Richard M. Siddoway

4 stars

The Cottage Park Puzzle makes you feel involved with the characters. I kept putting myself as the mom of the different boys and think what would I do or react if that was my son. Who knows what we would do or say.

Two boys are found at school unconscious having been beaten by a third boy covered in blood. The fourth boy Scott said he found Corky with the baseball bat hitting the boys.

Corky does not talk. He is autistic. Has not shown violence before. Corky goes to special needs at show more Cottage Park JuniorSenior High School. His parents are sick with the idea he hurt two kids. They worry over the boys and pray for them.

The Principal Karen Porter wants to expel Corky. Does not think he is safe to be around the other children.

No one really knows what happen to set Corky off. No one saw anything. Scott and then Tony Smutz the assistant principal arrived and called 911.

Everyone is in a rush to judge and want immediate action. The town takes sides. Lots of anger , worry over the two boys. Their moms are angry. One is threatening lawsuits. The police sent Corky home with his mother Lorraine because of his special needs.

Most of the book is fast paced and happens in a weeks time. We see this happening more and more as people rush to judge and punish before all the facts have a chance to come out.

What should happen to a boy that does not understand like everyone else? Through his teachers Corky has made leap and bounds progress. He has become potty trained, not to rush off alone things other children learn as toddlers. But Corky is now 6ft 200lbs. He does not communicate. Should he be locked up behind bars? Should his parents be punished?

I don't know the answer what should a dangerous person who does not understand have happen to him.

I liked the story, the characters, how some of the characters forgave others that did them wrong. All the parents had to forgive someone and be forgiven for their actions. What they all said in the heat of the moments. I need to learn this lesson of forgiveness and ask more to be forgiven.

I was given The Cottage Park Puzzle to read so I could give a honest review of it and be part of it's blog tour. show less

This book actually brought tears to my eyes. Heartwarming story about a young man who returns home to run his grandfathers business for a while after its been left to him. While he is staying with his grandmother she reveals that there was another woman named Lillian mentioned in his grandfathers journals and all she wants for Christmai is to find out who she is. So Will begins the quest ti find Lillian.

The Christmas Wish by Richard Siddoway
Will Martin is back to the town where his grandparents had raised him when his parents are killed.
He's there to help the grandmother to settle the estate and he is given the journals, one written every Christmas eve....He recalls many happy holidays.
She wants him to find out about the woman mentioned in the journals for over 27 years....
As life goes on they each learn all the things the grandfather had done for the others in town, whether it be money or show more a good word to further their education and all kinds of charity work done, with no recognition.
The town is growing on him and he's getting pressure to go back to the city to his girlfriend...love that his handshake was good enough as a signed contract.
Love how the ends are all tied as the last page is turned.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less

Will Martin returns to his home town to take over the real estate office of his grandfather after his death. It is the Christmas season and his grandmother after reading the journals her husband kept found out he visited a woman named Lillian every Christmas Eve. She wonders who Lillian is and how she is connected to her husband, Warren. She asks Will to find out out who Lillian is as his Christmas gift to her.
In the process Will finds himself.