Melody Carlson Reviews

Added December 9, 2007

Ready to Wed

Tales from Grace Chapel Inn series

Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher: Guideposts Books
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: October 2007
Genre: Fiction: Inspirational/Christian/Contemporary
Format: Trade paper
Price: $11.95
ISBN-10: 082494724X
ISBN-13: 13:978-0-8249-4724-8
Author Email/Website: www.melodycarlson.com
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

On your mark...get set.... Ready to Wed! With a loveable cast of characters, including a faith-filled bride on a timetable, this story has an engaging sense of urgency as well as an earnest desire for God's perfect will to be done.

When Belle Bannister had a dream telling her to go to Acorn Hill to meet her future husband, she hopped into her pink Cadillac convertible and started making wedding plans. As she checked into the Grace Chapel Inn, she couldn't resist sharing her divine revelation with the Howard sisters, whose opinion of this pronouncement wavered between polite skepticism to a wondering sense of insanity in their newest guest. Meanwhile, the eligible bachelors of this quaint community run for cover as Belle systematically sets off in search of her man.

Melody Carlson's success as an author shines brilliantly in this book, as she captures the faith, the foibles and the fun side of humanity. Each of these characters is creatively and compassionately drawn, reflecting genuine attributes that will cause readers to relate to them. While on the surface, the plot offers an engaging story about a woman setting out to literally meet the man of her dreams, the author takes this premise and gives it a spiritual depth. The whole issue of listening to God and trusting Him is developed with skilled dialogue that will cause readers to think through their own beliefs. Belle Bannister's innocence and exuberance at hearing God speak to her in a dream is exciting, yet the supporting characters in this story temper those feelings with some very real concerns. The overall effect is a novel that is filled with smiles and sincerity.

Ready to Wed is part of the Grace Chapel Inn series and I'm already looking forward to my next 'stay' at this wonderful place!

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Added November 26, 2006

The Christmas Bus

Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher: RevellBooks
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: October 2006
Genre: Fiction: Christian/Contemporary/Holiday
Format: Hardcover
Price: $11.99
ISBN: 0-8007-1879-8
Author Email/Website: www.melodycarlson.com
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Be sure to catch The Christmas Bus! Okay, at first glance it may seem like a rehashing of the traditional holiday story, but Melody Carlson brings something new to the tale. While most readers will be intently watching the young couple with the very pregnant wife, the author quietly highlights another aspect of the biblical narrative. Although there is indeed a Christmas baby, the novel becomes more than just one miracle and that's what make it special.

Christmas Valley aims to become the Christmas capital of the Pacific Northwest. With the North Pole Coffee Shop and Santa's Diner, the theme of this holiday is extended on to every street and in to every business. As December approaches, Edith Ryan, owner of the Shepherd's Inn, prepares rooms for her guests, little realizing how her life will be tenderly touched by the true spirit of this special holy day.

Expertly written and with careful attention to characterization, this story will warm every reader's heart. The small town setting allows these pages to take on a comfortable and cozy feeling. A delightful air of excitement and anticipation hovers over the tale, as the guests at the Shepherd's Inn arrive. It's as if each character is a 'gift' to the novel, which is made apparent, as their individual contributions to the story are unwrapped. Humor, poignancy and a real sense of wonder walk in harmony and create a satisfying conclusion.

The Christmas Bus brings the meaning of this holiday to contemporary readers through a sweet story and some truly lovable characters.

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