With America’s entrance into the Second World War, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam’s munitions plants–and they’re bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler’s grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.An estranged young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from … professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war–they’re all hoping Dolly’s house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.
When tragedy strikes, Dolly’s only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.
Award-winning and bestselling author Valerie Fraser Luesse breathes life into a cast of unforgettable characters in this complex and compassionate story of hurt and healing.
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Full of southern hospitality, a story of love and friendships, along with a little mystery. Times are tough during World War II but a mixture of couples from different places converge onto Dolly’s boardinghouse. Dolly turned her family home into a boardinghouse to help make the tax payments. Si, her husband, has added a rink and now a lake, to help get paying customers. A young couple from the Midwest, a war veteran suffering from injuries (both physical and mental), struggle to find their way but the house holds its own secrets. When tragedy comes to the property, the clues could lead Dolly, Si, and their tenants to solve the mystery. I loved this book! So full of southern hospitality and love. Took me back to growing up and sitting on the front porch with my grandparents. Wonderful memories and times. If you love sweetness and comfort in a book, this one is for you!
It’s late at night and I just finished this heart-captivating story set during WWII. It is not focused on action overseas but in Alabama. There is mystery in the telling of the story where a young woman who lived 100 years before the time of WWII has her story too though the awe-inspiring tale ties the characters of the past to those living 100 years later via journals. The current of faith runs throughout the book, both the seen and the unseen actions of God.
Various people come to live in a house that is now a home where renters have rooms yet can interact with each other, especially over a meal. The woman who runs the home is Dolly and she, along with her husband, is trying to make ends meet when rationing was in effect and just trying to pay the property taxes of their home seemed like a dream. Now, if I were to reveal the tale to you, I fear that would ruin your own enjoyment and excitement as various pages are turned and secrets revealed.
The book has a tale that draws readers in and keeps them coming back because I believe what it shares many can relate to. What does it share? A tale filled with hope, community, family, dreams of the future, confronting one’s own nightmare and so much more. Dolly is one awesome caring woman whose eyes could easily be on her own troubles but are on caring for others in any way she can.
Dolly’s faith, hope and love touch people who live under her roof, though not all as readers will find out. When danger is present and threatens her and her husband’s lives, who will come to their aid as they have been there for others? By the end of the book, I secretly wished there would be a sequel because it is such a story that touches the soul.
Here is definitely one of the best books of this genre, and I look forward to reading more from the author should she continue to pen such moving novels. For now, sit back with the book and immerse yourself in Almost Home; it’s a book you’ll long remember.
Southern Fiction is not my go-to genre, but I have enjoyed The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton. Most Southern fiction doesn’t capture my attention. Almost Home by debut author Valerie Fraser Luesse is a wonderful realistic view of the Southern culture. The enduring characters kept the story moving and kept my attention focused on the story. The idea of a family of misfits keeping tabs on each other while surviving in Dolly’s and Si’s house was a little different but interesting. The pirate’s treasure with Catherine and her husband mingled with my imagination. I wanted to find the treasure along with the characters. The only problem I have with the plot is that the story starts with a letter written by Dolly to her sister, but I had no idea what actual year the story starts off in. I believe it isn’t long after the letter was written with the clues from Reese and the other male characters, but sometimes it felt much later than during the last year of World War II. Overall, Almost Home is a informative and entertaining debut novel bringing the southern historical culture to life for readers. Fans of Billy Coffey, Lauren K. Denton, and Charles Martin might enjoy this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
This story will make you laugh and cry. I did not want to put this book down. This is the type of story that shows how people take care of other people during crises. These were people’s that didn’t know each other but who grew to love one another. They grew to be a family even when they were not related. I loved the characters and how they interacted. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
What a delightful book! I have not previously read anything by this author but will definitely be on the lookout for her books in the future. By the end of the book, all the characters were as familiar as old friends, each with a distinctive personality of his/her own.
Dolly Chandler’s boarding house is filled to the brim with people who have come from all over the country to her little corner of Alabama for work. All strangers, their lives become intermingled under the influence of Dolly and her husband as well as some of their neighbors on “the loop”. The old house has a few secrets of its own, especially the rumor of the former owner who disappeared with his wife on their wedding day never to be seen again. It was also rumored that the owner was a pirate who had stashed his treasure on the property before his apparent untimely death.
Almost Home is a story of faith, hope, and healing that is rife with the mysterious and surprises. I enjoyed the way some of the home’s history was related through some old journals. Then there was the big surprise at the end but you’ll have to discover that for yourself.
I loved this book and look forward to reading more by this talented author!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Now I want a room at Dolly’s Boarding House! Dolly and her husband Si run the boarding house and Dolly is a mother hen to her boarders. Nurturing is just what she does and she does it well her boarders feel comfortable there. When you take in boarders you never know who you will get, we all have our own thoughts and problems but Dolly will hel yo get through them. A turbulent time, America is going into the second world war and Blackberry Springs, Alabama is feeling it as well. If your staying at Dolly’s you will get served a heaping helping of compassion and the PTSD veteran still coming to grips with what he saw, an estranged young couple and a widower need that stability this Southern home can bring. You are family here. A bit of a mystery here as well as we read a bit of a time slip in here as well. I love how this wrapped up. Great story planning, it was a smooth read that made me feel happy.
Published March 5th 2019 by Fleming H. Revell Company
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
Ohh, what a sweet story! The characters in ALMOST HOME are people you would be blessed to call your friends.
Set in 1944, Dolly & Si Chandler are struggling to pay the property taxes on their lovely Alabama home. Due to the war, many are without jobs and travel to wherever they can find work. So Dolly and Si take in boarders.
The boarders include Anna & Jesse Williams are a young couple whose farm has failed. Since Jesse has flat feet he was not eligible for the draft. Then there’s Harry & Evelyn Hastings, both college professors from Chicago who lost their jobs. Next there’s Joe Dolphus whose wife died a year earlier. Finally there is Reed, a local boy who was a medic in the war. He is dealing with PTSD after losing his closest friend.
I loved the elderly, blind lady named Lillian and her quote “Old Southern women don’t change much. We just rock slower and slower till we don’t rock anymore.”
Daisy Dupree’s husband was killed in the war. Daisy and Anna become close friends. I loved Daisy’s advice to Anna regarding getting her husband’s attention: “Men can’t decipher hints and moods, so you gotta put what you’re feelin’ in a cast-iron skillet and hit ‘em over the head with it.”
The house itself is pretty special. Dolly’s grandmother Little Mama always said the house could talk. Dolly says “I believe a little part o’ what we give to a place stays with it forever.” The house was built by Andrew Sinclair who married the preacher’s daughter. There’s a lot of mystery around the story of Andrew and Catherine.
This is a wonderful story of friendships and is a true page-turner. I couldn’t wait to know what would happen next. There is mystery and romance in this book.
This is a great book and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell, but the opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed this book, and am so glad I read it. This book takes place in Alabama, during World War two, when everyone is looking for work . In this book the characters have come to work in the munition plants. This story is about the people who have moved into Dolly Chandler’s grand but fading home as boarders. Her husband Si works the land, and is building a big lake for the people to come and enjoy.
All kinds of people have come to live in this house; a young couple-Anna and Jesse, who have left what is left of their farm so Si can find work and save money to bring the farm back to life. With all their struggles, they are having communication struggles with each other and Anna does not know what to do.
Two professors, the Hastings have moved in also, and they are a nice couple, who were both Professors in Chicago, but with the economy lost their jobs, a widow, Joe Dolphuss has moved in also, his wife died and he is there to find work, a nice man, a couple, the Clanahans from Las
Vegas, who are very rude and are very offensive, and are dealt with at dinner the first night Anna and Jesse arrive!
There are many other characters in this story as well, neighbor and friends and soon Anna is fitting in, but her husband is having a hard time. A wounded veteran moves in as well.
This book also has a secret in the house that causes strange things to happen, and it was very intriguing to read about and how it influenced the lives of so many.
Most of all this book is about life, makes one realize the courage, hope, despair, the power of love and redemption, and I really enjoyed every page of this book. I gave this book a 5*****star rating and want to read more by this author!
Centered in the fictitious small town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, I especially enjoyed the “southerness” of this book.
Taking place during WWII, it follows a group of diverse folks who meet as they seek employment and/or a place to heal/hide and wind up becoming a family at Dolly’s and Si’s home-turned-boarding house. The house here becomes a character as well as we learn its mysterious history from its owners, both current and past (through journals).
While there is a mystery from the past tied in, I found the current residents more compelling and heartwarming. And while a bit long, this story had vividly drawn characters that I began to care about and a surprise at the end (that I had predicted) which finished the book on a satisfyingly high note.
The hospitality in this book reminds me of home here in western North Carolina. The iced tea Dolly would make is something really big in the southern region of US. I know I seldom read historical fiction but I absolutely loved this book, it may get me hooked on this genre if I could find some as good as this. I’ll be checking out the author’s other work now. How I wish I could stay with Dolly. And I got so invested in all the visitors’ lives. The whole time though, I couldn’t help but think about the risk she was taking with opening up her home. Maybe people weren’t as mean back then. I think about the air B and Bs now days and wonder would they know if a serial killer was going to stay with them. I guess my thoughts go all over the place with something like this. Anyway, Dolly was the most wonderful hostess anyone could find.
I received a complimentary copy from BookishFirst and was not required to write a positive review.
I loved this story, one that you try to read slowly so you don’t miss anything, and then one that you have read faster to get the answers. I did figure out the end, or at least part of it, early on, but needed to keep reading to confirm.
The story made me want to get a room at Si and Daisy’s, and spend my time with these loveable characters, and their caring for each other.
A remnant time after the depression, and we are at War, but these people are survivors, and fate or God puts them together, and we get to be there with them.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and I was not required to give a positive review.
Almost Home will take readers back to the sights and sounds of Alabama in 1944 during World War II. This historical fiction novel tells the story of Dolly and Si Chandler and the people who came to stay at their home that they turned into a boardinghouse. Through their time spent with the Chandlers, deep and lasting friendships are formed and opportunities arise for healing from the emotional and physical scars from the past. Journals uncovered from a hundred years earlier lead the inhabitants of the Chandlers’ house on a quest to find out answers of what happened to the previous owner.
This was an enjoyable story that focused on new beginnings and hope for the future despite past heartaches. The epilogue tied up unanswered questions from the story nicely. Fans of historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Revell Publishing and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.