The Long Way Home

The Long Way Home by Andrew Klavan

The Long Way Home by Andrew Klavan is the second book in the Homelanders series which goes further into the year of Charlie West’s life which is a mystery to him. He finds himself being chased by an organization called the Homelanders and also by the police who are looking to place him back in prison for murder. Throughout the book, Charlie questions if he is good or evil, and if he was actually capable of murder. Through past relationships in his life, he begins to piece together the events of his missing year.
I found myself completely enthralled by the quest of Charlie to find out what happened during the past year of his life. The book was a quick read, and was correctly marketed to the juvenile market. I also found the presence of American patriotism a positive in this book. In addition to Charlie’s faith in his country, he also knows the difference between right and wrong; he is steadfast in his beliefs even when faced with teachers who will question and mock his views. This is a great example for the teenagers who may be reading this book. You do not have to merely agree with those who say things that counter your beliefs, rather you can question them in a respectful way, as Charlie did.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series which will be coming out in November of 2010. Even though I received this complimentary book as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program: BOOKsneeze, I will be purchasing the first and last book in the series since the second book left me eager to read more about Charlie.

The Sweet By and By

The Sweet By and By by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck

Leave the past in the past. That was the pact Jade, a vintage shop owner, and her fiancee Max, an attorney at his family firm, made to one another. Little did they know with their wedding rapidly approaching, and with the appearance of Jade’s estranged mother, the past was to come crashing into the present.

The Sweet By and By, written by first-time author and country singer, Sara Evans along with Rachel Hauck takes you on a journey which explains the strained relationship between Jade and her mother Beryl and how past situations can haunt you throughout your life no matter how hard you try to forget them.

The book was a relatively quick read and it kept my attention throughout the entirety of the work. The flashbacks into Jade and Beryl’s past allowed for an interesting way to learn of their history; through snippets of Jade’s childhood we are slowly introduced to the girl she once was.

Another positive aspect of the book is the wholesomeness. Along with relationships serving as the backbone of the book, another prevailing theme is the struggle Beryl and Jade have with Christianity. Jade thinks her actions are unforgivable, and Jade’s redemption serves as a central theme.