MONDAY BOOK REVIEW: LUCY COME HOME by DAVE and NETA JACKSON

TITLE:           Lucy Come Home

AUTHORS:   Dave and Neta Jackson

Synopsis:

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?

About the Authors:     

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.

READER REVIEW

Cindy and her family are migrant farm workers in the early 1940's, moving from one job to the next, when she meets Bo, a carnival worker whose  job has brought him to the same town.  When the farm boss tries to take advantage of young Cindy, Bo comes to her defense, and the result causes the two of them to run away together.

Lucy is a bag lady from the streets of Chicago, whose gruff exterior hides a soft, vulnerable heart that she hides from the world.  As Lucy and Cindy's stories come together, the past and the present collide.

A moving story as the story of a migrant worker, a carnival worker, and a homeless person are all told in one novel.  Somehow, I enjoyed Cindy's story more, but I think that was because I had trouble keeping track of some of the characters in Lucy's part of the story.  But, overall it was still good.  And the nice thing is that it wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be.  Each time I thought I knew what was going to happen next, I was surprised.  That's always a very nice surprise, especially in Christian fiction.  This is one of those times when I wish there were 1/2 stars, because I want to give 4 1/2 stars, but because I can't, I'll stop at 4 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Litfuse Publicity Group<http://www.litfusegroup.com> book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”