A Love Like Lilly

Reviewed by Dayna Davis, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

A Love Like Lilly by Kay Lynn Mangum. Published by Deseret Book.

Retail Price: $15.95 Available here

This story is about 15 year old Jamie, who discovers her Grandfather's old 1930's photo album, while helping him clean out her Grandma Lilly's things after her funeral. She begins a summer of learning about her grandparents through her Grandfather's stories about the CCC or Conservation Civilian Corps. She also learns to deal with her shock when her Grandfather starts "dating" again, and how to cope with her emotions when her childhood friend Kyle, suddenly starts to change toward her.

This was a hard book for me to get into. I tried it a couple of times, but the first chapter just didn't grab my attention. However, when I got past the first chapter, I was truly hooked. And while I have never had any interest whatsoever in the CCC, I was amazed by what I learned from reading this novel. I now wish my own grandparents were around to answer some questions for me. This story was a fabulous way to make history come alive and I enjoyed it. I loved the ending and thought it was just perfect. I hope there will be another book about Jamie, not because this story wasn't complete but because her character came alive for me and I would like to hear the rest of her story.

Redemption Road

Reviewed by Dayna Davis, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Redemption Road by Toni Sorenson Brown. Published by Covenant Communications, Inc.

Retail Price: $15.95 Available here

I'm sure you've heard me say before that my favorite type of fiction is the kind that teaches you something new. "Redemption Road" definitely does that. This is a book about Lana, who runs to Africa, specifically to the outskirts of Nairobi, in part to get away from her roots, and in part to discover herself, although she doesn't realize it at the time. She starts out the book thinking that she has life all figured out, but as she gets involved in the lives of people she comes to care about, she realizes that perhaps her answers aren't as simple as she thinks and maybe it's her perspective that needs to be changed.

I was humbled and impressed by this book. It is obvious that the author has a deep love for Africa and the people that inhabit this great continent. I became profoundly aware, as I read, of the excesses that I live in. It was a wonderful reminder that I take a lot of things, such as food, shelter, and an abundance of clothing, for granted. I was impressed with how the author has a gift of making her words and story flow like a river. There was a beauty in the delivery that I appreciated.

This is a very different novel than anything else I've read lately. But it was a beautiful book about forgiveness and love and I highly recommend it.