Customer Reviews

Drenched in Light (Tending Roses Series #4)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I picked up my first Lisa Wingate novel on a whim because I found the cover so attractive and was not disappointed. Since then, I have read everything she has written including her most recent "Drenched in Light". I am continually amazed at how she hits the mark every time with her writing. It seems like a straightforward, pleasant and intruging story and then she hits you with these moments of truth that just shine. I love the pearls of wisdom from Grandma Rose (from the "Tending Roses" series) and they are woven so seamlessly into this latest story. I think Lisa Wingate is one of the most underrated writers around ..... you can't go wrong with her books !!!

I picked up this book because the title intrigued me and I was headed to the beach for a short vacation. Being an educator myself, I was intrigued by the setting. I found the book to be not only a beautiful story about the paths we choose in life and the ways in which we become connected to other people, but also just a well-written story filled with insight and life lessons. I will definitely read the rest of the books in the series. Great read!

No doubt about it ~~ ever since I first read "Tending Roses" I have been hooked on Lisa's books. This one is not a story about Kate or Karen, but about Julia, Dell's guidance counselor at Harrington. Julia befriends Dell as she recognizes something inside Dell that she was once like. Julia had been a ballerina until she woke up backstage throwing up blood from purging and bingeing too many times to maintain her weight. All too well, Julia understands the pressure that Dell had put on herself in order to exceed at Harrington, the special school that focuses on music and art.

Along with Julia's awakening, she finds herself immerged into her job as the guidance counselor, which she never thought she would enjoy, and planning her sister's wedding. Julia soon finds herself and the peace she had been looking for ever since she was a child. Dell shares her story with Julia and together, they find the way to inner happiness and peace. Julia may have had to struggle more to overcome her eating disorder but soon, she realizes that she is in the right place at the right time once she discovers the underlying drug scene at Harrington.

It is a wonderful book; beautifully written and as always, Lisa brings you into the story and leaves you walking away feeling refreshed and hopeful. The characters linger long after the last page has been turned and the reader sits there wondering why she has to wait another year for another Wingate book. =0) The characters are unforgettable and their stories may sound commonplace but not really as they are inspirational and sounds realistic enough to encourage you to believe in light and goodness again.

It is a wonderful book to read over and over again and to give to all of your friends. It's not a sappy romance or fluffy reading ~~ but thoughtful reading that keeps you wanting more. It's a keeper in my library.

7-28-06

Ballet dancer Julia Costell had a promising career but collapsed under the incredible pressure after suffering an eating disorder caused by a retort from her ballet instructor. She managed to land in Kansas City as a guidance counselor at Harrington Arts Academy, a magnet school for talented middle year students in the performing arts. Julia knows first hand that those with wealth have a monster edge in the admittance program as they can afforded the best private tutors, which leads her to wonder how thirteen years old Dell Jordan, daughter of a dead addict, made the cut.

Counseling Dell, who struggles with the academic classes, Julia recognizes a talented but frightened young lady with no support system; in other words she sees her as a young teen with potential to go far as a ballerina but had no support system. They forge a relationship in which Julia helps Dell cope and improve her grades while Dell introduces Julia to an after-school program for underprivileged kids. In spite of her dedication, Julia is in trouble of losing her job when her supervisor demands she apologize for trying to help a student using drugs as the truth need not apply when money is involved.

Though too many of life lessons come together at the same time overwhelming the reader and Julia, the lead character learns through the school of hard knocks what is important and what is not. Dell proves to be her catalyst that turns her introspective so that she can see inside herself how others perceive her. Fans of a deep character study will want to read DRENCHED IN LIGHT as Lisa Wingate writes about the downside caused by internal and external pressure of performing.

Harriet Klausner

The main character in the story here is Julia Costell, of whom is 24-years-old, a former ballet dancer, and now a new guidance counselor at Harrington School. Harrington is a very exclusive school for kids who are talented in the arts, and academically talented as well. Julia has only been there 2-years. She gave up dancing when she became severely bulimic and almost died. And this was a secret she hid from everyone around her.

Now she is back home living with her parents who pick on her and her eating habits way too much. Not only that, but her job is very very demanding at the school, and she often thinks she won't be able to live up to the standards there of what people expect of her.

Dell Jordan comes into the picture here, living with her new foster parents Karen and James. She is attending Harrington, and though she is very talented musically, is behind in her studies, and on the verge of failing. When Julia gets to know this special student, who came from a horrible broken home amongst everything else, she takes Dell under her wing, and finds help for her academically so she can pass her classes. They form a special relationship and are the best of friends.

There are also more problems at Harrington involving drugs. Julia has a student, Cameron, of whom is obviously on drugs himself, but she cannot convince the principal of this, and soon is in deep trouble with the boy's parents. Julia is in danger of losing her job, along with all of her other troubles, but she cannot very well apologize to Cameron's parents when she knows he is in need of help and the parents refuse to believe it.

The book was very worthwhile reading as it is very much into the lives of families and their challenges.

I love Lisa Wingate's books - evidenced by the fact that I've read them ALL. I'm especially fond of this one as it takes place in my hometown - Kansas City and Overland Park, Kansas. Thank you Lisa for bringing us another wonderfully moving read. As usual, I can't wait until your next one....

There are a lot of things I liked about this book, including the insightful writing & likable characters, the anti-drug message, the topic of pressure on girls to be thinner (even when they're already slender), and the focus on the long-lasting effects of eating disorders. I also appreciated the author showing how important concerned guidance counselors can be for children. However, I would have preferred to have known that this was a religious-themed book before reading it.

If you would dislike and/or be offended by an author's inclusion of several references to God, the Hallelujah Chorus, churches and chapels, characters such as Sister Margaret and Brother Baker, and "angels" placed on kids' shoulders (which seem to be dust specks plucked from the air, yet somehow encourage the kids who wear them to stay on the "straight path"), avoid this book.

I recently finished a book by Faye Kellerman called Day of Atonement, which is concerned with Orthodox Jewish characters and Rosh HaShanah, an important Jewish holiday. So I'm not opposed to religious or spiritual fiction per se - I just would like to be notified before-hand if a book is religious in nature so I can make an informed decision whether I want to read it or not. Drenched in Light did not provide such information.

Really enjoyed this story. It's an easy read, hard to put down. The way the author writes about eating disorders and addictions is right on target. Very honest. It's a very satisfying read.

This order was for a gift and the product arrived with yellowed pages and black marker across the outside margin of all of the pages. This was OBVIOUSLY a used product and not a new book as advertised. Very, very disappointed in Amazon, not the product itself. Returned the item and Amazon did refund my money.

True to form for Lisa Wingate, try one of her series, they are excellent entertainment.