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    Solomon's Oak: A Novel
    Solomon's Oak: A Novel
    Solomon's Oak: A Novel
    Audiobook10 hours

    Solomon's Oak: A Novel

    Written by Jo-Ann Mapson

    Narrated by Emily Durante

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Glory Solomon, a young widow, holds tight to her memories while she struggles to hold on to her Central California farm. She makes ends meet by hosting weddings in the chapel her husband had built under their two-hundred-year-old white oak tree, known locally as Solomon's Oak.

    Fourteen-year-old Juniper McGuire is the lone survivor of a family decimated by her sister's disappearance. She arrives on Glory's doorstep, pierced, tattooed, angry, and homeless. When Glory's husband, Dan, was alive, they took in foster children, but Juniper may be more than she can handle alone.

    Joseph Vigil is a former Albuquerque police officer and crime lab photographer who was shot during a meth lab bust that took the life of his best friend. Now disabled and in constant pain, he arrives in California to fulfill his dream of photographing the state's giant trees, including Solomon's Oak.

    In Jo-Ann Mapson's deeply felt, wise, and gritty novel, these three broken souls will find in each other an unexpected comfort, the bond of friendship, and a second chance to see the miracles of everyday life.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateOct 12, 2010
    ISBN9781400188994
    Author

    Jo-Ann Mapson

    Jo-Ann Mapson, a third generation Californian, grew up in Fullerton as a middle child with four siblings. She dropped out of college to marry, but later finished a creative writing degree at California State University, Long Beach. Following her son's birth in 1978, Mapson worked an assortment of odd jobs teaching horseback riding, cleaning houses, typing resumes, and working retail. After earning a graduate degree from Vermont College's low residency program, she taught at Orange Coast College for six years before turning to full-time writing in 1996. Mapson is the author of the acclaimed novels Shadow Ranch, Blue Rodeo, Hank Chloe, and Loving Chloe."The land is as much a character as the people," Mapson has said. Whether writing about the stark beauty of a California canyon or the poverty of an Arizona reservation, Mapson's landscapes are imbued with life. Setting her fiction in the Southwest, Mapson writes about a region that she knows well; after growing up in California and living for a time in Arizona and New Mexico, Mapson lives today in Cosa Mesa, California. She attributes her focus on setting to the influence of Wallace Stegner.Like many of her characters, Mapson has ridden horses since she was a child. She owns a 35-year-old Appaloosa and has said that she learned about writing from learning to jump her horse, Tonto. "I realized," she said, "that the same thing that had been wrong with my riding was the same thing that had been wrong with my writing. In riding there is a term called `the moment of suspension,' when you're over the fence, just hanging in the air. I had to give myself up to it, let go, trust the motion. Once I got that right, everything fell into place."

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    Reviews for Solomon's Oak

    4/5

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    • 5/5
      "The chapel had been Dan's final project. One summer morning over his oatmeal he'd said, "I've got a bug to build myself a chapel. Nothing fancy, just a place to worship out of the rain." Page 9 Thanksgiving day, the oldest white oak tree on the Solomon property, a chapel built by Dan Solomon, a wedding, and now a foster child dealing with grief just like Glory Solomon.Glory had to do something since Dan died...her savings was gone, and her part-time job didn't really pay the bills. One day she was asked/begged if a wedding and a reception could be held in the chapel that Dan had built. Glory hesitated and then decided the $3,000 she would get would definitely help pay the bills that were mounting. The wedding party wanted a Thanksgiving dinner and also a reception with a pirate theme and a sword fight. The wedding was a huge success and brought a few surprises as well.....a former policeman who happened to be photographing the oak tree and a new foster child that unknown to Glory had some connection to her family dog. The connection was too close to home, and Juniper wasn't going to be too bad to have around or so she thought, so Glory told Caroline she would keep the new foster child. Joseph the policeman was also pretty interesting...his grandmother had lived a few miles down the road from Glory when Joseph was a child, and he remembered the oak trees of California and especially the one on the Solomon property. Solomon's Oak told the life stories of the three main characters who definitely fit and worked well together even though the connection was through their misfortunes. The book was a cozy read for me...family life, real-life situations, talents we all have hiding inside and waiting to emerge, and just plain heartfelt warmth in the book. You will fall in love with Glory, Juniper will drive you crazy, and Joseph's patience will amaze you. Enjoy the book....I definitely did. Solomon’s Oak was very touching….it will make you smile, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will restore your faith in mankind’s goodness. 5/5
    • 4/5
      Solomon's Oak by Jo-Ann Mapson is a story about three people trying to find their way after loss. There was much that I liked about the novel, but there just seemed to be something missing.Glory Solomon, suffering from the loss of her beloved husband, took in a troubled foster child, Juniper. Glory was trying her best. She was working hard to make ends meet and trying to build a wedding business. When asked to take in a foster child, as she and her former husband had done in the past, Glory adamantly refused, but decided to take her for one night until the social worker could place her with an appropriate family. Despite a disastrous night together, Glory changed her mind and decided to keep Juniper.It was a great premise. However, the ultimate decision for Juniper to stay with Glory didn't ring true, nor did the fact that Juniper started to call Glory "mom" almost immediately. I am glad that the author did not make Juniper an easy child; she had been through so much in her short life that it would be unbelievable if Juniper didn't have problems. Juniper's sister, Casey, had disappeared when she was walking the dog years ago and was never found. Her family fell apart, and Juniper was abandoned and left on her own. I wish I could have grown to like the character of Juniper more. I felt for this teenager, but the story didn't draw out the heartfelt compassion that the character deserved. On the other hand, I loved the scenes in the books with the rescued dogs and Glory's interaction with them. There was something true and touching about them.Joseph Vigil was a former police officer recovering from a gunshot wound that incapacitated him. He lived with pain on a daily basis, his physical pain and the loss of loved ones. He had fond memories of the area growing up when he visited his grandmother, and he was there for a short time as a respite from life. Joseph was taking pictures of nature, in particular trees, one being Solomon's Oak, a tree defying all odds, that grew on Glory Solomon's property. Joseph's interactions with Juniper were much more realistic and believable. However, Juniper getting home-tutored by Joseph was a little too much to be believed.In my interpretation, Solomon's Oak represented all three of these characters. Despite the odds being against them, the characters were moving forward and getting stronger with time.I will definitely read the sequel Finding Casey.
    • 3/5
      I'm torn about this review. The writing is very evocative of the dry land that can still pull at your heart and community of people who live not-so-close to each other physically but beside you in a moment if you need them. (This book is set about an hour from my home, in an area I travel fairly frequently.) The characters are likable in their imperfect ways, and I was very interested in what would happen to them. I couldn't read to the end, though, because the writing was too slow. The pace was perfect was when the Glory and her foster daughter, Juniper, were on the page, but lagged when one was not there. I recommend the book, particularly to anyone who lives near me, as you may be a less impatient reader than I am!
    • 4/5
      The story unfolds slowly, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing how their lives would impact each other's.
    • 5/5
      Love everything by Joann Mapson and her newest book did not disappoint! Looking forward to the next one by this author.
    • 5/5
      This is one of those books that I have had in my 'to-read pile' for quite some time. Whenever I pick up a book and it is so good, I always wonder what the heck took me so long to read it in the first place. This was one of those books. However long it may have been, I devoured it in a short amount of time because I just couldn't get enough of the story enclosed within Solomon's Oak by Jo-Ann Mapson.I was initially drawn to this book because it was set in California. Living there, I love to read books set in locations I know. Set in Central California on a family farm, the location was as much of a character as the people who lived there. Glory is the owner of Solomon's Oak. When the story opens, Glory has recently lost her husband and is having a hard time making her way through all of the grief. One thing she knows she needs to do is keep her farm and her animals alive, and if she is going to do that then she needs to work. She decides that perhaps Solomon's Oak could be a wedding venue. On the day of her first wedding at her home, her friend who works to place foster children calls her with a special case. Glory and her husband used to take in fosters all the time but Glory doesn't feel like this is something she can do alone. However, eventually she is persuaded to take in this teenage girl, Juniper. Without giving anything away, you soon learn that Juniper and Glory have a past and Juniper's placement is definitely meant to be.We also meet Joseph at this first wedding. He is on the property taking photos of the farm's namesake, Solomon's Oak, a white oak that is highly unusual in that location. A former cop, when Joseph's sees a scuffle breakout at the wedding he tries to intervene, throwing him into Glory and Juniper's life.What is hard to explain about this book is how these three characters all tug at your heartstrings and you want to keep reading to learn how they will all survive, because Glory, Juniper, and Joseph are all broken and need each other. It's not a book that will make you cry but it is a book that will make you think and love the ones near you even more. You will not be disappointed if you pick this book up and I am looking forward to reading more by Mapson.
    • 5/5
      Glory Solomon, a young widow, holds tight to her memories while she struggles to hold on to her central California farm. She makes ends meet by hosting weddings in the chapel her husband built under their two-hundred-year-old white oak tree, known locally as Solomon's Oak. Fourteen-year-old Juniper McGuire is the lone survivor of a family decimated by her sister's disappearance. She arrives on Glory's doorstep pierced, tattooed, angry, and homeless. When Glory's husband, Dan, was alive, they took in foster children, but Juniper may be more than she can handle alone. Joseph Vigil is a former Albuquerque police officer and crime lab photographer who was shot during a meth lab bust that took the life of his best friend. Now disabled and in constant pain, he arrives in California to fulfill his dream of photographing the state's giant trees, including Solomon's Oak.
    • 4/5
      Good story of 3 people hurting from different losses who find peace as a family
    • 4/5
      I'm guessing the publisher/pr firm was trying to get more buzz about this book since I received it over a year after it came out. It finally may its way to the top of my to-read pile and I am certainly happy it did. I have never read a book by Mapson, but I plan to add a couple of hers to my list. This story reminded me a bit of THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS because of the way it involved a women who was hurting and a foster child needing to be loved. But, beyond the foster child story, were so many pieces to the lives of these characters that you were rooting for them from the very beginning...even without knowing the whole story. Grief, anger, hope, family dynamics, friendship, love, photography, nature, and animals are just a few of the tags that could be attached to this novel. This novel is also rich with book club discussion topics. Mapson wrote so beautifully that it was almost poetic at times. Places were so descriptive that I could imagine them. The character's faces appeared in my mind and I could smell the food that was being made. I appreciated the honest way the author gave the character's feelings. My heart ached for them as I turned the pages, but I still believed there was hope for them. My most favorite part of the whole story was when Glory finally calls her sister, Halle for help. Even though their relationship was contentious and difficult, Glory swallowed her pride and called her sister. Halle, didn't even blink an eye and came immediately to her aid. That's was love is all about. Even though the story drug a bit in the middle, I was interested enough to keep reading. The long chapters also made the pace of the novel move a little slower for me. Sometimes the story was held up a bit by the descriptions. But, I hated to see it end. I'd loved to hear more about the lives of Glory, Juniper, and Joseph.
    • 4/5
      I won this book through LT Early Reviewers,This book has been very difficult to review. My thoughts about it continue to change even now having completed it over a month ago. While this book does start out a bit slow, it really does grab on to you. It took me a while to warm up to Glory. She is not the most likable character, but as time went on, I did find her to be more enjoyable. It seemed as if the author wanted her to be humble and kind, but I am not so sure. She seemed to be forced into that identity by her husband. She was just along for the ride. Juniper, who should have been the most unlikable, ended up being the one with the biggest heart. Her actions may often be wrong, but she seems to do them for the right reasons. The end result is touching but not deeply moving. I felt as if some areas that began to be addressed were left hanging.
    • 4/5
      'Solomon's Oak' is a quietly memorable, moving novel featuring very ordinary people struggling to deal with love and loss in the midst of daily life. Glory is a young widow trying to cope with the demands of farm living after the sudden death of her husband; Juniper is a teen foster child grieving not only for a missing sister but for the subsequent loss of her own childhood; and Joseph is a wounded ex-cop, trying to find a new place for himself in the world after losing his careers, his wife and his partner all in a short span of time. With these sad characters, the book certainly might have taken a maudlin and depressing turn - instead, Mapson manages to capture the small joys and the laugh-out-loud moments that make a life, handling tragedy and hope with the same matter-of-fact approach. Though the story starts a little slowly, I suddenly found myself engrossed and finished the book in record time - I think Mapson's tale is delicately crafted and insightful, and highly recommend it as a story about real people and the real ways in which they move through their lives.
    • 4/5
      Solomon's Oak was a a surprisingly enjoyable read, wtih an unexpected depth to the characters. I was delighted by this tale of widowed Glory, orphaned Juniper, and injured Joseph as they try to build connected lives despite the tragic events in their pasts. There were some laugh out loud moments as well as episodes of heart-wrenching sadness, all deftly handled and none overplayed. Once I picked up the book and got started, I read through cover to cover. This lovely novel is a great way to spend a winter afternoon and will definitely have me looking for more works by this talented author.
    • 4/5
      "Solomon's Oak" is a pleasant story of love, loss, and the lesson that life goes on. Glory Solomon is a young widow trying to make ends meet after the untimely death of her husband. She surrounds herself with animals (dogs, horses, goats, chickens) to fill the void and keep a barrier between herself and other humans. Until two strangers enter her life on the same day, altering her path completely. Juniper McGuire is Glory's foster daughter. At the age of 14, she has survived the abduction and probable death of her sister, her mother's death by overdose, and abandonment by her father. Joseph Vigil is an ex cop whose wife left him and whose partner died. As the story unfolds, their lives become intertwined and each heals the other.Jo-Ann Mapson's story telling is fluid and extremely readable. The three main characters are thoughtfully developed. Good, quick read.
    • 4/5
      I already liked Jo-Ann Mapson so it wasn't a surprise that I enjoyed this book. Her characters are always so vivid and absolutely captivating. I fell in love with the main characters Glory, Joseph, and Juniper. The story is essentially about three grieving people becoming an unlikely family. I loved reading about Glory's farm, the chapel, and the oak tree. I believed that an angry, broken teenage girl could heal there. I also loved the idea of Glory starting a wedding business on her property. It was an interesting addition to the story. I would definitely recommend this book.
    • 4/5
      Solomon’s Oak is a lovely novel of three wounded people who find each other. Glory is a recent widow in her late 30’s that is trying to keep her head above water financially while also feeling buried by grief. Juniper is a fourteen year old who has been abandoned by her father after losing both her mother and sister. She is in foster care and living with Glory. Joseph is a wounded former police officer who is trying to recover from a horrific injury. The three find each other and form a type of family. The story is moving, frustrating, and terribly realistic. It takes place somewhat locally and it’s fun to read about places I know of and that are part of my community. I can’t say that I love the story or was blown away, but I will say that it’s good. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s slow moving and emotional which can be frustrating for me if I’m not in the right mood! I do recommend this book though. The characters will stay with you.
    • 4/5
      This book is a great read if you are looking to read something laid back. It took awhile for me to get into the book but once I got into it I got attached to the characters and wanted to see what would happen to them. The book addresses a lot of issues that could have been explored a little more and perhaps made the book more intense.
    • 5/5
      Glory Solomon, recently widowed, takes in a foster daughter, Juniper. Inadvertently, she begins to host and cater for weddings on her farm as a source of income. The title of the book is taken from the large, very old white oak tree that grows on Glory's farm. It is very unusual, so many people come to see, draw and photograph it. Joseph Vigil, a wounded ex-cop, comes to photograph the tree and ends up taking photographs of a wedding being held at the farm. Friendship forms between Glory, Juniper and Joseph. None of these characters have had easy lives up this point and all of them have baggage but somehow the relationships between the three of them begin to flourish. This book is beautifully written with a lot of symbolism to be savoured by the reader. It would make an excellent book club read.
    • 4/5
      I received this book through the Early Reviewers program and it sat on my coffee table for a few weeks. I finally picked it up after I had read through my Kindle stash and boy was I sorry I hadn't done that earlier. I *really* enjoyed Soloman's Oak. I'm feeling a glom coming on for Jo-Ann Mapson's backlist. This was a great story, not all hearts and flowers but very interesting. I liked the California history tied into the story as well as the New Mexico angle. She reminds me a lot of Barbara O'Neal who is another of my favorite authors. If you like Barbara O'Neal you'll be sure to enjoy this book. Mapson also has a lot about dogs in this novel and how funny, quirky, frustrating and smart they can be. Definitely a keeper!
    • 5/5
      Usually, I don’t jump right into my reviews, but Solomon’s Oak by Jo-Ann Mapson was so compelling that I feel like I need to get right down to it today. I was lucky enough to snag a copy of this from an early review program, which is odd because this book actually came out in hardback in 2010 and is available on Amazon.com for a bargain price right now! Frankly, I’m shocked that the price was lowered because this was one of my favorite reads this year.Solomon’s Oak introduces us to Glory, a newly widowed woman who is still grieving for her husband and desperately trying to make ends meet. When the local social worker comes calling and asks her to take on a new foster child, something Glory and her late husband had frequently done with open arms, Glory isn’t sure that she has it in her to help Juniper through her adolescent issues. With the help of Joseph, an out-of-towner who has some issues of his own, Glory and Juniper discover that family is often who you make it.This book has a lot of backstory for each character and that makes it a fascinating read. Almost all of the characters have some sort of dynamic movement throughout the novel, including the minor characters. Sometimes when an author goes that route the book because a busy mish-mash of too many spoons in the soup. However, Solomon’s Oak is written with a perfect, delicate balance that left me bouncing between the characters and while I was on one part of the story I found myself longing to know what another character was doing. Jo-Ann Mapson did a lovely job tying these characters together and really weaving a beautiful picture of what life is like for them.None of the stories are easy to read. The characters in this book are struggling to deal with issues that are real world issues. However, the empathy that Mapson allows the reader to feel is more than adequate to allow for a bonding between reader and character without making the book overly sappy or the characters overly pitiful or pathetic in their griefs.I think this is a lovely book that is worth a read. It may not be your favorite of the year, but you won’t forget it. You may find yourself wondering where the characters are heading and if they realize what they’ve gained in the process. It’s a nice journey.Edit: I received a free copy of this book in order to review it. Thank you for allowing me to share my opinions on it!
    • 4/5
      Here's the quick and dirty: Glory Solomon is a newly widowed woman trying to make ends meet on her California farm. After the sudden death of her beloved husband (from pneumonia) Glory finds herself at odds with the new life she must forge without him. She struggles to keep her life exactly the same: taking in last-chance dogs, fostering children, and managing the farm all while keeping her head above water. When a new foster child unlike any other enters her life Glory realizes life will never be the same. Everything about this book errs a little too much on the side of pleasant. I kept waiting for the trick, the edginess of each new situation to find it's way into the story, but it never came. Mapson opens the door to many ominous opportunities to make the story a little grittier but never actually steps through it. Juniper McGuire is described as angry and troubled yet I saw more flashes of kindness and happiness than teenager angst. For all that she had been through she really wasn't that bad of a kid. Then there's the budding relationship with damaged ex-cop Joseph. Glory's good friend growls to Joseph that he should "stay away" from the widow and yet that threat falls flat when he refuses to do so. The last quirk to Solomon's Oak is the narrative. Mapson does a great job with telling the story from a third party perspective but at the end she gives Juniper a voice allowing for an odd first person narrative. For the sake of consistency I wish Juniper had been allowed to tell her story all along.
    • 4/5
      Solomon's Oak is a beautiful story about three people, each hurting, who find each other. Glory is struggling with the sudden death of her husband. Juniper, a thirteen year-old foster child, had her sister disappear four years ago, her father desert her, and her mother commit suicide. Joseph is a wounded ex-police officer who is in extreme physical pain, and also is mourning the death of his ex-partner, who was shot in the same raid. Glory, very reluctantly, agrees to be Juniper's foster parent. Joseph walks into their lives when he comes to photograph an ancient oak tree, Solomon's Oak, on Glory's property. I loved all three characters. Good Book!
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. Three unlikely and broken people are able to come together and create a safe place for healing their souls. It is funny, touching and ultimately very satisfying. I also really liked the way the author used animals as part the emotional healing process for the characters. I look forward to reading more by this author. Highly recommended!
    • 5/5
      From start to finish Solomon’s Oak captured my attention. There is no explanation why an enormous 200 year oak tree stands on Glory’s property. Nature says that this oak could never survive on this land in these conditions. People come from far and wide to view this phenomenon. It’s been nearly a year since Glory’s husband, Dan, died. She thought that they had many years ahead of them. For twenty years, they shared a farm, fostered boys, rescued dogs, and trained them to prepare them for their new homes. Life without Dan, wasn’t the same. Glory now didn’t know where she belonged or what her purpose was.She now works part-time at Target. It wasn’t enough money to sustain her. Glory was approached by a couple that wanted to get married on her property and use the chapel that Dan had built. No one else would marry them. It would be a lot of work but there was $3,000 that would be coming her way.The morning of the wedding, Glory received a call from the social worker asking if she could open her home to Juniper McGuire, a 14 year old girl, for the day. They had always had boys and Dan was better with the foster kids than she was. Glory finally agreed saying that she would be busy with the wedding and would have to put the girl to work and the next day Juniper is to be picked up.Juniper was abandoned by her father, after her older sister went missing and Juniper’s mother had died. She has a tattoo and many piercings. She is cold and distant.,This wedding was like no other Glory had ever experienced. The theme was “pirates”. There was going to be sword fights and such but it was all in fun and it was promised that no one was going to get hurt. Photographer, Joseph Vigil, ex- cop, who is in town for four months, staying at his family’s old cottage, before it will be demolished is spending time away from his usual life to be alone with his grief. Joseph’s friend, also a cop, had recently died from a bullet wound. Joseph was photographing the oak tree when he saw someone pull out a gun. Joseph did what came natural to him and pulled out his gun. Fortunately, the first gun was part of the the "pirate" act.That is where the story really begins. Glory accepts Juniper into her home while having a difficult time dealing with the issues that develop. She knows that Dan would have done things differently and would have Juniper behaving better. Juniper gets into fights at school and soon Joseph becomes her home-school teacher. All the character’s play a role in each other’s lives. We start to know and understand the characters. They are likeable and real to life. Slowly, they grow attached and learn to put their trust in one another. The three bond with each other in different ways. Each has their grief to deal with. We learn of their struggles and how each copes with their loss. It isn’t always easy. Sometimes there are no answers. The animals that are portrayed in this story have their own characteristics. They play a big role in the healing and the bonding. They keep humans focused and busy. This book is meant to be read while sitting in a comfortable chair in a cozy place. I felt this book was made just for me. The more I read the more I loved it. There was so much I could relate to. This book had it all. I learned about cooking, horses, dog training, goats, seals, Spanish California and Columbia. Like the oak tree, we don’t know why it exists and how it got to be there for so many years. Solomon’s oak tree brought Glory, Juniper and Joseph together. They couldn’t have known it at the time, but they needed each other and over time grew strong roots that will sustain them for many years to come.It is a “feel good” book. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys getting your heart involved in a book.
    • 4/5
      I really like this book. I found the characters so likeable, especially Juniper and Glory. The story is a bit predictable, but Mapson is a good story teller. This is just a "feel-good" story which is nice to read once in awhile. Glory's "closet time" was unusal, it is always interesting to read how people deal with grief. It is also interesting how the dog rescue, the photography, the unusual weddings all tie together the theme of family and personal survival. I did find it to get too preachy at some points, but if you can overlook that and get into the story it is worth reading.
    • 4/5
      Another great read from Ms Mapson. 3 people with deep emotional hurts come together by chance and manage to overcome the past and build a life together. Juniper draws you into the story and never lets you go even with the last page. Highly recommend.
    • 5/5
      Glory Solomon has lost her husband Dan after and unexpected illness and she is unsure what the future will hold and how she will live through the grief.Joseph Vigil has to learn to live with a debilitating injury that has changed his way of life and his future.Juniper McGuire just wants a forever home. One that finally makes her feel safe, secure and loved.On Glory's farm where the only known White Oak in California has stood for over 200 years these three lost souls are brought together and through the good times and the bad they become family.I found myself invested in these characters. All three were written in a plausible way and could be your next door neighbor. The story unfolded in a comfortable, easy pace and flowed really well. I think this book would be a good read for those liking happy endings, interested in foster care, dealing with the loss of a love one or someone who just needs a good book to read. I didn't agree with another reviewer who thought there was a religious undertone. To me the story had a little bit of everything and never dwelt on any one belief other than the human need to be loved.
    • 2/5
      Meh. First of all, there was an undertone of religion in this book that I simply didn't appreciate. I'd prefer to know beforehand if I'm reading an underhanded "come to God" sort of book.With that out of the way, I did finish this book. I admit that I found the relationship between Juniper and Glory and the dogs fascinating. Too bad the thing with Joseph was so lame and predictable (predictable isn't always bad, but lame and predictable is always bad), and the ending was definitely unsatisfying, which is odd, considering it ends pretty much the way you expect it to.Not something I'll ever recommend.
    • 3/5
      Each of the three main characters has lost someone and something of themselves when events bring them together. In her late 30s, Glory is grieving over her husband's death one year before Solomon's Oak begins. Juniper, a troubled teen in foster care, continues to struggle with the disappearance/murder of her only sister several years earlier. Former detective turned forensic lab technician, Joseph Vigil is forced to live with excruciating pain from wounds sustained at the same crime scene where his best friend/partner died. Solomon's Oak, the hundred year old tree on Gloria's property stands for surviving life's storms without being uprooted.Ms Mapson succeeds in bringing Glory and Juniper to life: at times bitchy and bitter, then forgiving and funny, these are two real women at liminal points in their lives. With Joseph the author seems to dip into wishful thinking-- good looks, charming character AND culinary expertise!Lots of fun, touching moments and animal-handling info with the dogs and horses--you can tell they're Ms Mapson's passion. Throw in a pirate wedding, an unsolved murder and a nosy Latina restaurant owner and you've got an idea of the off-beat delights Solomon's Oak has in store for you. This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.7 out of 10 for a nice read.
    • 4/5
      Glory Solomon is trying to recover from her husband's death. She has inherited a farm with a magnificent oak tree that people come from miles away to see. She rescues abused dogs and horses, and is even persuaded to take in a foster child, a girl named Juniper. In order to make ends meet, she begins a business organizing weddings in the chapel her husband built. Ultimately she is able to create a new life for herself with Juniper and Joseph, a retired policeman visiting the area. I was most impressed with the realistic way that Glory's interaction with her animals was presented and with the descriptions of the natural world of the farm. There is a naturalness to the way relationships developed among the characters. Each of them has strengths and weaknesses; none of them is perfect. But they value each other and work toward understanding. Animals and people are portrayed in warm, realistic terms and the physical world is beautifully described.
    • 4/5
      Another beautiful novel by Jo-Ann Mapson surrounding Glory, a heart-broken young widow; Juniper, her defiant foster-daughter who is consumed with sarcasm, fighting, and finding her missing sister; and Joseph, a former policeman with a hard past. The three could just wallow in their pain, but instead they use one another to grow and heal. A really great novel. Her use of imagery makes me really hope that such a place exists, because I want to live there.