The Homecoming of Samuel Lake

Every first Sunday in June, members of the Moses clan gather for an annual reunion at “the old home place,” a sprawling hundred-acre farm in Arkansas. And every year, Samuel Lake, a vibrant and committed young preacher, brings his beloved wife, Willadee Moses, and their three children back for the festivities. The children embrace the reunion as a welcome escape from the prying eyes of their father’s congregation; for Willadee it’s a precious opportunity to spend time with her mother and father, Calla and John.

 But just as the reunion is getting under way, tragedy strikes, jolting the family to their core: John’s untimely death and, soon after, the loss of Samuel’s parish, which set the stage for a summer of crisis and profound change.

In the midst of it all, Samuel and Willadee’s outspoken eleven-year-old daughter, Swan, is a bright light. Her high spirits and fearlessness have alternately seduced and bedeviled three generations of the family. But it is Blade Ballenger, a traumatized eight-year-old neighbor, who soon captures Swan’s undivided attention. Full of righteous anger, and innocent of the peril facing her and those she loves, Swan makes it her mission to keep the boy safe from his terrifying father.

This is one of those books that I had to think about after finishing it before I could put my thoughts in words. It is amazing, heartbreaking, emotional, humorous and unbelievable.  You will love these characters, be so absorbed in their story, and even shed a few tears over them.  I want to know what happens in their lives beyond the book! A remarkable debut novel not to be missed.

Author: Jenny Wingfield
Published: July 2011
Pages: 330
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Source:  GoodReads FirstReads/Random House
Finished: 6/1/12



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from GoodReads/FirstReads and Random House and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Prince of Ravenscar

After three years at sea, notorious smuggler Julian Monroe has returned to England where his doting mother, the dowager Duchess of Brabante, is intent upon finding him a perfect match. To that end she has brought Julian, known to all as “Prince,” to London where the season is underway…and her dear friend’s daughter is making her debut. But while Julian, three years a widower, is indeed captivated by the bewitching young Sophie Colette Wilkie, he still must contend with vile accusations that he was responsible for the death of his wife, Lily. In fact, Julian’s former brother-in-law is obsessed with proving it so.

As Julian’s acquaintance with Sophie and her aunt, Roxanne—a quick-witted beauty whose temperament some consider a better complement to his—grows more intimate, a false assumption is made that puts one of the women in danger. And to further inflame Julian’s ire, he learns of a secret legacy denied him by those whose sole purpose is to see the Prince of Ravenscar dethroned forever….

A fast paced historical that was almost two stories in one. I loved the personalities of Sophie and Roxanne, women ahead of their time. Even though I figured out who was responsible for the crime 3 years ago, I did not know the why and was interested enough to keep reading.  The romance, intrigue and adventure kept me reading as well. We are treated to a couple of characters that are fun to hate and wonder if there is a chance for them to redeem themselves.  It was fun to have a couple of characters from a previous book make an appearance.  Overall a good read.

Author: Catherine Coulter
Published: November 2011
Pages: 416
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: LibaryThing Early Reviewer




This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from LibaryThing's Early Reviewer and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.