The Inheritance of Beauty

The Inheritance of Beauty
Nicole Seitz
(Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-1595545046
February, 2011/320 pages/$14.99

Beauty is sometimes found in the most unlikely places.

George Jacobs and his childhood sweetheart were just kids living in small-town Levy, SC, when the train brought the evil to town. Now eighty years later, George and Maggie are married, living out their remaining days in Harmony House where time moves slowly--Maggie can no longer communicate her love and George can hardly remember their past. But when a large package arrives and an old stranger moves into Harmony House, their past won't remain at bay any longer. Like it or not, George must now remember things from long ago in order to set himself--and his sweet wife--free. But George isn't sure how many lives were affected by the stranger in Levy . . . or why life must come full-circle now when he's running out of time.

The Inheritance of Beauty is an entrancing story about beauty and age, about the blessings and curses of each, and how the true beauty of a person never fades.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nicole Seitz is a South Carolina Lowcountry native and the author of The Spirit of Sweetgrass as well as a freelance writer/illustrator who has published in numerous low country magazines. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism, she also has a bachelor's degree in illustration from Savannah College of Art & Design. Nicole shows her paintings in the Charleston, South Carolina area, where she owns a web design firm and lives with her husband and two small children.


MY THOUGHTS:
Southern novels have a certain feel that sets them apart from all others, and The Inheritance of Beauty exudes this from the very beginning. To an outsider, the lives of George and Maggie Jacobs may seem as slow and predictable as their rocking chairs on the porch of the assisted living facility in which they reside. But an undercurrent is about to bubble to the top, impacting not only their lives but the lives of those closest to them. Chapters alternate from George's perspective, Maggie's silent flashbacks, and musings of their caregiver, Miss Annie. In spite of the headings at the beginning of each chapter, it occasionally took me a few moments to orient myself to the viewpoint of the chapters, as some were written from the individual's perspective and some about the individual. But that is a minor distraction, and the charm of this book lies in the portrayal of love, friendship, and loyalty, and the reminder that what is hidden will eventually come to light.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from BookSneeze/Thomas Nelson as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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