Solomon's Oak and Finding Casey by Jo-Ann Mapson

This author has been around for a while.  Her first entry was Hank & Chloe in 1993.  I've read many of her books but lost touch with her for a few years.  Her newest entry is Finding Casey.  As I was reading about it, the review mentioned it was a sequel to a previous book entitled Solomon's Oak.

So, I picked up Solomon's Oak.  It was a gentle story about a widow who has to make ends meet on her farm.  She works part-time in Target to help defray the cost of maintaining the farm and animals.  She has a history of taking in foster kids and takes a new one as the story opens.  Reading this book was like re-connecting with family after years apart.   I thoroughly enjoyed the story.  It was believable and depicted kindness and fortitude.  It had some humorous parts as well.

Finding Casey is about resilience amidst the troubles of a young girls life.  Casey, sister to Juniper was out walking her dog one day and disappeared.  The dog wandered back to the farm from whence it came and the girl was never found.  This book is a fine continuation of the story begun in Solomon's Oak.  The author gives us a more in-depth look at the characters that were established in the previous novel. 

Both books were a joy to read and I look forward to the next entry from this author.

By the way, you might want to try the Bad Girl Creek Trilogy, also by this author.

Ladybookbug!

The Shortest Way Home by Juliette Fay

I've read this authors first entry into the book world.  It was titled "Shelter Me" and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  This is her third novel and it was equally enjoyable.  A beautiful book by all accounts.

Sean has spent most of his life working in third-world countries helping the infirmed.  He suffers from burn-out and returns to his home in Massachusetts only to realize that his own family needs his help. 

The characters in this book are believable and seem like people you should know.  Life is far from perfect and fraught with many twists and turns but love prevails and this story leaves you feeling that all is not hopeless.

I plan on reading her second book next, "Deep Down True" and I plan on enjoying it.

Ladybookbug!