Book Review: Shadows of LadenBrooke Manor by Melanie Dobson (Howard, June 2015)

About the Book:

When Heather Toulson returns to her parents' cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder.

Libby, a free spirit who can't be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver's death.

Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family's cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She's mourning her father's passing but can't let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family's belongings left behind in the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family's history.

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways.

Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

My Review:
Sometimes a family's story weaves through many generations. For Walter and Maggie life's bumpy road causes tumbles, yet pushes their faith and trust in God. Melanie Dobson has done an excellent job writing the tale of loves lost and found. But the story is about so much more than romance. The love of mother and child, father and daughter, wife and husband thread through the difficult situations of life.

I savored every beautiful detail from the shipyard to the gorgeous English gardens. I'd love to live in the quaint cottage on the edge of the British village. There's something about the bucolic countryside setting that creates a relaxing book. Shadows of LadenBrooke Manor is the perfect vacation or porch read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the layered stories of life. 

About the author: 

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of thirteen historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels. Two of her novels won Carol Awards in 2011, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana in 2010. Melanie lives with her husband Jon and two daughters near Portland, Oregon.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1HuCCkT Find Melanie online: website, Twitter, Facebook

My Lighthouse

©Penny Frost McGinnis

He Meets Me Every Morning.

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

When is today not today? When I live in the past or long for the future. The days I can't let go of circumstances, the desire for the "good old days," or a lack of resolve over hurt feelings. How about the days I can't wait for vacation to roll around; or that longing for the weekend that starts dogging me on hump day? Then there's the fretting; what's going to happen, will this work out, will that fail. Today cannot be itself if I'm always looking back or leaning forward.

God wants me to let the past go. Learn from it, appreciate it, but let go of any hurts and forgive. He encourages me to trust him for tomorrow and all the days after that because he has them covered. Jesus urges his listeners in Matthew not to be concerned about tomorrow. Don't worry, each day has enough trouble without adding anxiety and stress.

God meets me every morning. He's with me each day. For that I am thankful.

Be Jubilant

Penny Frost McGinnis

Mt. Airy Forest Arboretum

The Most Magnificent Light

Psalm 97:11
Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

John 1:4-5 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The rain shot from the sky as the sun shined through. We've experienced a lot of rain this month in Ohio. Yesterday as the drops poured, the sun stood its ground (or would that be sky?) and shined anyway. So bright that sunglasses and visors were required. Isn't that life as a believer? No matter how much difficulty dumps on me, God's light warms me and brightens my path.

Psalm 97 reminds me of God's joy-filled light. And John, he tells the true story of the most magnificent light. Jesus, the light that carries me out of the storms, the light that lifts me up, the light that saves my life. Torrential rain, dark clouds, crashing waves, no matter what I face in life, the light of Jesus shines brighter, warms my heart, and pulls me out of the darkness. I pray that you know Jesus and have allowed him into your life. He's the true light. 

Book Review: Channing O'Banning and the Turquoise Trail by Angela Spady, Illustrated by Tammie Lyon

Channing O'Banning loves to draw. No matter what she's doing, she's prepared to pull out her colored pencils and pad and sketch a picture. Author, Angela Spady has used her experience as an award winning teacher to create a delightful fourth grade character readers will love. In Turquoise Trail, Channing and her family head west to search for dinosaurs, learns about Native Americans, and solve a mystery. In the mean time, she learns more than she ever imagined.

How refreshing to read about a child who wants to learn about the world around them through art. Tammie Lyon's sweet illustrations bring Channing's imagination to life. I've given a copy to my granddaughter and highly recommend the series to any child who likes the Magic Tree House books. Channing's friends Maddy and Cooper make the story interesting for girls and boys. This is second in a series of chapter books and a winner of the gold Immy award.

Find more information at: channingobanning.com

I received Channing O'Banning and the Turquoise Trail from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.