Sunday, May 18, 2008

"Sincerely Mayla" Book Review


"Sincerely Mayla" by Virginia Smith

Talk
about a great book - this is one of those books that make you smile, laugh, cry and grimace all in the same page. Virginia has crafted some amazing characters, most importantly Mayla, who first appeared in her book "Just As I Am". Now I have not read that book, but boy do I want to now that I've read Sincerely Mayla. Most importantly though, you do not have to read them in order. This is a great stand alone book and totally worth the read. Virginia has a way of taking some really hard hitting issues (abortion and homosexuality being highlighted in this book) and bringing it home and making them issues that all of a sudden you feel prepared to deal with yourself because you saw how her characters dealt with them. I don't know if that makes sense, but boy is that how I feel. I plan on getting "Just As I Am" as soon as I can (like I need another book to read :-) Now here's a little blurb on this amazing book...

Will Mayla Strong's life ever resemble normal? Just as she settles into a great place with God, everything else falls apart. In the course of a single week she loses her job, wrecks any chance at a relationship with Pastor Paul, gets the cold shoulder from her friend Stuart, and learns that Lindsey--the teenage sister of her late friend Alex--needs a safe place to stay. What good is being a control freak if nobody will do what you tell them?

Taking advantage of her newfound "vacation time," Mayla flees to her grandmother's house in Florida. But one by one, problems follow . . . literally. In this touching sequel to Just As I Am, quirky Mayla Strong comes face to face with the responsibilities and joys of friends and family. As she tries to help her loved ones, Mayla begins to realize that God has all the answers--the trick is letting go long enough for Him to prove it.

About the Author
Virginia Smith is a writer of humorous novels, a speaker, a snow skier, a motorcycle enthusiast, and an avid scuba diver. Since leaving her twenty-year profession as a corporate director, she has written numerous books, including her debut, Just As I Am (Kregel Publications, March 2006) and Stuck in the Middle (Revell, February 2008). An energetic speaker, she loves to exemplify God's truth by comparing real-life situations to well-known works of fiction, such as her popular talk, "Biblical Truth in Star Trek."

No comments: