Helpful Score: 1
Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse has Dolly and Si Chandler opening their home to boarders during World War II. In April of 1944 Anna and Jesse Williams arrive in Blackberry Springs, Alabama and get the last bedroom available at the Chandler home. Jesse begins work at the local munitions factory which leaves Anna at loose ends and feeling homesick. Dolly takes Anna under her wing and introduces her to the other ladies in the house as well as the neighborhood women. Dolly and Si can see that the young couple need a help with their marriage and give them subtle nudges in the right direction. One day Dolly tells Anna the story behind the original owner of her home. Anna is intrigued when she learns that no one knows what happened to Catherine and Andrew Sinclair. She decides to look for the answers and maybe find the missing treasure along the way. Almost Home is a satisfying Southern novel. It is well-written with developed characters set in a charming small Southern town. Dolly Chandler has a gregarious personality. She is friendly and nurturing. Dolly and her husband, Si opened their home to help pay the property taxes. They also have a roller rink across the street with dancing and refreshments and Si is building a pond for people to swim in (for money, of course). Dolly has a way of making her boarders feel welcome. There was just one couple who did not fit in and Si soon took care of them (it was a hilarious scene). I liked the variety of residents in the home. There are two college professors, a veteran with PTSD, and a widower as well as Anna and Jesse Williams. There is also Daisy Dupree who becomes close friends with Anna and Lillian the blind woman who lives on the same street. I enjoyed the mystery of Catherine and Andrew. We learn what happened to the couple through diary entries. The search for the so-called missing treasure was great. I love how Almost Home ended. It is a Christian story with the most important lesson being that God should be a priority in our lives. We should put Him first and let Him guide us. All the storylines in Almost Home blended together into one lovely, heartwarming story.
I am classifying this as a cozy, warm fuzzy read! The people, the setting, the story filled me with nostalgia. I was transported back to a difficult but simpler time, before technology invaded life. Being a southern girl I totally related to the hospitality, kind spirits and sweetened ice tea!! Add to all this mystery and you have a 5 star read!
Dolly and Si live in Alabama in a 100 year old home out in the âbooniesâ. They have turned it into a boarding house to make ends meet. It is WW2 and people have been wounded by the war in many ways. Families who have lost loved ones, soldiers returning with emotional and physical wounds, those who have lost jobs, homes, and finances. Everyone is hurting in some way. Dolly's home was the perfect place for the eclectic mix of wounded hearts. They became a family and Dolly and Si like loving parents.
Her big southern breakfasts and home cooked meals brought everyone together around the table to share burdens and encourage one another, like in times past. Basking in her love and kindness I was delighted to see each of the characters to heal in their own way and time. Their individual stories were so varied that I found myself immersed in each of their lives.
I loved Dolly's and the elderly neighbor's homespun wisdom! I have marked the pages and am going to write them down to remember! Dolly's homey letters to her sister Violet were delightful. It made me feel a bit like I was reading someone else's mail! (No I don't do that but I did enjoy it!) One strong thread that ran throughout the book was faith in God and waiting upon Him. I was so sad to have this book end. It was as if my visit was over and I had to leave Dolly and her wonderful home. I cannot wait to read more of Ms. Luesse's books!
I received this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.
Dolly and Si live in Alabama in a 100 year old home out in the âbooniesâ. They have turned it into a boarding house to make ends meet. It is WW2 and people have been wounded by the war in many ways. Families who have lost loved ones, soldiers returning with emotional and physical wounds, those who have lost jobs, homes, and finances. Everyone is hurting in some way. Dolly's home was the perfect place for the eclectic mix of wounded hearts. They became a family and Dolly and Si like loving parents.
Her big southern breakfasts and home cooked meals brought everyone together around the table to share burdens and encourage one another, like in times past. Basking in her love and kindness I was delighted to see each of the characters to heal in their own way and time. Their individual stories were so varied that I found myself immersed in each of their lives.
I loved Dolly's and the elderly neighbor's homespun wisdom! I have marked the pages and am going to write them down to remember! Dolly's homey letters to her sister Violet were delightful. It made me feel a bit like I was reading someone else's mail! (No I don't do that but I did enjoy it!) One strong thread that ran throughout the book was faith in God and waiting upon Him. I was so sad to have this book end. It was as if my visit was over and I had to leave Dolly and her wonderful home. I cannot wait to read more of Ms. Luesse's books!
I received this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.
Sometimes you need a good sweet, nostalgic story to read on a rainy weekend. Almost Home is the perfect book! I loved the strong, compassionate characters and how they lived. This is the first book I have read from the author, Valerie Fraser Lusse, and I hope to read many more. Highly recommended!
