The Button Legacy: Emily's Inheritance

by Ginger Marcinkowski

Growing up, Emily Evans of Run, River Currents had always shared a special understanding with her grandfather, John Polk, even when she couldn’t fully see beyond the darkness of her father’s abuse. Yet John looked to the future in faith to what his God could do.

Years after her grandfather’s death, the unexpected delivery of the decorated tin, still brimming with odd-colored buttons, unlocks the joyous memories and lets Emily realize she has finally discovered the secret her grandfather promised lay within the stories of the worn button box.

Told through the eyes of a devout grandfather, The Button Legacy: Emily’s Inheritance laces together a godly heritage and the power of one man’s prayers, offering a lesson of how God’s grace can be seen even in the simplest thing—a button. This novel shares even more stories from The Button Legacy, a novella of Emily’s favorite stories.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2013

About the author

AUTHORS BIO:

Ginger Marcinkowski was born as one of eight siblings in northern Maine along the Canadian border, a setting that plays a prominent role in her first books, Run, River Currents and The Button Legacy.

Her debut novel, Run, River Currents, was published in August 2012, was a 2012 semi-finalist in the ACFW Genesis Awards and a 2013 Kindle Book Award Finalist, also winning honorable mentions in other national awards and festivals.

The Button Legacy, a novella, was published in June 2013, and was written as a prequel / sequel to Run, River Currents.

Her latest release, The Button Legacy-Emily's Inheritance is the full story of the Polk families journey of faith told through buttons collected over generations. Emily's Inheritance concludes Run, River Currents dramatic story of healing and forgiveness.

Ginger has been a public speaker and visiting lecturer for many years. She has been a professional reader for the James Jones First Novel Award ($10,000 prize), and has been a judge for the ACFW 's prestigious Genesis and Carol Awards. She is actively involved in the Hampton Roads Writers Association and is a member of the ACFW and AWP Writer's Associations.

An interesting fact about Ginger is that she is a million-mile flier with United Airlines and had been a multi-million dollar travel agent in the past. Her travel experience will be the catalyst for a new series of mysteries whose main characters are travel agents.

Reviews

[Lori Hi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this little book. It is a great prequel / sequel to RUN, RIVER CURRENTS and tells a tender story of how grandparents can be used by God in the lives of their loved ones - even in dark times.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, I had never heard about Ginger Marcinkowski until one of her books came up for review on Cross Focused Reviews. I went into this book not knowing what to expect, and I must say that Ginger really "wowed" me with this short, but very well written book. I thought it was going to be a fiction book that I was going to have to force myself to finish (which has happened quite often with recent Christian fiction that I have picked up to read), but this book really grabbed my attention and I finished it in about an hour.

As a father, I found myself really examining what kind of legacy I plan to leave my children and grandchildren because of this book. "The Button Legacy" caused me to truly stop and examine the things that I currently think are important in life (what kind of car am I going to buy, where am I going on vacation, when should I sell my house, etc.) versus what I should see as being important in God's eyes. I am so prone to get caught up in work related things or material possessions, and I tend to forget that what is going to matter way more than those things is how I live my life in such a way that brings glory to God in everything and to do it all in front of my kids. I really appreciated the fact that Ginger made her characters seem real by showing them with real-life struggles and failures, but was also very clear that salvation cannot be attained by works of the flesh, but it is a gift of God (by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone). I loved the idea of a button box as a way to pass on stories of life-experiences to our kids/grandkids/great-grandkids. It is a way of reminding not only ourselves, but also those closest to us, that all the lessons that God teaches us, whether they are good or bad, have an impact on our life and can be passed down to help others understand the loving God we serve.

Title: The Button Legacy

Author: Ginger Marcinkowski

Publisher: Vox Dei (2013)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Vox Dei book review bloggers program on Cross Focused Reviews. 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."

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A box containing a conglomeration of buttons has been passed down through the generations, each button representing a story in itself. Generations have repeated the stories behind each button in that old painted brass box. Additional buttons find their way into the box through the years, and their respective stories become a part of the accumulation. The telling of these button stories can be interpreted as lessons in God's divine providence. The lessons presented are as varied as each button is unique.

Ginger Marcinkowski has written a poignant and nostalgic look at life and its lessons through these stories represented by an accumulation of buttons. Some are tragic, others amusing, entertaining and even humorous. The events depicted through the lives of these buttons are lessons in life..... parables. This is a walk down Memory Lane for me. I grew up with boxes of buttons, my grandmother's, my mother's, and I listened to the stories behind those buttons, told in much the same manner as the stories told in The Button Legacy. I found this book to be a wonderful story of life and it's tragedies and joys. I highly recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received a PDF copy of this book from Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I received no monetary compensation for this review.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Button Legacy: Emily’s Inheritance was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Author Ginger Marcinkowski has crafted a heart-warming story around a common household item, a button box. I can’t really put my finger on why, but somehow, this book took me back to my childhood. Perhaps it was the reminder of the round red tin full of buttons we had in our house when I was a kid.

The novel unveils the lives of the characters through the telling of stories built around the buttons in the box and the events each one represents. Even though domestic abuse and alcohol dependence are incorporated into the story, these issues are handled with enough sensitivity to enable even young readers to appreciate the messages within. The book conveys the importance of family love and support, forgiveness, and the treasure of sharing family history through stories.

The personalities of the characters and the dynamics of the family relationships are well-developed. The natural progression of events reflects character growth. John’s deep love for his family and desire to teach them to love and trust the Lord shines through times of hardship and disappointment. Some scenes had me breaking up with laughter, others brought me close to tears.

I love the way the author led into the telling of each incident and how the individual buttons were introduced into that particular story. Not only did the author tie an entertaining story to each button, but she left the reader with a valuable lesson. The ending was particularly satisfying and bears out the belief that good deeds, even when not always acknowledged, eventually pay off.

I recommend this book to any reader who enjoys novels that emphasize relationships, contain a dash of adventure, and reflect core values.

I received this book from Fred St Laurent through the Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Button Legacy by Ginger Marcinowski is a thoroughly enjoyable story covering three family generations. Set in New Brunswick, the story begins in the mid-1950s. The whole book revolves around an old decorated tin box in which buttons are kept. Each button tells a tale, and successive generations of children love to plunge their hand into the box on wintery or stormy evenings, pull out a button and settle down to hear the story. Some are poignant and some are tragic, while others are downright laugh-out-loud funny. Like when Grandma Ellen discovers a mouse in her dress and races onto the driveway, shrieking and tearing off her dress (literally) before throwing it away from her… seconds before visitors arrive to witness their hostess standing there in nothing but her undies. Or Aunt Amy unwittingly showing off her muddy bloomers to the vicar one stormy night.

There is a secret hidden inside the button box that not everyone finds straightaway, yet it’s a secret that, once discovered, is life-changing.

The Button Legacy is fast-paced without being rushed. It is just long enough to satisfy and short enough to read in a couple of sittings. The characters are interesting and lovable, and it is through them that the reader sees tragedy and heartbreak, and can understand why Grandpa John is so concerned. Yet there is hope and satisfying love to be found through the stories in the button box.

I really enjoyed this book and can happily recommend it. Ginger’s earlier book Run, River Currents is also available on Amazon and is now on my wish list….

I am grateful to Cross Focussed Reviews for providing me with a free e-copy of this book for the purpose of writing an unbiassed review.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a touching novella about the lasting legacy a tiny memento can have. The story starts out in the 1950s, when John reminisces back to when his two daughters were young and even before to his childhood. His family would gather around the button box some nights, pick out a button one by one and tell it's story. They would be true stories about members of the family, some happy, some sad. They would also add their own buttons as events would happen they wanted to remember. He was rebellious as he grew older until finally a horrific accident woke him up to his need for God and forgiveness. He and his wife, Ellen, shared these stories with their daughters hoping they would take to heart the lessons they had learned, but they could see their daughter Maureen was following in John's rebellious footsteps. The story ends in 1997 with Maureen's daughter Emily and the ultimate legacy of the button box.

There were some amusing stories surrounding the buttons and some sad ones, too. It was interesting to see how these stories affected the different generations and how one child could embrace their need for a Savior while another could reject Him. I really liked how important prayer was in the story and how strong John's faith was that these rebellious ones would come to Jesus just as he finally did. I also loved the strong sense of family and the bond they shared. You might want to check it out!

I received a free kindle copy of this story from Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for my honest review.

[Gale Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ginger Marcinkowski’s novella THE BUTTON LEGACY is a moving collection of glimpses into the life and times of generations of one blue-collar family struggling to make ends meet in the Canadian Maritimes. In this book, we are introduced to a Polk Family tin box that’s filled with buttons, not just because saving buttons was a practical thing to do when times were hard but because each button had a family story or a secret connected to it capable of entertaining or illuminating life lessons for the next generation. Like her debut novel RUN RIVER CURRENTS, Marcinkowski’s rich description transports you to another world, one of wooden farmhouses filled with the rich smells of home cooking, cornfields glittering with magic growing dust, and winter escapades such as sledding across New Brunswick’s treacherous Tobique River. THE BUTTON LEGACY is filled with spiritual lessons for those with hearts willing and ears to hear stories testifying to God’s steadfast love and forgiveness. Those who enjoyed RUN RIVER CURRENTS will adore this new work from one of America’s most talented Christian storytellers.

[Kathryn Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Love of God

This book warmed my heart. As a Christian, I have received God's love and forgiveness. I loved the way I was able to see the generations portrayed come to receive Christ as Savior. It is a great story that will make you feel as if you were in the room as the "button box" was opened and the story shared. You will love this one!!!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because I collect buttons and love crafting with them. Really had no expectations. It has been a very inspiration to read. Light but focused. I will definitely read more by this author!

[Glenda Crooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring

It was rather a boring book because it had too many flash backs. It was hard to remember who all the characters were.

[Charline Romine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many stories a lifetime makes.

Really good story. The stories within the story were a great boost for heritage and family and our great God.

[Donna Ransdell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely Story!

I loved this heartwarming story! John's love of his family and neighbors (and how he showed it) was a great inspiration!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When the weather was bad and we couldn't work, Mother would make a batch of chocolate walnut cookies and we'd all gather 'round that old box. Every time Mother pulled a button out, she'd have a story to go along with it. Dad said the button box contained a secret, but I never found it." [told by young John early in his marriage to Ellen]

This story focuses on an item that in and of itself was not very remarkable. At first glance, it was only a brass colored metal box with a squeaky hinge. Inside were just buttons. Today, we don't think about saving buttons, because plastic has made this item disposable and ordinary. But in the early 20th century, and hundreds of years earlier when buttons were works of craftsmanship, they were necessary, expensive and saved for future use. As far as legacies go, buttons don't rate very high on the scale, but in John Polk's family, the buttons had memories associated with them. Memories, even sad or tragic ones, are potent stories. In John's family storytellers wove vibrant tales worth retelling because of the life lessons they carried. They moved the legacy forward from one generation to the next.

John's great grandmother handed down this button box to his grandmother, who handed it down to his mother, who handed it down him (he had no sisters). While he didn't appreciate the significance of this inheritance at the time, his new wife did. She began adding buttons (and memorable stories) to the box long before he learned to love the tradition himself. Some of the stories were told to his two daughters. But the true legacy wasn't just the reminiscences of the "good old days." It was in the intangible element found in those stories.

When John's girls had children of their own, he continued to collect buttons and tell stories from the special box when his grandchildren visited. He hoped the lessons learned would stay with them the rest of their lives. But more importantly, he prayed for his girls, and he prayed for his grandchildren and their children. When he passed away, the box was given to his daughter Carol. In time her sister Moreen visited, and when she reached into the box and pulled out a button late one night, she finally understood the desire in her father's heart that he tried so hard to impress on her through those family stories. Even after his death his legacy, tucked in among the buttons and tales became important to her. Before she died, she asked her sister to give the box to her rebellious daughter, Emily. Would the legacy continue?

Reading this book was like experiencing warm honey on a freshly baked biscuit hot out of the oven. It is a work of fiction but had special meaning for me since I had a grandmother with a button collection I used to play with as a little girl. My grandparents had a pantry/closet in the big kitchen where they kept theirs. It wasn't in a box, it was a large jar of buttons. On rainy days when I was little, my grandmother allowed me to take down the container and play with the buttons. Unlike today's buttons--the usual plastic round buttons--these buttons came in all shapes and sizes and materials. I remember some very heavy coat buttons, metal buttons, pearl-like buttons, ones that looked like jewels, oval ones and square ones, wood buttons, some were covered in fabric, some belonged to furniture, and every other type you could imagine. They didn't always come with a story, but often taking out the buttons triggered some memories of family members I would never have heard about if it weren't for these reminders. I think I came about my love of history through those interesting family stories.

What good stories like these encourage are bridges among the different generations within a family. All families need connectedness to help us gain a sense of belonging, our roots, where we come from. Sometimes we don't see the necessity of that connectedness until we are older. I hope you enjoy this story; may it stir up some memories of your own to share with your family.

A complimentary review copy was provided to me by the author and Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book. It seemed like a series of interesting short stories strung together. The stories were interesting, but I am not a fan of short stories. Perhaps the book ties them together later, but I had lost interest.

[Ryan Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Polk family and their buttons! Seems simple enough, right? No! This is a heartfelt story about the legacy of the Polk family and God’s grace shown upon them. The author, Ginger Marcinkowski, makes the story line flow from past to present seamlessly, and does an excellent job of making the stories feel as if you are in them. The past is brought into reality by opening a box, but not just any box. This box has buttons in them but again not just any buttons. These buttons, although in no way magical, opens a door to the past by bringing forth the memories that were attached to them. Marcinkowski does a great job of connecting the audience to two things we all cherish, namely family and memories. Even though it is a novel the storyline is not hard to believe, and the characters come across as normal people living normal lives. Furthermore, the story has a Christian overtone about God’s grace to not only the individual family members but the family as a corporate unit. This theme grows gradually as the story goes and is finally seen in its fullness at the conclusion of the story. Overall the story flows remarkably well, is believable, and does a splendid job of making the reader want more. The reason for only 3 stars is two-fold. For starters the length of the book, 66 pages, prevents it from exploring the depths of the characters. There are many things that could have been explored with a few more pages. Secondly, although there is a Christian overtone to the story it sometimes is lacking what the Christian faith meant to these people beyond forgiveness of sins. To be fair this is a novel, not a theology text book, but still I would have liked to find out more about the characters faith and why they did what they did at certain key moments in the book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: ryanraysr.com received this book free from the publisher Vox Dei and Cross Focused Reviews. ryanraysr.com 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.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A box containing a conglomeration of buttons has been passed down through the Polk family generations, each button representing a story. Family members have repeated the stories behind each button in the old painted brass box. Additional buttons have been added to the box over the years, and their respective stories have become an integral influence in the lives of each generation. The telling of these button stories can be interpreted as lessons in God's divine providence. The lessons presented are as varied as each button is unique.

In this expanded version of The Button Legacy: Emily's Inheritance the author has added great depth to her characters and their relationships and experiences through the years. Family dynamics are expanded, bringing to life the relationships and stories of this family, and the influences they have on one another. Additional button stories are included in this version that touched my heart. A trip to Maine brings one of the Polk family girls to a button factory where buttons had been stamped from clam shells, another parallel in my own life that was very meaningful to me.

Ginger Marcinkowski has written a poignant and nostalgic look at life and its lessons through these stories represented by an accumulation of buttons. Some are tragic, others amusing, entertaining and even humorous. The events depicted through the tales of these buttons are lessons in life..... parables, and family dynamics. This is a walk down Memory Lane for me. I grew up with boxes of buttons, my grandmother's, my mother's, and I listened to the stories behind those buttons, told in much the same manner as the stories told in The Button Legacy: Emily's Inheritance. I found this book to be a compelling and nostalgic story of life and its tragedies and joys. I highly recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received an electronic copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

[Becky Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The BEST Treasure...

If you could leave only one possession to your children, what would it be? How would you make certain that they would cherish it and pass it on to the next generation? John Polk, a young Canadian father, circa 1930's, didn't have much of earthly value. But he DID have FAITH, and he DID have MEMORIES. Using an old button tin passed down from his parents, John and his wife Ellen continued to collect buttons from family members and friends and put store them for future family times. They would then use special times to open the tin and pull out a button, laughing up a storm at a hilarious event, or recalling how God's grace had somehow helped them through a harrowing time. After recounting the story how he was involved the the accidental death of his best friend, John explains how he was headed in the wrong direction. Needing to find direction for his life, John found the Lord. John tells his girls,"Girls, I'm telling you this because I want you to realize that life really should be all about the Lord. I know this to be true. If it weren't for God's forgiveness, I wouldn't be the man I am today."

While John prays his girls will follow the Lord instead of the world's wild ways, only one listens to the Lord's gentle whispers. Carol and her husband cling to the Lord through hard times and are blessed for it. Maureen, the other daughter, can only see the allure of the world. Chasing the wind, she reaps the whirlwind. Whoever said, "No man is an island," could have been referring to the hurt and pain that attach themselves to Maureen's children as a result of her poor choices.Thankfully, as Marcinkowski shows us, God is a God of grace, Who offers forgiveness, redemption, love, and peace when we finally surrender our wills to Him. The other take-away I get from this novel is that prayer is never wasted: we may not see our prayers answered in our timing, but God in His omniscience is listening and waiting to move when the time is right! May we never forget that!

I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Button Legacy is definitely the best cozy read I have read in a while, as it draws you in to the family and its heritage through an old button tin, containing so much more than the buttons inside. Each button carries a story, of laughter, of joy, and of sorrow and heartache. This tin of buttons definitely is the real story of this family, and how through all the ups and downs of life, John held tight to his faith in God and held his family up in prayers. We will see his struggles in prayer for his daughter, Maureen, who is the wild child, and also for his grandchildren, especially dear Emily with whom he has a special bond.

I loved that it takes place in Canada, the Maritimes to be more specific and is a wonderful setting for such a 'down-home' book. The author, Ginger Marcinkowski, does an excellent job of writing each character so that you feel as if you know them, not only how they look, but how they live, and as if I am a part of the family sitting down with a cup of tea to hear the stories 'round the table.

Run, River Currents is the first book by this wonderful author, and will apparently give more meaning and understanding to the story lines in The Button Legacy but I read just the latter and enjoyed it thoroughly, although I do plan to pick up the first one very soon.

This is a great book and one that so many could enjoy, not just the woman reader. I would highly recommend it for any and all whom like a good solid faith based story and especially those whom come from families where sitting around the table sharing family stories over a cup of tea, is the norm.

I was blessed to be given this book by bookfun.org, and give it 5 thumbs up!

[Cheri Swalwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading The Button Legacy by Ginger Marcinkowski. This was a great book. She wrote another book before this one, Run, River Currents which completes the story. However, this story can be read alone, as I did, and still be a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed the “stories within the story.” I could feel myself sitting around the table, along with the family, sifting through the various buttons, wanting to hear another story by the grandparents who kept the legacy from previous generations alive. The author did a great job describing each family member. I could see what they looked like, feel how they felt, and smell the walnut chocolate chip cookies that were eaten while learning about their heritage. The fact that all of the stories weren’t “happily ever after” just added to the realism of the book. Not everything we learn from in life comes from a happy ending. Sometimes we learn more from tragedies and mistakes made then from “getting it all right the first time.” It was a great book. I’m so glad I listened to the advice of others and read this book. It left a lasting impression on me - reminding me I don’t have to be perfect with my own kids. Just remember to bring them before God on a daily basis, sometimes hourly, and trust that He has a plan already outlined for them and He loves them much more than I do, which is a lot.

This book would appeal to everyone - Men, women, and older teens. I received this book from the Book Club Network and the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Button Legacy is an inspirational story of the history of a family told through their memories from different buttons saved. The family saves buttons that have special meaning to them in a button box and bring those buttons out during different times of their lives. Many times those stories held a special meaning to the person telling the story, whether it was passing on history or sharing a life lesson. I was able to, through this story; remember some stories that my grandparents shared with me or something significant that happen in our family that I had not thought about for a while. I found it touching how many times the youngsters were not very interested in hearing the stories, but when forced to hear them they ate them up, wanting more.

I loved how the story went back in time seamlessly to tell the tales of the buttons. Never did the story drag or slow down with the differences in times and the different characters involved in the stories. I found myself pictures the timeframe that the buttons would have been worn and what the people who wore them would have been doing. I also enjoyed how time changed in this family. Cars appeared, party lines were developed, but through all the changes the family stuck together and shared their history.
This is a great story that I recommend.

[ChrisGA · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful tradition! Generations of family history and life lessons are preserved in the stories behind buttons placed in a tin box to commemorate events and people. On special occasions the box would be taken down from the shelf, buttons picked, and their stories told. To let the author explain for herself: “Even he had learned so many things from the jumble of tales that swirled inside the tin. The buttons told truths about the life, love, joy, and trials of his family. And each story had shown the depth of God’s love and forgiveness. They were truths he prayed might be passed on for generations to come.“
We are drawn into lives of John and his family. He is the great-grandson of the original owners of the box, and he uses the stories of the buttons to impart the truth about God’s grace to his daughters and grandchildren. These stories bind the family together through good times and bad until each member is able to discover the “true treasure” to be found in the box. Great story with memorable characters. I received this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for this my honest opinion.

[Bethany Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Button Candy!

Get ready to laugh, cry and remember. The Button Legacy is poignant and raises the bar on passing forward what truly matters to future generations.

Most of us have never experienced the poverty which led to rich verbal history. Each button in the Polk’s storage tin had a memory which was retold over and over to the 5 generations between 1924 and 1989 in this telling. Stories that shaped outcomes and choices — we all have them. Plus, the button box holds a secret. :)

Learn how the Polk families took the twists and turns faithfully marked by buttons. “The colored circles spread across the field of white like gum drops on snow.” Children were enamored and relished in picking out their choice and the vibrant stories attached to each button; the parents and grandparents reveled in the telling.

I LOVED this! I will definitely be reading The Button Legacy again. This year’s must-read.

Excerpt From: Ginger Marcinkowski. “The Button Legacy.” iBooks. https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/M...

I received a complimentary book from the Book Club Network at bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Button Legacy is the story of a family’s journey and the importance of a unique family treasure. The family and the story are reminiscent of the Waltons. The parents lead a simple life and value family and helping others. The parents have collected buttons in a tin, and each button tells a special story that teaches a lesson or recounts a particular person’s experience. The parents try to share their Christian beliefs and heritage with their children through the family stories. As sometimes happens, the children grow older and make decisions that lead them astray. Yet, the button tin is a strong reminder of their parents’ beliefs and their Christian heritage. One of the daughters in particular makes choices that lead to unhappiness and a different lifestyle than her parents’. As the children, and also grandchildren, reflect upon their parents/grandparents and their love and beliefs, they have an opportunity to keep up the wonderful tradition of the button tin. This is an excellent novel about grace and hope and the value of family and traditions. I very much recommend this endearing story. I received this book through TBCN in exchange for an honest review.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the home of John & Ellen Polk. There is a treasure
in that home that one can not buy. From the time of John’s
parents down though the follow generations, a small tin box
filled with buttons from family or friends finds it way into the
family‘s life..
Each button holds both a story with a moral to be learned,
remembered and handed down to future generations. Some
stories the buttons hold are happy, some sad and some laughable.
But each button leads to a secret that has to be learned by each
person involved with that small tin button box. The secret is a
life changer which can take time to discover and understand.
Each character is well developed and adds to the flavor of the
stories within the story.
This is an emotional read. The book shares hardships of living
in poverty, the helping hand of neighbors, rebellious yearnings,
abuse, love, friendship and laughter. The Button Legacy: Emily’s
Inheritance is a book sharing family memories and bonds that
you will want to read!!
Thank you to book fun.org for this ebook. My opinion is my own.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The button box holds a secret. Not a trap-door kind of secret, but one of God's love through everything. The story is simple, but the words resonate with poignancy, picturesque stories told for each button. There are some sad stories, some funny stories, but in the end they point to God's grace. I appreciated the love and prayers between family, and the humble way of confronting wrong. There were a couple of somewhat embarrassing/intimate things, but not detailed. It wraps up a little too quickly, perhaps, at least for those of us who haven't read the companion book about granddaughter, Emily. There is nothing exactly objectionable, unless you count the time Emily goes into a dance-hall/bar and gets drunk--but the action is not condoned. Overall a solid, well-written tale, but it seems a bit unfinished.

I received a free kindle copy of this story from Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for my honest review.

[Donna Mcginnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by Ginger Marcinkowski that I have read. It is a heartwarming and enjoyable novella that is quick and easy to read. It is thought provoking and makes you think what kind of a legacy, if any, you are leaving for your children and grandchildren.
John Polk, a Godly man has a family legacy. It is a decorated box filled with all sorts of different and unique buttons passed down to each generation. Each button tells a story. Some are happy, some funny and entertaining, some sad and some that are tragic. Years later after her grandfather's death Emily receives the box. An inheritance that will change her life.
A story of love and faith. Love the idea of the buttons and their stories.
A wonderful legacy that I wish I had whether using a button or some other source, maybe photographs to leave as an inheritance for my family.
A great read. I recommend this book.

I received this e book from bookfun.org for my honest opinion and review.

[Michael McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Run, River Currents, we met Emily Evans, a victim of abuse by her father. In The Button Legacy: Emily’s Inheritance, we learn the history of the preceding generations as we hear stories of her great-grandparents, grandparents, mother, and aunt. The author uses a simple narrative device to great effect. As a family member chooses a button from an antique tin, the story behind that button is told, and the history of the Polk family is revealed against the backdrop of a simple New Brunswick community. This is a story of faith maintained in the face of hardships and despair with the help of family and friends and the belief in the grace of God. This novel will appeal to readers of Christian fiction of all ages. Ms. Marcinkowski's elegant prose style engages the reader as we move effortlessly through the span of decades to hear the stories of a family that survives through the power of faith.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique way of telling a story!! A tin box holding a variety of buttons that reminded the story-teller of what occurred at the time the "wearer" lost a particular button, is the focus of this book. This was such an easy book to read because there was just no way to put the book down until each "button story" was finished and before you knew it, someone picked up another button and you were already into another story!

At first, I thought the book was going to be a compilation of different stories of different occurrences, but as the book went on, I realized that the life of the Polk family was evolving and different family members and different generations we're updating the lives through the button stories.

For an enjoyable "quick read" type of book, this is it. You will find pathos, inspiration, humor, and God's saving grace among these "fly-by" pages.

I highly recommend this book. I received this book through book fun.org in exchange for my honest review.

[JoAnn Plante · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It was written in diary form and takes the reader from one generation to the next. Some events in their lives are marked by retrieving a button and saving it in a button box. Using the simple idea of a button, the author takes the reader through the lives of several characters and relates some of the important or emotional moments of their lives. These buttons all have a story about them, but also a lesson.
I loved the author's writing style. It is so simple, homey and realistic. It is a story-telling style of writing. Nothing was contrived and all events in the story seemed like they actually happened to someone. This is a story that is easy to read, entertaining, realistic, and refreshing true to life. It can be read by all ages and is humorous in parts. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a good atory about people and life.

[Pauline Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was disappointed with how short the story was. Other than that, I absolutely loved it! The book had my emotions going up and down. From crying to laughing, sadness to joy. Reading this book made me want to start my own button box as well. I told my children about it and they thought it was a cool idea. This story was well written and captivating. I loved how all the buttons in this story had a Godly and moral story linked to it. With John telling the stories, he was not only sharing his family stories, but a legacy of God's wonderful grace, forgiveness, and eternal love.

This book showed not only the stories from before 1956 but after 1997 when Emily, the granddaughter was married and had a child of her own. It also showed how through struggles in life, comes a cleansing of God's love and grace.