Shaunarumbling

About the Author:
River Jordan is a critically acclaimed novelist and playwright whose unique mixture of southern and mystic writing has drawn comparisons to Sarah Addison Allen, Leif Enger, and Flannery O’Connor. Her previous works include The Messenger of Magnolia Street, lauded by Kirkus Reviews as “a beautifully written, atmospheric tale.” She speaks around the country and makes her home in Nashville.

About the Book:
Ever since her husband Joe died, Velma True’s world has been limited to what she can see while clinging to one of the multicolored threads tied to the porch railing of her home outside Echo, Florida.

When a mysterious stranger appears at her door on her birthday and presents Velma with a special gift, she is rattled by the object’s ability to take her into her memories–a place where Joe still lives, her son Rudy is still young, unaffected by the world’s hardness, and the beginning is closer than the end. As secrets old and new come to light, Velma wonders if it’s possible to be unmoored from the past’s deep roots and find a reason to hope again.

My Review:

"It was the kind of day when even the lost believed. When possibilities were larger than reason, when potential was grander than circumstance, when the long, dark days of doubt were suddenly cast off and laid to rest. Brushed away with a smile and a certainty. And in this moment, from this place, you knew the real magic could happen."

So begins Saints in Limbo. Velma True, an agoraphobic widow who's still grieving her husband, receives a visit from a mysterious stranger who gives her a gift that allows her to relive memories. Her son, Rudy, has never lived up to his potential, but Velma still has hope for him though she has little left for herself. A teenage runaway is running toward Echo and has the vague suspicion that someone--or something--is following.

Saints in Limbo blends elements from several genres--Southern Gothic with magical realism, mystery, suspense, and romance--and can't easily be categorized. The prose is lyrical and at times beautiful, and the story drew me in from the first page. There were a couple of scenes that were chilling and made me regret reading the book before bed!

This faith-based novel is one of the most intriguing books I've read so far this year, and I couldn't put it down. Although I don't have a great appreciation for pure science fiction, I do like books (and TV shows) like this that incorporate fantastic elements in a real-world setting. I loved this book and will be reading more by River Jordan.

Giveaway:
I have a copy of Saints in Limbo to give away! If you're interested in reading it for yourself, leave a comment here and I'll choose a winner at random next Friday, June 12. I'll be giving away a copy of Robin Jones Gunn's Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes next week as well, so watch for that review early next week.

UPDATE: Sara is the winner!