Book
Review: Return to Walhalla by Laura Hodges Poole
Lighthouse of the Carolinas
When
financier Penny Ruskin returns to Walhalla, South Carolina, she has one
purpose—to settle her grandmother’s estate and sell the Victorian house she
grew up in. Not an easy task with the downturned economy. What she doesn't
count on are all the roadblocks thrown in her path.
Walhalla
is Tommy McAllister’s life. Between his family’s feed-and-seed store and the
bank he’s vice president of, he’s stretched thin trying to survive the
recession. But when a girl he hasn’t seen since high school breezes back into
town, he’s ready to push himself even further to help her feel at home—and convince
her to stay. He reaches out to Penny, but the last thing she wants is to be
trapped in a small town that holds painful memories—one dark secret in particular.
The town matchmaker and bank manager, Miss Betty, a motherless teen Emma who lives down the lane from Penny, and the church ladies of Walhalla’s First Baptist Church add both heartwarming and challenging moments to Penny’s life. With the past dogging Penny’s steps, dredging up painful memories she’s tried to outrun, relatives threaten the future she has begun to hope for…But somewhere deep inside her, a spark of hope remains. Tommy isn’t the only one praying for a miracle.
My thoughts: Return to Walhalla is a well-written, delightful story about a young woman
who has run from the past only to return to Walhalla and must face the demons
she once tried to escape. Miss Betty extends a greeting and invitation to
Penny, something Penny couldn’t refuse. And sometimes, that’s all it takes for
a life-changing experience.
Author Bio
Laura
Hodges Poole is a freelance writer with dozens of articles, devotions, and
short stories in publication. She is the author of five published books and has
contributed to two others, all available on Amazon. Laura is the 2016 ACWC Badge of Honor winner,
a 2014 ACFW Genesis semi-finalist, and a
2012 RWA Emily finalist. As an editor and member of The
Christian PEN, she enjoys mentoring and helping other writers polish their
work. Laura is also a non-fiction ghostwriter/collaborator. Her passion
is encouraging others in their Christian walk through her blog, "A Word of
Encouragement." When she’s not writing, you might find her hiking,
playing the piano, or being crafty. A mother of two, Laura lives in South
Carolina with her husband and son.
Website:
http://laurahodgespoole.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Laura_Poole Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/LauraHodgesPoole
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+LauraPoole#
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lhpoole/