Monday, May 16, 2022

Presence

About the Book

Book: Presence-The Story of Adel

Author: Lana Wetzel

Genre: Inspirational Fiction/Women’s Fiction/Religious Romance

Release date: April 27, 2021

presence-ebook-cover.bf81f7d9 Adel Davis knows something has to change. Living with her parents after her husband left isn’t working out, especially where her son Noah is concerned. Ever since he arrived eight months earlier, Adel has been longing for space and independence. She longs for the family that God has written on her heart.

When Adel learns that she has inherited her grandparents’ old apple orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, she knows exactly what she wants to do. She and Noah leave her parents’ home in San Francisco to discover a new life at Sweet Valley Farms.

What will she find when she gets there? Will living alone on a rural apple farm be more than Adel can bear? What about the attention she begins to receive from a few local men? As Adel learns what it means to run the orchard, she also discovers what it means to have a people, a place, and a home. A girl can start a new life; she just can’t do it alone.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

option2 As a writer of inspirational fiction and singer/songwriter, Lana offers a unique gift in service to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Characterized by her experiences growing up in rural Northeast Georgia and now as a wife and homeschool mother of four, her works reflect an honesty and a gentle natural beauty that is often missed and sorely needed in a culture saturated with transient entertainment and consumerism. Whether making meals, lesson plans, story arcs, or song lyrics, Lana is listening for the still quiet Voice to draw her nearer to where even messiness and failure can become a redeemed work of art.

More from Lana

When the pace of life is set at break-neck speed and the pressure is on to sacrifice self and family for the sake of achievement, I find joy in writing stories that show a hint of something else: something simpler, something slower. A world where people stop and get to know one another (and themselves). A world where people literally “stop to smell the roses”. Where they hear the birds sing and notice the flowers bloom in the springtime. A world where family and friends and place matter. Where traditions yield comfort and joy. Where home means more than just a house you return to at the end of a long day. Where delight and wonder can be found in the commonplace of everyday life. Where friendships flourish and love blossoms. A place where life happens, and it’s never boring!

In “Presence – The Story of Adel”, Doris Jones takes Adel under her wing and teaches her about life. One of the special memories they share is making blueberry muffins together. Here’s the recipe:

Doris’ Blueberry Muffins:

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

½ cup milk

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 ½ cups blueberries, fresh or frozen

2 Tbsp. sugar (for sprinkling on top)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Gently blend in the milk. In a separate bowl: mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add blueberries and stir only until well dusted. Fold the flour mixture into the sugar mixture with a spoon and place into muffin cups or a well-greased muffin tin. Bake 10 minutes then sprinkle extra sugar over the tops. Bake 10 more minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

MY REVIEW

This story drew me in when Adel talks about her grandparent’s farm. When I was growing up, every summer my family would travel to Oklahoma. We would stay at my grandparent’s farm for two weeks. It was the happiest time I had during my childhood. My granddad and I were very close. He would sit with me on the front porch and entertain me with stories till supper time. I loved the relationship Adel had with her grandparents and how she came to inherit their apple orchard.

What a brave move Adel made when she packed up her car, her baby Noah and set out to live at the place that once was a childhood memory. I would be very nervous doing this on my own, but I admire her determination to start a new life for herself as well as her son. As her new journey begins what lays ahead will be a test of her faith. With her hesitance to grow, I wonder if she was really prepared emotionally.

I liked the story and especially getting to know Nathan. He is such a nice and humble man. He is a hard worker and has no problem helping Adel out as she adjusts to her surroundings. I do feel like the author didn’t quite give us enough to connect with him though. He was always available but never really had any deep thoughts or took enough initiative to pursue Adel till almost to the end of the story. He mostly was just there in the background observing more than being part of the situation.

The author does give us a great character by the name of Doris. Oh my what a sweet lady. She becomes a big help to Adel and is always giving sound advice. I loved how she went to several houses and brought food to those in need. Her compassion was felt through the pages as she cared for others who needed a friend. I was encouraged by her to seek out people in my neighborhood who were lonely and needed someone to visit them. Doris is someone who I would welcome as a friend and feel comfortable talking to. She does help Adel understand that it is okay to ask for help and to trust God with her life.

The ending did seem a little rushed and I really wanted to see Adel become more independent and confident. She didn’t try very hard to do things on her own but then I remembered her relationship with her mother. All her life she has felt smothered by her mother and always had things done for her. No wonder she didn’t really know what to do once she moved to her grandparents place. I wish the author would have spent mote tine on this relationship and showed us about reconciliation. I liked the book and it had good lessons in it, but I wanted more depth and not such a predictable outcome.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.