Welcome to the blog tour for Dave and Neta Jackson's Lucy Come Home! The blog tour will run 6/13-6/30!
Lucy Tucker, the feisty old bag lady we all loved from the House of Hopeseries, has confounded everyone. Why won't she come off the streets of Chicago? How did she ever end up there in the first place? Why did she disappear again? We didn't mean to leave you hanging, but now we can tell the whole story.
It all started back in the summer of 1942 when she and a dashing young man from a traveling carnival ran away together to escape a murder charge ... Oh, but you'll want to read the whole book yourself about carnivals, migrant camps, the war, and true love lost and found.
{More about Lucy Come Home}
Fifteen-year-old Cindy worked long days beside her migrant worker family in Michigan's sugar beet fields in the early 1940s -- the "war years" -- until she met a dashing young man from a traveling carnival, bringing some joy and fun into her hard-scrabble life. But a tragic twist of fate -- and a dead field boss-- sent the two young people on the run, leaving behind family and everything she'd ever known. Lucy Tucker, the crotchety old bag lady from the popular Yada Yada House of Hope series, is a veteran of Chicago streets and not about to give up her independence, even as she approaches her 80th birthday. |
Until, that is, a young displaced woman with her gentle aging mother and a dog named Dandy seem to need her -- unsettling the secretive Lucy, who doesn't let anyone get too close. But just when it seems her past is catching up with her to bring her in out of the cold... Lucy disappears again. How these two tales intersect and intertwine between past and present gradually shines light into the dark corners of Lucy's murky past. But... why won't Lucy come home? Pick up a copy here.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
While it is true that this is historical and it is a Christian book, I have to admit that I was quite disappointed in it. The story is very depressing--that makes it realistic, I guess. The romance is almost nonexistent. And I found absolutely no humor in it. It seems as though it was a myriad of missed opportunities that left me feeling quite unfilled.
I will admit that I found Lucy and Bo fairly delightful characters. I enjoyed the story between the two of them quite a bit. I felt for them each time something happened to keep them apart or give them difficulties. Once in a while, Lucy turned to God on a couple of occasions, but for the most part, she left God out of her life. I cannot even say that Bo embraced the Lord.
I felt that the message of the book was somewhat lost. God was always in the background, and I cannot even say for sure that Lucy ultimately turned to God or not--the story seems inconclusive. It made sense that Lucy would blame God for her struggles--after all, man is often guilty of that. Even Christians have been known to do that. But I would have liked a stronger message.
I was glad that there was no sex (implied but inconclusive) or profanity, so as far as that goes, it is great. I sometimes grew tired of the constant going back and forth between the 1940's and the present time. I also wasn't sure about the author's use of point of view (back and forth between first and third person). But once everything is stripped away, I think I can say the story was solid and well-researched, and that is why it receives a 3-star rating from me.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
I will admit that I found Lucy and Bo fairly delightful characters. I enjoyed the story between the two of them quite a bit. I felt for them each time something happened to keep them apart or give them difficulties. Once in a while, Lucy turned to God on a couple of occasions, but for the most part, she left God out of her life. I cannot even say that Bo embraced the Lord.
I felt that the message of the book was somewhat lost. God was always in the background, and I cannot even say for sure that Lucy ultimately turned to God or not--the story seems inconclusive. It made sense that Lucy would blame God for her struggles--after all, man is often guilty of that. Even Christians have been known to do that. But I would have liked a stronger message.
I was glad that there was no sex (implied but inconclusive) or profanity, so as far as that goes, it is great. I sometimes grew tired of the constant going back and forth between the 1940's and the present time. I also wasn't sure about the author's use of point of view (back and forth between first and third person). But once everything is stripped away, I think I can say the story was solid and well-researched, and that is why it receives a 3-star rating from me.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
{More about Dave & Neta}
Dave and Neta Jackson are award-winning authors living in the Chicago area where their parallel novels from the Yada Yada House of Hope and Harry Bentley series are set. As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books. Visit http://www.daveneta.com for more info. |
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Great review, Ruth! Thank you for an honest & sincere take on it!
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