Girls and Shoes

As you might imagine, it generally makes the most sense to read a series in order. When I requested Riley Mae and the Ready Eddy Rapids I didn't realize that it was the second book in a series. Thankfully it was provided for free for review by BookLook Bloggers, and I wanted it more for my daughter in the future than for myself. Having read and reviewed book 2, I decided to request book 1 recently. Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek by Jill Osborne provided some good background information on the characters that I had missed by reading the second book first. The story develops of a young girl whose father works in marketing for a shoe company. The girl, Riley Mae, ends up becoming the spokesgirl for a new line of shoes named after her. Shes learns some lessons in commitment and responsibility and deals with conflicting interests after signing a contract that takes precedence over softball.
I appreciate that each book of the series (at least the two I have read) has its own complete plot while there is also a plot that runs through them, giving them cohesion. I also appreciate some of the lessons that are demonstrated. One caution, however, is that there are several lies, or at least secrets in the book, some that are kept by Riley from her parents. While it is realistic that people hide things from each other, this is something certain parents might not want a book to suggest to their children.
Personally, I won't let that stop me from letting my daughter read this when she gets a little older (after she learns to read).
This book was also provided to me free for review by BookLook Bloggers.

Dealing With Guilt

We all make mistakes. Some seem bigger than others. Some remain in our memories longer. Others may be so bad that we block them out but deal with them subconsciously for a long time. In The Devil Walks In Mattingly author Billy Coffey deals with the issues of guilt and shame through a fictional tale of a small, secluded town. The story focuses on the sheriff of the town, whose shame has made him dead inside as he does all he can to maintain a put-together exterior. His wife, blaming herself for the same death as her husband, though neither knows it, tries to make up for her mistake by helping others. In this tale, this couple comes face to face with their past in a way that forces them to divulge the secrets they have tried to keep buried inside.
I enjoy a fiction novel that has a practical point to it. This novel has just that. While there seems to be a lack of clarity on some points about guilt and shame, the author does a good job of demonstrating the importance of honesty, both with yourself and others, particularly when dealing with guilt. The book seemed long and slow in getting to the point, but in a way, that enabled me to share the anxiety and awkwardness the characters felt as they found their way to the truth of the day that had changed their lives years ago.
I would recommend this book as an intriguing tale dealing with guilt. However, I would also add that it is in no way a comprehensive guide to dealing with guilt and shame.
I appreciate BookLook Bloggers for providing this book to me for review.