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The Songbird of Sovereign (Book 3 in The Sovereign Series)
Jennifer Wixson, author
Adult; General Fiction (including literary and historical); (Create)
She's the most popular resident of Sovereign, Maine yet no one in this rural farming community of 1,048 souls has ever known the the story behind Miss Hastings' seven decades of dedication to schoolchildren. Now, Maggie the town's minister sets out on a quest to plumb the mystery of Miss Hastings' past before the retired music teacher -- nearing her 89th birthday and in failing health -- departs this world forever.
But Maggie has a mystery of her own, a conundrum that might upset the apple cart before she can uncover the rest of Miss Hastings' story!
Come along on this enchanting and inspiring journey that takes you from a poignant first love at a central Maine sanatorium in the 1940's to a merry winter picnic in the present day Maine woods. The Songbird of Sovereign is Jennifer Wixson's best effort yet. You won't want to miss a minute in your favorite mythical Maine town!
Plot/Idea: 6 out of 10
Originality: 4 out of 10
Prose: 4 out of 10
Character/Execution: 7 out of 10
Overall: 5.25 out of 10
Assessment:
Wixson's cozy, often saccharine novel moves between the present-day story of small-town pastor Maggie and that of Jana Hastings's youth in 1941. Both Maggie and 88-year-old Miss Hastings are dying, but it's hard to believe Maggie would choose not to fight her cancer. Meanwhile, while colorful, the tales and personalities of the inhabitants of Sovereign, Maine, display the same cheerful charm of a Hallmark movie. Fans of the Mitford series might enjoy this, but not readers looking for an unpredictable plot.
Date Submitted: July 18, 2016
