Book Recommendation: The Clearing!

Every now and then Kelly and I like to chat up books that have particularly touched us, and I'm doing just that today by reporting on
The Clearing by Heather Davis.

Heather and I are friends, and I had been meaning to read this book for a while, but you know the saying, "So many books, so little time." This week, with most of my holiday shopping behind me, I finally got the chance to crack it open. And what happened was that I found it almost impossible to put down.

Here's the blurb:

In this bittersweet romance, two teens living decades apart form a bond that will change their lives forever.

Amy is drawn to the misty, mysterious clearing behind her Aunt Mae's place because it looks like the perfect place to hide from life. A place to block out the pain of her last relationship, to avoid the kids in her new town, to stop dwelling on what her future holds after high school. Then, she meets a boy lurking in the mist--Henry. Henry is different from any other guy Amy has ever known. And after several meetings in the clearing, she's starting to fall for him.

But Amy is stunned when she finds out just how different Henry really is. Because on his side of the clearing, it's still 1944. By some miracle, Henry and his family are stuck in the past, staving off the tragedy that will strike them in the future. Amy's crossing over to Henry's side brings him more happiness than he's ever known--but her presence also threatens to destroy his safe existence.

The Clearing was totally engrossing for me, engaging my inner romantic as well as my reader's yearning for a fresh, interesting storyline. Add to this some lovely descriptive passages that absolutely made me feel that I was in the clearing with Amy and Henry, and no surprise that it's on the short-list for the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award.

So for those of you still looking for holiday gifts, or are soon to receive holiday gift cards, I suggest you keep this heart-felt page turner in mind!

And be sure to check back for an interview with Heather Davis early next year.