Mrs. Wiggins by Mary Monroe (A Book Review)

Maggie Franklin grew up in a family of ill-repute. Her mother was a former prostitute, while her father was the town drunk. She becomes really fast friends with Hubert Wiggins. Hubert, comes from a prominent family in their community of Lexington, Alabama. Both Maggie and Hubert knows deep things about each other that solidifies their friendship.

As they grow up, Hubert becomes one of the most eligible bachelors in their town. Maggie, on the other hand is not so lucky. Both of their parents however, are pressuring them to get married. Neither of them are interested in marriage at the time. However, in an attempt to stop the parental pressure, they make a pact to marry one another. Their family is complete when their son Claude is born.

The Wiggins become the most revered family in Lexington. Maggie now has a charmed life. She’s the daughter-in-law of a pastor, her husband runs the family funeral business and works part-time at the turpentine mill, and she’s the doting mother to a wonderful son.

All is going great until her son grows up and becomes involved with a young woman named Daisy. Daisy proves to be a very challenging person. Claude’s relationship with Daisy sets a domino effect of events in Mrs. Wiggins life that threatens all that is good in it.

I enjoyed this story a lot. It showed how life can turn out, depending on how the person living it perceives the circumstances that they’re faced with. It was a story loaded with life lessons. I was hooked from start to finish.

Rating 9/10

This Close To Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith (A Book Review)

On a rainy Thursday evening, Tallie Clark sees a man about to jump over a bridge. She stops her car in the rain to save this troubled soul. She manages to get him over the safe side of the bridge and into her car. They get coffee and get a little acquainted. Taking a leap of faith, she invites him to her home to spend the night. He finally reveals to her that his name is Emmett. Her home is warm, inviting, and safe for Emmett. He finds it easy to talk to Tallie. Tallie tells Emmett that she is a teacher by profession, when in fact she is a therapist. Over the course of a weekend, they talk for hours opening up and confessing deep hidden emotions they had initially battled alone to one another.

When Tallie’s older brother Lionel have a Halloween party, Emmett gets to meet some of Tallie’s family and friends. An unfortunate accident occurs that puts Emmett front and center and he gets deemed a hero. Afterwards more secrets are revealed. All truth starts pouring out. Tallie and Emmett has to make sense of what the truth reveals.

Seeing the connection between Tallie and Emmett unfold was beautiful to see. The story presented a great lesson of how far having a caring and giving spirit towards another person can go, especially if they’re open to receiving it. This was a powerful and sweet story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Rating: 9/10