The Christmas Blessing Book Review

SUMMARY:  She's determined to give her baby a better life.  Could a Christmas miracle make it possible?
     Not long after she receives the news in 1944 that her baby's father was shot down in the South Pacific, Amelia Richards loses hope.  Jobless and broke, she has nowhere to turn for help but her infant's paternal grandparents.  The only problem is, they don't know that she - or their grandson - exists.
     When Amelia discovers the family is wealthy and influential, dare she disclose the truth of her relationship with their son?  Or could the celebration of the arrival of another unexpected baby nearly two thousand years ago be the answer to her dilemma?

REVIEW:  Amelia has not had an easy life, and early on, she faced her challenges head on.  When she receives news of her fiance's plane crash, I like how she faces her circumstances and does the best thing for her son.  Even though she is scared and faced with a VERY difficult choice, she still puts her son and his needs above her own.  I admire Amelia in that she is willing to do whatever it takes to give Jimmy the best in life, even if it means making major sacrifices.
     At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like Helene, James' mom.  She comes off as the stereotypical woman born into money with everything just right.  But, as the story unfolds, you see she hides her true feelings behind a mask, afraid to let the world she how she really feels.  I came to appreciate her love for her family, which eventually includes Amelia.
     The ending of the book is the best by far.  I loved how the author brought reconciliation not only between Amelia and James' parents but between Helene and her son-in-law and also with James' decision to become a pilot.  This is a great book to read, especially between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It is a fairly quick read and enjoyable.  I really liked it and hope you do, too.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with combined sale of more than six million.  She is the author of several Christmas books.  She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice.  She and her husband live in central Oregon.  Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

The Christmas Angel Project Book Review

SUMMARY:  Abby Wentworth is the glue that holds her book club together.  So when she unexpectedly passes away on the cusp of the Christmas season, the rest of the women in the group are stunned, saddened, and sure that, without her, the group can't continue.

     They gather "one last time" to open gifts Abby left behind, little knowing how it will change each of their lives - forever.

REVIEW:  This is a relatively short book, only 166 pages long, but packed full of insight, inspiration and love.  I like how each woman used Abby's gift to inspire themselves and each other to do things out of their comfort zones.  In turn, they found friendships and great blessings along the way.  Realizing that God brought them together, I like how they encouraged each other in their various endeavors and developed deeper relationships with each other, family, and those around them.  This is a great book for the Christmas holidays or anytime you would like a little inspiration and encouragement.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with combined sales of more than six million.  She is the author of several Christmas books, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, Christmas at Harrington's, The Christmas Cat, and The Christmas Joy Ride.  She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice.  She and her husband live in central Oregon.  Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

All Summer Long Book Review

Follow Your Heart Series

Book Two

SUMMARY:  A San Francisco Romance

     She's ready to take on a new challenge.  What she doesn't expect is an old flame.

     Tia D'Amico is thrilled to move to San Francisco to help her aunt transform an old luxury yacht into an upscale floating restaurant.  What's not to love?  Sunset dinner cruises, posh wedding receptions - the possibilities are endless and far more appetizing than staying in a monotonous job in her Podunk hometown.  Besides, some of her best memories are tied to San Francisco - especially the memory of Leo Parker, her crush from a long-ago sailing camp.

     When Leo Parker himself turns out to be the yacht's captain Tia is floating on air.  But will it all come crashing down around her when she discovers his heart belongs to someone else?

     Get ready for a romantic summer in San Francisco, where the future glistens brighter than the Bay at sunset.

REVIEW:  Looking for a fun, light read for summer?  This may be the book for you.  Ms. Carlson's backdrop of San Francisco in the summer is a great setting.  Tia's desire to break away from her family and make a name for herself is admirable.  I like how she steps up and takes the burden of remodeling the yacht off her aunt's shoulders after her uncle has major surgery and during his recovery.  Tia gets in there and is not afraid of hard work.
     Leo loves the water.  Unfortunately, his fiancee Natalie has extreme sea sickness and hates the water.  I like how he sticks to his desire to be a yacht captain when his father and fiancee pressure him into joining the family law firm.  Leo is also one that works hard to get the yacht ready to set sail with her passengers.
     Despite their attraction for each other, I appreciate Tia's determination to not cause Leo and Natalie trouble and is often put in precarious situations due to Natalie's problem with the water.
     As stated before, it is a great light read that is perfect for summer vacation.  Even though it is the second book in the series, the books completely stand alone with no reference to the other.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than 6.5 million.  She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice.  She and her husband live in central Oregon.  Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

Once Upon a Summertime Book Review

A New York City Romance

Follow Your Heart Series

Book One

SUMMARY:  She's looking for her big break.  She never imagined it would depend on a blast from her past. 

     Managing the Value Lodge in her hometown was not what Anna Gordon had in mind when she set out in the hospitality industry.  But it's a safe choice for a young woman starting out her career.

     Then, out of the blue, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to reinvent herself and reinvigorate her career by moving to New York City. She applies for a management position at a stylish new hotel, The Rothsberg.  But the city is full of surprises - not the least of which is discovering that Sean O'Neil, a once-upon-a-time crush, has applied for the very same position.

     This sweetly romantic tale of dreams come true takes you through the storied streets of New York City - and into the depth of the human heart.

REVIEW: Melody Carlson's latest novel is light-hearted with really likeable and admirable characters.  Even though Anna wanted a big, important job after school, she went back home to work in the local motel to help her grandmother.  Sean has a big heart.  I like how, even though they were interested in each other, they knew it was against company policy to date so they tried to temper their feelings.  Even though Anna didn't get the job she initially wanted, she is determined to make the best of the one she was given and gives it her all.
     I was surprised at how little the characters' faith came into play.  If it was mentioned, it was an afterthought.  It seemed as though their faith in God wasn't a big deal to them.  Also, I wasn't sure how to take Anna's friend Marley.  She wants to room with Anna but travels a lot for her job as a flight attendant.  When Anna decorates their new place while Marley is working, Marley gets mad because the decorating is already done.  She also gets jealous of Anna and Sean spending time together, even though all three have been friends for years.  The ending also left me with quite a few unanswered questions. 
     All in all, it was a good, lighthearted, fun read.  This is a good one to take on vacation.  It was a pretty quick read.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than 6.5 million.  She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice.  She and her husband live in central Oregon.  Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com. 

The Christmas Cat Book Review

SUMMARY:  After years abroad, Garrison Brown finds himself at the home of his beloved grandmother who has just passed away.  He must sort out her belongings, including six cats who need new homes.  While he hopes to dispense with the task quickly - especially since he is severely allergic to cats - his grandmother's instructions don't allow for speed.  She has left some challenging requirements for the future homes of her furry friends.
     Can he match the cats with the perfect new owners?  And is it possible that he might meet his own match along the way?

REVIEW:  This was actually a fun book to read.  I enjoyed seeing how Garrison sorted out his grandmother's wishes and how he found homes for all of the cats.  The people he met along the way ended up becoming friends of his.  The creativity and detail his grandmother went into to provide for her "babies" was sweet and thoughtful.  My favorite parts were the "surprise" that was given to each of the new owners after they met all the qualifications and requirements and the growth of Garrison.  This was a great holiday story.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than six million.  She is the author of several Christmas books, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, as well as The Christmas Pony and A Simple Christmas Wish.  She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice.  She and her husband live in central Oregon.  Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

Trading Secrets Book Review

SUMMARY:  The truth may set you free - but it might also land you in some uncomfortably hot water.
     Over the years, Micah Knight has exchanged many letters - and many secrets - with her longtime Amish pen pal, Zach.  But Micah's kept quiet on the biggest secret of all - the fact that despite her name, she's a girl.
     Now Micah finally has the chance to meet her pen pal face-to-face.  She wants nothing more than to experience life on Zach's Amish farm, but she's more than a little anxious.  Will he be angry at her for deceiving him all these years?  And will she risk losing his friendship to find something more?

REVIEW:  Let me first say, this is a teen novel.  Since I have a teenager, I wanted to see if this would be something she might be interested in.  This is not the typical novel I usually read.  There were a few things I read that raised my concern.  Even though Micah and Zach had communicated for years through letters, they had never talked on the phone or met in person.  Micah's dad lets her go to visit Zack, taking a bus BY HERSELF and didn't seemed that concerned.  He is not in contact with her except for an occasional text message for a week while she is at a stranger's house.  I also was concerned at the portrayal of Zach's parents.  I know not all families, even the Amish, aren't loving and supportive but reading how these "godly" people treated their son didn't set right with me.  I guess I just like everyone to be happy and loving.  This book was okay and I was disappointed.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than two hundred books, including the Dating Games series, the Life at Kingston High series, Double Take, A Simple Song, and My Amish Boyfriend.  She has received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice.  Melody and her husband live in Oregon.  Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

My Amish Boyfriend Book Review

SUMMARY:  Shannon's summer just got a whole lot more . . . Amish?
     Shannon McNamara has exciting plans for the summer - getting her driver's license, a job, and more - and she can't wait to dive in.  But her ill mother has plans of her own:  to relocate them both to the heart of Amish country in Ohio where she has relatives who can help her.
     Turns out a "simple" life is actually a lot of hard work.  But when a hot young Amish guy named Ezra enters the picture, Shannon's ready to get an Amish makeover and even consider making it a permanent change.  Will these plans come crashing down around her too?  Or can she really make the jump into a whole new way of life?
     Teen favorite Melody Carlson brings fan another surprising story of world - and families - colliding.

REVIEW:  Having read a few of Melody Carlson's young adult novels (along with quite a few of her ones written for adults) and my interest in Amish novels, I was curious about how this story would work out.  Shannon's care and concern for her very sick mother was touching.  She tries her best to take care of Anna even after they get to Ohio.  But once they moved in with Shannon's grandparents, some of the relationships starts moving too rapidly and some just seemed strange.  When Ezra comes over to return something, Shannon falls immediately head over heels in love with him.  They declare their love for each other the next time they meet, and then things start getting a little "too friendly" between them.  Very soon afterwards, Shannon considers becoming Amish.
     Also, even though Anna's parents love their daughter, they seem very distant towards her.  They don't want to give Anna her medicine and are resistant about taking her to the doctor when she takes a turn for the worse. 
     The time Shannon and Anna are in Ohio, to me, seems odd.  It's hard to describe.  I did like how Anna's health was a big concern for the new doctor and how she was able to help Anna get better.  The best parts seemed to be before they left for Ohio and while they were at the hospital.  The story in between just seems forced and strange.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than two hundred books, including the Life at Kingston High series, the Dating Games series, Double Take, and A Simple Song.  She has received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice.  Melody and her husband live in Oregon.  Find out more at www.melodycarlson.com. 

A Simple Christmas Wish Book Review

SUMMARY:  One GIRL in need of a home.  One WOMAN in search of a home for her heart.  One CHRISTMAS where it all seems possible.
     Rachel Milligan never imagined that she and her seven-year-old niece would spend the week before Christmas on a quaint Amish farm in Ohio.  But with so many unexpected occurrences of late, perhaps she shouldn't have been surprised.
     With her young niece Holly in tow, Rachel anxiously makes her way from Chicago to Ohio's Amish country.  As love begins to blossom, family secrets emerge, and old wounds are healed, Rachel realizes that she will do whatever it takes to ensure that Holly has the loving family she needs.
     Join bestselling author Melody Carlson on an emotional journey into the heart of what family truly means at Christmastime.

REVIEW:  This book has a few twists and turns I wasn't expecting.  Without giving too much away because it would ruin the ending for you, I was astonished at some of the directions the author took.  Not in a bad way astonished, but just "I hadn't thought about that happening." One of the relationships seemed a little unorthodox but I guess it is possible.  I love the ending and how it all works out.  This is a good book but make sure you have some tissue handy.  You will need them in some areas.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million.  She is the author of several Christmas books, including the bestselling The Christmas Box, The Christmas Dog, Christmas at Harrington's, and The Christmas Pony.  She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice.  She and her husband live in central Oregon.  For more information about Melody, visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.

A Simple Song Book Review

SUMMARY:  From Amish country to Hollywood, Katrina Yoder is in for the ride of her life!
     Katrina Yoder loves to sing, but her strict Amish parents view her singing as vain.  Still, Katrina's best friend, Bekka, is convinced Katrina is good enough to try-out for American Star, a televised singing competition that Bekka has been secretly watching.  Katrina has a good voice, but really - try out for a TV show?  Her parents would probably disown her!
     But when her family faces a crisis, it seems to Katrina that the competition might be the way to get the money needed to cover the emergency expenses.
     How will Katrina handle herself as an Amish teenager out in the world?  Is she truly good enough to win?  Will her parents ever forgive her? And will she be accepted back into her community when it's all over?

REVIEW:  I love Melody Carlson's books and was intrigued with the idea of an Amish teenager singing on American Star, a show very similar to American Idol.  As she advanced through the parts of the show, I liked how Katrina did not compromise her beliefs and tried to stay true to her upbringing, even dressing more conservatively that other contestants or than the stylists liked.  At the end of the story, I also liked how Breezy and Tyler saw the pain and suffering being away from her family and community was affecting Katrina and stood up for her during a live show.  The Zooks, an Amish family that lives within the city, were very supportive of Katrina.  I liked how they even offered her and Aunt Alma a place if their community shunned them. 
     Now, I thought the ending left a lot to be desired and a LOT of questions unanswered, even questions listed in the summary on the back of the book.  Did her parents find out she gave them the money for her Daed's surgery?  Even though Cooper accepted Katrina's return, did her family and the rest of her community?  What happened when Aunt Alma returned to the community after staying with Katrina in Hollywood?  Did the surgery correct her Daed's back pain? 
     This book has a great storyline and I can't wait for my 11-year-old daughter to read it.  I just wish it was a little longer and answered the rest of the questions that the story raised.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of ore than 200 books, including The Jerk Magnet, Never Been Kissed, and Double Take.  She recently received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice.  Melody and her husband live in Oregon.  Find out more at www.melodycarlson.com.

The Christmas Pony Book Review

SUMMARY:  With the Christmas around the corner, the Turnbull family is in need of a few small miracles.
     It is 1937, and Lucy Turnbull knows better than to wish for a pony this Christmas.  Her mother has assured her in no uncertain terms that asking for a pony is the same as asking for the moon.  Besides, the only extra mouths they need at their boarding house are the paying kind.  Then an interesting pair of strangers comes to town, and Lucy's world changes forever.

REVIEW:  In typical fashion, Melody Carlson does not disappoint.  She makes you feel the desperation of the times: the woman willing to take in boarders and to extra laundry to help make ends meet, the little girl who only wants a pony of Christmas but there's no way her family can afford it, and the repairs that need to be made but cannot due to the lack of money and a husband.  She also helps you feel the hope of the season:  two new boarders show up when they are needed, someone to help with the repairs, and the miracles of Christmas.  This is a wonderful book can help you get into the Christmas season.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Available Sept 2012  at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

 

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's.  She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market.  She lives with her husband in Oregon.

River's Call Book Review

The Inn at Shining Waters Series

SUMMARY:  What happens when the ties between generations are severed?  Anna Larson's daughter, Lauren, is confused, brokenhearted, and misguided.  It's the turbulent 1960s and, feeling alienated from her mother, Lauren chooses to stay with her paternal grandmother.  However, repelled by the woman's manipulative and spiteful ways, Lauren returns to her mother, the river, and the Inn at Shining Waters.  But as time passes, Lauren, now a mother to her own defiant teenager, faces a new crisis - one that puts the entire family at risk.

REVIEW:  This book is the second in the Inn at Shining Waters series and picks up where the first book, River's Song, ends.  I like how there is no gap in the story between the books.  Some books in a series will often jump ahead a few years or switch main characters.  Not this one.  The main character is still Anna but she also shares some of the limelight with her daughter Lauren and granddaughter Sarah.  This book focuses mainly on the relationships between Anna and Lauren and Anna and Sarah.  The story flows easily and is very easy to follow.  You may need to read the first book to understand all the nuances with the relationships of the different characters and the changes that take place within these relationships.  This is a wonderful book and I can't wait until the third and last book comes out.

This book was provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than two huindred boks for both teens and women, including Love find You in Sisters, Oregon; Limelight; the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the True Colors series; and the Carter house Girls series.  She and her husband live in central Oregon.  Visit Melody's website at www.melodycarlson.com.

The Christmas Shoppe Book Review

SUMMARY:  

A small town.  

An eccentric newcomer.  

And an unusual store that is more than meets the eye.

     The small town of Parrish Springs is not quite ready for Matilda Honeycutt.  A strange woman with scraggly hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda keeps busy stocking and arranging her new shop on the town's quaint and lovely Main Street.  When rumors start to fly about what might be going on behind the papered-up windows and the locked door, the image-conscious residents start looking for a way to get this woman and her wares out of their town before Christmas.

     But Matilda Honeycutt has a little something for each one of them sitting on those cluttered shelves, just waiting to be discovered.

REVIEW:  This is not your typical Christmas story.  Matilda looks like a throwback from the Sixty's.  Her shop looks like a thrift store instead of a Christmas shop.  The business owners in town are all up in arms: some afraid she is going to run them out of business; others afraid she will mar the quaintness and charm of their little Downtown area.  Matilda is only here to bring about healing.  The items on her shelves look like junk but there is one item for each person that speaks to that person's heart, hurts, and hang-ups.  This story teaches us that if we look beyond the outward appearance and peer into the heart and soul of a person, we can begin to understand them.  When we look at our own hurts and pain and recognize where they came from, we can bring about our own healing.  This is a great book.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is the popular author of more than 200 books, including The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's.  She was recently nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market.  She lives with her husband in Oregon.  More information about Melody and her books can be found on her website at www.MelodyCarlson.com. 

Diary of a Teenage Girl [Becoming Me] Book Review

Caitlin No.1

SUMMARY:  January 1, 2000  10 p.m.    "I used to think that being fifteen was bad...  Well, let me tell you, being sixteen isn't exactly a walk through the mall either.  And so far, I think today's been about the worst day of my entire life..."

     Follow Caitlin O'Conner, a girl much life yourself, as she makes her way from New Year's to the first day of summer -- surviving a challenging home life, changing friends, school pressures, an identity crisis, and the uncertainties of "true love."

     You'll cry with Caitlin as she experiences heartache, and cheer for her as she encounters a new reality in her life:  God.  See how rejection by one group can -- incredibly -- sometimes lead you to discover who you really are...

REVIEW:  This book is written as diary entries, giving you a glimpse of Caitlin's personal thoughts and observations.  You see her struggles with friends and boyfriends, feel her anger towards her dad, and experience her confusion about doing the right thing and wondering exactly what that is.  She struggles with God and His role in her life; wrestling with her decision to follow Christ and how it impacts her actions (and how it doesn't).  Caitlin's "diary entries" reminded me of my struggles in high school and how I wished I had God in my life at that time to give me more direction.  This is a great book for teenagers and their parents.  I think it could open doors that might otherwise be closed between them.  This is the first book in the five book series on Caitlin O'Conner.  For a list of all the Diary of a Teenage Girl series (I've read one other but there are sixteen total), check out Melody Carson's website.

This book was provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review without compensation.

Melody Carlson is an award-winning author of more than sixty books for teens, women, and children.  She enjoys an active lifestyle of hiking, skiing, and boating in the beautiful Oregon Cascade Mountains with her husband, two sons, and a chocolate Lab.  For more information about Melody or her books, check out her website at www.MelodyCarlson.com.

River's Song Book Review

SUMMARY:  Sometimes when we look back, we are able to see ahead.
     Following her mother's funeral, and on the verge of her own midlife crisis, widow Anna Larson returns to the home of her youth to sort out her parents' belongings, as well as her own turbulent life.  For the first time since childhood, Anna embraces her native heritage, despite the disdain of her vicious mother-in-law.  By transforming her old family home on the banks of Oregon's Siuslaw River into The Inn at Shining Waters, Anna hopes to create a place of healing - a place where guests experience peace, grace, and new beginnings.  Starting with her own family ...

REVIEW:  Melody Carson does a great job with Anna and her story.  There are many things Anna regrets: coming home only once in almost twenty years (and that was at the death of her father), not spending more time with her parents and grandmother, not learning more about her Siuslaw Indian heritage, and her very dysfunctional relationship with her daughter and mother-in-law.  Anna meets Hazel, an anthropologist studying the local Indian populations for her upcoming doctoral thesis, who encourages Anna to change her parents' defunct general store into an inn.  In the process, Anna finds healing of wounds left by her husband's illness and death, embraces her heritage and tries to reconcile with her family.  This is a great book.  It is suppose to be the first in a series.  I can't wait until the second book comes out.  I'm sure it will be as good as this one.

This book was provided by Glass Road Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Melody Carson is the award-winning author of more than 200 books, including Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon, Limelight, the Diary of a Teenager Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.  Nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, Melody is also the author of Homeward, which won a Rita Award.  Melody and her husband live in central Oregon.

Fall Fiction Fun Blog Tour

This blog tour consisted of three books: Limelight by Melody Carlson, What Matters Most by Melody Carson, and Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh.

"I used to be a beauty... too good for our dusty little town...destined for greatness." Claudette Fiore' used to turn heads and break hearts. She relished the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle because she had what it takes: money, youth, fame, and above all, beauty. But age has withered that beauty, and a crooked accountant had taken her wealth, leaving the proud widow penniless and alone.

Armed with stubbornness and sarcasm, Claudette returns to her shabby little hometown and her estranged sister. Slowly, she makes friends. She begins to see her old life in a new light. For the first time, Claudette Fiore' questions her own values and finds herself wondering if it's too late to attain true beauty.

This was a good book. At first, I wasn't sure what to expect but Melody made this old curmudgeon likable in the end. Claudette was an aging actress that was used to the best. Suddenly, she has to adjust to living on her own and doing everyday chores such as cleaning, cooking and washing her clothes without servants to help. She was self-centered but gradually let others into her world. My favorite part was Claudette's attempts to do things on her own and making a mess of everything. It sounds like something I would do, especially not opening the flue in the fireplace. One of my favorite characters was Michael. Even though Michael was Claudette's husband's step-son, he took care of Claudette like he was her own son. He helped her get settled in her new house and tried to make the changes less harsh. I recommend this book for anyone looking for something different.

Melody Carlson is an award-winning, best-selling author of more than two hundred books including The Other Side of Darkness, On This Day, Crystal Lies, Finding Alice, and several series for teens. Melody and her husband live in central Oregon, where they enjoy an active lifestyle of skiing, hiking, gardening, camping, and biking. They are the parents of two grown sons.
To purchase this book or for more information, click here.

Sixteen-year-old Maya Stark has a lot to sort through. She could graduate from high school early if she wants to. She's considering it, especially when popular cheerleader Vanessa Hartman decides to make her life miserable - and Maya's ex-boyfriend Dominic gets the wrong idea about everything.

To complicate matters even more, Maya's mother will be released from prison soon, and she'll want Maya to live with her again. That's a disaster waiting to happen. And when Maya plays her dad's old acoustic guitar in front of an audience, she discovers talents and opportunities she never expected. Faced with new options, Maya must choose between a "normal" life and a glamorous one. Ultimately, she has to figure out what matters most.

What Matters Most (book 3, Diary of a Teenage Girl series, Maya) by Melody Carlson is great. Even though it is the third book in the Maya series and the last in the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, I could follow along with little trouble. Maya is a girl with a great head on her shoulders. She prays over every decision she has to make. She makes friends with the class outcast, despite what her "Christian" friends think, and isn't lured by the promise of fortune and fame. Maya is not afraid to let people know she is a follower of Christ. We all should strive to be the type of Christian Maya is.

Melody Carlson is an award-winning, best-selling author of nearly two hundred books for teens, children, and adults, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor series, the True Color Series and the Notes from a Spinning Planet series. Melody has two grown sons and lives in central Oregon with her husband, where they enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping, and biking.

To purchase What Matters Most or for more information, click here.

They say you can take the girl out of the South, but you can't take the South out of the girl. This girl begs to differ. Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina, twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in Los Angeles. She's even "engaged to be engaged" to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.

Now all of Piper's hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle's bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick had decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations' worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicks' secrets, including Piper's.

Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe's rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is about more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can't she stay on task? With God's help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.

Being born and raised in the South, my interest was piqued by Leaving Carolina. Tamara does a great job showing that Piper's struggles with her family are ones we all face, whether you life in the South or anywhere else. Piper, on top of having to figure out how to get Uncle Obe to change his mind instead of his will, also struggles to trust family members that hurt her throughout her childhood, even though some of them have changed for the better. This was another great book, probably my favorite of the three.

Tamara Leigh is the best-selling author of twelve novels, including Perfecting Kate, award-winning Splitting Harriet, and Faking Grace. A former speech and language pathologist, Tamara lives with her husband, David, and their two sons in Tennessee.

If you are interested in purchasing Leaving Carolina, click here.