River's Call by Melody Carlson - REVIEWED

About the Book: (from Abingdon Press)
Anna Larson's daughter, Lauren, is confused, brokenhearted, and misguided. It's the turbulent 1960s and, feeling alienated from her mother, Lauren chooses to stay with her paternal grandmother. However, repelled by the woman's manipulative and spiteful ways, Lauren returns to her mother, the river, and the Inn at Shining Waters.

There, Lauren begins to appreciate the person her mother is becoming--and she loves the river. However, romantic interests throw a wrench into the works and Lauren, jealous and angry, returns to her grandmother yet again.

But as time passes, Lauren, now a mother to her own defiant teenager, faces a new crisis--one that puts the entire family at risk.

My Thoughts:

“It was the river calling to me. And it allowed me to fall into it. And then it tried to give me what I thought I wanted.” (p 284)

Taken out of context, the quote above sounds pretty far-fetched. I admit it. However, by the time you have followed Lauren’s tumultuous journey to this point – the point where these words are pouring from her mouth and heart – you will find, like I did, that the statement makes perfect sense!!

River’s Call covers a much greater time span that I was expecting when I entered its pages. Truly, the book follows Lauren’s story for quite some time, and allows the reader a glimpse into the consequences of choices made quickly and selfishly. And although Lauren does not escape the consequences of her choices, she grows up emotionally and spiritually in the course of the story, and finds that she has been loved more deeply than she could ever fathom. Her journey is slow and painful, and her choices affect all of those in her life.

This is a continuation of Anna’s journey that began in River’s Song. (my review here) The Inn at Shining Waters Series hasn’t yet reached its end, and readers will want to enjoy the series in its entirety! There are many life lessons that are timeless and universal and will be recognized for the truths that they are. I am so very thankful that we serve a long-suffering, merciful Savior! And I am grateful that He places people in our lives to lift us up from the mire of our selfish choices and guide us to the truth of His grace! Melody Carlson’s series makes a very bright light along the path!

About the Author:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 200 books, including Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon, Limelight, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, Melody is also the author of Homeward, which won a Rita Award. Melody and her husband live in central Oregon.