GREAT READS

The Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society

Augusta Trobaugh.

Reading this book is reminiscent of sitting across from a friend in a cozy teahouse, sipping sweet tea, and listening to an intriguing story.  A pleasant read, the storytelling is humorous, with some romance, some mystery and some evil thrown into the mix!  For the most part, this story is truly about the strong bonds of loyal friendship between six women with similar faith and values.  It centers on six lovely church-going, polite and charming southern ladies from Georgia who enjoy bird watching and have named themselves The Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society.  Except for one of these refined, tea-drinking, southern ladies, all are named for hymns: Love-Divine, Beulah-Land, Sweet, Wildwood and Zion.  Once you get past the names and just as get to know their personal stories and charming personalities, the story starts to take a turn to the unbelievable as an evil situation enters their lives. Two of these prim and proper "United Daughters of the Confederacy" scheme "to do what needs to be done" to remedy a dangerous situation for one of their friends.  The story ending is a surprise with all of these fine friends finding the inner strength that they did not know they possessed and deepening their bond of friendship with each other.  You will find yourself smiling as you read this book and will come to love these charming southern ladies and their strong and quirky personalities.   

Recommended by Deanna Jenks