Tag: Pacific Northwest

ECONOGAL > Pacific Northwest

The Best is Yet to Come Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Sweet Romance

Debbie Macomber’s 2022 release, The Best is Yet to Come is a sweet romance with good characters and meaningful story lines. If you are a fan of Macomber you will love it. For those not familiar with the author, the book is an easy read and should be available at both libraries and book stands. (Click here for a review of her Alaskan Holiday romance.)

Dual Romances

Hope Goodwin and Cade Lincoln both carry the burden of loss. Both look to start anew in a coastal area of the Pacific Northwest. They meet in an animal shelter and interest in each other piques. But romance must take a back seat while anger and grief are confronted.

Since the aptly named Hope works at a high school, a secondary romance between two students as well as a secondary plot line flow easily into the story of The Best is Yet to Come. Super student Spencer Brown and cheerleader Callie Rhodes are miss matched from the start. But the confrontations they face create a good platform to introduce the subject of performance enhancing drug use by high school students.

The Best is Yet to Come and PTSD

A key component of the novel is the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among veterans. The Best is Yet to Come highlights the benefits of both individual and group therapy. Acknowledgement that wounds are not always visible is an important part of the story. So too is the need for support whether from family or friends.

Debbie Macomber

Veteran authors have a knack for telling stories that endear the characters to the readers. Debbie Macomber is such an author. Readers can connect with both main and secondary characters, their struggles as well as their successes.

PTSD is difficult to overcome and even harder if survivor’s guilt is an additional factor. Confronting drug use in a high school setting is equally challenging. Macomber presents characters that can meet these challenges all while engaging the reader.

The Blue Moon Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

If you like good old fashioned mysteries without the mayhem of murder, you will love The Blue Moon by Lorena McCourtney. This entertaining tale revolves around the mystery of a necklace which may or may not be known as the Blue Moon.

The Blue Moon Plot

The novel opens with the discovery of a beautiful necklace by protagonist Abby Stanton. Apparently, the jewelry had been taped to the underneath of a desk drawer. Thus, the mystery begins. Abby wants to track down the rightful owner.

This proves difficult. Multiple people step forward once a value is attached to the necklace. Apparently, an appraisal of three million brings out many. Even rumors of a curse do not slow the number of presumptive owners.

Among the many claimants are a couple of dangerous types. They are not working together, but as rivals. One even dognaps Mary Stanton’s service dog.

Characters in The Blue Moon

Abby and her sister Mary figure prominently as independent women. Both also have a romantic interest featured in the story. But as this is a work of Christian fiction, the relationships are earnest not steamy.

The two sisters face danger head on. Finnegan the service dog aids in his own rescue. But the theme is one of intellectual feats versus action packed adventure.

Pacific Northwest

The setting for the novel is the Pacific Northwest. Travel is just as likely by boat as by car. This factors into the story line on several fronts. McCourtney brings the area to life through her descriptions of the climate and topography.

Christian Fiction

The Blue Moon is a bit more scriptural than other books by Lorena McCourtney. As this is the first book featuring the Stanton sisters’ that I have read, I do not know if this is the norm. Passages of scripture are weaved throughout the novel in addition to the lead characters’ upstanding moral characteristics.

Overall, The Blue Moon reminded me a bit of the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries I read as a child. The two men who died prior to the start of the story were NOT murdered. Truly, the plot revolves around the mysterious appearance of the Blue Moon necklace and its ownership.

Christian fiction may not be for everyone, but it has been soothing to my soul during these stressful times of uncertainty and unrest. I read this book through the Libby App. The book is enjoyable and an easy read.

 

The Twilight Wife Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner is a psychological thriller. Kyra is trying to recover from a serious diving injury. Her husband Jacob has brought her to an island off the Pacific Northwest Coast to recuperate. Only she does not remember her husband or much of the last four years. She can remember the far past, but is having trouble with forming new memory.

Atypical Amnesia

For example, Kyra can regurgitate scientific names of various sea creatures. But she cannot recall much of her wedding to Jacob. Her only memory of that day is his sudden appearance in the bridal waiting room asking her if the courtship has been too rushed.

Kyra stops taking the prescribed medicines and begins having flashes of memory. Unfortunately, what she remembers seems to indicate she had an affair with her husband’s best friend. Nightmares from the diving accident lead her to believe a third diver was involved. However, the intermittent access to the internet seems to point to just the two of them diving.

As Kyra attempts to make sense of herself as a Twilight Wife, Jacob persists as an ever devoted husband. His steadfast presence begins to suffocate. Kyra reaches out to some of the island people who recall her from the previous summer. Slowly, she believes some of the dreams may actually be reality.

A.J. Banner

A.J. Banner brings her characters to life. The reader feels the emotional roller coaster Kyra is experiencing. The conflict within Kyra is clear. She has trust issues revolving around Jacob and few memories of how they were together. Banner then throws twist after twist into the story. The characters react in ways which increase the suspense.

Finally, Kyra regains enough of her memory to realize she is in danger. The storyline falls into place, but things don’t necessarily end happily ever after as Banner throws in one final twist of fate on the last page. Life is a challenge.

The Twilight Wife is a good read. I think the twists and turns are entertaining. This is one of those stories where the end can be debated. If you belong to a book club this is a great selection. There are so many scenes to discuss. Put this on your list of reading material today. Visit A. J. Banner’s website by clicking here and you can get a sneak peek at the next book.