Velma Still Cooks in Leeway
Welcome to Leeway, a close-knit, small town that could be anywhere. But  there's trouble simmering under its peaceful surface. Shellye has turned up  pregnant, but accuses Len of date rape. Doris walks and smokes, sunk in  depression; Cousin Howard is dying; Albert is more and more silent. Grady seems  to be the knight in shining armor who will solve Shellye's problems. But why does  Shellye seem so unhappy? And where did the bruises on her arm come from?Meanwhile, Velma, the part-time janitor at Jerusalem Baptist Church and owner of  the town diner, listens, journals her thoughts, and cooks her way through her  problems. Her first-person narrative is told without illusions, without glossing  over the grit and the grime of her customers' faults and foibles. She sees the  people in Leeway through the lens of love and observes, "Love is 10 times as  complicated as hate. And forgiveness will tear you limb from limb." It's  forgiveness that gives the book its sure-to-shock, knock-your-socks-off,  surprising twist at the end.Strong themes, including domestic violence, compassion, and the healing power of  prayer, make this a compelling novel you won't be able to put down--and that  you'll want to share with a friend. Delicious recipes from Velma's Place are the  dessert at the end of each chapter and strike a light note in the midst of heavy  themes.--Cindy Crosby