Look, anyone who knows me knows that I’m a very frank person.  I say what I think.  I try to do it kindly, but I rarely mince words.  Don’t ask my opinion if you don’t want it.  No.  Really.

Note: links in this post are likely affiliate links and will provide me with a small commission at no extra cost for you.

What does that have to do with a book review? Glad you asked. Something odd happened to me in 2016. I read lots of books by lots of authors (including my new favorite author), and my favorite book was a little novella by a first-time author. The fact that I’ve known this woman for over fifteen years (EEEP!) is irrelevant.  I didn’t have to say it was my favorite.  Another of my friends, someone I see EVERY week, also published her debut novel. While it was one of my favorites (and I suspect her second may be my absolute favorite of 2017), Snow Angels by Cathe Swanson was definitely my favorite.

Confession time.

I was nervous about number two.  Did I think it would be garbage? Of course, not!  I know Cathe, and I know the work and dedication she puts into everything.  The woman makes perfectionists look lazy. A retired homeschool mom of three boys, this woman could scare drill sergeants into compliance if she needed to.  Not bad for the sweet, soft-spoken woman in the videos with me.  Here’s one just in case you need proof.

 

But I’d seen the original version of the story, and well… it was on of the first things she wrote. I’d read other first things, but only tiny snippets of this.  I was concerned.  Not because it was going to be just worthless. THAT would never happen.  But because coming after something so fresh and new as Snow Angels, I feared it might not be as good. And it needed to be.  I never told her that.  She put enough pressure on herself.  So, I waited.  And I prayed.  And I chewed off my nails.  One. By. One.

Stupid me.

My review of Baggage Claim

Cathe Swanson has done it again. In Baggage Claim, you’ll find fun, unique characters in interesting settings and with enough twists and turns to keep you from predicting every next move.

One of my favorite parts of this book is how she used every component of the story in a fresh way. We have a single dad.  But his story isn’t your typical father that we’ve seen a million times. You have someone searching for biological parents, but this isn’t a Hallmark moment, folks. I guarantee they don’t and won’t ever make a card for this moment! Deadbeat dad?  Yep.  Almost won’t recognize him, though!  Battered wife?  Yep!  Sheltered homeschool girl?

Seriously, folks.  That one right there is worth reading the book for all by itself. This sheltered girl can babysit my kids ANY day.

You get introduced to the unique folks up in the Upper Peninsula, travel the freeways of Chicago, and if that’s not enough for you, fine. How about a trip to Disney World?

If you love real kids with interesting, if not sparkling, personalities, flawed humans struggling to make it in a flawed world, Christians leaning more on Jesus every day, and enough suspense to make the book exciting without being a full-on, edge-of-your-seat joy ride, I’d say Baggage Claim is for you!

So far, it’s holding strong for my favorite book of 2017.

Then again, it’s only February.  😉

My only complaint?  Having to wait for the next book. Seriously.  It was just that good.

Cathe?  I’m stinkin’ proud of you.  You set out to “do this writing thing” and voila.  You did.  And, as with everything you do, you did it with pure excellence.

Congratulations on another amazing release!  

Now get cracking. I need to know if I have to chew off my fingernails for Phoebe or not.

Want to win a copy of Baggage Claim?  Tell me if you read Snow Angels!  (Psst… if you didn’t, you should!)  But remember, this is still the pre-order price.  On 2-15-17, it goes up to 5.99, so you might not want to wait.