Fiction Friday: A Clearing in the Wild by Jane Kirkpatrick

     Emma Wagner is trapped. Feeling constricted by the restrictions of Bethel, Missouri, she defies the communities leader and chooses to marry whomever she pleases. In this small community of those who want to live a simple life, her rebellion is not well tolerated. When her new husband is sent off on a mission to gather more believers, she feels as if the colony’s leader is not keeping the community’s best interest at heart. When she begs the leader to let her travel with her husband on his pioneering journey west, she discovers her independence, and she begins to once again desire the small community.

     I found this book to be very well written, and I enjoyed the first-person narration. I found that although it is not extremely suspenseful, I did want to keep turning the pages. Once I had read a bit past the middle, it did start to drag. Mainly, I just like the characters to do what I tell them, and when they do not, I get a little irritated with them. I do believe this book was worth reading, but it was not a fast-paced read. It did have a good plot, it just wasn’t one where there was a cliffhanger. Also, I REALLY liked the cover. A lot. It was stunning.

     Overall, I believe this book is an interesting read for ages 13+. It shares a lot of fascinating information about the Pioneers, as well as information about America in the 1850s. This would be a good read for anyone who like stories based on a real person.

The Author's Website: http://www.jkbooks.com/

This book is only $6 on Amazon if you like paperback!

This book was given to me free of charge from the fantastic company, Waterbrook Multnomah, in exchange for this review. I would LOVE it if you would rank my review!

Book Review: A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner

{Please click on the cover to be taken to the first chapter}

     Every family has a skeleton in the closet, a secret that only a selected few know. While many have these cryptic mysteries in a family's home, usually the mystery is not the home itself. So is the problem with Holly Oaks, an eerie abode nestled in Fredericksburg, Virginia. As one of the few remaining houses in a town destroyed by a Civil War battle, Holly Oaks is a house that has more to it than some bricks and timber. Every woman who has been born in the home has led a life of grief, misfortune, and misery. When Marielle Bishop marries into this strange family, she is greeted with doubt, fear, and anxiety over living in such a place where many women before her had led lives of anguish. When her new Great Grandmother, Adelaide, tells Marielle that a ghost had pushed her down the stairs, Marielle becomes fairly aghast at the many superstitions about the house, afraid she will never live to see her fears resolved. Will she be able to unlock the mystery of Holly Oak, or will she become another is the long line of misfortune?

     This book was an invigorating read, one of those that could be read over and over, without growing dull. This book makes one think, unlocking a heart and pondering everything within. Indeed, one could read the entire thing in a single day; if they couldn't stand to shut it without finishing it, which is usually the case. A good gauge whether or not it will be a good book is the first paragraph. This book started beautifully, using descriptive sentences that only the best of authors could have written. This descriptive quality was carried throughout the book, giving readers not a glimpse, but an entire view of the contents within. One section was not suitable for younger audiences, however any adult should be thrilled to read it.

       Overall, this book is a wonderful addition to anyone's library, bringing a new style of descriptiveness anywhere it is brought. Whether read over a day, a week, or a month, this book is sure to please it's readers. Susan Meissner has written a wonderful addition to her growing library, and one could hope she will write many more captivating, descriptive, wonderful novels in the future. This book will come out on October 4th, 2011. One can be certain it is a great purchase.

Sincerely,
Libbi H.


WaterBrook Multnomah gave me this book free of charge, in return for an honest review.