Goodreads Summary
Lula Bowman has finally achieved her dream: a teaching position and a scholarship to continue her college education in mathematics. But when she receives a shocking telephone call from her sister, Jewel, everything she's worked for begins to crumble.
After the sudden death of Jewel's husband, Jewel needs Lula's help. With a heavy heart, Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to do right by her sister. But the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach. Neither subject belongs anywhere near the halls of academia, according to Lula!
Lula commits to covering the job for the rest of the school year, determined to do well and prove herself to the town. Reluctantly, she turns to the boys' coach, Chet, to learn the game of basketball. Chet is handsome and single, but Lula has no plans to fall for a local boy. She's returning to college as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.
However, the more time she spends in Dunn, the more Lula realizes God is working on her heart--and her future is beginning to look a lot different than she'd expected.
My Thoughts
Hey reiders! Anne Mateer is a charming author. She always writes of a heroine who is put in a position of responsibility at the beginning of the book. I relate a lot to that particular element that Mateer seems to creatively blend into her writing. Each story the idea is similar yet different which is good for a reader like me who has read all of her books.
This book was not my favorite though. I did like the premise. Lula is an intelligent woman, but it felt that there was a lot of 'stuff' in this story, and it left a few things up in the air at the end. It was still a good read.
Lula is a good character. She is quirky, puts others before herself, and is growing out of being the baby of the family. The family dynamic was interesting. The only one who seemed nicest to her was Jewel. The only siblings weren't my favorite people, quite frankly they irritated me, but possibly I feel these were the emotions Mateer wanted her reader's to experience. I did like how Lula was put out of her comfort to coach a girl's basketball team. I would have really liked more passages and scenes that developed more in that area. It just felt again open to more possibilities.
Chet was another good addition to the story. His storyline was interesting, it had a lot to do with how his father's life brought shame upon him--which then made him want to enlist in the army...I'm still working out how I felt about this part of the story. It was intriguing to say the least, but still I felt open to more development.
I do truly think though that there were some great qualities to this book, and I recommend you fellow reider to give this book a try for yourself if the premise seemed interesting to you. This review is entirely my own opinion, and I still find it amazing that Mateer wrote another novel on top of her other three. Novels are tough, and I commend her for writing. Still, looking forward to anything she puts out.
Rating: 2.75 out of 5 bookshelves
[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."]
More About the Author
While
I have been writing for what feels like my whole life, I began
seriously studying the craft in 2000. Since then I have completed five
novels, had several pieces published in local periodicals, attended six
writing conferences and managed to final in ACFW’s Genesis contest in
2006, 2008, and 2009. I currently have three historical novels
published: Wings of a Dream, At Every Turn, and A Home for My Heart. Playing by Heart will
release in the fall of 2014. But writing is only a piece of my life. -
See more at: http://www.annemateer.com/about/#sthash.WKm7aM6e.dpuf
Link to Author's: Facebook, Website, Twitter and Goodreads
Purchase her book: Amazon, B&N
In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
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