A Walk along the Beach, "book" #29

 

I put book in quotation marks above because while this IS a book, I listened to it on CD on my way over to east Tennessee last week.  Captivating, holding to the end, to say the least!

The Lakey sisters are perfect opposites. After their mother died and their father was lost in grief, Willa had no choice but to raise her sister, Harper, and their brother, Lucas. Then, as an adult, she put her own life on hold to nurse Harper through a terrifying illness. Now that Harper is better and the sisters are living as roommates, Willa has realized her dream of running her own bakery and coffee shop, bringing her special brand of caretaking to the whole Oceanside community. Harper, on the other hand, is always on the go. Overcoming a terrible illness has given her a new lease on life, and she does not intend to waste it. When Harper announces her plan to summit Mount Rainier, Willa fears she may be pushing herself too far. Harper, for her part, urges Willa to stop worrying and do something outside of her comfort zone - like taking a chance on love with a handsome new customer. Sean O'Malley is as charming as he is intriguing - a freelance photographer whose assignments take him to the ends of the earth. Soon Willa's falling for him in a way that is both exciting and terrifying. But life has taught Willa to hedge her bets, and she wonders whether the potential heartache is worth the risk. Life has more challenges in store for them all. But both sisters will discover that even in the darkest moments, family is everything. (picture and description from Amazon)

Next up I am actually trying to read two books at the same time, and my Bible, so I guess that counts as three?!?  Not sure I can do this, but we will try!

So excited about Book Club next month because I think we have new friends joining us! 

Keep Reading!

O:)

Melissa

The Inheritance, book #28

 

Read another absolutely wonderful novel by my fav Tamara Alexander!  This was a stand alone (not in a series) but she never fails to entertain.

Determined to tame her fourteen-year-old younger brother’s rebellious streak, twenty-three-year-old McKenna Ashford accepts her cousin’s invitation to move west and start over. McKenna arrives only to find that her cousin and her cousin's husband have died, leaving their five-year-old daughter an orphan—and that life in Copper Creek, Colorado, is far from what she expected.  McKenna struggles with her sudden new role as the guardian of two children. Shouldering burdens beyond her years, McKenna tries to be the parent Robert needs instead of the older sister he resents. But her “untimely inheritance” challenges her resolve at every turn, while also offering a second chance to restore her sense of trust—and perhaps even her heart.

  U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon is dedicated to bringing fugitives to justice, yet years of living on the trail have taken their toll, and he finds himself at a crossroads. He's brought countless men to justice, but he questions what lasting good he has accomplished. When his path intersects that of young Robert Ashford, Wyatt glimpses himself, years ago, in the boy's pride and arrogance. He also sees a boy without a firm hand in his life. His well-meant attempt to help Robert brings him face-to-face with the one situation he never wanted to encounter—and the one woman who holds the key to helping him find his future.  As McKenna struggles to let go of her independence and Wyatt considers opening his heart again, they discover an inheritance beyond imagination—but it will come at a price.  (picture and description at Amazon)

Keep reading!

O:)

Melissa

Find Your People, book #27

 

This summer while I was off on my half summer break ;) I felt a really calling to get more involved at church and meet new people.  I was also thinking about what on earth I'm going to do when my little people are gone:

I found out about this Bible Study some ladies at the church were doing and decided to jump in.  Was it scary at 55 to go to someone's house you had never been to before ~ where you know absolutely no one?  100%!!   But I did it and in the process made about 7 new friends!  We all bonded quickly as we all just dropped our facades and just called lonliness, hurt, fear, friendlessness what it is.  I was floored that during the first meeting we just laid all our pretenses down and jumped right in!  

If you are feeling sad and lonely and friendless, I highly recommend you pick up this book and read it!  Pray over it, take it in, make it work for you!  Even though school/work has started back up, and I'm taking kids to college every week, I'm excited for September to get here to find a way to meet with my new friends and develop those deep friendships, even if they do live 30 mins away in Columbia!  

In a world that’s both more connected and more isolating than ever before, we’re often tempted to do life alone, whether because we’re so busy or because relationships feel risky and hard. But science confirms that consistent, meaningful connection with others has a powerful impact on our well-being. We are meant to live known and loved. But so many are hiding behind emotional walls that we’re experiencing an epidemic of loneliness.

 

In Find Your People, bestselling author Jennie Allen draws on fascinating insights from science and history, timeless biblical truth, and vulnerable stories from her own life to help you:

• overcome the barriers to making new friends and learn to initiate with easy-to-follow steps

• find simple ways to press through awkward to get to authentic in conversations

• understand how conflict can strengthen relationships rather than destroy them

• identify the type of friend you are and the types of friends you need

• learn the five practical ingredients you need to have the type of friends you’ve always longed for

 

You were created to play, engage, adventure, and explore—with others. In Find Your People, you’ll discover exactly how to dive into the deep end and experience the full wonder of community. Because while the ache of loneliness is real, it doesn’t have to be your reality.  (Picture and description from Amazon)

Keep Reading ~ you never know where you next adventure will lead you!

Melissa

If I Run ~ If I'm Found ~ If I Live, books #24-26

 

Oh Terri Blackstock, I have MISSED you!!!  It has been too long since I read one of her books, and it will NOT be this long again!!!

We are in the process of a little restart with our Book Club, and we wanted to get back to the heart of what we were about.  I decided to pick a Terri Blackstock murder mystery, since it had been so long since we read any of hers and I'm so glad I did! The thrill, the nonstop action, the forgiveness, repentence, love, restoration and justice.  

Sadly, although we were only supposed to read book 1 in this series, Terri is known for leaving you hanging in all the books until the end.  So if you so pick up a book of hers, make sure you wait until the entire series is done or you will go bonkers.  Luckily I had purchased the set on my Kindle so I could just trudge on through.  Needless to say, I highly recommend this!!

Casey knows the truth. But it won’t set her free.  Casey Cox’s DNA is all over the crime scene. There’s no use talking to police; they’ve failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she’s arrested . . . or worse. The truth doesn’t matter anymore.  But what is the truth? That’s the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren’t adding up.  Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan’s skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn’t guilty, why did she run?  Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices: the girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.  (picture and description from Amazon)

I can't wait to see what we might read next month ... or what I might jump into next! :)

Keep Reading!

Melissa