A sweet and powerful story.
926837
The author does a magical job of transporting the reader to a place and time foreign to most people. Giving a glimpse of what Jerusalem must have been like in the throws of war. A simple love story of two star crossed lovers separated by time, religion and politics. I was pleased to read her implied assertion that most people in the Middle East seem only to want peace. I enjoyed the read.
3964255
I loved the thoughtful and gentle handling of the characters.  The frailties of each person were not judged; just presented with kindness and understanding. This story touches my heart and is personal.
3634237
This is a sweet, tender story which grapped my interest from the first few words. Sometimes it is relaxing just to read a gentle story with a happy ending.
72136
This is a sweet Story with a great Christmas message. At first I wondered at how a story about a lady who just got out of prison would turn into a sweet Christmas message/ story, but it does a very good job. A magical job.  Enjoy this book.
2180404
A sweet read with a simple powerful message.  One well worth sharing and doing.  It is not just for graduates.
1307202
Very sweet story with believable characters to care about.
19211
This is a tender, but powerful, story about life and how one's challenges and experiences determine one's character.  The author's excellent development and depiction of each character allows the reader to really know and understand each person in the story. The book was an easy, enjoyable read, but the story contained many complex lessons about life.
2323617
A sweet little story with a much deeper message. A little girl adopts a forlorn Christmas tree the day after Christmas and from there, lessons in loyalty, faith, and giving and receiving love work their magic. Don't be fooled by "Christmas" in the title. Of course it's a Christmas story - but the magic contained in this story is meant for every day of the year! Curl up under an afghan with a child you love and share this story together. It can be read in all of about 15 minutes, with the warm feelings will linger much longer.
4753485
It was a surprisingly well-written story with good character development. Grace L. Hill can be cloyingly sweet sometimes, but this novel blends the spiritual aspects seamlessly with an nearly realistic narrative. The plot consists of the efforts of a poor young woman trying to find a home for her family after they have been evicted from the slum house they rent. She faces the challenges of caring for her mother, younger brother and sister with faith and creativity. I highly recommend this book.
3915671
One of t h e sweetest,  touching fun loving stories.
4879079
This story was touching, skillfully written and sweet
It just shows that sometimes what you want and need, you have all along without ever really knowing and sometimes being afraid to search for it.
3442738
What a sweet and touching story! Reading through the entire book, it made me want to be a better mother and a better person. I loved the way the story flowed so smoothly - there were no lags in the storyline as I find some romance books get when the author is in lack of finding a way to tie everything together. With "Some Kind of Wonderful," the author brilliantly took you from the beginning to the end.
Although it was a bit "fairytale-ish" to think a couple could fall in love and get married after one week, somehow, it made sense with this story. The hero and heroine didn't expect to find love again and then wham - it hits them both in the face without them realizing it or even wanting it.
I liked how the two main characters were both strong and vulnerable at the same time and your heart breaks a little for them through every defeat and triumph they go through in the story. I am happy they had their happy ending and the supporting characters were all happy as well (except maybe for Brian - but you'll have to read the story to find out why :)).
3484724
This sweet and compelling tale is based on real events. Its fast pace provides an interesting counterpoint to its quiet depth. I felt so concerned about the fate of the girl at the heart of the story that I never wanted to put the book down.

"When She Flew" focuses on a life-changing moment in the lives of two very different people: a girl on the threshold of her teens and a woman on the threshold of middle-age. Lindy is a 13-year-old girl who lives with her father in a camp in the Oregon woods. Her dad is a disabled Iraq War veteran who can't get a job. Lindy feels an affinity for birds, and it's while following one that she is spotted by hikers. Police begin a search for an apparent minor at risk. Officer Jessica Villareal is a 39-year-old cop who takes part in the search. When she finds the well-educated, well-cared-for girl, she must decide whether to place her in foster care, or return her to a father with mental issues who cannot provide a home with four walls.

I fell in love with young Lindy, almost a creature of nature herself, but with the best characteristics of humanity: intelligence, curiosity and compassion. Shortridge writes with a light touch that reveals the emotional contours beneath the surface of things, and Lindy is her strongest voice. When the girl and her dad are fleeing from police, she says, "I wished I could fly, but even if I were covered with feathers, I would not be able to avoid gravity." Meanwhile, Jessica is a mother at a crossroads in her estranged relationship with her own daughter. Lindy brings out Jessica's strong maternal instincts, but Jessica must decide if those instincts are compatible with those of a good cop.

By reshaping the true story and filling it with characters who feel like people I might know, Shortridge effectively dropped me in the middle of it all and showed me every point of view. I found myself stretching my definitions of family and home. I was reminded that life's most important choices require sacrifice. We both gain something and lose something, whether we take the risk to go our own way or the equal risk to reach out to others.
682819
We love this book. It's sweet and endearing. The language is simple but powerful.
913327
A powerful story that more people in our world should hear and listen to.
785287
This is a sweet story and a quick read and will be appreciated by those who love anime, and are perhaps awaiting a chance to see the movie. It's a lovely story that will stick with you.
2674995
I loved this story...of love and forgiveness, the power of words, the overcoming of evil. It is a beautiful reflection of the One who adopted us, was willing to die for us, and who controls the wind and rain.