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Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her published novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She edits, writes book reviews and interviews, and has penned dozens of feature newspaper stories, short stories, magazine articles and radio theater. She is the editor in chief of Creative Wisconsin magazine and of OtherSheep, a Christian sci fi/fantasy magazine. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer, a freelance editor, an editor at Port Yonder Press, a writing mentor, a hostess at Clash of the Titles.com, and enjoys blogging at theBarnDoor.net and ReflectionsinHindsight.wordpress.com. She loves to encourage new authors. Find her at LisaLickel.com.
Shellie Neumeier holds a degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a minor in Psychology, Sociology and Social Studies. A devoted mother of four, Shellie previously worked on staff with Northbrook Church as the King’s Kids ministry assistant (serving children in grades 2nd through 5th). Shellie’s YA novel, Driven (Risen Fiction), The Wishing Ring (tween fantasy novella, published through MuseItYoung) and A Summer in Oakville (Black Lyon Publising) are available online and at your local bookstores. She is an active member of ACFW as well as a contributing author for various blogs. Find her at shellieneumeier.com.
Reviewed by Lynn Fowlston for Readers' Favorite
"A Summer in Oakville" by Lisa J. Lickel and Shellie Neumeier is a novel of four family members and how their lives become connected during one summer. Tessa Murphy, her daughter Lindsay, her brother Art and his son Andy make up the main characters of the story with a great secondary cast of characters that lend credence to the plot. When Tessa’s husband gets a promotion in his job that means they need to move to the west coast but Tessa refuses to leave Oakville, Wisconsin. With her mother and father still on the family farm, she soon learns that not all is going well at all with them prosperity wise. As she plans to help she soon discovers that her husband has almost wiped out their savings/checking account. When a stranger in town approaches Tessa she soon learns that a past can return. When her daughter Lindsay returns from college and starts looking for a job she plans on living with her grandparents instead of her mother. In reality she does not know the situation her parents or grandparents are in. When Andy is being a little rebellious grieving over the death of his mother, his father sends him home to the farm but then returns when he finds his son in trouble there also. This summer became a source for healing, forgiveness and second chances.
"A Summer In Oakville" was an enjoyable read. Each of the four characters had an amazing story of their very own. Throughout the book there are many issues that are common in families today. I think the two authors writing the book together have done a fabulous job of portraying the lives of these 4 main characters together. As far as the secondary characters go, I really liked Tessa’s mother and father. Their pride kept them from asking for help even though it might cost them their farm and livelihood. The book was well organized. Even though their lives were connected the stories are told individually Each tale shares how they all returned to their source of pain to eventually find healing. This book will grab you right from the beginning and hold your attention to the end. It is well written and I will enjoy reading it again. Recommended for all ages.
