MY REVIEW:
Mason jars have always been a part of my life. As a child I watched my mother and grandmothers can food from their gardens and enjoyed the bounty during delicious meals all year. After my own marriage, I too learned the secrets to using mason jars and have a large supply of pickles, relishes, and salsa on my shelves today. Since his retirement my husband has developed an interest in old and nostalgic items, especially bottles and mason jars and has acquired quite a collection of them. Needless to say, they are not used for canning. With mason jars such a integral part of life for this country girl and farm wife, I was of course intrigued by the book with the simple title “The Mason Jar.”
“The Mason Jar” is one of those books within a book that I run across occasionally. This time a young woman is told about a novel written by her ex college boyfriend that is obviously about herself. As Eve reads through “The Mason Jar” the reader learns most of the story about her romance with Finn as well as what happened in his life after her disappearance from it. Between excerpts from the book, some other details about Eve are filled in. The final chapters of this book are set in the present time and the reader will learn whether Finn and Eve ever meet again.
In some aspects, “The Mason Jar” is a very sad story that emphasizes Finn’s grief and hopelessness after the loss of the woman he loved. To me the highlights of the story were the conversations with his grandfather along with the letters received from him in their special mason jar. Finn’s grandfather was a fount of wisdom and the one constant in Finn’s life. Many worthwhile quotes to ponder can be found within the pages of “The Mason Jar”. I also liked the fact that despite his pain and disappointment, Finn spent a number of years as a missionary in Africa helping others rather than becoming bitter and dwelling on his loss. I was particularly intrigued by his descriptions of microfunding as a better way to help those in need rather than just giving them handouts.
All-in-all, “The Mason Jar” was a pleasant read and I recommend it to those who enjoy a bit of angst with their romance or those who enjoy reading a romance from the male point of view.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What if your old college roommate called, raving about a book someone sent her, calling it the most beautiful book she’s ever read? “But,” she said, “it’s about you.” The author is your college ex.
In The Mason Jar, Clayton Fincannon is a Tennessee farm boy raised at the feet of his grandfather. He and his grandfather leave letters for each other in a Mason jar on his grandfather’s desk—letters of counsel and affirmation. When Clayton attends college in Southern California, he meets and falls in love with a dark debutante from Colorado. However, when an unmentioned past resurrects in her life and she leaves, Clayton is left with unanswered questions.
Clayton goes on to serve as a missionary in Africa, while he and his grandfather continue their tradition of writing letters. When Clayton returns home five years later to bury his grandfather, he searches for answers pertaining to the loss of the young woman he once loved. Little does Clayton know, the answers await him in the broken Mason jar.
A story about a girl who vanished, a former love who wrote a book about her, and a reunion they never imagined.
Written for the bruised and broken, The Mason Jar is an inspirational romance that brings hope to people who have experienced disappointment in life due to separation from loved ones. With a redemptive ending that encourages us to love again and written in the fresh, romantic tones of Nicholas Sparks, The Mason Jar interweaves the imagery of Thoreau with the adventures and climatic family struggles common to Dances with Wolves, A River Runs Through It, and Legends of the Fall.
Find out more and purchase a copy at James’ website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
James Russell Lingerfelt is the author of “The Mason Jar” and writes articles for “The Huffington Post.” James connects with readers at his blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective, and divides his time between Southern California and his family’s ranch in Alabama.
Find out more about James Russell at http://www.jamesrussell.org.
THE MASON JAR Kindle Fire Giveaway from @JRLingerfelt!
James Russell Lingerfelt‘s debut novel, The Mason Jar, is hot-off-the-press and causing quite the buzz. It’s even been optioned for a feature film and is in pre-production.
Catch the spark by entering James’ Kindle Fire giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 19th. Winner will be announced October 20th at James Russell’s blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective.
