If for Any Reason by Courtney Walsh tells the story of both Isabelle and her daughter Emily. Both stories take you on an emotional and sometimes tragic journey, but leave you with a feeling of hope and the possibility of second chances.
I
really liked the time-slip aspect of this story. It was a great way to
know Isabelle’s story without just telling us about it. I also enjoyed
the epistolary parts of this story. They showed Isabelle’s own thoughts
and became somewhat of a guide for her daughter, Emily. One of my
favorite parts of this story was when one of the character’s showed true
and complete forgiveness when he wasn’t asked to ~ if only we could all
be like that!
I
did have a few issues though. Life can sometimes get hard, especially
when we do and say careless things, but that doesn’t give us the right
to just run away from our responsibilities. Without going into details,
there were things that the characters said and did that were clearly
wrong. While they may have felt bad, there was no repentance and the
faith message was not clear enough to explain that these actions were
sins against God. I really struggled with this.
While
I did have a few issues with this book, I do seem to be in the
minority. So, if you’re looking for a story with more mature topics and
life situations that shows what true forgiveness can look like, this may
be the story for you.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Back Cover Blurb:
Emily Ackerman has traveled the world, her constant compass and companion a book of letters her mother left for her when she died. With no father in the picture, her mom’s advice has been her only true north. But when professional failure leads Emily back to Nantucket to renovate and sell the family cottage she inherited, she wonders if her mom left advice to cover this . . . especially when her grandmother arrives to “supervise.” And especially when her heart becomes entangled with Hollis McGuire, the boy next door–turned–baseball star who’s back on the island after a career-ending injury.
As sparks fly between her and Hollis, Emily is drawn to island life, even as she uncovers shocking secrets about the tragic accident that led to her mother’s death. With her world turned upside down, Emily must choose between allowing the voices from her past to guide her future or forging her own path forward.
Available in digital ebook, paperback and audiobook:
Buy If For Any Reason at Amazon
Buy If For Any Reason at Christianbook.com
Back Cover Blurb:
Emily Ackerman has traveled the world, her constant compass and companion a book of letters her mother left for her when she died. With no father in the picture, her mom’s advice has been her only true north. But when professional failure leads Emily back to Nantucket to renovate and sell the family cottage she inherited, she wonders if her mom left advice to cover this . . . especially when her grandmother arrives to “supervise.” And especially when her heart becomes entangled with Hollis McGuire, the boy next door–turned–baseball star who’s back on the island after a career-ending injury.
As sparks fly between her and Hollis, Emily is drawn to island life, even as she uncovers shocking secrets about the tragic accident that led to her mother’s death. With her world turned upside down, Emily must choose between allowing the voices from her past to guide her future or forging her own path forward.
Available in digital ebook, paperback and audiobook:
Buy If For Any Reason at Amazon
Buy If For Any Reason at Christianbook.com
I was surprised to hear it was a time-slip, thinking it was straight contemporary romance or women's fiction. So I find that intriguing! It's on my list as an audiobook!
ReplyDeletethanks so much for reviewing, Rebecca!