Book Review: Morningsong

Written by Shelly Beach
Reviewed by Kathi Macias

There are few writers whose mastery of language captivates me in similar manner to a musical masterpiece or a poignant painting; Shelly Beach is one of those few. Her ability to paint pictures with her words and then make them sing captures the readers’ attention and carries them along enabling them to partner with her in the telling of the story.

And what a story it is! No fluffy, predictable, sappily-ever-after tale this Morningsong novel! Beach not only climbs inside her characters’ hearts and minds, but she pulls her readers inside with her. We identify with Mona and Hallie and Ellen because we feel what they feel, we walk in their shoes, we live their experiences. And those experiences cause us to look within our own hearts as well. Do we really know and practice unconditional love? Do we even recognize real faith, or do we simply talk about it?

 Mona VanderMolen, Morningsong’s unlikely heroine, endures the challenges we all fear most, facing them because she has no choice and conquering them because she has no strength of her own. No wonder we love her and cheer for her, even as we thank God we are not her! We want Mona to triumph, to win, to find love and laughter and joy once again—because we want it so desperately in our own lives.

Morningsong takes us on a painful but delightful journey that we might not otherwise ever choose to take, and it teaches us what we most need to learn as we, along with Mona, face our greatest fears and challenges head on….

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer and author of nearly 30 books. How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded by Loose Cannons? is a featured book in The Great Escape 2009. You can find out more about her at www.kathimacias.com.