fictionalized account of the Biblical story of Naomi and Ruth set in 1700s Scotland. Ms. Higgs has really done her homework. The authentic language and detailed descriptions makes you feel like you are right there. You follow a cast of delightfully drawn characters as they watch the fight for the throne as it happens. You see the shifting alliances, the changes of heart and character and the love that grows between the characters. You feel like you are in Edinburgh watching all the turmoil.

Don't miss out on the first book in this new series. It's a real page turner that leaves you wanting more.

For more information or to purchase this book, please follow this link:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070015

If you would like the chance to win a copy of this book, just leave me a comment along with your email contact information by Friday, March 26th.

Until next time, Jody

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Death Of A Valentine

Death Of A Valentine is MC Beaton's latest in the Hamish Macbeth series.

We are again transported back to the sleepy little village of Lochdubh and into the kitchen of Constable Macbeth's police station home for a cup of tea - and some murder.

Ms. Beaton's 25th installment in the series does not disappoint. Once again Hamish has been promoted and assigned a police officer to work and live in Lochdubh with him - this time, horror of horrors, the officer is a woman who is determined to catch Hamish for herself.

Will Hamish catch the killer or will Hamish be caught? Pick up this book and lose yourself in the picturesque Highlands of Scotland and see if you can find the killer before Hamish does.

Jody

Mother-Daughter Duet

Congratulations to Molly Dawn on winning this book.




Mother-daughter team Cheri Fuller and Ali Plum have "been there, done that" and have opened their chest of memories and experiences to help the rest of us as we work towards a good relationship with our mother or daughter.

This was an informative book for me. I thought my mom and I were close - until I got older and realized what a close relationship really was. Unfortunately she's been gone too long for me to do anything about that. But my little girl is on the edge of adulthood - and we are as different as night and day and have never really been that close. Hopefully some of the suggestions Fuller and Plum have made with help to draw us closer together.

If you would like more information, please look here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421623&ref=externallink_mlt_motherdaughterduet_sec_0119_01

If you would like to win a copy of this book, just leave me a comment here by March 12.

Jody

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Dancing With My Father

Congratulations to Barb on winning this book!



In Dancing With My Father Sally Clarkson tells the story of how she came to realize she had lost her joy - and the journey to find it again. Ms. Clarkson fills her book with Scripture references and personal stories as well as ideas to draw closer to God and rediscover the joy He has planned for us.

Just the picture on the cover is enough to make you want to pick up this book. The joy and abandon on the little girls face is beautiful. When was the last time you felt joy deep enough to have that look on your face?

Give this book a chance and see if dancing with Your Father doesn't make a change in your life.

For more information or to purchase this book, please look here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457066&ref=externallink_wbp_dancingwithmyfather_sec_0119_01

If you would like to win a copy of this book just leave me a comment here before March 12th.

Jody

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.