The House On Malcolm Street by Leisha Kelly Revell Blog Tour

Product Description

It is the autumn of 1920 and Leah Breckenridge is desperate to find a way to provide for her young daughter. After losing her husband and infant son in an accident, she is angry at God and fearful about the future. Finding refuge in a boardinghouse run by her late husband's aunt, Leah's heart begins the slow process of mending. Is it the people who surround her--or perhaps this very house--that reach into her heart with healing? Delightful, realistic characters and skilled writing make The House on Malcolm Street a treasure. Leisha Kelly's fans and new readers alike will find this simple story about the complexities of life an engrossing read.
 
My take on this book:
It's the fall of 1920 and Leah Breckenridge's life has changed so much the last year that she is basically lost. Her husband was killed in an accident, and then her baby son dies from the influenza. If that isn't enough to overwhelm her she couldn't pay the rent, and has found herself along with her six yr old daughter Eliza, also called Ellie, homeless. She can't go back home to her parents, her mother is dead, and her dad had never really made her feel welcome. The only option she has is to go to Illinois to stay with her husbands Aunt Marigold who runs a boardinghouse.The only issue is Leah has a terrible fear of trains, and that is the only way for her to travel, so she must put her fears aside and do whats best for her daughter.
 
Upon arriving in Ill. she meets Josiah who offers to take her to the boarding house only to find out that he actually lives there with Marigold. Turns out he was a childhood friend of Leah's husband and a distant relative of Marigolds. Leah and Josiah don't hit it off at all, she gets the feeling he doesn't want her there, but unknown to her is the fact that he is dealing with his own grief. Will Leah find refuge at the House On Malcolm Street, and can she find her way back to God?
 
This was an amazing story, Leisha Kelly really knows how to draw you into a story and hold your attention until the end.She tells this story from the perspective of two people Leah and Josiah. In telling the story this way you get swept away with both characters feelings,their pain and grief literally jump off the page. The nightmares and the fear of trains that had plagued Leah most of her life draws us in with a bit of mystery which isn't resolved until the end of the story. The characters develop very well in this book and you quickly become immersed in their stories.
 
 Leah had lost so much, even her faith in God, but her daughter had enough faith for both of them, and when they get to Marigold's house and we see what a kind, compassionate woman she is I was relieved that they might find a home. I also liked Marigold's ministry and how she could get people around her to help, allowing them to feel good about doing for others, the relationship with her neighbor was also another aspect of the book that I really enjoyed.
 
The only downside to this book was that it ended. I wanted to keep on reading about these characters, I can easily see how there could be a sequel to this book, I really hope that's the case because I want to read more about the people on Malcolm Street.
 
I would easily rate this book a 5/5
 
Even though I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, thanks Donna, it in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
 
 
“Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”