Lorna Seilstad does it again. With the third, and final, installment of the Lake Manawa series, we discover that Lily Hart has become a widow and is raising her 6 year old son by herself. Her station in life has changed dramatically yet again. I can relate to this book in a personal way, being a widow myself. I am not, however, a mother so we do face some different challenges.
This book gripped my heart from the beginning, watching Lily struggle to maintain her control of her life, because she feels like God has abandoned her. She went from a servant, to the wife of a respected lawyer, to a widow who's inlaws see her as an unfit mother to her son Levi.
Enter Nick Perrin. He, of course, is immediately intrigued by the beautiful Lilly because of her stubbornness and fierce loyalty to her son. He works on rollar coasters, and his life has been like a rollar coaster as well. He is a bit cocky, and of course he has his flaws as well.
The epigraph for this book is 1 Corinthians 2:5, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." Both characters have to learn that man does not know everything there is to know, and that your faith should not be put in men or ourselves, it should be put in God, the almighty. There were a couple of quotes that stood out to me and I will share them here:
"We're so busy managing our lives for ourselves, we forget that it is God who is in control. His plans for you may include some storms, but He will be with you through them. Have faith. Trust the Lord to still the storms either in the world or in your heart."
"Faith entrusts oneself and one's children to God in the midst of danger."
These quotes perfectly describe every feeling, thought, and trial Lilly had to face in this book (and many of which we've all faced). I this this was my favorite book out of the whole series because it reminded me of God's power and that He is in control of my life, even when the storms come and times get so hard I can't see the way out. He's never left me and He never will. It's a great reminder of that promise.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ride-of-her-life-lorna-seilstad/1106881343?ean=9780800734473
Showing posts with label Lake Manawa Summer Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lake Manawa Summer Series. Show all posts
Friday, December 28, 2012
A Great Catch (Lake Manawa Summers Series #2)
This book is a "great catch" (pun intended)! The author, Lorna Seilstad, does a great job in this second installment of the Lake Manawa series. Unfortunately, my Nook went on the fritz and I had to get a new one, so I lost all my notes and highlights made about this book. I do, however, remember the point and that it is a wonderful story.
The overview provided on Barnes and Noble's website sums the book up nicely.
She wants to change the world.
He wants to change her mind.
When Emily Graham returns to Lake Manawa for the summer, all she wants to do is her work for the suffragette movement. She is having a hard enough time keeping up with all she has to do and keeping certain members of the suffragist group from taking over her leadership role. Her meddlesome aunts, however, have other plans for her. Emily is clumsily endearing and a genuine character. I feel for her at times because I can relate to the clumsiness and the shock and embarrassment that can accompany it sometimes. She also struggles with letting God take control of her life, just like I do.
Carter Stockton is a dreamer. He is a dreamer because he wants nothing more than to play baseball, while his father wants nothing more than for him to join the family business. So, his last hurrah is playing for a baseball team this summer. He meets Emily Stockton, who happens to be his friend's little sister, and sparks fly. He is immediately intrigued by her honesty, unconventionality, and determination to do what she wants despite society's dictates. The romance that blossoms between them is sweet and endearing.
In the beginning of the book, it quotes Proverbs 3:5, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Both characters struggle with letting God have control of their lives and acknowledging Him in their everyday actions. Emily is frequently putting God on the back burner, so to speak, and we see that she struggles because of it.
The story is good, the characters are lovable, and the plot is great. I do, however, wish the ending would have been a little different. I won't give away any plot spoilers, but I was a little disappointed with the conclusion of the problems, right before the happy ending. It still doesn't change my mind about this book, it's simply a great, easy read!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/great-catch-lorna-seilstad/1100190555?ean=9781441232694&itm=3&
The overview provided on Barnes and Noble's website sums the book up nicely.
She wants to change the world.
He wants to change her mind.
When Emily Graham returns to Lake Manawa for the summer, all she wants to do is her work for the suffragette movement. She is having a hard enough time keeping up with all she has to do and keeping certain members of the suffragist group from taking over her leadership role. Her meddlesome aunts, however, have other plans for her. Emily is clumsily endearing and a genuine character. I feel for her at times because I can relate to the clumsiness and the shock and embarrassment that can accompany it sometimes. She also struggles with letting God take control of her life, just like I do.
Carter Stockton is a dreamer. He is a dreamer because he wants nothing more than to play baseball, while his father wants nothing more than for him to join the family business. So, his last hurrah is playing for a baseball team this summer. He meets Emily Stockton, who happens to be his friend's little sister, and sparks fly. He is immediately intrigued by her honesty, unconventionality, and determination to do what she wants despite society's dictates. The romance that blossoms between them is sweet and endearing.
In the beginning of the book, it quotes Proverbs 3:5, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Both characters struggle with letting God have control of their lives and acknowledging Him in their everyday actions. Emily is frequently putting God on the back burner, so to speak, and we see that she struggles because of it.
The story is good, the characters are lovable, and the plot is great. I do, however, wish the ending would have been a little different. I won't give away any plot spoilers, but I was a little disappointed with the conclusion of the problems, right before the happy ending. It still doesn't change my mind about this book, it's simply a great, easy read!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/great-catch-lorna-seilstad/1100190555?ean=9781441232694&itm=3&
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Making Waves (Lake Manawa Summer series #1)
This is the first book I've read by Lorna Seilstad. The first in the Lake Manawa Summers series, this book was delightful and had a great message expertly weaved into the story.
Marguerite Westing is an adventurous, kind, fiercely loyal daughter of Camille and Edward Westing. She especially chafes at the social constructs she is bound to. Anything she is told she can't do, she becomes determined to do it. That is no different when she decides she wants to learn to sail.
Trip Andrews, Phillip Sutton Andrews the Third, is the handsome sailing instructor. After his initial meeting with Marguerite, when she fell into the lake and he heroically jumped in to rescue her, he never expected to see her again. When her little brother Mark comes to take sailing lessons, he never expects who the real student is.
To avoid giving away too much of the plot, I'll summarize here. Through a series of events, Marguerite learns that lies, even the "little white" kind, can have major consequences. With the help of Trip and Lilly, her maid, Marguerite learns to trust God in all aspects of her life, and that God hates lying.
This book was fantastic. I devoured it in one day. You'll want to laugh, cry, and get angry with Marguerite and Trip as they embark on their adventure and find themselves immersed in God's love and love for each other. I can't wait to read the next 2 books in the series!
Check it out here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/making-waves-lorna-seilstad/1103080921?ean=9781441213754
Marguerite Westing is an adventurous, kind, fiercely loyal daughter of Camille and Edward Westing. She especially chafes at the social constructs she is bound to. Anything she is told she can't do, she becomes determined to do it. That is no different when she decides she wants to learn to sail.
Trip Andrews, Phillip Sutton Andrews the Third, is the handsome sailing instructor. After his initial meeting with Marguerite, when she fell into the lake and he heroically jumped in to rescue her, he never expected to see her again. When her little brother Mark comes to take sailing lessons, he never expects who the real student is.
To avoid giving away too much of the plot, I'll summarize here. Through a series of events, Marguerite learns that lies, even the "little white" kind, can have major consequences. With the help of Trip and Lilly, her maid, Marguerite learns to trust God in all aspects of her life, and that God hates lying.
This book was fantastic. I devoured it in one day. You'll want to laugh, cry, and get angry with Marguerite and Trip as they embark on their adventure and find themselves immersed in God's love and love for each other. I can't wait to read the next 2 books in the series!
Check it out here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/making-waves-lorna-seilstad/1103080921?ean=9781441213754
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