THE CEPHALOPOD COFFEEHOUSE: SOPHIE WRITES A LOVE STORY

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

It's time for The Cephalopod Coffeehouse, hosted by The Armchair Squid.

The idea is simple: on the last Friday of each month, post about the best book you've finished over the past month while visiting other bloggers doing the same.  In this way, we'll all have the opportunity to share our thoughts with other enthusiastic readers.

My book for February is Sophie Writes a Love Story by our blogger friend, Linda Kay. You can find Linda Kay at Senior Adventures.

I'm quite fond of this book, and proud of it, too, because I can claim editorship. You can purchase Sophie Writes a Love Story on Amazon at http://goo.gl/N3hgYI.* Sophie is the second in a series of books that Linda Kay is writing in memory of her mother and grandmother.

Sophie Writes a Love Story is just plain charming. I can't think of a better word to describe it. Yes, it's a romance, but I won't call it a conventional romance. Linda Kay keeps us in suspense and finds ways to surprise her readers. This book is an adventure/romance. Perhaps that helps portray it.

Sophie has recently become a widow. She considers selling the family home and moving to a smaller place. As she looks over items stored in her attic, they bring back a "flood" of memories. When you read the book, you'll know why I put flood in quotation marks.

Here's Sophie perusing items in the attic:

Her wedding gown was sealed in a plastic bag, but the years had taken their toll. The gown was yellowed, and the lace was almost a coffee color. She removed the fragile garment from the bag and held it in front of her, twirling around in a slow waltz, closing her eyes and thinking of Carl. An old white, leather-bound album of wedding pictures was complete with a small music box at the top that played the wedding march. Carl was so handsome in his suit. The black-and-white pictures didn't do justice to those brown eyes that had captivated Sophie all those years ago. A lump caught in her throat. She flipped the pages and wondered about all the friends who had been a part of the wedding. Where were they all now?

Isn't that beautifully written? And the question about old friends becomes an important part of the book.

Sophie Writes a Love Story earns The Janie Junebug Seal of Highest Approval. Linda Kay, I'm so happy for you. You are an accomplished writer.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug


*Linda Kay very graciously gave me an autographed copy of this book because I edited it, but I want to make it clear that I'm not receiving any remuneration for this review. I am not paid based on the number of books that sell.