©picture by scribbles (Marye McKenney)

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

The Year of Laine's Dying

Celeste Fletcher McHale wrote a book that had me crying for hours. The Secret of the Hummingbird Cake details the friendship of Carrington, Laine, and Ella Rae; especially during Laine's last year of life. The three gals have been friends since childhood and during this last year for Laine, they become closer than ever.

Carrington was married to Jack, Ella Rae was married to Tommy, and only Laine was unmarried. The pathos of this book takes the reader through the real ups and downs of life. Carrington believes that Jack is having an affair, so she has one to match his. Ella Rae and Laine try to bring her back to her senses, but her angst keeps Carrington in a dark place for a long time. When Laine reveals her secret, Carrington rails at the world, at God, at the injustice of something like this happening to someone so young. Ella tries to stay strong, but she's incredibly confused and has always followed Carrington's whims. Laine was always the voice of reason among the three.

Laine is the one who made the Hummingbird Cake for Carrington and Ella, and Carrington always wanted the recipe, but Laine wasn't ready to give up her secret ingredient--not until the very end.

The writing in this book is beyond stellar, the emotions are so real that the reader needs a towel to wipe the tears--a box of tissues just won't be enough, and the characters are real with depth and complexity of genuine people. This is a Five Star book, two thumbs up, and a towel for the tears.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for allowing me to read and review this book

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