Book Review: Roseflower Creek by Jackie Lee Miles

Friday 16 July, 2010 By 4 Comments

Title: Roseflower Creek
Author: Jackie Lee Miles
Publisher: Cumberland House; 2 edition
Publication Date: May 1, 2010
Paperback: 240 pages
ISBN: 978-1402240010
Genre: Fiction

From the Publisher:

“The morning I died it rained. Poured down so hard it washed the blood off my face.”

It seems everyone in young Lori Jean’s life has a secret, but only one secret will cost her everything.

A surprising tribute to our ability to heal and love in the most difficult circumstances. Roseflower Creek will stay with you long past its final page.

My Review:

There are certain novels that stay with the reader long after the story is completed and Roseflower Creek by Jackie Lee Miles is such a book. The book is narrated by 10-year-old Lori Jean, who from the beginning, is deceased. Lori Jean takes the reader through her young life, specifically her last two years on Earth before reaching the end of her story. Lori Jean’s life is filled with tragedy, hardship, and cruelty no child should witness; yet in her sweet narrative voice, the reader is kept from tears and often found smiling at Lori Jean’s spunk and the wisdom she learned from her MeeMaw even at times she found herself the most scared. Miles has crafted a beautiful novel based on some dreadful events in a manner that is engaging and not too depressing, in part due to all of the kindnesses Lori Jean receives. The characters are described in full detail, flaws and all, some more flawed than others, and many questions that beg to be answered or explained. One cannot help but love Lori Jean and her best friend Carolee. The tragic events are balanced with happy events, maybe not what everyone would view as happy, but for the lives of Lori Jean, Nadine, Ray, Melvin, and Lexie there were happy times. Roseflower Creek is an exceptional book that I would, without reservation, recommend to anyone and I would definitely recommend to discussion groups as Roseflower Creek offers the reader a lot to debate.

About the Author

Jackie Lee Miles is the author of two critically acclaimed novels, Roseflower Creek and Cold Rock River. Miles tours with the Dixie Darlin’s, four nationally published authors with a passion for promotion. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia and Cape Canaveral, Florida along with her husband Robert.

I received a complimentary copy of Roseflower Creek by Jackie Lee Miles from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review and Tour: Lingering Spirit by Marilyn Meredith

Friday 16 July, 2010 By 9 Comments

Title: Lingering Spirit
Author: Marilyn Meredith
Publisher: Timeless Love
Publication Date: May 17, 2010
Paperback: 192 pages
ISBN: 978-1892343697
Genre: Fiction, Romance

About the Book:

Nicole Ainsworth’s husband, Steve, has a premonition of his death and moves his family to a mountain community where he serves as a deputy sheriff. He is killed in the line of duty and his wife, Nicole, is left behind to struggle with the changes forced upon her life. While trying to cope with her grief, raise her two little girls, her husband’s spirit visits her on numerous occasions. She soon learns that someone else is watching over her too.

My Review:

Lingering Spirit by Marilyn Meredith is a deeply touching, moving, and endearing novel of love, loss and the process of learning to move on with life. Steve and Nicole Ainsworth relocate from southern California to Quail Meadow, a small town in Northern California, when Steve is hired on as a deputy for the Goldfield County Police Department. After four months, Steve is killed in the line of duty leaving behind his wife Nicole and their two young daughters, Sarah and Kimberley. Meredith writes a deeply moving story of love, loss and learning to let go in order to move forward. Lingering Spirit will quickly draw the reader into Nicole’s life, as Meredith is quite adept at capturing the essence of characters and making them well developed, and quite easy to identify with.   Meredith has shown through her mystery series an amazing aptitude towards detail and she brings that same attention to Lingering Spirit, her first romance novel. This attention to detail makes it easy for the reader to be a part of this heart-breaking and rewarding narrative. Lingering Spirit moves at a quick pace, emotional, and very engaging. I would not hesitate to recommend Lingering Spirit to anyone looking for a quick, yet meaningful, read for the summer.

About the Author:

Marilyn Meredith is the author of nearly thirty published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, the latest Dispel the Mist from Mundania Press. Under the name of F. M. Meredith she writes the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series, An Axe to Grind is the latest from Oak Tree Press.

She is a member of EPIC, Four chapters of Sisters in Crime, including the Internet chapter, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit her website and her blog.

Contest: Have you ever dreamed of being immortalized in print? Well, here’s your chance! Award-winning author Marilyn Meredith is running a contest during her Lingering Spirit Virtual Book Tour, which runs from July 6th through July 30th. Marilyn will name a character in her next Rocky Bluff P.D. book after readers who comment at any of her blog stops during her virtual book tour. This book is currently scheduled to be released in 2012. Leave a comment and get your name in Marilyn’s next Rocky Bluff P.D. book!


Marilyn Meredith’s LINGERING SPIRIT VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ’10 officially began on July 6th and end on July 30th. You can visit Marilyn’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of July to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Lingering Spirit by Marilyn Meredith from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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