river's Call is the second book in this series. It continues with the story of Anna. She continues to live on the river and opens a very successful Inn. Her daughter Lauren, is in a difficult, forced marriage and is not a good mother to her daughter Sarah. Sarah grows up strong with the love of her gramma Anna. She has the soul of Gramma Pearl, a Siuslaw Indian and anna's gramma. This series is a must read! ( )

Like almost all the other books that I read, I came across this one while I was putting books away at work. I wasn’t familiar with Ms. Carlson’s work, but the cover looked interesting and I’m a fan of other books by her publisher – Abigdon Press.

I was a bit worried that I might be missing something because this is the second book and I hadn’t read the first. I’m pleased to say that the only thing that I’m missed was having read a good book!

These are the stories of a family of very strong women who have faced a variety of challenges over time. Anna is our central character and I believe that the first book must be about her relationship with her mother (a Siuslaw Indian struggling with her heritage and identity).

In The River’s Call Anna’s rather immature young daughter finds herself pregnant and unmarried. Through the manipulation of her overbearing Grandmother (Eunice, Anna’s ex-mother in-law) she and the baby’s father are married – for all the wrong reasons. I’m not sure how Anna raised such a brat, but Lauren really isn’t anything like her mother! Much of the book centers on the struggles they all face while raising the youngest woman in the family, Sarah. There is much change and growth throughout the story, and I got a kick out of many of the references to the styles of the 60’s and 70’s. Remember avocado appliances??

I love that the river itself is a character in this book. I also enjoyed the references to the old healing ways and how the Inn became what we today would consider a retreat.

I found this to be an easy going book that depends on story telling and interesting characters instead of the sex and violence we see so often in today’s popular fiction. And, there are several library patrons that I know will enjoy this series. I’m looking forward to book 3, River’s End. ( )

Last year, I had the distinct pleasure of reading the first book in this wonderful series, River's Song. This year I was blessed with the opportunity to review the second book in this series, River's Call. It is a fantastic book!

Melody Carlson is a gifted writer and as I eagerly read this beautifully written story,The Inn at Shining Waters came to life for me. I felt the serenity of the river, heard the lapping of the water and sensed the peaceful blessings of nature that surrounds the inn.

I felt like I was visiting old friends and walking besides them as they lived their lives. I smiled, laughed, and cried my way through the story. It stirred my senses and captivated my heart. Even now I have a beaming smile and a warm glow inside that tells me how much I enjoyed this book!

I highly recommend this wonderful book!

Many thanks to Melody Carlson and to Glass Road Public Relations for the opportunity to review this book. My review is an honest reflection of my experience reading this book. ( )

The Shining Waters Inn offers its guests a place to relax, and find peace and healing beside the Siuslaw River. Now that it's gaining more popularity, Anna Larson is staying busier than ever before. Now that she and Clark are working full-time at expanding the Inn's lodging by building more cabins, she isn't prepared for the news that arrives during one late phone call from her daughter Lauren. She is sick and physically exhausted and needs her mom. When Anna sends for her daughter and offers her time to be cared for at the Inn, Lauren gratefully accepts.

However what was thought to be a severe case of the flu, turns out to be worse than anyone expected. Lauren's pregnant and the father, Donald Thomas has no idea. Now all Lauren can think of is how her college life is going to be ruined by her baby and considers abortion. Anna cringes at the thought but realizes she can only support her daughter, she can't make her do anything even if that goes against anything she believes.

Worse yet, when Donald does find out, he is already seeing another girl and doesn't know what to do. When Lauren's grandmother, Eunice finds out however, she figures she can manipulate everything so Lauren gets her way, marriage and happily ever after. But life doesn't always offer a happily ever after ending as soon everyone will find out as the river calls all of them back.

Melody Carlson once again has created a beautiful story of what forgiveness means through her second novel in the Inn at the Shining Waters series, River's Call. Even though it can be read alone, you will want to understand the story about Anna and Eunice which is revealed in more detail in the first book, River's Song. I received this book compliments of Glass Roads Public Relations for my honest review and wish there was really a Shining Waters Inn because this story is amazing. The healing and peace that just being at the Inn offers is such a wonderful way to draw the reader into the story of Lauren and the difficult relationship between her and Anna. I love the Native American references that appear all throughout the book as Anna's heritage is explored more in this book. I would easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and look forward to the next one, River's End due out soon! ( )

This is actually the second book in a trilogy. I read this book without having read the first. Anna Larson has made her home on the river and with the help of her husband has started a B&B type inn. The book takes place over a long time period beginning when her daughter Lauren drops out of college to marry the father of her child. Lauren and Anna have a difficult relationship and Anna rarely gets to see her granddaughter.

I did enjoy reading this book; however I felt that at times it skipped around too much. The author would jump ahead years into the future and then give detailed descriptions of certain slices of time. I found this a bit disjointed and would have preferred a smoother time line. I did feel that I knew enough about the characters without reading the first book and felt that it was a complete story without reading the rest of the trilogy. Overall, not a bad read. ( )