This book falls into the "charming" category, so it's aptly named. Small town; quirky characters; predictable ending. The ending doesn't actually wrap everything up with a neat little bow, but it leads you to think that it is heading in that direction.
Grace Wheeler (10), a foster child filled with anger, and her sweet little sister Hannah (7), are taken in by Mrs. Giano (Mama G). Due to Grace's behavior at their previous foster homes, this is Grace's last chance before she is sent to a group home and separated from Hannah. Mama G's special talent of "knowing people" is demonstrated when she first meets the girls on her doorstep. She eyes Hannah with her arms crossed and then comments to her, "Lord, but you are trouble, aren't you?" Of course this is confusing to Grace and their social worker since Hannah was always the "good girl". A foreshadowing of events to follow.
Years later, Grace is a successful professional in the finance business; Mama G has Alzheimer's/dementia; Hannah is dead; and Grace is leaving her career in Charlotte to move Mama G and Hannah's 8 year old daughter, Daisy, back to Mama G's home town of Dove Pond. The "book charmer" is Sarah Dove, the 7th daughter of the Dove family. She is the town librarian and books "talk" to her. She distributes books to people whenever she is told to by a particular book. The book that Sarah gives to Grace is Little Women.
Sarah believes that Grace will save the town, but Grace tells everyone that she only plans to stay for one year. So the challenge is set. In addition to the book charmer, there is the hunky next door neighbor who wants nothing to do with Grace and her family initially - and his dad's cat, who also has a significant role in the book. Like I said, it's charming and predictable. I enjoyed it.
Wendy's Rating: ****
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