The Silver Boat by Luanne Rice

I had never read one of Luanne Rice's books, although she's had twenty-two New York Times bestsellers. Do you know why I reserved The Silver Boat? It's a Pamela Dorman Book. In describing Dorman's imprint, Penguin Group (USA)'s site says, "The imprint will focus on books of the kind Dorman has published throughout her career: fiction, especially debut fiction that is both well-written and accessible, novels of character that are propelled by strong storytelling and a rich emotional core." Beth Hoffman's Saving CeeCee Honeycutt was one of Dorman's first books when she returned to Penguin. And, I'll admit, I read for character. So, I picked up The Silver Boat, and had a hard time putting it down.

Dar McCarthy, the oldest of the three McCarthy sisters, never left Martha's Vineyard, their childhood home. But, when their mother died, her sisters Rory and Delia returned to help Dar pack it up, knowing they would be forced to sell. Only Dar, the artist and dreamer in the family, held out any hope they could save the house from taxes and a new owner. But, her dreams were based on her father's stories of Ireland, and a land grant that the McCarthy family received. Before he sailed away toward Ireland when Dar was twelve, she had walked the land with him, searching for the evidence of land ownership. But as much as he loved his wife and daughters, Michael McCarthy wanted to prove his worth. The master carpenter built a boat, and sailed across the Atlantic, arriving in Ireland to search for his birthright, then disappeared.

Although Michael's wife and daughters all missed him, it was Dar who was haunted by his loss. Her graphic novels were vivid stories of her alter ego, a ghost named Dulse whose father had disappeared. It was Dar who convinced her sisters to go with her to Ireland, in search of Michael McCarthy's story. That search would uncover truths that would change all three of the sisters.

Rice's characters are interesting, including the sisters' childhood friends, Andy and Harrison. I was fascinated, though, with Dar. If you fall in love with Dar, you'll love Luanne Rice's The Silver Boat. It's a story of faith, and love, friendship, sisters, change, and loss. It's the story of two islands, and the people who loved them. But, in the end, it's the story of Dar, the kind of spirit that never forgets.

Luanne Rice's website is http://www.luannerice.net/

The Silver Boat by Luanne Rice. Penguin Group (USA).  ©2011. ISBN 9780670022502 (hardcover), 304p.

FTC Full Disclosure - Library book.
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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, My Nephew & James Patterson

I just wanted to congratulate my nephew, Dan, who was one of 56 national winners in James Patterson's Dollars for Scholars program.  He had to write an essay about a book that influenced him and what he likes to do in life.  Dan wrote about the children's picture book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr., and how it sparked his love of words and reading. Now, he has a nice sum of money to spend at an independent bookstore.

Here was the information about the contest. 

In September, author James Patterson launched a new program to support college-bound high school students. “Book Dollars for Scholars” was a contest open to high school seniors who had an opportunity to win one of 56 gift certificates, ranging from $250 to $5,000 apiece, for use at any IndieBound-affiliated independent bookstore.


High school students entered the contest to win the certificates by participating in an essay contest via http://www.jamespatterson.com/. The essay question asked, “How has your favorite book inspired you toward what you’d like to do in life?” Essays were read by Patterson and select members from his ReadKiddoRead.com board.

Students whose essays demonstrated the most creative thoughts on how books can energize real-life pursuits had a chance of winning one of eight first-place awards of $5,000 apiece; one of eight second-place awards of $2,500 apiece; or one of 40 third-place awards of $250 apiece.

“My hope with this award is to help students going to college – where they’ll be immersed in textbooks and great classics, and be under pressure to succeed – to maintain their interest in enjoying a good book for fun,” said Patterson in a release. “I’m looking forward to reading the entries!”

The contest was sponsored by Patterson, who chose to work with IndieBound to provide gift certificates for the contest winners. The contest entry page notes that winners will be able to use their gift certificates to purchase books at any bookstores listed on the IndieBound.org website, either in-store or online.

I'm proud of him for writing such an outstanding essay. And, I'm a little pleased because I gave his mother the information about the contest, and didn't even know if he entered.  Add in the fact that I'm the one who first read that book to his older brother and sister, a library book they loved so much that their mother bought it, and later read it to Dan.

Congratulations, Dan! Have fun reading!

Halfway to Each Other by Susan Pohlman

I originally picked up Susan Pohlman's Halfway to Each Other because her story intrigued me, and she's appearing for Authors @ The Teague on Jan. 22.  But, I wasn't too far into the book when I fell for her beautiful writing, and began to care deeply about her family.   Susan Pohlman's memoir is a thoughtful, poignant look back at the year she and her family spent in Italy, a trip to save a marriage, a family, and to find a lost faith.

After eighteen years of marriage, Susan and Tim Pohlman were on the verge of divorce.   Tim was a successful radio executive, though, who took potential clients on trips, including a trip to Italy.  As a dutiful wife, Susan went along, thinking it would be their last trip together.  But, together, the two fell in love with Italy, and made a rash decision to sell everything, pack up their two kids, and move to Genoa for a year to try to salvage their family.  The woman who had married to the Gospel passage from Matthew 6:25-34 about reliance upon God, and how he would take care of us as well as he took care of the lilies of the field, had lost faith.  So, for one last time, she decided to listen to God's voice, and try to find the faith that her marriage and her family would survive.

In the time before Katie, 14, and Matt, 11, started school at the American International School, the Pohlmans found themselves relying on each other for companionship, spending all of their time together.  They experienced a great deal of culture shock, from differences in shopping to riding buses.  But, they came together as a family to solve problems.    And, once Katie and Matt started school, Tim and Susan had days to themselves to travel, and learn to enjoy each other all over again. 

Pohlman's book is the story of a year in a beautiful country, a place where the family learned to relax, and listen to each other.  But, she doesn't gloss over the difficulties.  The children had a hard time at first, and then a hard time leaving.  Tim and Susan took their problems with them to Italy, and had to learn to talk to each other.  But, they took their faith, and their hope for their future, and tried one last time to make it work. 

I love doorways.  I even take pictures of doorways, with the possibilities and secrets behind them.  So, the cover of Susan Pohlman's book drew me in.  Halfway to Each Other: How a Year in Italy Brought Our Family Home is everything that cover promises.   It's a journey into someone's life, a strange world behind that door.  It's a beautiful memoir, and, unlike so many popular stories, it has a happy ending.  Readers who enjoy travel memoirs might want to pick this one up. 
Susan Pohlman's website is http://www.susanpohlman.com/

Halfway to Each Other: How a Year in Italy Brought Our Family Home by Susan Pohlman.  Guideposts, ©2009. ISBN  9780824947804 (hardcover), 272p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - Library book

Sunday Salon - A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods

Sherryl Woods' latest novel may be called A Chesapeake Shores Christmas, but, since it starts just before Thanksgiving, it's the perfect book for this Sunday.  It's one of those holiday books filled with romance and holiday celebrations, but it also shows the turmoil that may come to the forefront in families this time of year.

After twenty years of marriage Megan O'Brien left her controlling husband, Mick, who couldn't seem to understand that she wanted him at home in Chesapeake Shores instead of working as an architect, flying all over the country.  She planned to take their five children with her, but none of them wanted to be uprooted from their home in the charming seaside community their father built.

Neither Megan nor Mick ever fell out of love. They just couldn't live together.  Now, they're planning to marry again, with the blessings of all of their children, except one, Connor.  Connor never forgave his mother, and even became a divorce attorney, where he fights for the rights of men.  But, the O'Brien men have always been stubborn, as evidenced by Mick's long-standing fights with his brothers.  Even so, the holidays have always been sacred, and Mick's brothers always came home.  So, it comes as a shock to everyone when Connor and his father fight over the upcoming marriage, and Connor refuses to come back for Thanksgiving. 

Megan had hoped to come home as an equal partner in this marriage.  Now, she's reconsidering.  Does Mick really understand what she wants?  He still seems just as demanding, and has even pushed Connor away during a family holiday.  Is she really ready for a New Year's wedding with an O'Brien?  There's no time to think that far ahead, though, when Thanksgiving suddenly throws everyone a curve that wasn't anticipated. 

It seems that holidays can't be planned in the O'Brien family.  Sherryl Woods does everyone a favor in this novel, reminding us that holidays aren't perfect, and the course of love isn't always as smooth as so many Christmas novels indicate.  If you want to read about a large, argumentative, loving family, try Sherryl Woods' A Chesapeake Shores Christmas.  And, if you enjoy this story of the O'Briens, you'll want to watch for their next story, Driftwood Cottage, in April 2011.

Sherryl Woods' website is http://www.sherrylwoods.com/

A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods.   MIRA, ©2010. ISBN 9780778328520 (hardcover), 288p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The publicist sent me a copy for possible review.