Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Lori Copeland's Love Blooms in Winter ~ Reviewed


Lori Copeland
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (January 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736930191


Description:

A romantic new book from bestselling author Lori Copeland that portrays God’s miraculous provision even when none seems possible.

1892—Mae Wilkey’s sweet next-door neighbor, Pauline, is suffering from old age and dementia and desperately needs family to come help her. But Pauline can’t recall having kin remaining. Mae searches through her desk and finds a name—Tom Curtis, who may just be the answer to their prayers.

Tom can’t remember an old aunt named Pauline, but if she thinks he’s a long-lost nephew, he very well may be. After two desperate letters from Mae, he decides to pay a visit. An engagement, a runaway train, and a town of quirky, loveable people make for more of an adventure than Tom is expecting. But it is amazing what can bloom in winter when God is in charge of things.


Review:

This book was in my pile and I wanted to read it, but when I first picked it up, it was because something else was left somewhere and I wanted to bide my time. Now that was half a mistake. One I meant to read this one, but not quite yet, but once I picked it up it was impossible to put down! The characters jumped off the pages and into my heart and did not let go until the last page, and even now as I have completed reading it I want more. I'm fairly certain with the words "The Dakota Diaries" on the front that this is just the beginning of a wonderful series and I cannot wait. I'm quite certain that Lil and Jester are in for some fun in the future...

Mae assumed her life was settled until Tom came along and she realized things were not quite what she thought them to be both in her neighbor Pauline's life and her own. It is all one more example of how God can change our plans drastically before we realize or expect it. I know that in my life I was set, we had just bought a house, we were seven months into expecting our first child and the last thing I expected was for my husband to come home one day from his incredible job and tell me that he had good news and bad news. Good news he was going to get to take several weeks off to spend with me and the baby. Bad news, his division was closing and he was laid off. Shock! But then he was home with me the last two months of my pregnancy, and the first two months of our daughters new life and then he got a new and better job. We moved to a better house, better area, better co workers. Everything is better, but different. Yes it is away from my parents and everything that I had planned and settled my life into, but God definitely knew what he was doing.

Thanks to Wynn Wynn Media, Harvest House Publishers, NetGalley, FIRST Wild Card Tours and the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing me with a copy for review both on loan electronically and in the mail.

Reviewed by: Margaret Chind

Bonus Review:

Love Blooms in Winter is about a young woman named Mae Wilkey, who lives in North Dakota with her younger brother.  She finds herself taking care of her 92 year old neighbor, Pauline, who’s memory and health is failing.  In trying to find a living relative of Pauline’s, Mae runs across the name of Tom Curtis, and believes he may be a long lost relative that can come and care for Pauline.  Tom, on the other hand, is working his way up working for the railroad, and has no recollection of an Aunt named Pauline.  However, on the chance that he is related, he makes a trip to meet her.  Though neither or the recognize each other, Tom finds himself drawn to Pauline, the town, and especially Mae.  Through a series of events, he finds himself more and more tied to the little town in North Dakota.
                 
This was a great book…right up my ally in themes and topics.  It struck a chord with me as my Grandma just turned 92 and is going through many of the same things as Pauline .  I loved that Pauline had such a wonderful neighbor and friend in Mae, someone with no relation her that was willing to take care of her and help her.  It’s something you just don’t see happening much now days.  This was a great book, and I highly recommend it!

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

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