My Thoughts:
Letters exchanged between grandson and grandfather, a romance poured into a book entwined with a lost love and unanswered questions. I was intrigued and thus compelled to read The Mason Jar, by James Russell Lingerfelt. Savannah and Clayton are the main characters. They meet at Pepperdine college (overlooking the ocean- swoon!) and a romance quickly transpires. They have similar ideals and dreams and the future seems happily certain for this couple but then, Savannah disappears leaving only a note behind and Clayton is shattered.
In the beginning, I was charmed by Clayton's early years and relationship with his grandfather. I would've loved a story based solely on their experiences. Grandpa's letters were heartfelt life lessons. For example, "Sometimes the greatest love we can show someone is to just let them be." Beautiful and so true.
Clayton and Savannah are good people (devote their summers to missionary work) but in my opinion, a bit self-centered and self-righteous. I wanted so much to love them and their story but it never happened. I didn't grow to care for them and thus their story fell "flat" for me. When I uncovered the mystery of Savannah's disappearance I liked her even less. Of course, you'll have to judge for yourself...
The supporting characters including fighter Oz ("Alabama Irish") and beautiful (prone to jealousy) Katie Wilson were much more interesting to me. I'd love to read a love story about this passionate "wild child" pair. In fact, I just noticed that the author's next book is about Oz and I'm truly looking forward to hearing his story in 2015.
About the book:
What if your old college roommate called, raving about a book someone sent her, calling it the most beautiful book she's ever read? "But," she said, "it's about you." The author is your college ex.
In The Mason Jar, Clayton Fincannon is a Tennessee farm boy raised at the feet of his grandfather. He and his grandfather leave letters for each other in a Mason jar on his grandfather's desk---letters of counsel and affirmation. When Clayton attends college in Southern California, he meets and falls in love with a dark debutante from Colorado. However, when an unmentioned past resurrects in her life and she leaves, Clayton is left with unanswered questions.
Clayton goes on to serve as a missionary in Africa, while he and his grandfather continue their tradition of writing letters. When Clayton returns home five years later to bury his grandfather, he searches for answers pertaining to the loss of the young woman he once loved. Little does Clayton know, the answers await him in the broken Mason jar.
A story about a girl who vanished, a former love who wrote a book about her, and a reunion they never imagined.
Written for the bruised and broken, The Mason Jar is an inspirational romance that brings hope to people who have experienced disappointment in life due to separation from loved ones. With a redemptive ending that encourages us to love again and written in the fresh, romantic tones of Nicholas Sparks, The Mason Jar interweaves the imagery of Thoreau with the adventures and climatic family struggles common toDances with Wolves, A River Runs Through It, and Legends of the Fall.
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/C52aq
About the author:
James Russell Lingerfelt is the author ofThe Mason Jar and writes articles forThe Huffington Post. James connects with readers at his blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective, and divides his time between Southern California and his family's ranch in Alabama.
James Russell Lingerfelt's debut novel, The Mason Jar, is hot-off-the-press and causing quite the buzz. It's even been optioned for a feature film and is in pre-production.
Catch the spark by entering James' Kindle Fire giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:- A Kindle Fire
- The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 19th. Winner will be announced October 20th at James Russell's blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective.
*I was given this book by Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*
Intriguing story! (And cool cover!) I'm currently reading The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen; it's historical fiction but based on a real person.
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