Ginger Mooreland is stretched beyond her limit. Her beloved grandfather she cares for is showing signs of dementia and she is in danger of losing the Jukebox Café, which has been in the family for generations. Without the Jukebox she’s not sure how she can take care of her grandfather. The confidence that has bolstered her in the past is replaced with doubt. Mike, the pastor of the local … local community church, has become a close friend to Ginger over the years. As their feelings for each other grow, Ginger questions whether she needs one more thing unsettling her life.
Convinced that his wife, Irene, who disappeared shortly after Pearl Harbor is still alive, Grandpa sends Ginger on an unlikely quest to uncover the truth. As Ginger traces the threads of Grandpa’s past and deals with her doubts about the present, she discovers far more than she ever expected for her future.
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This is a well written book that holds your attention. It is full of emotions and will keep you turning the pages. It shows you how important it is to trust in God to get you through anything you are going through. I highly recommend this book.
This story spans decades and generations. A granddaughter is on a quest. She needs to find her grandmother and reunite her with grandpa. You see, the young married couple were ripped apart during WW11 and Grandpa never gave up trying to find the love of his life.
There are many plots and subplots in this book, but they all lead to the last chapter… the fulfillment. I seldom have tears when reading but by the end of this book, I needed a tissue.
Observations:
… Fear will paralyze. Life has enough ongoing problems to allow the fear of ‘what if’ control you, but Ginger just can’t seem to wrap her head around that. As as result, she lives her life in denial and fear of what was and what could be, rather than what is. She loved and lost. What will it take for her to release her fears and open up to love again?
… This book touches upon many real life issues. It’s hard to not be touched by Grandpa. He never gave up. Then there was Mike, even preachers have to work through choices made. He was the opposite of Ginger. Mike accepted God’s forgiveness for the bad choices and went on to build a solid, compassionate life. Ginger stayed in denial and missed out on a lot until she finally lets go and lets God.
… Ginger was over worked, too self reliant, gave up her future when her dad died so she could go home and take care of grandpa, all the while running their family dinar. Constantly sacrificing her own wants and needs for grandpa, church families, the Jukebox Cafe as well as the town itself. What will it take for her to let go of the fear and realize she only has to let go and let God provide her the life He always intended for her?
… Would have preferred less rambling and repetition. Yes, Ginger was tired, overwhelmed and overworked. I understand that and got it right away, didn’t need it explained over and over.
… Yes, by the end I had tears. It was a slow moving start but really picks up as the book progresses.
would like to have been a church mouse listening in on grandpa and grandma conversation after find each other all those years apart. And why waste William there? That was important!
I was provided an advance copy of this book and am providing my personal thoughts in the above review.
This Side of Yesterday is a little romance and a little mystery. The story plays out to the backdrop of a tornado, a grandfather with dementia and a busy diner. There are many small stories within the book. The author has woven love and caring for out families and others all through the book. It is a good lesson on what really matters in our lives.
The book did seem mostly dialogue which was often repetitious. But it does contain many thoughts and lessons that are worth repeating.
A beautiful story of the love between a granddaughter and grandfather and facing changes dementia can bring to a loved one. Trying to hold on to her family business and care for an aging grandparent who at times is less than loving, Ginger relies on God for strength and fortitude. Hurt by an earlier relationship, she doesn’t want to let anyone in to help her for fear of being hurt. Persistent friends and a very special man help her learn to let go, trust and realize God has sent these people into her life. The mystery of what happened to her grandmother during WW 2 adds a great dimension to the story that will leave you in suspense until the end.
The Mosaic Collection stories have yet to disappoint. This Side of Yesterday is another read that embarks on keeping faith in our Father and leaning into His arms for constant support. Ginger’s story holds passion for the overwhelming struggles of keeping a small business up and running while caring for her grandpa with dementia. Several real life struggles are throughout her story with words of wisdom, caring and seeking help from others because you are not alone. It’s a story of Gods reminder that we are loved. A beautiful read that touches the heart.
Thank you in advance to The Mosaic Collection and JustRead Publicity Tours for providing a complimentary advance review copy. A positive review was not required. All words and thoughts are my own.
While this is part of the Christian and Faith-based “The Mosaic Collection”, the previous novels are not connected to this one, and not required to be read. The Jukebox Café was introduced in the “Hope is Born” anthology that was previously released. Which, I have not read.
This does well as a standalone read. If I hadn’t researched the novel, author, or collection; I wouldn’t have known about the previous story.
This is the fourth Mosaic Collection book I’ve read (previously “A Beautiful Mess”; “More Than Enough”; “Road to Happenstance”). Each one is different, but each one contains an element of faith.
This falls more under fiction/romance.
There might be some content warnings for readers who have issues/struggles with certain subjects:
* Dementia
* Mental Health
* Japanese Internment (slight plot spoiler)r
* Foster Care/Foster Kids (perception of foster kids)
First off the author tackles the sensitive, but not often talked about, subject of dementia. While it can happen at nearly any age, it is more common in the aging and elderly. Ginger’s grandfather, Walter, is 98 and well within the age group.
Despite his problems and lapses, he is in relatively good health. Ginger is not only “managing” her grandfather (as she has no other family), but also the struggling Jukebox Café. She seems to have a hard time keeping waitresses around. This is one open-end I would’ve liked to have figured out, but the author doesn’t wrap up that plot in this story.
The story deals more with the café’s struggles and a new element – the disappearance of Ginger’s grandmother, Irene, shortly after World War II. The woman left and never returned. Where did she go? When Walter returned home, Irene had gone missing. Now, with Walter’s cognitive functions declining, finding Irene becomes a priority. But, Ginger can’t seem to find time to help.
She’s even helping a local foster mom, Megan, with a few things around her house. It ramps up when Megan’s husband Greg is injured while doing a repair.
Another complication in Ginger’s life – pastor Mike. He is always there for her, and while they dated, nothing became of it. Still, he wants to help Ginger in any way he can – the café, watching her grandfather, or searching for Irene. A sweet (and slow) romance builds between the two.
Ginger soon learns that her grandmother’s heritage played a huge role in her disappearance – this is where the issue of the Japanese internment is mentioned.
Meyer crafts a beautiful story with saving a beloved café, natural disasters, uniting foster kids, finding love, and finding a lost loved one. There are strong elements of faith, and some scriptures are used. The reader will see how the characters rely on God and their faith to see them through. Readers will see that they don’t have to go through things alone with they do have friends to help out.
A quick spoiler, one of the kids’ brothers is reunited with the other, but there is a problem. That is not resolved by the end of the story though and I would’ve liked to see how the boy turned out.
Pastor Mike also has a secret which comes to light when a “tagger” hits certain businesses in the area, including the café. This is wrapped up quickly in passing though.
Overall, this was a quick read with short chapters and an easy flowing style. The author didn’t “rush” the scenes, but she didn’t linger on them either. I felt there were places she could’ve expanded, but it didn’t stop the overall storyline.
It was, for me, slow to get into at first – but, after a while, I found I couldn’t stop reading it. And, I actually read it in less than a day (started late in the evening, finished early in the morning).
There were a few typos, but this was otherwise well written.
Readers will be pleased with the “happy ending” of the story and provides a message of hope.