From the shelves of MaryLu Tyndall - Book Recommendation!

Hi everyone,  MaryLu here!  Love to read, love to write!  Love to tell others about good books. So, here we go.

Isle of Hope by Julie Lessman

She stole his heart.
He stole her peace.
Can hope steal their pain?

At the age of eighteen, Lacey Carmichael was a wild girl bent on fun, promised to Jack O'Bryen, a straight-and-narrow pastor’s kid bent on the seminary. When her father kicks her out of the house, she runs away from Isle of Hope, turning her back on everything she loves. Now, eight years later, she’s back as a woman of faith, hoping to make amends to the father she defied, the boyfriend she deserted, and the best friend she denied. Only the bridges she’s burned are still smoldering, kindled by an adulterous affair by Jack’s pastor father that damaged his son’s faith. But can a turning of tables—and hearts—lead the way back to “hope” for them all?

My Review:

Romance, Redemption and Reconciliation!  These three themes run wild through Julie Lessman’s latest book, Isle of Hope.  Known for her daring historical romances, Ms Lessman has more than proven that she can be a master of the contemporary romance genre as well!  What can I say? I’ve loved Julie’s books since she first started writing.  Her books are the type of stories that require a fire place, hot cocoa, and a comfy chair. Why? Because once you start, you won’t be able to pull yourself away from the characters. You’ll think about them after you close the book each day, longing to get back into their lives to see what happens. Then when you close that final page, you’ll miss them like good friends.

Lacy Carmichael was the wild girl in town. When she left Isle of Hope, she left behind a trail of broken hearts, lives and families. Now she’s back  Only this time Lacy has found God and is a new person, dead set on making amends. However, the boy whose heart she broke, the young man who used to love God and who intended to be a pastor, has now become the wild one in town!  All because of her!  

And as if that weren’t enough conflict, the man’s father (who was a pastor at the time) ran away with the girl’s mother!  So, it’s not like their families are exactly talking anymore. In fact Lacy’s father threw her out of the house years before. There are many relationships to mend. Many bitter hearts to heal.

Ms. Lessman is truly a master of character. She creates families that you grow to love and real people with flaws who makes mistakes, who are hurt, and in need of help and forgiveness and love. You will cry and scream and laugh as you follow the lives of two major families as they struggle along the path of forgiveness.  God’s redemptive and unconditional love is a theme throughout and one that resonated with me in my own life. 

I encourage you to pick up this book. You won’t be disappointed.