Macy
and her family vacationed at the beach house on the Carolina coast
every summer. When Macy was five, she lost a “find the most
beautiful shell” contest to her older brother. In tears, her dad
bought Macy colored pencils. A budding artist, she drew a picture in
the house's guest book.
When
they returned the next year, someone had added a drawing. Over the
years, drawing after drawing, a sort of conversation between the two
was created. She had left a photo of herself and he had done the
same.
Her
father died when Macy was in her mid teens. The devastated family
went to the beach one more time but the memories were too painful.
They didn't go back for ten years.
Five
years ago Macy had fallen for a guy who had promised to be with her
forever. But he had left right after their daughter Emma was born.
Now he was back, wanting to be in her life again.
Seemingly
out of nowhere, after ten years, Macy's mother proclaims that this
year they are going to vacation on the coast, renting the same house
for two weeks. Macy, Emma, and Macy's older brother Max, are all to
go along.
As
Macy's family returns to the guest house that holds so many memories,
she hopes to clear her mind. She needs to understand what her
relationship to Emma's father should be. She prays to God –
something she has not done in a long time. Could she find out who
her childhood artist friend is? Did she want to know who she is? Is
he married? Could he be her knight in shining armor?
There
are three men who come across Macy's path at the guest house. They
all pursue her. She wrestles with her emotions and she tries to
figure out how God is answering her prayer.
This
is a pretty well written romance novel. One incident aptly describes
Macy's life. The family goes to church while on vacation and Emma
hears a story in Sunday School. It is about building your house on
sand or on the rock. In a moment of insight, Macy realizes she has
built her house on sand. Why was she so surprised when it crashed
down on her?
Marybeth
did a great job in keeping the guest book drawing fellow a surprise
until the end.
Macy
went to the beach hoping to find her prince charming. In the time
she spent there, she found the artist she really needed, the true
Artist.
There
is a discussion guide at the end so this would be a fine choice for
romance reading groups.
Marybeth
Whalen is the wife of Curt and mom of six children. The family lives
outside Charlotte, NC. Marybeth is the author of the novels "The
Mailbox," "She Makes It Look Easy" and the upcoming
"The Guest Book". She also serves as director of She Reads,
an on line book club focused on spotlighting the best in women's
fiction. Marybeth spends most of her time in the grocery store but
occasionally escapes long enough to scribble some words. She's always
at work on her next novel. You can find her on line at
www.marybethwhalen.com.
Zondervan,
336 pages.
I
received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for
the purpose of this review.