That Dog Won't Hunt - Fiction, Southern Contemporary

That Dog Won’t Hunt

By Brandilyn Collins

“Baby” Ben is bringing his fiancée home to meet the family, and Ruth Dearing is determined that everything will be perfect for her son.  Ben’s three older sisters, two of them married with kids, are all home for their annual family reunion.  Christina, Ben’s fiancée, is not looking forward to meeting Ben’s perfect family.  He obviously adores them all, and she knows that she will never measure up to them.   Christina’s family was nothing to be proud of – alcoholic parents coupled with the constant verbal and physical abuse of her father.  There is no way she will ever be good enough to fit in here.  Jess, the youngest of the 3 daughters is skeptical of Christina.  Something isn’t quite right with that girl.  Can Christina find grace and love within this family before her self-condemnation cuts her off forever? 

Wow!  What a change of pace for this great author – southern non-suspense fiction.  I really enjoyed reading this book by Brandilyn Collins.  Her talent for writing suspense translates perfectly to this new genre.  The characters are well developed and loveable.  Christina’s struggle to find grace in the face of her terrible past is perfectly explained and understood.  Some mention of turning to God for answers is included, but I wish faith would have played a more central role in helping Christina find her place in the Dearing family.  Overall I give this book an A: fiction lovers are gonna like it!  And there’s more to come….

I received a free copy of this book from Brandilyn Collins in exchange for writing a blog about it.  You can get your copy of this great book for only $2.99 e-book or $9.69 paperback on Brandilyn’s website: www.brandilyncollins.com.

Sweet Mercy - Fiction, 1930s

Sweet Mercy

By Ann Tatlock

Eve is thrilled that her family is leaving St. Paul, Minnesota for her father’s new job at the Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge in Ohio.  Glad to be leaving behind the mob and the liquor smugglers, Eve is looking forward to a summer free of law-breakers.  She soon finds herself smitten with the first boy who has ever been interested in her.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t take Eve long to find out that those who would break Prohibition are everywhere, including the boy she loves.  Eve’s investigating only stirs up trouble for her family.  Can she balance her disdain for those who flaunt the Prohibition laws with her need to see the hurting people behind it?  And is there more going on at the Marryat than meets the eye?

 I really enjoyed reading this book.  The book starts with the main character, Eve, recounting her time at the Marryat to her grandson.   The author does a great job of explaining what life might have been like in this period of history – a nation in the beginning of the Great Depression, and rebellion against the newest Constitutional amendment: Prohibition.  Eve’s struggle against self-righteousness rings true for all of us who would seek to keep God’s laws, while loving those who continually flaunt it.  I’m glad the author did not make light of Eve’s intense fight within herself to hate sin and love the sinner.  There is a great lesson woven into this wonderful book.  Overall I give this an A+: put this on your list fiction lovers!

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Gone South - Fiction, Modern Southern

Gone South

By Meg Moseley

Letitia McComb just went and did something a little crazy – she purchased her great great great grandparents Civil War era home in Noble, Alabama.  Proud of her family heritage, Letitia expects a warm welcome in the small town.  Little does she know that her ancestors left the town in disgrace – enough so to make the local history books, and not in a good way.  Mel Hamilton left Noble in disgrace too.  She has been making her way around the South with the few jobs she’s been able to keep here and there.  Accused of stealing her grandfather’s gold watch, Mel knows that arriving home in Noble will not bring tender family reunions.  Rejected by her parents, Mel is back to sleeping in the city park.  When Letitia offers Mel a hot meal and a place to stay, Mel seizes the opportunity.  But will Letitia’s bad family name, coupled with housing a notorious hometown “thief” force her out of Noble?  Can Mel make peace with herself and her family before it’s too late?

Gone South is quite a charming tale of Yankee city girl meets southern small town prejudice.  The attitude of the townsfolk toward the main character, Letitia is both realistic and astonishing.  Letitia struggles throughout the book with questions of what is true about her ancestors, and why should she suffer for their sins.  Thankfully, we see her turn to God for comfort in her trying times.  In turn, Letitia tries to ease the hurt of another outcast, Mel.  She is cautious but caring in her dealings with her new “roommate.”  Mel starts out very immature and a bit rough from her time on the streets, but Letitia’s faith and compassion begin Mel on a path back to God.  Overall I give this book an A: good, clean, fun Christian fiction.

I received a free e-book of this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

American Phoenix - Non-fiction, Historical

American Phoenix

By Jane Hampton Cook

American Phoenix details the lives of John Quincy Adams and his wife Louisa in the early 1800s.  Long before his Presidency, John Q. Adams was involved in the shaping of early America.  He served as a Senator, but stepped down before the end of his term due to a great rift between him and his constituency.  His political career was dead, so he returned to his home in Boston and practiced law while teaching at Harvard.  With great surprise, John learned that he had been nominated by President Madison to serve as the foreign minister to the Court at St. Petersburg, Russia.  With America in her infancy, establishing the country as an independent nation was crucial.  Trade agreements with Russia would be a monumental step in helping the fledgling country establish her independence.  John Q. Adams accepted the nomination and within a month was sailing for Russia with his wife and youngest son.  Louisa Adams was not consulted about the decision to leave their two oldest sons behind with family in America.  It was the first of many heartbreaks she would experience in this season of life.  The Adams planned to remain one year in Russia, then return to America.  However, circumstance after circumstance prevented their return.  The Adams were ultimately separated from their children for almost 6 years.  During this so called “exile” to Russia John Q. Adams negotiated agreements that would establish American independence and establish her as an emerging world power.  He is portrayed as the mythical phoenix – rising from the flames and ashes to live a new and resurrected life.

I really enjoyed reading this book about a President – before he was President – who I knew little about.  I was a bit concerned about the length of the book when I first received it, especially since I rarely last through anything non-fiction.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to become intrigued by the book.  The story was engaging and kept me wondering, “What is going to happen next?”  The first section and the last section seemed a little disjointed to me, just because the story was not in chronological order.  The longest section of the book, however, is very nearly a day by day account of the Adams’ journey to and time in St. Petersburg.  The author did an excellent job of telling this story and explaining all of the “back stories” that influenced the characters lives.  I am now much better acquainted with the John Quincy Adams family and the world in which they lived.  I observed to my husband that it is very hard to think of America as anything but a world superpower, but I now understand her struggle for independence from Great Britain much better.  Overall, I give this book an A: an engaging and informative volume of non-fiction that even the fiction lover can love!

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson publishers via www.booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.