The Wishing Trees by John Shors:  Review and Free (Author Signed!) Book Contest

By: Mirah W. (mwelday)

The Wishing Trees is about trying to find hope and direction after the death of a loved one.  Kate, a wife and mother, realizes she is dying and understands her husband and daughter will have difficulties accepting her death.  Before she passes away she devises a plan to move her family closer to acceptance and help them find a way to live again.  Kate wants her husband Ian to take their daughter Mattie on the trip through Asia the family had planned to take in honor of Kate and Ian’s fifteenth wedding anniversary.

Ian is uncertain about the journey but he grants Kate’s last wish and takes Mattie on the trip, visiting places Kate and Ian once explored together.  But they also go on adventures of their own, creating new memories for the two of them.  Throughout their journey, they leave wishes about their futures in ‘wishing trees’ and they experience miracles that bring them closer to healing.  Ian and Mattie meet people and experience moments that change how they look at the world.  But will they find a way to open their hearts to love and happiness once again?

I found this story of love and grief to be very heartwarming.  I think most little girls would want a father like Ian.  He was caring but not smothering. He doesn’t talk to her like she’s a child, he realizes the death of her mother has forced her to grow up in ways other children might not.  The journey they take together allows both of them to have moments of happiness, sadness, disappointment, hope and fear.  All of these emotions and the characters’ reactions to situations give the novel a feeling of reality; like they are two real people you could know who are trying to cope with a tragedy.

In this novel John Shors does what I think he does best: he captures the authenticity of a culture in a way I’ve seen few other writers do with such success. In his novels, he breathes life into places and they become characters in the story, not just settings.  I have been to several of the countries in this book (Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong) and John captures the local people, sites and language beautifully.  I have said before John’s novels allow me to travel the world without leaving the comfort of my reading chair and I think you’d agree.  If you haven’t read anything by John, this would be a great place to start!  And, lucky for you, PBS is giving away a copy with this review!

Want a chance to win the signed copy of The Wishing Trees?  Here’s how:  Leave a comment to this blog about where you’d like to visit and why.  Throughout The Wishing Trees Ian and Mattie are on a trip of discovery, visiting places with memories Ian can share with Mattie and visiting new places to create new memories.  They learn more about themselves and one another through their trip together.  Where would your trip of discovery take you?  What would you hope to learn?  A winner will be chosen at random from all entries.

To learn more about John’s novels and philanthropic efforts, visit his site at www.johnshors.com or follow him at facebook.com/johnshors or twitter.com/johnshors.

Semper Fidelis by Ruth Downie

Review by Jerelyn H. (I-F-Letty)

Like old friends come to visit.

I’ve missed Ruso and Tilla, and I am so glad to spend time with them once again.  Ruth Downie’s thoroughly likeable characters are back, and nothing has changed.  Tilla’s advocacy for her native countrymen will inevitably cause troubles for Ruso.  Ruso has rejoined the 20^th legion and not all is well, the native recruits are suffering from “accidents” and unexplained deaths, is the 20^th legion cursed?  What does the Centurion Germius have to do with this?  Is the Tribune Accius covering for his elder brother?   And if that isn’t enough, the Emperor Hadrian is coming to Britannia, and Ruso has been told to stop asking questions, (like that’s going to happen).

For me the mystery is secondary when I read Downie’s books. They keep me turning the pages, but it is her humor that I find irresistible. I love Downie’s quirky characters, and the honesty that she brings to Tilla and Ruso’s relationship. An officer of the Empire married to one of the barbarian hoard, he sees the iniquities of the natives, and is at a loss as how to balance these two worlds. Tilla’s view of things is very black or white, and having been raised in a society where women are more or less equal finds it difficult to be a subservient Roman wife.  She wants to be more than the wife of the Medicus, but how to bring this about is a problem.

I am a true fan of this series, and Semper Fidelis is a great addition to continuing story of the Medicus Ruso and his lovely wife Tilla.  4.5 stars

The Medicus Series

Book one: Medicus

Book two: Terra Incognita

Book three: Persona non Grata

Book four: Caveat Emptor

Book five: Semper Fidelis

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Leave a comment for a chance to win a hard bound copy of RUTH DOWNIE’S SEMPER FIDELIS compliments of Bloomsbury, Ruth and the PBS blog.  A winner will be chosen at random. Good Luck!