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The Hummingbird House (2013)

by Donna Ball(Favorite Author)

3.87 of 5 Votes: 2

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Blue Merle Press

review 1: I read this because I loved the Ladybug Farm books. This one is similar to those, but it's more national than the Farm books. I think the ladies of the Farm are more proactive than the boys of the House. The boys seem to react to problems that they have caused for themselves. They need to step it up and take care of things themselves more. The story was interesting, especially since it's hard for me to let go of these characters from the Farm series.
review 2: I read this book in two sittings. I really could have read it in one, but I wanted to stretch it out if I could in order to make it last longer.The lovely loveable ladies from Ladybug Farm have been helping their friends Paul and Derrick get their Hummingbird House B & B ready to open, but they are now o... morever-worked and exhausted. It is time for some tough love and they tell Paul and Derrick that it is time for them to take on the work themselves.In comes young Purline. She is outspoken with a no-nonsense personality and she is willing to take on the task of cooking and cleaning as long as Paul and Derrick follow her rules. Then along comes Harmony Haven. She is 60 if she is a day, but she commands attention. It could be because of the bleached-blonde hair, the chiffon scarves, feather earrings and silk caftans or it could be because she claims to be a spiritualist to the stars. At any rate, the two women will get the two men in line or else and Humingbird House will open, by golly.All of the above are destined to meet Megan who is driving her spirited 97 year old grandmother across the country to find something somewhere. Grandma isn't sure what it is or where it is, but it must be important because it keeps hovering in the background of her dreams.Also destined to meet up with everyone is Josh. He is down on his luck and not above stealing to get money to make his way to Kansas City. He has left someone behind and is determined to find his way back to her as he once promised. He gets in and out of scrapes and always finds himself meeting up with Artie who is willing to drive Josh in his old 1970's Winnebago to Missouri. He is also willing to forgive Josh for his less than honest behavior.The story moves back and forth very quickly and the idea that any of these characters are or will be connected is unfathomable. Yet they all have very good stories of their own. Besides, I wasn't worried. I knew that in the end, all would become clear; and of course, it did in a delightful way.The book was fast-pasted with loveable and real characters. It was whimsical and funny. It was warm and uplifting. It just made me feel good and I needed a "feel good" read at the time.I had sneaked a look at one of the previous reviews that had rated this book quite low and I wondered why. The reviewer said that it was totally inconceivable that all the characters would have paths that would cross and that the plot was unbelievable. Well, that is the beauty of fiction. Unexpected things can happen...kind of like, oh, I don't know....real life maybe.The reviewer also felt that there was no message to be had from the rather unbelievable plot. Again, I don't think every book has to have a strict message, especially if it makes you smile or laugh or feel good. However, I did think that this particular book actually did have a message. A message that reminds us that we can overcome obstacles...those real or imagined, those that are a result of circumstances or those that are self-imposed because we are afraid to take a leap of faith and to believe in ourselves. And all the characters had obstacles of one kind or another. They just needed the courage to move them. Read it. Perhaps you will agree with me. less

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