The Edge Of Belonging by Amanda Cox

 People considered him homeless because he didn't have an address of his own, but Harvey James would've been homeless even if he owned the turreted mansion off State Route 460.  To have a home, you'd have to feel as though you belonged.

Within the first pages of this book I knew I was going to love it.  The Edge of Belonging is a debut novel by Amanda Cox and if this author continues writing books as this one I can promise you that she will quickly become a favorite of mine.  I am going to be waiting (rather impatiently) for what she releases next.

The novel is a dual story line and jumps between past and present.  Harvey James (who was may favorite character) finds an abandoned newborn and for the first time in his life he feels a sense of human connection. The only problem is that Harvey is homeless.  When two people want to help Harvey find his way, he knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he has ever loved.  

Twenty-four years later, Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee her late grandmother's estate sale, she soon discovers that the woman left behind more than trinkets and photo frames - she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy's adoption.  Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing.

There are several big topics addressed in this book and it was done with such elegance.  I could not put the book down and it left me thinking way after I read the last page.  I really can't recommend this book and this author enough.  This one is going on my favorites shelf and I will be reading it again in the future.

***Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Something Worth Doing - A Book Review

 Something Worth Doing by Jane Kirkpatrick is a perfect example of why I love historical fiction.  This book was simply amazing.  I love a book that is not only an entertaining read, but educational as well.  The book is based on a true story.  I had never heard of Abigail Scott before and I loved learning about her life.  What a fascinating woman and I think that her story is an inspiration to woman still to this day.

Jane Kirkpatrick has written so many books and if you are a christian fiction reader I'm sure you are already well acquainted with her work.  This book was by far my favorite of hers to date and I can't recommend it enough.

In 1853, Abigail Scott was a 19 year old school teacher in Oregon Territory when she married Ben Duniway.  Marriage mean giving up on teaching, but Abigail always believed she was meant to be more than a good wife and mother.  When financial mistakes and an injury force Ben to stop working, Abigail becomes the primary breadwinner for her growing family.  What she sees as a working woman appalls her, and she devotes her lie to fighting for the rights of women, including their right to vote.

Following Abigail as she bears six children, runs a millinery and a private school, helps on the farm, writes novels, gives speeches, and eventually runs a newspaper supporting women's suffrage.   Something Worth Doing explores issues that will resonate strongly with modern women:  the pull between career and family, finding one's place in the public sphere, and dealing with frustrations and prejudices women encounter when they compete in male-dominated spaces.  This book will inspire you to believe that some things are worth doing--even when the cost is great.

***Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.