River's Song & River's Call (The Inn At Shining Waters) by Melody Carlson ~ Book Reviews

Title:  River's Song

SubTitle:  The Inn At Shining Waters

Author:  Melody Carlson

Publisher:  Abingdon Press

Publish Date: 8-1-2011

About the book

Following her mother’s funeral, and on the verge of her own midlife crisis, widow Anna Larson returns to the home of her youth to sort out her parents’ belongings, as well as her own turbulent life. Her relationship with her daughter is in shambles, and the tension between Anna and her vicious mother-in-law escalates daily.

Anna's unique family home sits on a picturesque coastal tributary and is filled with years of memories. For the first time since childhood, Anna embraces her native heritage and river roots. But Anna soon learns that more than just her past resides along the banks of the Siuslaw River.

By transforming her old family home into The Inn at Shining Waters, Anna hopes to create a place of healing—a place where guests experience peace, grace, and new beginnings.

Starting with her own family . .

What I thought about the book

Melody Carlson is an excellent writer. This book takes place back in the 1960's and is a very informative book. Anna has been given a lot to deal with in the death of her mother and been given the old store that her parents used to run years ago but is now all run down. She has lots of love for the home that she grew up in and she has decided to give it lots of love in return and make it her home once again despite her daughter and mother-in-law's approval.

This was such a wonderful book. It pulled me right into the story. I felt so heart broken for Anna for the treatment that she received from her Mother-in-law. Anna is a very strong woman to overcome everything that has been thrown at her. This is a great love story and I am so looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Title:  River's Call

SubTitle:  The Inn At Shining Waters

Author:  Melody Carlson

Publisher:  Abingdon Press

Publish Date: 2-1-2012

About the book

Anna Larson's daughter, Lauren, is confused, brokenhearted, and misguided. It's the turbulent 1960s and, feeling alienated from her mother, Lauren chooses to stay with her paternal grandmother. However, repelled by the woman's manipulative and spiteful ways, Lauren returns to her mother, the river, and the Inn at Shining Waters.

But as time passes, Lauren, now a mother to her own defiant teenager, faces a new crisis, one that puts the entire family at risk.  

My thoughts about the book

This is another great book by Melody Carlson. River's Call takes a few twists and turns that I didn't expect to happen. Anna has her hands full running the Inn and handling Lauren and then just when she thinks that things with her granddaughter are going wonderfully and just as she is becoming older and things begin to change for her. Just as Lauren starts to grow up things start to fall apart for her. I am keeping my fingers crossed for another book in this series.

Images and product description are from at NetGalley and MelodyCarlson.com.

I was not paid for this review, I did however receive a copy of the book for my Kindle from NetGalley. The opinions of this book are mine and mine alone.