On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

 

Book description:

Cora Matthews's life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return to normal. Whatever "normal" is.

It certainly isn't what she finds at Moonberry Lake. After she receives her family's dilapidated lakefront lodge as an inheritance--with a surprising condition attached--Cora finds her life overrun by a parade of eccentric neighbors who all have something to say and something to teach her.

As Cora works to put her life back together, she must decide if she is willing to let go of the past, open her heart to love, and embrace the craziest version of family and home she could ever have imagined.

My review:
  I had mixed feelings about this book. It sounded good, and has an awesome cover....but it is the first novel by this author. Even after I started it, I was wondering if I would like it.

But wow. What an awesome debut novel. It is full of colorful, odd, eccentric people who are somehow very likable in spite of - or maybe because of - their oddities:

1) The older lady who takes care of the cemetery by her house. She knows the stories of all who are buried there, and talks to them as she takes care of their plots and headstones.

2) The agoraphobic gentleman who won't leave his house, is also a germophobic....but lives for Cora coming to clean his house and do his grocery shopping.

3) Then there is Widgey, who you will have to read the book to understand her.

4) And of course, Ben. (Read the book!)

  There are others I won't mention, as there needs to be reason for you to read this book. :)

  One would not know by the cover, title, or book description how funny this book is. Oh, it has a lot of serious and somber moments, but there is so much humor scattered throughout the book. There were times I laid my head back and laughed out loud. The words and actions of the characters in this book....pure gold. 

And then there is the "Sightings and Satire" section of the town newspaper. I dare anyone to read those without laughing.

  Cora, the main character, has a lot going on, and all of these people she meets come to mean a lot to her. There is a lot of wisdom dispensed that even the reader can digest and think on. And throughout the story is the obvious hand and workings of God.

 This book was so much more than I expected. And it is kind of a dangerous undertaking for the author. This, her debut novel, is definitely a home run, and is a book that surely will be nominated for awards. So her follow-up novel is going to have high expectations.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:
Holly Varni is a native Minnesotan of strong Norwegian descent, who was raised in the Lutheran Church that Garrison Keillor made a career depicting. Between the lutefisk, grumpy grandparents, and crazy neighbors who mowed their lawn wearing pajamas, the seed to becoming a storyteller was planted. Though she, her husband, and their three sons live along the Central Coast of California, her beloved Midwest roots continue to haunt everything she writes. She hosts the Moments from Moonberry Lake podcast where she shares more stories of her beloved characters. Learn more at www.hollyvarni.com.

On Moonberry Lake is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.