Where does a seven-year-old boy go after he has killed his sister? In Paul's case, he is sent away to live with his grandparents after his sister drowned, so that his family can grieve in peace. "You didn't kill her," his grandmother said, trying to convince him. He was too young to have been left to watch his sister while their mother slept off her depression. Luckily for Paul, Big Mama lives next door to his grandparents. As a medium to the spirit world, she begins her own brand of tutelage to help Paul cope with the loss of his sister and family. She introduces him to spirits and teaches him how to make white magic. She also teaches him how communication is made between the living and the dead, opening a door for him that will force him to confront an inevitable truth - that he will never return to his life as it was before.

House of Love is a novel about family, forgiveness and the unshakable bonds that unite family through tragedy and betrayal, and through life and afterlife.

REVIEW

HOUSE OF LOVE IS A WINNER OF HEARTS
From the opening paragraphs, you won't be able to put this book down! This heart-warming novel is a "must read" for those who value family, even though family ties can both bind and gag. House of Love is a great book for readers who are not afraid to explore loss, tragedy and healing, and to delve head-first into a world in which nothing is quite as it seems. Jason Dry's three-dimensional characters come to life to help young Paul as he journeys through an unimaginable crisis - killing his little sister. Connie, Paul's mother, cannot deal with the loss of her daughter, and so she ships Paul off so that she can emotionally heal. Paul moves to live with his grandparents, Mama Ray and Daddy C, and his great-grandmother, Big Mama. They lovingly guide their grandson and help him to understand and to forgive himself for his unintentional act. As this family learns to cope with their loss and pain, they discover the love of their family and learn to accept each other. They come to realize that their lives have changed in ways they never imagined. Through Paul's journey, he learns to understand, to forgive himself, and to accept the truth about his new life.

I highly recommend House of Love. In fact, I have bought several copies to give to my friends and family. Jason Dry's prose is both eloquent and lucid, and his characters are vivid, real, and loveable. The story engages and engrosses from the beginning up to the unforgettable conclusion.

Reviewed by: Ann F. Pegg