Blog Tour - The House on Malcolm Street by Leisha Kelly

The House on Malcolm Street

It is the autumn of 1920, and Leah Breckenridge is desperate to find a way to provide for her young daughter. After losing her husband and infant son, she is angry at God and fearful about the days ahead. Finding refuge in a boardinghouse run by her late husband’s aunt, Leah begins the slow process of mending her heart.

Is it the people who surround her—or this very house—that reach into her heart with healing? As Leah finds peace tending to an abandoned garden, can she find a way to trust God with her future?

My Review

The House on Malcolm Street is the first novel I’ve read by author Leisha Kelly. The beautiful cover and back-cover copy both drew me in, and I wanted to discover what the pages held inside.

This is a story about two people struggling with deep loss. Leah and her young daughter have nothing and nowhere else to go but to an aunt’s boardinghouse. There, Leah meets Josiah, who has also found refuge in the elderly woman’s care. Although the aunt believes a friendship between Leah and Josiah would be helpful for both, they’re so locked into their pain, they’re not interested in having anything to do with each other.

The author is skilled with sharing the characters' thoughts and feelings. But the story dragged in parts, so I didn’t feel totally engaged in their lives until about two thirds into the book – when some important events began to take place. Both Leah and Josiah faced several fears, but I wish they would have been a bit stronger and more heroic in the process. I do applaud the author for carefully showing that grieving is a process and is worked through in a person's own timing.

The House on Malcom Street is a story about emotional and spiritual healing. By accepting help and love from God, family, and friends, it is possible for a broken heart to mend. And when that begins to happen, hurting people are able to reach out beyond themselves and help others.

I would recommend this novel to someone who enjoys a story that is character driven—not plot driven. Cuddle up with it on a Sunday afternoon, next to a fire, and with a cup of tea.


Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


DISCLOSURE: I was graciously provided a copy of The House on Malcolm Street by Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Leisha Kelly is the author of several bestselling historical fiction books, including Emma’s Gift, Julia’s Hope, and Katie’s Dream. She has served many years on her local library board, continuing to bring good reads and educational opportunities to her community. Once a waitress, café manager, tutor, and EMT, Leisha is now a busy novelist and speaker who is active in the ministries of her church. She lives with her family in Illinois.