2014, 280p,Contemporary Fiction
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the author for an honest review
In Previously Loved Treasures recently widowed Ida Sweetwater and her granddaughter come together in a heartwarming mystery rich with imagination and magic.
Struggling to make ends meet, Ida turns her home into a boarding house and goes in search of used furniture. This quest leads to the Previously Loved Treasures shop and Peter Pennington, a delightfully strange proprietor who anticipates people’s needs. In addition to bargains, Peter hands out sage advice. When a pocket watch belonging to one of the residents goes missing for a second time he warns of danger—but will Ida’s granddaughter listen and will she heed his advice?
This is a story that resonates with Crosby’s heartwarming albeit quirky characters and the joy of a pay-it-forward philosophy.
I loved this book!! Ida Sweetwater has recently become a widow and she sets out to find her estranged son who left years ago. This uses most of the money she has, so she starts to take in boarders to help her make ends meet. A granddaughter, Caroline, is located and decides to come live with Ida and get to know her.
I loved the eclectic group of people that were brought together looking for somewhere to belong. They learned to care for each other and help each other out and basically, become their own little family. There is one person that causes contention as he feels a sense of entitlement for something that isn't his. His actions cause a lot of grief but also help things turn out as they should.
Then there's the mysterious Peter Pennington. He owns a second hand store called "Previously Loved Treasures" and always has exactly what Ida and Caroline are looking for and at ridiculously low prices. Sometimes he even has things they aren't looking for but it's exactly what they need. I was interested to see how whatever he had for them would fit into the story. I also loved what happened with this store at the end.
What I loved the most about this book is that it is character-oriented and an emotional read. I had a hard time putting it down because I was so taken in by the story and what was going to happen next. This book can be read on its own but I'm glad I read the first book because this is basically the story behind where a certain treasure from that book wound up and the way it was able to help its new owner. I am now officially a fan of Bette Lee Crosby and look forward to reading more of her work!
Content: Mild swearing
Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.
“Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”
Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since then, she has gone on to win another fifteen literary awards, including the Royal Palm Literary Award, The Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal.
A third book in her Wyattsville Series is scheduled for release in January 2015 and the third book in the Serendipity Series will follow in the Spring of 2015.
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