Rated of 5
by Elizabeth P. (Lower Burrell, PA) Touching
"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.
Rated of 5
by Marsha E. (Woodland, CA) The Power of Love
In her tenth novel, Jo-Ann Mapson crafts a story of life, loss and the redeeming power of love. From almost the first page, we move into Glory's rustic farm house along with her foster daughter, Juniper, and just make ourselves at home. Told from the perspective of Glory, Joseph and Juniper—each struggling with his or her own abandonment issues due to death, divorce and parental desertion—we experience their anger, fear and struggle to pull themselves out of the mire their lives have become.
In the back-to-nature setting Mapson has created, we can smell the goats, feel the horses wet coats, and snuggle - and laugh - with the dogs, humorously named Edsel, Cadillac and Dodge. And the healing power of nature is most symbolically embodied in the famous oak on their property. When Glory’s sister Halle remarks, "…your house reminds me of one of those Christmas cards put out by Leanin' Tree. Everything is so homey and cozy and Western…" It was meant as a put-down, but the scene that Mapson creates is so homey and cozy that you want to curl up on the couch along with them.
If this is Mapson’s tenth novel, I have nine new books to add to my TBR list!
Rated of 5
by Krista H. (Grayslake, IL) Solomon's Oak
Glory is a grieving widow, Juniper is a wounded teen, Joseph has his own hurts. These three sad characters come together in a sweet story. I thought at times that the story dragged and the ending was predictable, but if you're looking for a light read with characters that you care about, you will enjoy this book.
Rated of 5
by Cate N. (Aurora, CO) Solomon's Oak
Glory Solomon is a grieving widow whose life is changed forever by Juniper and Joseph, who both enter her life in rather dramatic ways. I would have liked more explanation for the characters' motivations, but the author wrote vivid descriptions of the physical surroundings and the animal-human interaction, and there was a heartwarming ending. No surprises but an enjoyable read.
Rated of 5
by Martha L. (Warner, NH) Touches the soul quietly
"Solomon’s Oak" by Jo Ann Mapson is book that touches the soul quietly, but lingers like a soft mist. The book is about loss and struggles. How much is too much? When does grieving leave? What is the cost of trust? Is anything really too much? Glory, Juniper and Joseph need healing. The tree, Solomon’s Oak is the setting for the three of them to find themselves and maybe each other. I liked it the realistic characters and the changes each wrought in each other. It is a book to savor and enjoy, not to rush through. It is a book that makes you think about what is important. And to count your blessings.
I think this would be good to read with a book club as it has many themes. It shows universal ideals and will appeal to many adult levels.
Rated of 5
by Rita L. (Green Bay, WI) A Good Read
I thought this was an excellent read. The characters were well developed, and the storyline was a good one. Some of my favorite books have been about people who are hurt by their life experiences, are brought together, and find themselves healed and able to enjoy life once again. If you like similar stories, I would recommend this book.
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by Elizabeth P. (Lower Burrell, PA) 
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by Krista H. (Grayslake, IL) 
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by Rita L. (Green Bay, WI) 
