Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse
Stephanie's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

This book is a short but interesting read. It does not confine itself to following the lives of just one or two people with all other characters only important in their interactions with those main characters. Rather, Ms. Luesse presents a cast of characters, both past and present, whose lives intersect daily just like in real life. The portrayal of each character is very believable and the threads are very easy to follow as they weave together into the big picture.

Back Cover Copy:

With America's entrance into World War II, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants--and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.
A struggling young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, and a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war are all hoping Dolly's house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.
When tragedy strikes, Dolly's only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

As you read Almost Home, you will enjoy how the characters are able to work through their individual problems by support from the other boarders in Si and Dolly's centuries-old home. From marital problems to PTSD, each character finds help and healing in the loving atmosphere created by Dolly, and the wisdom and experiences of their fellow sojourners. The plot of the story was encouraging and fun.

My issues with this novel are as follows: the main characters, Si and Dolly are portrayed as Christians, but Si has a whiskey still behind their house and invites the male boarders to join him there after dinner! Also, several of the also "Christian" boarders use "sissy cussing", and the house in which they are all staying is embodied with feelings; doors open without help, curtains blow without wind, and the chandelier shakes at will.

Lastly, I could not recommend this book to anyone unmarried, or younger than 25, due to numerous marital relationship scenes. While not explicit in nature, the intent is very obvious and could be intensely embarrassing to a young, unmarried person.

I give this book 4 out of 5 bookmarks. While I enjoyed the storyline in this novel, a few points diminished my overall enjoyment.





Stephanie Garrett is a busy homeschooling mom of three who somehow always finds time to read. She has been a voracious reader since childhood and even won a bicycle in elementary school for having read the most books! She enjoys learning and growing and never turns down an opportunity to try something new. Her first love is the Lord and service to Him, second is family, and third...is reading. She believes that anyone who learns to read with comprehension can go anywhere and do anything! She also enjoys music, theatre, sewing, and mathematics.



Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.