Blog Tour: Homeward by Melody Carlson

Homeward

About the Book:

From bestselling author Melody Carlson comes this award-winning story of three generations of Lancaster women. For twenty years Meg Lancaster has avoided Briar Hedge, the Lancaster family estate. Now she has been drawn back to her grandmother's home to uncover secrets that have been hidden for decades and to try to regain the family she long ago abandoned.

My Comments:

I really enjoyed this story of the intertwined lives of three generations of women in one family.  Meg is a modern career woman who has built an exciting life as an advertising executive.  However, after breaking her engagement to her boss' son, who was unfaithful to her, she realizes that she has nothing in her life but work.  

Meg has spent  years avoiding her hometown and her family.  Her mother, an artist and free spirit, was never there for her when she needed her.  Her grandmother was hyper-critical and they never got along.  Her favorite member of her family, her grandfather, died years ago.  She has a sister who at first seemed to be like her mother, but who is now a part-time artist and full-time mom.  Her grandfather was the owner of a cranberry bog, and Meg had loved working in it with him.  Now it is neglected and practically dead.  

As Meg uncovers and nurtures the cranberry plants, so she uncovers family secrets and as she brings the old bogs back, so she begins the painful work (for her and others) of discovering what went wrong in her family and how the next generation can be like the bog--cleaned out and productive.    

The book is Christian fiction--the characters attend church and grapple with forgiveness issues.  While not overdone, I think it is probably too religious if you are a non-religious "women's fiction" fan, but fans of faith-based fiction will find the faith elements well-integrated in this book. 

I'd like to than LeAnn of Glass Road Public Relations for sending me a digital review copy of this book.  It was a RITA award winner and is now available as an e-book for $2.99.