Return to Appleton

This is the sequel to Waters of Marah. All of Sylvia Bambola's books I have read have "hold you to the last page" interest and show clearly how her characters rely on God's help and guidance. Some not initially but they do come to that point. I recently discovered this author when I read Tears in A Bottle and would highly recommend her books!

Gloria Bickford knows that going back to her cozy little hometown of Appleton and repairing the broken relationships she had left behind isn't going to be easy. Yet, in Sylvia Bambola's sequel to Waters of Marah, that's exactly what she sets out to do. Bambola places her story against the vivid countryside backdrop of small shops and glittering lakes. Her description and imagery are fresh and vibrant, giving her writing style a delicious charm. Not only that, but Bambola does an excellent job of making her characters' problems seem realistic and relevant, such as the lingering hurt between Gloria and her controlling mother. Her characterizations of Cutter and Gloria and their awkward relationship are perhaps the high points of the entire story. Anything but a normal romance, Cutter and Gloria's slow process of reconciliation is original, well thought out, and stellar as the prime element of the book. Some of the plot elements, however, just don't seem to flow with the rest of the story, particularly with regard to a stalker. Whereas Bambola does an excellent job at portraying Gloria's relational struggles in a poignant way, the tension she tries to create by adding the stalker and detective Sam Bryce to the story comes across as forced. With so many deeper, more relevant plotlines to delve into, Bambola never really gets to explore the tension she tries to build. Sylvia Bambola offers a solid, charming, and captivating novel of one woman's struggle to trust her Savior in the midst of extreme trial. The story she creates is enchanting. For fans of Bambola's Waters of Marah, this makes returning to Appleton a worthwhile trip. -- Matthew Mills, Christian Book Previews.com