Since I recenty started reading the Lakeside Chronicles series by Susan Wiggs and enjoyed it so much, I went to Susan Wiggs' website and was looking at the message board. One of the threads was all about the Lakeside Chronicles series, and there was a list of books in the series. Come to find out, there's a Novella thats also part of the lakeside Chronicles series in the More than Words 3 Anthology. Of course, none of the libraries in my area had this book, and none of the used bookstores had it either, so I had to buy it.
A little background on the More Than Words series......There's a letter from the publisher in the front of the book and it talks about the More Than Words series....it says that More than Words is dedicated to celebrating and rewarding ordinary women who make extraordinary contributions to their communities. Each year, women are nominated for the Harlequin More Than Words Award, and 5 women are selected.
I'm still reading my other book Cage of Stars, so I only wanted to read Homecoming Season for now, and come back and finish the rest later. I thought it might help me to not forget the characters in the series. However, that book can actually be read at any other...though Chronicly it would fit in right between Summer At Willow Lake and Winter Lodge, which is the order I read it in.
Homecoming season was only about 100 pages long, so short that I was able to finish it all in one sitting. And also so short that it was kind of hard to form an opinion of the characters, and decide whether I liked them or not. For a short Story, it was very well written, and ended in a good spot, though I do hope that they will be mentioned in the books I have yet to read.
Before the story actually starts, there are a few pages that talk about a lady who opened this wonderful place called Cottage dreams, which is a place where Cancer Survivors can go to spend some time and kind of move on with their lives. I read that the organization provides, at no cost, an opportunity to move on to emotional, spiritual, and physical recovery. So far, this program is only in Ontario, but they do hope to expand it to be nationwide by 2010. They have already helped many families get through everything and it has been a huge success. They did list a website...www.cottagedreams.org.
The reason why I mentioned this first was because this seemed like such an awesome place, and I do plan to check out that website. It also directly relates to Homecoming season....
Homecoming season is about the Sweeney Family. Miranda Sweeney, and her husband Jacob, and their two kids Andrew, who is 10, and Valerie, who is 15. Miranda was diagnosed with breast cancer and has just finished all her treatment, and everything went very well. The treatment was very successful. However, As a result of her being sick, other priorities kind of got pushed a side, and now Miranda wants to put everything back together. Her husband, works for a beverage sales company to large grocery chains, pretty much hid behind his work, and doesn't seem to think about much else these days. Her son Andrew, found this computer game that lets you make your own town....it was one thing that allowed him to be in control and not have to deal with so much. Miranda's daughter Valerie pushed her friends away and got a job T at the theater, and as a result, began hanging out with a different crowd. Miranda recognizes how her cancer has affected her whole family, and wants to help bring everyone back together. Her best friend, Sophie Bellamy-who is Greg Bellamy's ex-wife, and Daisy and Max's mom- suggests the family goes to Willow Lake for a week and the Bellamy family extends the invitation to stay at their recently renovated cottage at Camp Kioga. Miranda thinks this is exactly what they need, and works hard to persuade her family to agree to this. It takes a lot of persuasion, and despite everyone's hesitation, they go. Since there's no computer, no phone, and no cell-phone signal, they all have a chance to have fun as a family and become close again. Miranda is able to have talks with each of them and is able to get through to them. And things slowly start getting better, and getting back to the way they were. It is after this week that Miranda realizes that they're all going to be fine.
Some significant things that happen in this story include......
Andrew: He has recently lost his beloved dog Gretel, and was too upset to want another dog. He spends all his time wrapped up in the computer game. After coming back from Willow Lake, they do eventually get a new dog- a shepherd Mix, and they name her Kioga, in honor of Camp Kioga. He ends up spending all his time taking care of his their new dog, that he soon forgets about the computer game.
Valerie: She turns away from all her friends and doesn't want to go to homecoming. She was supposed to go to homecoming last year, but that ended up being the day her mom had her mastectomy. She she has bitter memories of homecoming season. But then she ends up going to the homecoming dance with Peter "The Boy Next Door" and who also happens to be her crush.
Miranda is eager to get back to the things she used to enjoy doing, gardening being one them. She also went parasailing right after she left the Dr.'s office because she wanted to have a thrill-seeking adventure (I have gone parasailing before myself- it really is an amazing experience). She also decides she doesn't want to go back to her job when she returns to work- instead she wants to become partners with her other best friend, Lucy, and open a flower shop.
Jacob didn't want to go to Camp Kioga at first, thinking they couldn't afford it, and that he didn't want to miss too much work. While at the cottage, he realized how lucky he was and how much he loved his life.
on page 117....
"Maybe so, but you asked about my dream. And that's always been you, Miranda. You and the kids. This family. Us. And that's why I'm so happy to have our life on any terms. All the rest- the work, the traffic, the bills- it's nothing but details. That's what being at this cottage has reminded me. I'm going back to the same old thing, but I'm different. I'm glad I had a chance to remember the things that are important to me."
I will end this with a qoute I found in the book. "You can't have today back so make sure you spend it the best possible way". This is very true...you never know what tomorrow will bring, so don't put something off that you might regret not doing later.
Started 9/12/07
finished 9/12/07 about an hour or so later
still reading Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard....and will continue.
A little background on the More Than Words series......There's a letter from the publisher in the front of the book and it talks about the More Than Words series....it says that More than Words is dedicated to celebrating and rewarding ordinary women who make extraordinary contributions to their communities. Each year, women are nominated for the Harlequin More Than Words Award, and 5 women are selected.
I'm still reading my other book Cage of Stars, so I only wanted to read Homecoming Season for now, and come back and finish the rest later. I thought it might help me to not forget the characters in the series. However, that book can actually be read at any other...though Chronicly it would fit in right between Summer At Willow Lake and Winter Lodge, which is the order I read it in.
Homecoming season was only about 100 pages long, so short that I was able to finish it all in one sitting. And also so short that it was kind of hard to form an opinion of the characters, and decide whether I liked them or not. For a short Story, it was very well written, and ended in a good spot, though I do hope that they will be mentioned in the books I have yet to read.
Before the story actually starts, there are a few pages that talk about a lady who opened this wonderful place called Cottage dreams, which is a place where Cancer Survivors can go to spend some time and kind of move on with their lives. I read that the organization provides, at no cost, an opportunity to move on to emotional, spiritual, and physical recovery. So far, this program is only in Ontario, but they do hope to expand it to be nationwide by 2010. They have already helped many families get through everything and it has been a huge success. They did list a website...www.cottagedreams.org.
The reason why I mentioned this first was because this seemed like such an awesome place, and I do plan to check out that website. It also directly relates to Homecoming season....
Homecoming season is about the Sweeney Family. Miranda Sweeney, and her husband Jacob, and their two kids Andrew, who is 10, and Valerie, who is 15. Miranda was diagnosed with breast cancer and has just finished all her treatment, and everything went very well. The treatment was very successful. However, As a result of her being sick, other priorities kind of got pushed a side, and now Miranda wants to put everything back together. Her husband, works for a beverage sales company to large grocery chains, pretty much hid behind his work, and doesn't seem to think about much else these days. Her son Andrew, found this computer game that lets you make your own town....it was one thing that allowed him to be in control and not have to deal with so much. Miranda's daughter Valerie pushed her friends away and got a job T at the theater, and as a result, began hanging out with a different crowd. Miranda recognizes how her cancer has affected her whole family, and wants to help bring everyone back together. Her best friend, Sophie Bellamy-who is Greg Bellamy's ex-wife, and Daisy and Max's mom- suggests the family goes to Willow Lake for a week and the Bellamy family extends the invitation to stay at their recently renovated cottage at Camp Kioga. Miranda thinks this is exactly what they need, and works hard to persuade her family to agree to this. It takes a lot of persuasion, and despite everyone's hesitation, they go. Since there's no computer, no phone, and no cell-phone signal, they all have a chance to have fun as a family and become close again. Miranda is able to have talks with each of them and is able to get through to them. And things slowly start getting better, and getting back to the way they were. It is after this week that Miranda realizes that they're all going to be fine.
Some significant things that happen in this story include......
Andrew: He has recently lost his beloved dog Gretel, and was too upset to want another dog. He spends all his time wrapped up in the computer game. After coming back from Willow Lake, they do eventually get a new dog- a shepherd Mix, and they name her Kioga, in honor of Camp Kioga. He ends up spending all his time taking care of his their new dog, that he soon forgets about the computer game.
Valerie: She turns away from all her friends and doesn't want to go to homecoming. She was supposed to go to homecoming last year, but that ended up being the day her mom had her mastectomy. She she has bitter memories of homecoming season. But then she ends up going to the homecoming dance with Peter "The Boy Next Door" and who also happens to be her crush.
Miranda is eager to get back to the things she used to enjoy doing, gardening being one them. She also went parasailing right after she left the Dr.'s office because she wanted to have a thrill-seeking adventure (I have gone parasailing before myself- it really is an amazing experience). She also decides she doesn't want to go back to her job when she returns to work- instead she wants to become partners with her other best friend, Lucy, and open a flower shop.
Jacob didn't want to go to Camp Kioga at first, thinking they couldn't afford it, and that he didn't want to miss too much work. While at the cottage, he realized how lucky he was and how much he loved his life.
on page 117....
"Maybe so, but you asked about my dream. And that's always been you, Miranda. You and the kids. This family. Us. And that's why I'm so happy to have our life on any terms. All the rest- the work, the traffic, the bills- it's nothing but details. That's what being at this cottage has reminded me. I'm going back to the same old thing, but I'm different. I'm glad I had a chance to remember the things that are important to me."
I will end this with a qoute I found in the book. "You can't have today back so make sure you spend it the best possible way". This is very true...you never know what tomorrow will bring, so don't put something off that you might regret not doing later.
Started 9/12/07
finished 9/12/07 about an hour or so later
still reading Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard....and will continue.
1 comment:
Hi Kelly,
I didn't know about the order of her titles.
Thanks for this info!
Marie
http://360.yahoo.com/romancefanreader
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