Monday, September 7, 2015

Lilacs For Juliana by Carrie Fancett Pagels Blog Hop!




I was lucky enough to read this sweet story, Lilacs For Juliana, a short novel by Carrie Fancett Pagels.  The author has written this through personal knowledge of her lumberjack ancestors and what better way to know the life they lead then to have stories passed down in your family.

I found myself attached to the character, Juliana, because she was a librarian.  This has been my occupation for 30 years while working at the Family History Library.

The story takes place in St. Ignace in the 1890's.  I love this time period, being a family historian, and so enjoyed reading this story.  Carrie has written two other books, The Fruitcake Challenge and The Lumberjack's Ball, both of which I had read earlier.  In these earlier books of the Christy Lumber Camp, we meet Richard "Moose" Christy and Juliana Beauchamps who are the main characters about whom this book revolves.  If you haven't read the first two books, you should definitely do so to find out all about the Christy family and the camp.  But you will still enjoy this book even without having read the earlier novels as Carrie carefully crafts the story in a way that it can stand alone.

As Moose discovers pretty Juliana, he immediately falls for her.  But he isn't the only one to have these feelings for her and he also feels a bit "out of her league" so to speak.  Moose is the epitome of Paul Bunyan, a woodsmen I grew up "knowing" well in school, having lived in Minnesota.

Juliana's job seems to be in jeopardy as a school administrator tries to find ways to have her removed from her librarian position, one she very much needs.

Richard Christy knows of Juliana's love of Lilacs and the sweet story revolves around her work at the library and her hopes for a wonderful future.  As you read the book, the author eloquently makes you feel you are in the woods, walking the paths her characters, too, are walking.  And smelling the wonderful scent of Lilacs!

Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels


Links to the other blogs in the blog hop are below!  Be in to win!!!  Stop by each link and leave a comment and your email address in a safe format!  You might be the winner of a KINDLE!  And a paperback copy will be given to a winner at each blog stop!  Carrie is Awesome!!

September 7th Heroes, Heroines and History
September 12th  Overcoming with God 
September 14th   BookBabble
September 16th   Cheryl B Book Blog
September 18th   D’s Quilts & Books
September 23rd  Sunnie Reviews
September 24th  Buzzing About Books
September 30th  Captive Dreams Windows
October 1st             Singing Librarian Books
October 5th            Perspectives by Nancee  
October 7th             Stuff and Nonsense
October 14th          Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
October 21st        Lane Hill House

Other books of this series by Carrie Fancett Pagels

40 comments:

  1. Thanks so much, Sonja! What a lovely post! I'm so glad you enjoyed Lilacs for Juliana. I pray your readers will be blessed by this book!

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  2. I wanted to be a Librarian when I was young! Moose sounds like an interesting fellow!
    Trisha B. d_stevens310 ATlive(d0t)com

    PS.. using my Mom's computer & account to follow the blog :)

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    1. Glad to see you liking a book I recommend :) It's one that will bless you!

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    2. Hey Deana, I worked in a library in college but my position was more of being a policeman type of person lol--I had to make sure students leaving the Whittier College library had actually checked out their books. The ladies I worked with were SO nice and encouraging to me. Thanks for coming by! Wait, this isn't Deanna? This is daughter? Nice to meet you!

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  3. I am so love reading other books you have written Carrie! I am sure this will be one of my favorites! Keep on writting! Loving it.

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    1. Hey Tina, I am so glad my writing is making you smile! Many blessings and thanks for your encouragement!

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    1. Joy, you are so sweet and such an encourager! I am glad you love my books! So glad you are now in my Pagels' Pals group! Blessings!

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  5. Love Carrie's books. Love Lilacs! Love the time period. what else can I say?? mochiato@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks so much! That makes me feel great to know you love my books! Blessings!

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  6. I worked at the Clarke Historical Library while I was in college. It was fascinating.

    Becky dbdempsey98(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. This does indeed look like a sweet story.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Some parts are not so sweet, but most of Lilacs for Juliana is! Blessings!

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  8. This sounds like a book I would enjoy!

    Gpk1946(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks, Phyllis! I hope you will get a chance to read Lilacs for Juliana very soon!!! Blessings!

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  9. Sonja, I loved your review. Very well done. And, love Carrie and her other books. Sure hope to win one of these. Thanks. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

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    1. Thanks so much, Maxie! I hope you will enjoy Lilacs for Juliana! Hugs!!!

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  10. I would love to read this book, sounds very interesting.
    lisaboeseshaems(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  11. I would love to read this book, sounds very interesting.
    lisaboeseshaems(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. I hope you will be reading Lilacs for Juliana very soon, Lisa! Bless

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  12. You have my dream job. I always thought it would be amazingto work in a library. I tend to haunt them instead. I visit my local library at least three times a week. They have a wonderful selection both in lending and books for sale for fund raising. :) Thank you for sharing!

    KellysShining(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. Thanks for writing such a great review. I do reviews also. Sometimes it can be difficult when trying to write a review that will draw readers to the book. You did a great job. I would love to read the book.
    Deana
    Jhdwayne@peoplepc.com

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    1. I have a blog and do reviews, too, Deana, and I appreciate all the effort it takes to do a review! Thanks for coming by!

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  14. Oh I am SO GLAD you found the Blog hop stops LISA. KELLY, and DEANA!!!

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  15. Love librarians. I think I would have enjoyed being one. I certainly like being IN the library! Congrats on the book, Carrie!
    lattebooksAThotmailDOTcom

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    1. Hi Susan! I got to be a Book Police at the library, Susan, and got to do a very little bit behind the desk during the holidays. The librarians were so nice to me! Blessings! TY!

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  16. Love librarians. I think I would have enjoyed being one. I certainly like being IN the library! Congrats on the book, Carrie!
    lattebooksAThotmailDOTcom

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    1. Me, too, Susan! I was a college library employee and that was a nice job to have. Thanks!

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  17. With each blog post and review, it makes me really want to add "Lilacs for Juliana" to the other two books I have! Sounds like a terrific story. It would be quite interesting for "Moose", a big lumberjack to fall in love with petite librarian Juliana! Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book. Loved the review :-)

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    1. Moose is a funny young man, Trixi. He's kind of quiet and kind of no nonsense. I had fun working with him. They all seem real to me! Blessings!

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  18. I'm thinking of becoming a Librarian part time when I retire, I'll probably be fired for just reading books though!

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  19. Librarians are the coolest! Carrie, thank you for this wonderful series!

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  20. I want to read the whole series

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  21. Enjoyed your review!I have always wanted to be an librarian.Just have health problems.jackie_tessnair@yahoo.com

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  22. Absolutely love this author! Great review! A librarian as a main character was a fantastic idea. I am one myself and I love it!

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  23. Such a sweet story, we need more uplifting surges like these!-:-)

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  24. I definitely applaud these sort of books! Such a sweet, heartfelt read! sabs[dot]joy[at]gmail[dot]com

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  26. You are right. Carrie is awesome. I realized I wanted to be a librarian when I was in Junior High. The closes I have come is a tape librarian in the Army and I finally created a library at our church. So I am now little librarian. oops fishingjan[at]aol[dot]com

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