The She Reads Book Club Selection for November. Man in the Blue Moon by Michael Morris.

From the back cover: “He’s a gambler at best. A con artist at worst,” her aunt had said of the handlebar-mustached man who snatched Ella Wallace away from her dreams of studying art in France. Eighteen years later, that man has disappeared, leaving Ella alone and struggling to support her three sons. While the world is embroiled in World War I, Ella fights her own personal battle to keep the mystical Florida land that has been in her family for generations from the hands of an unscrupulous banker. When a mysterious man arrives at Ella’s door in an unconventional way, he convinces her he can help her avoid foreclosure, and a tenuous trust begins. But as the fight for Ella’s land intensifies, it becomes evident that things are not as they appear. Hypocrisy and murder soon shake the coastal town of Apalachicola and jeopardize Ella’s family.

In this gorgeous read from Southern novelist Michael Morris, expect the unexpected from the very first chapters as surprises unfurl into a masterfully told tale. Morris paints characters so real-to-life you’ll have to remind yourself they’re imaginary. At a pace as relaxed as a Southern drawl, Morris ratchets the tension to an almost-unbearable tautness. (With great self-discipline, I restrained from racing ahead to the last chapter to make sure everyone makes it out okay. Whether they did…well, I’m not telling.) The author makes you care for his characters, especially Ella and Lanier, two broken, troubled souls who have been deeply wounded by circumstances. You want them to find happiness–and hope that their happiness includes each other.

Man in the Blue Moon is a story of love and faith, redemption and miracles–subtly nuanced, a rare accomplishment among Christian fiction. All in all, a marvelous tale–a storyteller’s story in the classic tradition.

4.5/5 stars, mystical and marvelous

Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What was the last book you read that completely took you into another place and time? Leave a comment on this post for the chance to WIN a copy of Man in the Blue Moon. (Continental U.S. residents only, please.)