Elena's Song

byPeggy Stoks

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Mmmm. This was a great book! It's the final in a trilogy but each book stands alone. Reading this one made me want to go out and buy the other two in the series (Olivia's Touch and Romy's Walk).

The storytelling in this book is solid, engaging, real and propels the reader along from one page to another. I enjoyed guessing what it was in the two women's lives that was hinted at time and again throughout the story as they struggled to come to terms with their past choices and the consequences that they are forced to endure and find peace with. The author would cleverly hint at something so terrible that the character couldn't possibly mention it and I would be wracking my brain trying to figure out what it was that could be so horrible. While I may have guessed what it was that was haunting Elena, I was surprised by the parallel experiences of Elena and Jesse's mother, Frances, and thought it was a real and accurate presentation of the displacement of self-loathing to hatred for another. Without divulging any secrets of the story, I very much enjoyed the unconditional love theme evidenced by Jesse throughout the story. He was almost a saint - which would have been unbelievable - so I was glad to see him express some anger and real emotion near the end of the book when he finally discovers what it was that Elena was hiding from him for so long.

As for a weakness in the plot, I was a bit surprised and unconvinced that the debonair voice instructor would fall in love with Frances. I think a bit more detail about their love affair or past association may have made it a bit more believable for me. What exactly was it that he enjoyed about Frances?

The characterization was one of the strongest elements in this novel. They were real, hearty characters with a depth in them that made one respect them, each in their own way. The joyful spirit of Jesse's sister, Sara, lit the pages like the sun shining through a bank of clouds. She was pure sunshine and such an enjoyable character. The range of emotions experienced by Frances and the descriptions given of them was very powerful. I could easily have pictured this woman standing in my own kitchen or living room and felt the disdain and hatred she had for Elena as if it were a living and breathing entity. The pure evil and meanness of Elena's manager, Stephen Villard, makes you hate and fear him as much as Elena does. He is one you love to hate. Unfortunately, there is no redemption for him at the end of the story and I'm glad that the author didn't have him suddenly repenting of his ugliness as it would have seemed constrained.

This is really just a wonderful story of God's unconditional love and people trying to live out God's will in their broken and hurting lives. Go out and read this book this week - I'm certain you won't be disapointed!