Month: May 2013

Jennifer: Dee Henderson Delivers

| mbenjamins

Jennifer by Dee HendersonIt’s a summer of change for Jennifer O’Malley.

The busy physician has a pediatrics practice in Dallas, Texas, and meeting and falling in love with surgeon Tom Peterson is adding a rich layer to her life. She’s sorting out how to introduce Tom to her family – she’s the youngest of seven – and thinking about marriage.

She’s falling in love with Jesus too, and knows God is good. But that faith is about to be tested, and in a way she didn’t expect. The results will soon transform her entire family.

Dee Henderson delivers once again in her bittersweet novella on Jennifer’s journey to love and faith.  With a deft hand she brings us back to where it all began for the O’Malleys. Henderson is able to guide us through Stephanie’s faith journey without it sticking in our throat and together we fall in love with Tom and the whole O’Malley clan all over again. This is classic Henderson at her best. Read it. Loved it.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group”.

 

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Shakespeare-turns-Amish more annoying than adoring.

| mbenjamins

Adoring Addie by Leslie GouldAdoring Addie, Gould’s second installment in her Shakespeare-turns-Amish tale of star-crossed lovers, takes us back to Lancaster County where these would be Romeo and Juliet find themselves on opposite sides of a family feud. Our Romeo, Jonathon Mosier, meets up with Addie Cramer, his Juliet, and falls instantly in love. The Cramers and the Mosiers are having none of it. Addie’s parents have already chosen a suitable mate for their daughter, and so the sparks begin to fly.

Like her first book, Courting Cate, this one has all the markings of a great story. I love fresh takes on classic tales, but like Cate, Addie just doesn’t cut it with me. Written in first person, Addie comes off as a wimpy child unable to make healthy choices for herself. Because of the first person voice, too often Addie veers off into monologues, telling rather than showing the audience the unfolding story. Her voice cuts the story off at its knees and left me more irritated than intrigued. Again, Gould seems to force modern phrases and ideologies onto a culture that is celebrated for its simplicity. You’ll need to suspend your disbelief on more than one occasion to get through to untangle the drama to the end, but no worries, everyone lives to tell the tale. The best I can say is I finished it.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group”.