Almost Home

     BOOK REVIEW: With America's entrance into World War II, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants---and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.
     A struggling young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, and a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war are all hoping Dolly's house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.
     When tragedy strikes, Dolly's only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

     MY REVIEW:   I picked up this book because of the author, Valerie Fraser Luesse. I've read her first book, Missing Isaac, and really liked her style. This book did not disappoint. It has a cozy Southern feel to it, and the characters are genuine and believable.
     The book is divided into three main sections. The first focuses on the young couple, Jesse and Anna, who are going through hard times and falling away from each other. Through their new friends and the woodland trails they are able to forgive and reconnect with each other.
     The second chapter is where the young war veteran comes in, Reed. He was hit in the knee which made walking stiff and difficult, and plagued by nightmares from the war. He befriends the lady across the road, Daisy, who has a few demons of her own, and together they begin to heal.
     The last section comes after a devastating act of revenge, and the two couples mentioned above get serious about finding a rumored river pirate treasure so they can save Dolly's house. The rumor of treasure and the story behind it are laced throughout the entire book, and maybe my favorite part about the book. If Valerie were to write a whole book about that story, I would grab it instantly. :)
     This book is light and interesting, but doesn't leave you with that I-just-wasted-valuable-hours-on-this feeling. Valuable lessons can be learned, especially in the first section. I really enjoyed the love and friendship that was displayed, by Dolly and each of her boarders. They really were more family than anything.

 I received a copy of this book from REVELL and was not required to write a positive review. 
   
   

Through the Eyes of a Fisherman

     BOOK REVIEW:   In Through the Eyes of a Fisherman, read how Dennis Blue, a man guided by faith and his passion for fishing

• established simultaneous charter fishing businesses in both Michigan and Florida,
• became a respected and successful charter captain and fly-fishing instructor,
• guided clients and celebrities on fishing expeditions in the US, South and Central America, Mexico, and the Bahamas,
• cruised his charter boat two thousand one hundred miles from Michigan to the Bahamas to start a new fishing venture,
• deepened his faith in moments of difficulty and challenge, 
• used his personal faith and his fishing business as a ministry to witness to others about Jesus

Whether you are a person of faith, are looking to change careers or are needing a career after retirement, there are moments when you need some guidance in finding your purpose. In his memoir, Through the Eyes of a Fisherman, Dennis narrates the trajectory that led him from a successful Ford Motor executive to a fishing captain and reveals the valuable lessons he has learned along the way. 

This book about fishing and faith is one that fishing enthusiasts will enjoy! Ultimately, it is the author's sincerest wish that by reading Through the Eyes of a Fisherman, readers will discover a thing or two about pursuing passions and overcoming whatever challenges come their way. Happy Reading!

"If you wish to know a person's true character, take them fishing." -Dennis Blue

     

     MY REVIEW:   This book is an autobiography by Dennis Blue, of his "retirement years". He left the Ford Motor Company at the age of 65 and started a charter fishing business in Michigan, and a second one in Florida, that kept him constantly on the go. This book covers from then til present day. His years of childhood and with Ford are recounted in his first book, Running the Good Race. 

     I enjoyed reading this book. Not a fisher myself, I was entertained and enlightened by his tales. For instance, salmon are abundant in Lake Michigan which surprised me as I thought them to be river fish; some people are so dedicated to fishing that they will fly to another country to do what they do every day at home; and you should NEVER stand up when your companion is in the midst of casting a fly! I found the book to be written well, not dragging, and not overwhelming with all the information. Dennis lived a full life, running his businesses fairly and incorporating the many life lessons he learned along the way. 

     A challenge that struck me while reading this book is how Dennis considered every stage in his life as his ministry. Even this book is written with that in mind. He and his wife would make decisions such as moving or changing/tweeking careers in a step-by-step manner, looking for opened or closed doors to tell them whether it was God's plan for them. 

 I recieved a copy of this book from BOOKCRASH, and was not required to write a positive review.