ABOUT THE BOOK:
What if your old college roommate called, raving about a book someone sent her, calling it the most beautiful book she's ever read? "But," she said, "it's about you." The author is your college ex.
In The Mason Jar, Clayton Fincannon is a Tennessee farm boy raised at the feet of his grandfather. He and his grandfather leave letters for each other in a Mason jar on his grandfather's desk; letters of counsel and affirmation. When Clayton attends college in Southern California, he meets and falls in love with a dark, debutante from Colorado, named Savannah. However, when an unmentioned past resurrects in her life and she leaves, Clayton is left with unanswered questions.
Clayton goes on to serve as a missionary in Africa, while he and his grandfather continue their tradition of writing letters. When Clayton returns home five years later to bury his grandfather, he searches for answers pertaining to the loss of the young woman he once loved. Little does Clayton know, the answers await him in the broken Mason jar.
A story about a girl who vanished, a former love who wrote a book about her and a reunion they never imagined.
Written for the bruised and broken, The Mason Jar is an inspirational romance that brings hope to people who have experienced disappointment in life due to separation from loved ones. With a redemptive ending that encourages us to love again, and written in the fresh, romantic tones of Nicholas Sparks, The Mason Jar interweaves the imagery of Thoreau with the adventures and climatic family struggles common to Dances with Wolves, A River Runs Through It and Legends of the Fall.
MY THOUGHTS:
When I read the blurb about "The Mason Jar" I knew right away that I wanted to review this book! Why? Well, it is a inspirational romance and one that states is similar to a Nicholas Sparks book.
I loved the idea of the book! Everyone remembers their first love, but how many people do you know that had someone write a book about the relationship the two of you had? Well, that is just what happens in The Mason Jar. Finn and Eden fall in love while attending Pepperdine University and quickly become inseparable! Finn falls hard for Eden but when she suddenly disappears from campus, he is left with countless questions! The note Eden leaves only states she does not want him to pursue her. Attempting to overcome his broken heart Finn decides to go to Africa on a missions trip, and begins a Micro-lending program.
He also begins writing his grandfather in hopes of resolving his feelings for Eden. This is the best part of the book for me! I LOVED Finn's grandfather and how their relationship, while already a good one, only becomes much closer! Finn learns so much from this time of sharing notes back and forth! But, it isn't until his grandfather passes and he is going through his stuff, that he finds the final letter. Finn hopes this last letter will bring some much needed finality!
While I enjoyed The Mason Jar, I have to say I definitely don't feel it was up to the "Nicholas Sparks" level. The depth of this love story wasn't even close to those in Sparks' books. The ending was different than most romance novels, so, if you are looking for a storybook happy ending this is probably not for you!
I give The Mason Jar a 4 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥'s rating! Thank you LitFuse for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review!
