Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

Fiction

The long-awaited conclusion: Review of My Hope is Found by Joanne Bischof

This summer, my husband and I drove through the mountains in Virginia on our way to Tennessee and I couldn’t get Lonnie and Gideon out of my mind. I’d read the first two books in this series earlier in the year and I was left in limbo as to how things were going to end for them.

My-Hope-is-Found-665x1024When I finally received an advance reading copy of My Hope is Found, the third book in the Cadence of Grace series, I hesitated to start reading it because I wasn’t sure I wanted to hurt again. The first two books wrecked me in a good way and I ignored my real life to get through them. I was an emotional mess, and part of me didn’t want to go there. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for my review.)

But I went there, and in a span of 8 hours, off and on, I finished the story of Lonnie and Gideon. And oh. my. word. I can’t–and won’t–give too much away, but here’s what I can say: this story is full of emotion. The ache of longing. The fear of losing. The pain of letting go. I felt it all, and even though I didn’t cry as much as I did with book 2, I was still moved.

I have appreciated Bischof’s willingness to travel the hard road with her characters. As in life, there are no guarantees that things will work out as they have planned (or as we as readers might want!) but there is hope that things work out for good.

If I had an official list of all-time favorite books, this series would be on it, and it would be near the top. Cadence-of-Grace-1-1024x691

Joanne Bischof has created a romance to rival the best classic love stories. I highly recommend this series, but a warning: if you start with the first book, have the next two on hand because you’re not going to want to wait to finish it. Also, stock up on tissue and whatever comfort food or drink you need to soothe the pain. You’ll need it.

You can find out more about Joanne Bischof here.

Hope for the dark days: Review of Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman

I’ve never read a book by Anita Higman before, but now I’m sorry I haven’t. (Disclaimer: I received a free digial copy of Winter in Full Bloom from River North Publishers in exchange for my review and blog tour participation with Litfuse Publicity Group.) I loved, loved, loved this book, the story of Lily Winter, a recently widowed empty-nester who learns she has an identical twin sister who might live in Melbourne, Australia. Lily, who is afraid of flying, travels to Melbourne with few clues to how she’ll find her sister and plenty of self-doubt. Lily is firmly entrenched in a winter of the soul and what she finds in Melbourne sets her on a journey toward spring.

Higman works words to their full potential, describing feelings and events with such vivid word pictures that I found myself nodding in agreement. “Yes, it’s just like that,” I said to myself.

Like Lily’s description of her relationship with her mother:

I tried to batten down the hatches of my emotions, but I’d been born too flimsy to stand up to my mother’s hurricane-force blows.

And her mother’s use of language:

Why do you always have to pick the most potent spice in the rack when a little salt will do?

Metaphors in writing can come across as overused and tired, but Higman’s were neither. They’re fresh and imaginative, and I’d love to read more.

The characters are memorable, and I felt as if I’d traveled with Lily to Melbourne and back on this adventure.

Here’s the official summary:

Lily Winter’s wings are folded so tightly around her daughter that when empty nest arrives, she feels she can no longer fly. But Lily’s lonely, widowed life changes in a heartbeat when she goes to visit a woman who is almost a stranger to her—a woman who also happens to be her mother. During their fiery reunion, her mother reveals a dark family secret that she’d been hiding for decades—Lily has an identical twin sister who was put up for adoption when they were just babies.

Without looking back, Lily—with her fear of flying—boards a jumbo jet and embarks on a quest to find her sister which leads half way around the world to Melbourne, Australia. Befriended by imprudent Ausie, he might prove to be the key to finding her sister. But her journey becomes a circle that leads her back home to attempt a family reunion and to find the one dream she no longer imagined possible-the chance to fall in love again.

Purchase the Book: http://ow.ly/nIIcx

Meet Anita: Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Connect with Anita at: www.anitahigman.com

Anita Higman‘s latest novel, Winter in Full Bloom, has just released. She’s teamed up with her publisher, River North Fiction, for a fun giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party on August 29th. — That’s today!!

Join the party here.