Livvie's Song by Sharlene MacLaren*A Review

Life is far from a breeze for Olivia Beckman, owner of Livvie's Kitchen, a favorite of locals in Wabash, Indiana. The widowed mother of two is struggling to make ends meet–no simple feat, especially when her cook turns in his resignation. Yet she's determined to pull through on her own, just as she did when God failed to save her beloved Frank.

Newly released from a ten–year prison sentence, Will Taylor is ready for a fresh start. With harmonica in hand–the only possession he values, aside from his Bible–he makes his way to Wabash, where a late–night meal at Livvie's Kitchen turns into a job opportunity when the outgoing cook learns about his restaurant experience. What he doesn't know is that the "restaurant" was a prison cafeteria.

But Will became a new man behind bars, thanks to a Christian friend, and he credits God's providence with landing him a job he loves. Soon, he cooks and bakes his way into the stomachs of his customers–and the heart of his employer. Both are hesitant, though, still healing from past hurts. A recipe for love between them will require sharing secrets, braving dangers, and believing God for a bright future.


Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Whitaker House (July 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1603742123
ISBN-13: 978-1603742122
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces

Born and raised in west Michigan, Shar attended Spring Arbor University. Upon graduating with an education degree way back in 1971, she traveled internationally for a year with a small singing ensemble, then came home and married one of her childhood friends. Together they raised two lovely, wonderful daughters, both of whom are happily married and enjoying their own families. Retired in 2003 from 31-years of teaching, Shar loves to read, sing in the church choir and worship team, travel, and spend time with her family, in particular, her wonderful, adorable grandchildren, Dylan, Alexis, and Gavin!
A Christian for forty+ years, and a lover of the English language, Shar has always enjoyed dabbling in writing—poetry, fiction, various essays, and freelancing for periodicals and newspapers. Her favored genre, however, has always been romance. She remembers well the short stories she wrote in high school and watching them circulate from girl to girl during government and civics classes. “Psst,” someone would whisper from two rows over, and always with the teacher’s back to the class, “Pass me the next page.”
Shar is a an occasional speaker for her local MOPS organization, is involved in KIDS’ HOPE USA, a mentoring program for at-risk children, counsels young women in the Apples of Gold program, and is active in two weekly Bible studies. She and her husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan with their lazy, fat cat Mocha.

MY REVIEW
Livvie’s Song by Sharlene MacLaren is a really excellent book. It has so many things in it, but mostly it’s a book about second chances. It lets you know no matter what happens in life you can start over and life can be fantastic.
I really like how close Will is to the Lord and how he helps others come into a better relationship with the Lord. Even when you are down and out you can learn something and make your life better. When bad things happen keep going, because good things are just around the corner.
Livvie is widowed with two sons and is trying to keep her restaurant afloat, Will just got out of prison after ten years and he happens to get a job at Livvie’s restaurant. At first Will tries to keep his prison sentence a secret, but the past always catches up to you.
You will see the struggles, heartaches, joys and finally peace that come from this adventure-laced book. The ending of this book is packed with action and suspense. I really, really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the rest of the series. Sharlene is such a fantastic story teller. I highly recommend that you read this book.


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Thank you to Whitaker House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Stephanie Grace Whitson~author interview

Stephanie is an excellent author and a wonderful person. I've enjoyed getting to know her.

Read her books and you won't be disappointed.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

My husband of nearly 7 years and I and our soon-to-be-married son live in a late 1800s Victorian "hired man's house." We also have five grown & married children and two grand-children. We are a "blended family." Both our first spouses died of cancer. My husband's first wife was my best friend. My first husband was my current husband's dear friend and co-worker. Our children and our faith grew up together as we attended the same Bible-teaching church.

How long did you write before you were published?
I've always been a writer, but I didn't seek publication as a novelist until I was about 2/3 of the way finished with the manuscript that became my first book, Walks the Fire, published back in 1995 with Thomas Nelson.

Tell us about your featured book Sixteen Brides.
It was inspired by a 1902 newspaper article about Civil War widows filing on homesteads near a small Nebraska town. My widows aren't very happy about the "brides" part of the story at first.

Is there any person who has been a strong influence in your writing journey?
There are many. My first editor, Lonnie Hull Dupont, was an incredible encouragement. My current editor, Ann Parrish, has helped me continue to grow and develop.

What message(s) do you want to be clear to your readers?
That God is personally interested in their lives and that even when things don't seem to make sense. . . they do in light of eternity.

What are some of your likes and dislikes? Your hobbies, interests? Where do you like to vacation?
I like learning and experiencing new things and I dislike whiners. I'm passionate about pioneer women's real stories (working on my masters degree in history) and I love old quilts and quilting. Next year Kansas City Star books is releasing a co-authored book I've been working on for years about "quilts and the sod house experience." Vacations don't happen for me very often, but my dream vacations would involve Paris, Captain Cook, Hawaii, &/or Florence, Italy.

Tell us a little-known fact about yourself that readers may not know.
I'm an introvert.

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Yes. Depending on my deadline date, I count back and try to create a per-day word count that maintains some semblance of sanity. (It hasn't worked yet, but I keep trying.) Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel? I like to have nine months, but I'd be pleased to write faster if more publishers were crying out for Whitson work.

What are you currently reading?
Dearest Marguerite, Letters from a Soldier to the Wife He Left Behind by Marguerite Swenson Young.
A mile-high stack of quilt history books.
And tomorrow I'll be in line at Barnes and Noble to buy Dean Koontz's newest Frankenstein novel and A Personal JourneyThrough the Clash of Civilizations by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
I'm nothing if not eclectic in my reading!

Do you grow flowers or vegetables? Both. Our back yard is very private and small with a little pond and waterfall and a large deck for lounging. No grass at all. We have lots of flowers and a tomato garden on wheels with seven huge plants growing in tubs. What are your favorite flowers? Butterfly Weed (the native prairie flower--it's orange), and Bleeding Heart (I plant one in every garden as a reminder of the grandmother I never knew).

What are you writing now?
A Most Unsuitable Match, my 2011 release with Bethany House. A banker's daughter heads for primitive Fort Benton, MT, by steamboat in search of her last living relative.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
www.stephaniegracewhitson.com

Thank you so very much Stephanie.

May you have much success in your writing.

Can't wait to read your next book!

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson~a review~

About the Book:

With the promise of prime homesteads and fresh starts, sixteen Civil War widows uproot and move out West. But they soon find that more than land is awaiting their arrival.
When the women finally stumble off the train, they are greeted by the local bachelors--eager to propose marriage! As the true motive behind the offered land is revealed, the women muster all the faith, courage, and cunning they can to survive their new circumstances.


Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House; Original edition (April 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764205137
ISBN-13: 978-0764205132
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1 inches

About the Author:

Stephanie Grace Whitson, bestselling author and two time Christy Award finalist, pursues a full-time writing and speaking career from her home studio in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her husband and blended family, her church, quilting, and Kitty--her motorcycle--all rank high on her list of "favorite things". Visit www.stephaniegracewhitson.com

My Review:
This book starts out with sixteen women going West to claim a homestead to begin a new life. The ad they saw featured some of the words "Only women need apply," " Take control of your own destiny by acquiring land in your own name." So these sixteen ladies set out all looking forward to land and having a place they can call their own. Tricked by the con artist, Mr. Drake, the women accidentally discover that his real intention is to provide them as brides for some lonely men at a nice profit for himself. They find this out one town before the place they were suppose to live. Ten of the ladies decide to go on, but six of them decide to stay where they are to help out in town at different places and they get four plots of land that connect at the corners. These six women are Ruth, Caroline, Hettie, Ella and her mother Zita, and Sally. Many reviewers said this was very confusing at the beginning because of sixteen characters, but I had no trouble at all.
Then Stephanie narrows it down to six women and keeps each ladies story separately interesting and fun, but she brings each of their lives together as well. This book was fun, touching and very hard to put down. I wanted to read it every second I could. This ladies will stay in your heart and I wish the book was MUCH longer. Really loved it. Another super book to keep on your book shelves. Make sure if you don't read any other book this year{shame on you if you don't read lots of books ;) }, you need to read this one. Highly recommended.

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Thanks to Bethany House and Jim Hart for the book Sixteen Brides for review purposes.