Non-YA Review: Back To The Homeplace, by William Leverne Smith

Back to the Homeplace
by William Leverne Smith
Paperback, 266 pages
CreateSpace
Published March 25, 2010
ISBN: 1451560400
ISBN13: 9781451560404

Rating:

The novel is set on a farm and in a nearby fictional community located in the southern Missouri Ozark hills and near a fictional western branch of the Current River. The story revolves around a family dilemma following the death of their matriarch and the unusual will she left to insure the continuity of the farm intact which has been in her family for over 150 years.

The year is 1987. The varied background and viewpoints of the adult children coming Back to the Homeplace ignite controversy and expose long kept secrets as each family member searches for his or her share of the family legacy. While the older family members stake their claims on land and fortunes, the younger ones search for love and acceptance. Subplots involve AIDS Awareness in 1987 issues and a support group for domestic violence incidents.

At the heart of this family life story is how we do or do not effectively communicate among family members - parents with children, among children and grandchildren.

Author William Leverne Smith takes us back to the late 1980s with a compelling story about a family that returns to their roots at the Homeplace (not necessarily by choice) in accordance with their parents' unusual will.

The introductions with the newspaper headlines for each chapter was original and helped to take you back to 1987, when the story takes place. I do have to say that all of the characters coming in at once in the beginning did confuse me and had me flipping back a few times to remember who was who. However, once you start getting into the story better, the characters start taking on personalities of their own and there is no mistaking them from there on out. Also, some of the dialogue seemed a little too formal for the time and small town feel of the story, but it doesn't take you away from the story at all.

Smith's vivid description of the Homeplace makes me want to hop in my car and travel to see this gorgeous place! This is a refreshingly original story that is so well-written, you'll feel as though you're there with the family, feeling all of the highs and lows with them. All of the characters are fleshed out and people that, even if we don't want to admit it, we can compare to people that we know in our own lives. The plot is full of realistic situations and twists that have you turning page after page until you run out of pages to turn. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll gasp - get ready for a roller coaster because your emotions will be on a wild ride!

This is honestly one of the best stories about a family saga that I have read in some time. I also found out that there will be a sequel, which is going straight on my wish list. It's a high-ranking recommendation from me!

Special Note: Book was provided by author in exchange for honest review.

Review: Shade, by Jeri Smith-Ready

Shade (Shade, Book 1)
by Jeri Smith-Ready
Hardcover, 309 pages
Simon Pulse
Published May 4, 2010
· isbn: 1416994068
· isbn13: 9781416994060

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

>> Read a bonus prequel scene here. <<
>> Read chapter one of Shade here. <<

My first thought of this book after reading the blurb was, "Ehh, it's another ghost book - and, oh, look at that ... it's another love triangle." After the past few unmentionable reads, I had had enough of the love triangles to last me a lifetime. But Shade kept calling me. Everywhere I turned, it was there ... staring me down. Breaking me down. Finally, I gave in. Best. Decision. Ever.

From the very first page, I was hooked. It's not just about ghosts, or just about love. Yes, there are those things in the book, along with family issues, relationships, peer pressure, friendships, sex, death, gossip mills, angry soulless ghosts, bad guys, etc etc. Honestly, I thought my banana split cake had a bunch of layers ... but this book seriously takes the cake! (Ha!) It'll have you laughing one moment, crying your eyes out next, then you'll be sitting on the edge of your seat frantically reading to find out what happens next.

Smith-Ready is an incredible writer and she did a fabulous job with this book. Not only did she manage to blend all of the layers together seamlessly, she also created a multitude of dimensional characters that were both believable and easy to relate to. Aura is a girl that you will fall in love and empathize with wholly - especially when it comes to her internal struggle of not only trying to let go of Logan and figure out her feelings for Zachary, but also try to find the answers to all the questions left by her mother.

And the ending? One word: intense. That's another emotional roller coaster in itself, and one that you can't get off easily because you're left seeking answers and wanting to know what happens next - but you'll have to wait for the sequel, Shift, that comes out May 2011. It can't get here fast enough!!

The Verdict?