Fiction Reviews: The Last Detail, How Sweet It Is, The Quilt

Photo by: Serge Bertasius Photography

The Last Detail by Lisa Lickel explores several different subjects: estate planning, funerals, and foreign missions. It is a nice romantic story without overdoing the romance. There are complications, of course, as in anyone's life. The true meaning of family, forgiveness, ministry, and the necessity of clear communication in relationships are unifying threads. Merit is a medical missionary, injured in a foreign skirmish. He comes back to the States to recover. Hudson and Amalia work in the funeral business, a trade they learned and inherited from their families. Hudson would like to marry Amalia. She’s gorgeous, but mostly, he wants to keep the business in the family. Amalia admires Hudson. Indeed, he’s her best friend. But she doesn’t love him, and she knows it. Merit’s sister hires Amalia to help tie up the loose ends of her deceased uncle’s estate, which includes a large house in poor condition. The rest of the story includes a lost brother, refugees, and love. There were a few implausibles, but it is well written, wrapped up nicely, and of course, the right people are together at the end. I liked this book and would recommend it to any woman who likes a slow-paced, pleasant story.

How Sweet It Is by Alice J. Wisler—Second in the Heart of Carolina series, the characters have changed, but not the charm. Alice Wisler's well written books are full of Southern talk and folk wisdom. They inspire and teach while entertaining. Her characters are believable and fun. This is the story of Deena, a young chef who receives an inheritance with a catch. She has to leave Atlanta, move to her grandfather’s quirky cabin, and teach a cooking class to local children. How Sweet It Is is all about people, especially how others help us to grow and change. Told in first person, you visit Deena’s fears and anxieties, and how she overcomes with the help of Aunt Regena Lorraine, a note from her deceased grandfather, Jonas, Zack, and a lot of needy kids. If you enjoy food, children, people with special needs—of all kinds—and a good ole Southern story, you will love How Sweet It Is.

The Quilt by T. Davis Bunn departs big time from his usual action and adventure fare. It is, rather, a sensitively told story about a woman named Mary. She is old and crippled by arthritis, yet she knows the Lord has led her to make a quilt. Already having some beautiful fabric, she prepares—with the help of her family—to start her project. There's only one condition: every stitch must be made in a certain way. The Quilt is an amazing book. It showcases Mr. Bunn's understanding of women's thinking. The Quilt demonstrates how one simple act can change lives. The themes of praising God, thankfulness, and prayer come through loud and clear. It makes you think about how you want to be remembered when you’re gone, about the influence you can have on your family. Beautifully written, The Quilt, Mary's vision for her family, is a book you won't soon forget. It is one of the shorter novels Mr. Bunn has written, great for a couple of rainy afternoons, curled up in a window seat. Loved it!