Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate

Overview: Every Once in a Blue Moon Your Heart Waits at a Crossroads.

Seattle architect Heather Hampton, a trip back to tiny Moses Lake, Texas, is hardly in the plan. Yet because a promotion hinges on the sale of the family farmland, Heather heads to the last place she ever wanted to go. She's determined to return home, signed contract in hand, the next day.

But the currents of Moses Lake take visitors on unexpected journeys. As Heather's stay lengthens, she discovers a family steeped in secrets and an unexpected connection to local banker Blaine Underhill, despite his opposition to Heather's project. With each new revelation and question, Heather can't help but wonder if the handsome banker--and the family she has come to know again--are crooks or crusaders. Somehow she must find out the truth before she loses everything she has worked for and everything she's found on the shores of Moses Lake.

ISBN-13: 9780764208225

Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

Publication date: 2/1/2012

Series: Moses Lake Series , #2

Pages: 384

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My Review: This book took me a while to get into...like over halfway through the book. The story wasn't bad. I was interested enough to keep reading, but I wasn't involved in the story until the half way point. Then, I couldn't put it down. 

For most of the story, I found Heather to be childish, selfish, and annoying. I understood her reasoning for being the way she was, but it still bothered me. I wanted her to look, REALLY LOOK, at the people around her and how they perceived her, rather than how she perceived them. The secondary characters, the uncs mainly, provided a sort of relief to the story. I loved Blaine's "all-American good boy" character. The romance kind of seemed forced, though.

The message was my favorite part of this story. "In keeping my defenses high, in striving to maintain a self-sufficient, ordered, controlled life that contained minimal risk, I was missing everything that mattered most. A well-lived life, an authentic life, involved risks - and faith that allowed you to take those risks." In keeping your self locked away because of the risks involved, you are missing out on the blessings God has in store for your lives!

Overall, the book was good. I thoroughly enjoyed the message it contained and look forward to reading the third book in the series.

About the Author: Selected among BOOKLIST'S Top 10 of 2012 and Top 10 of 2013, Lisa Wingate skillfully weaves lyrical writing and unforgettable Southern settings with elements of women's fiction, history, and mystery to create stories that Publisher's Weekly calls "Masterful" and ForeWord Magazine refers to as "Filled with lyrical prose, hope, and healing.” Lisa is a journalist, an inspirational speaker, a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books, and the author of over over twenty novels and countless magazine pieces. 

Her books have held positions on many bestseller lists, both in the U.S. and internationally. She is a seven-time ACFW Carol award nominee, a Christy Award nominee, an Oklahoma Book Award finalist, a Christianity Today Book Award nominee, an Inspy Award nominee, a two-time Carol Award winner, a LORIES Best Fiction Award winner, and a Utah Library Award winner. Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, and six others, as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life.  Visit Lisa at her website: www.LisaWingate.com

Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate

Overview: Adventure is the last thing on Andrea Henderson's mind when she moves to Moses Lake. After surviving the worst year of her life, she's struggling to build a new life for herself and her son as a social worker. Perhaps in doing a job that makes a difference, she can find some sense of purpose and solace in her shattered faith.

For new Moses Lake game warden Mart McClendon, finding a sense of purpose in life isn't an issue. He took the job to get out of southwest Texas and the constant reminders of a tragedy for which he can't forgive himself.

But when a little girl is seen with the town recluse, Mart and Andrea are drawn together in the search for her identity. The little girl offers them both a new chance at redemption and hope—and may bring them closer than either ever planned.

ISBN-13: 9780764208218
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 2/1/2011
Series:Moses Lake Series , #1
Pages: 360

 See my review of Book 4 in the Moses Lake Series: Wildwood Creek

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My Review: This book started out a little slow for me. I was about a quarter of the way through before I really got interested, but after that I didn't want to put it down. The story flows smoothly enough. The author's description of the Moses Lake and Larkspur Cove communities really drew me in. I love small towns! 

The characters were well written, but I didn't feel a real connection with Bart or Andrea. I can relate to their feelings of loss, but that's really where my connection ended. I did enjoy watching Andrea begin to heal from her divorce and watching her grow as a person. However, I didn't feel like Bart grew or changed at all. Sure, he made some decisions regarding how he was handling his life, but I felt they were kind of abrupt. The secondary characters, the regulars at the Waterbird Bait and Grocery and Len and Birdie made the story far more interesting.

The reason I'm giving this book four stars is because of the message. My new favorite thing to do while reading a book is to mark passages that really speak to me. While I didn't mark up the whole book with sticky notes, I did mark several pages that I thought made excellent points. The message of the book is two-fold. Andrea realizes that having joy, real joy, in your life was a choice each of us has to make. She also has to learn that God is there, even when you can't see Him, hear Him, or when you deny He is. He is in all places and you only have to be still and listen to hear Him. Mart learns that when times get tough, it's easy to blame God instead of realizing that while we don't know why things happen, God does and you don't do any good by turning your back on your faith.

Overall, this was an enjoyable story. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

About the Author: Selected among BOOKLIST'S Top 10 of 2012 and Top 10 of 2013, Lisa Wingate skillfully weaves lyrical writing and unforgettable Southern settings with elements of women's fiction, history, and mystery to create stories that Publisher's Weekly calls "Masterful" and ForeWord Magazine refers to as "Filled with lyrical prose, hope, and healing.” Lisa is a journalist, an inspirational speaker, a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books, and the author of over over twenty novels and countless magazine pieces.

Her books have held positions on many bestseller lists, both in the U.S. and internationally. She is a seven-time ACFW Carol award nominee, a Christy Award nominee, an Oklahoma Book Award finalist, a Christianity Today Book Award nominee, an Inspy Award nominee, a two-time Carol Award winner, a LORIES Best Fiction Award winner, and a Utah Library Award winner. Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, and six others, as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life. 

• Learn more about Lisa Wingate 
• Find Lisa: Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest | Southern Belle View Blog

Wildwood Creek by Lisa Wingate

Overview: With love and loss tangled together, how was she to know where her life would lead?

Allie Kirkland has always heard the call of her father's unfinished destiny. When she's offered a production assistant's job on a docudrama filming in the hills near Moses Lake, Texas, the dream of following in her director-father's footsteps suddenly seems within reach. The reenactment of the legendary frontier settlement of Wildwood is a first step into the film industry. A summer on set in the wilderness is a small price to pay for a dream.

But in 1861, the real Wildwood held dangerous realities. Town founder Harland Delavan held helpless residents, including young Irish schoolteacher Bonnie Rose, in an iron grip. Mysterious disappearances led to myths and legends still retold in the region's folk songs. Eventually, the entire site was found abandoned.

When filming begins, strange connections surface between Allie and the teacher who disappeared over a century ago, and everyone in Wildwood—including Blake Fulton, Allie's handsome neighbor on the film set—seems to be hiding secrets. Allie doesn't know whom she can trust. If she can't find the answers in time, history may repeat itself...with the most unthinkable results.

My Review: I absolutely loved how this book was written.  Switching back and forth between Bonnie Rose and Allie Kirkland's point of view made the story more compelling. The mystery of what happened to Bonnie Rose was well written and captivating. The author chose her writing well because I did not want to put this book down. 

The romance between Blake and Allie was downplayed, and I understand why. There were so many other, more important things going on in this book that the romance would have taken away from. It was clear that they would be a good fit for each other, so I'm glad the author didn't try to force the romance into the story. 

I have mixed feelings about the character development, especially Allie. I feel like her journey of faith could have been played up a little more. There was a Christian theme to the book, but I feel it was a secondary theme to the mystery surrounding Wildwood Creek and Bonnie Rose. I would have liked to see that aspect developed a little more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Even though it is part of the Moses Lake series, this can absolutely be read as a stand alone novel. I look forward to reading more from this author.

*Thank you Bethany House for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

About the Author: Selected among BOOKLIST'S Top 10 of 2012 and Top 10 of 2013, Lisa Wingate skillfully weaves lyrical writing and unforgettable Southern settings with elements of women's fiction, history, and mystery to create stories that Publisher's Weekly calls "Masterful" and ForeWord Magazine refers to as "Filled with lyrical prose, hope, and healing.” Lisa is a journalist, an inspirational speaker, a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books, and the author of over over twenty novels and countless magazine pieces.

Her books have held positions on many bestseller lists, both in the U.S. and internationally. She is a seven-time ACFW Carol award nominee, a Christy Award nominee, an Oklahoma Book Award finalist, a Christianity Today Book Award nominee, an Inspy Award nominee, a two-time Carol Award winner, a LORIES Best Fiction Award winner, and a Utah Library Award winner. Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, and six others, as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life. 

• Learn more about Lisa Wingate 
• Find Lisa: Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest | Southern Belle View Blog 
• Purchase Wildwood Creek: B&N | CBD | Amazon