Sweet Sanctuary

by Sheila Walsh, Cindy Martinusen Coloma

Wren has tried to shelter her only son from the tumult of the world. Now she's about to find sanctuary . . . in the last place she ever expected.

In tiny Cottage Cover, on the coast of Maine, Wren Evans is raising her gifted son, Charlie. A single mom, she's fought hard to give Charlie a stable, secure home life. When a prestigious music academy in Boston expresses interest in Charlie's talent, Wren is willing to move them again to make his dreams come true.

But Wren doesn't know that Charlie has been praying for her. And the answer to her son's prayers will change both of their lives. As Wren plans their move to Boston, life in Maine begins to fall apart. Her job is threatened with budget cuts, and Wren's grandmother, Ruth, arrives unannounced, with an outlandish request.

Ruth wants the family gathered together one last time, at the summer home where, years before, an accident shattered Wren's peaceful childhood. In the tumult, Wren finds a friend in a handsome, kind-hearted local, Paul Callahan.

When the family gathers in Cottage Cover, old wounds will be healed, new love will blossom, and the innocent prayers of a child will be answered in a most unexpected way.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Novels, Chick Lit, Family

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 9, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Sheila Walsh (05-07-1956) is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. A featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability, and humor with God's Word.

Author of the best-selling memoir Honestly and the Gold Medallion nominee for The Heartache No One Sees, Sheila's most recent release, The Shelter of God's Promises, has also been turned into a DVD curriculum and in-depth Bible study. The Gigi, God's Little Princess book and video series has won the National Retailer's Choice Award twice and is the most popular Christian brand for young girls in the United States.

Sheila co-hosted The 700 Club and her own show Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh. She is currently completing her Masters in Theology.

Twitter @SheilaWalsh, facebook.com/#!/sheilawalshconnects

Reviews

[ANNETTE · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about a single mother raising her son and gets overwhelmed when her 90 yr old grandmother shows up and wanting a birthday party.
There is a lot going on with this story. The main character is forced to look at her past and move ahead. The healing starts along with forgiveness.

[Sheila McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly good book. REally a lot going on with this family and especially the main character. Her grandmother is the one who keeps the family going and she is a hoot.

[Sarah Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why else would I rate a book so low but for missed potential? If you’re into God or “forgiving” people because they’re family, this book is for you.

I was really rooting for Wren most of the time. She seemed very self aware even if she wasn’t perfect. I wish we’d had more of her and Missy and her and Paul.

Her relationships with her siblings were crazy toxic and weren’t really resolved. Soooo why was Jack distant all of those years? He never says! And so Wren forgives him because she’s going through it with Charlie which I guess is ok but would have been better if there was more of an apology/explanation from Jack. And what was with the almost kiss with Logan? What was the point? And there was no pretty little bow or any kind of real resolution between Barbara and Wren and Wren just kind of went off the rails there toward the end turning super judgy and shrill.

I related to her at first but not at the end and enough with the helicopter parenting!!!

See! Look at my “issues” and that’s not even mentioning the God stuff and the prayer stuff. Now…I won’t criticize that as this book’s subcategory is “Christian” and I didn’t realize that so that’s on me. I mean…I’m an atheist. lol

But still…the writers could have spent a little more time on the conclusion and not rush the “happy ending.”

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

: I had had this book on the shelf for a while waiting for “the day” it was a rainy day and so I thought it was time to read this sweet love story. I was not disappointed because it had all of the elements of family life what is right with it and what is wrong, should I trust or not trust. Wren had all of these baggages while taking care of a young boy with special needs (in her opinion to protect him from hurt of which her life had been full from family to ex-husband.) In this setting she finds that her husband has been corresponding with the son, and encouraging of his son’s musical talents. Her relationship with her son Charlie was great – just the two of them. Surprise! Her grandmother came announcing that she was going to have a party and wanted all of the family to come. Now each family member is coming bearing their own luggage of memories. This book of love, disappointment, excitement, gathering of family and its needs for understanding and forgiveness made for a wonderful day of reading

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wren and her son have been living in the caretaker's cottage at Maine summer estate she and her family used to visit every summer. While Wren struggles with being a single parent, hoping that her temporary job at the library will turn permanent, she also thinks about how to nurture her son's extraordinary musical talent. Then unexpectedly her 90 year grandmother Ruth arrives at the cottage saying she would like Wren and her two siblings to gather together and give her a birthday party. Behind the request is an obvious wish that Wren, Barb, and Jack mend a rift that started years and years earlier on the evening of a very different party when young Jack disappeared and Wren was blamed. Family dysfunction, guilt, blame, and a young mother's need to make the best life possible for her son and herself all blend together with a bit of romance in this easy to read novel. That the setting includes both water and books makes it all the more delightful for me.

[Khristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

autistic representation was not good but the message was good

Psalms 27. Thank you for bringing this to us. However i would remiss not to mention the representation of autistic children in this depiction. It was not good. I would look deeply to see if it is helpful and glorifying God to show this boy as irredeemable.

[Elise Basiletti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet little book. A pleasant read. The character development and the growth in the characters were lacking and I didn't feel very intrigued by the plot, but it did have a good message of relationships that are unhealthy and healthy

[Diane Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely Journey

This story was an amazing saga of the journey from hopelessness to glistening Hope, and from brokenness in heart and relationships to healing and connection all through the love and grace of God

[Rachael Cornell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet book, but very different from what I normally read so it took me a little bit to get into. I wasn’t very intrigued by the plot or the characters, but there were some really great messages about forgiveness, God’s consistent presence in your life, and healthy family relationships.

[TransparentFilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I don't know why I waited so long to read this book. I read one other that was by Sheila Walsh and enjoyed it thoroughly. This was the same. I give it 3.5 stars.

[Daisey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet romance and reconciliation. Clean.

[Carrie Billig · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Codi Lessner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Very good book. I puke like to have more about these characters.

[Amy Roelant]

Nice read from author I hadn't read before. Dysfunctional family comes together to throw 90th birthday party for aunt and main character is single mom of musical prodigy. Related to her as she worked in a library. Kind of sappy ending.

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Sanctuary is the story of Wren and her son Charlie. They haven't had it easy. Their lives have led them through a series of events that have left them estranged from all other family. Wren and Charlie have never really put down ties anywhere and they are on the verge of another move. Charlie has been praying that God will help his mommy be happy again. God works in mysterious ways, as we all know, and Wren's life begins to crumble around her. I've certainly had those times when nothing is going my way! In the midst of adversity, Wren turns to God. As He breaks down the walls and barriers she has built, things begin to fall into place and His plan becomes evident.

I don't usually delve into personal topics when I review a book but I have to tell you that this book was personal for me. The first thing to pop out at me was the details about Wren and Charlie's sensitive natures. Speedy and I can certainly relate to them and their struggle to embrace their own personalities without discounting those that are different from them. In our home Apple and Daddy have similar natures and sensitivity and emotion fall somewhere else on the scale for them. It feels like the 4 of us are constantly adjusting and striving to understand each other better so I certainly felt a kinship with Wren. Also Wren really struggles with worry. She over and over imagines these horrible scenarios! Oh my goodness, I totally do that! The whole book she is reminded again and again that worry is no use to us. Our faith and trust should be in the Lord and there's no place for anxiety and worry in that faith. I loved watching Wren's walls come down. God spends lots of time showing me mine and gently steering me towards ridding myself of them.

I tend to figure out the path of books very near the beginning and that can make books a bore sometimes. Sweet Sanctuary had none of that! I was holding my breath until the very end to see how it would all play out! I got very involved in this book and read it in only 2 days because I needed to know the ending! Sheila Walsh and Cindy Martinusen-Coloma get a A++++++++ on this one!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Jade Eby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally published at my blog Chasing Empty Pavements

Wren ( love her name) is a single mom to Charlie and the pair of them live in small town Maine. When her grandmother Ruth shows up unannounced and demands a family gathering for her birthday party, Wren fears the worst as the entire family hasn't gotten along in years because of deep rooted secrets.

The Good: Wren is exactly like me minus all the Christian stuff. She is a librarian, (I wish that was my job!) she loves books and refers to her favorite characters when trying to solve problems. She is detailed oriented, an early bird and loves her coffee. I loved Wren if she hadn't talked to God every 10th sentence. I also love one of the main themes that the novel brought up. Technology. Wren struggles with the ever changing, aggressive and impeding technology especially when related to library and books. She makes a statement about the look, smell and feel of books and a library and she can't fathom how anyone could ever want to replace it with computers or e-readers. I agree. Right now I can't fathom going completely electronic. I hate the idea. I like that they addressed it in the novel.

The Bad: I have to say that every 5th or 6th page I was literally skipping passages because of the latent and overbearing religious themes. It was God this and God that. I COULD NOT STAND IT. It didn't even seem to fit into the story. It was like the authors were trying to write a compelling story, remembered that they were Christian writers and had to quick add in passages. They were out of place and really not needed. Besides the religious stuff, the entire novel we know that the MC Wren is harboring a secret...and the way they build it up makes it seem like its going to be this really tragic awful secret. I just wasn't impressed with the "secret" and all that it supposedly caused.

Like I said earlier, it's so hard to review this book because I loved some aspects so fiercely but on the same strand there were so many things I could not stand. I would give this book a D because there were more things I disliked about it than enjoyed.

**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Iola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wren is a single mother, raising 10-year-old Charlie alone after his father abandoned them both when Charlie was three months old, signing over his parental rights along with the divorce. She has struggled over the years to reclaim her faith and to survive financially, and is now working as a librarian in a small town in coastal Maine. The two live in the caretakers’ cottage on the property of the family holiday home, which has been unused since Wren was a child. She is surprised on morning by an unplanned visit from her grandmother, Ruth, who wants to get her three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren together for her upcoming 90th birthday party, in an effort to heal the family relationships that were broken long ago.

Meanwhile, Wren is preoccupied by problems with Charlie and problems at work. Charlie is an accomplished violinist with the opportunity to study at a prestigious music school in Boston, but that would mean moving and be a financial challenge. Charlie is also having problems with his best friend at school, whose mother happens to be Wren’s prayer partner. Wren is surprised to find that Derek, her ex-husband, has been in contact with Charlie without her knowledge or permission, and wonders how she is meant to deal with the fact that he appears to want a relationship with them. She is also surprised to be asked out by a man from work, and unbelieving at the workplace gossip that Paul, the handsome café owner, might be interested in her. As the novel progresses, Wren is encouraged by others to trust in God, and challenged around some of her long-held beliefs about family relationships.

This book was written entirely from Wren’s point of view. I found it a refreshing changing to find a modern writer who does not engage in ‘head hopping’, or continually changing points of view from character to character. Changing point of view, when done well, can add immeasurably to the understanding of the different characters in a novel, but when done badly I find it confusing. By writing exclusively from Wren’s point of view, I gained a deeper understanding of her problems, including her questions about her interactions and relationships with other people. It was also nice to see her relationship with Paul develop despite her concerns.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

[Belindachaplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book by Sheila Walsh and Cindy Martinusen-Coloma, "Sweet Sanctuary" is a novel about family, love, regrets and forgiveness. Set in Cottage Cove, Maine, the lives of single mom Wren and her gifted son Charlie are interrupted by the arrival of Wren's Grandma Ruth. Wren and Charlie have been staying in the caretaker's cottage on the holiday estate of her mother, just while they are trying to figure things out. The plot thickens when Ruth announces that she hasn't just come for a visit, but wants to throw a grand 90th birthday party using the main house as the setting...

Wren knows this is a terrible idea, as the estate was the setting for a horrible incident from their childhood: her brother disappeared for two days during a family reunion, while Wren was supposed to be keeping an eye on him. During the search her father was injured and he was never the same... And the last time her brother, sister and she were together was for their father's funeral held in the same place... During the funeral, they had a big blow out, which has meant they haven't been touch much over the last 15 years since then. But Ruth is insistent, and Wren decides to humour her, all the while hoping she can change her mind.

As the story of Ruth's party unfolds so does a potential love interest for Wren: Paul the local fisherman come restauranteur. His interest in Wren starts as a friendship, but develops quickly into something else...read the book to find out the rest of the story!

I really enjoyed this book, the plot had lots of twists, the characters were real: you really wanted to find out what was going to happen next in their lives. The message throughout the book was one of finding ways to forgive, making place for family in your life, not focusing on what could be, but making an effort to make things happen. I love the fact that although it is a work of fiction, you felt like it moved you to make your life better, to live out the forgiveness we all need, and love deeper and better, without hesitation.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good enriching read!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet Sanctuary by Sheila Walsh & Cindy Martinusen Coloma


Wren Evans has a complicated life. She is working hard at the local library to make ends meet and support her gifted son while trying to get him into a music school. She has the full load of responsibility as she has been divorced from her son’s father and has not heard from him in almost ten years. Then all of a sudden he is in the picture, wanting to get to know his son. Throw in a man or two who show a romantic interest in her and life is just about as full as it can get. Add to that the fact that Wren’s grandmother turns up on her doorstep and wants to plan a family reunion with Wren and her siblings who barely speak to each other and you have more than one person can handle. Wren finds herself trying to balance all the different aspects of her life while also trying to learn to let God be in control. Not an easy task.

I found the writing of the book to be good and the story flowed easily enough to allow me to read it in one sitting although I did notice a few grammatical errors that were not caught in editing. As the pace stepped up and moved from event to event I found myself just wanting to get to the part of the story where I would connect with the characters and become emotionally involved. Unfortunately this did not happen. Bottom line, I did not find it a compelling read—instead I found my reaction to the family dynamics leaving me feeling rather depressed and let down by the end of the book.

I received this complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson Publishing through their BookSneeze program. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed here are my own.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

she is raising her son alone, her x is living in another country but just got in touch with their son via facebook which she didnt know. he sent him a flier to go to a music thing near him

she is working in a library that is not doing well. she did not get a increase in salary or hours. she doesnt date but for some reason agreed to go out with a man she didnt like who wants new technology instead of the books she loves at the library, instead of the nicer man that works there

her 90yr old grandma showed up unexpectedly for her b day party which she knew nothing about. she wants the whole family invited but there are issues im not sure about yet with people not liking each other or some kind of argument. she also met some lady who knew her parents before her dad died that alluded to some kind of secret she wasnt aware of about her dads accident

the secret was it wasnt her fault for not watching the brother, he hid on purpose in some old ladies house. so he was really responsible for the dads accident and death

then her son and his friend got lost at sea in a boat. she prayed and they were found safe. she told the boy who was watching them (her nephew) she was sorry she yelled at him and that it wasnt his fault and she knew how he felt.

the man at the restaurant and her are getting into a relationship and she decided not to move to the big city.

her grandma confessed she was really 91 and just wanted to get the family back together. her boyfriend showed up and proposed and she accepted.

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It didn't send me to the top of a mountain with joy and inspiration, or onto some soapbox, or sobbing in the depths of despair. For me, it was just a pleasant read, with a bit of inspiration and a few nuggets of wisdom to ponder.

I could identify with Wren as she tried to keep God front and center in her life and decisions, but struggled with the reality of that. "Missy had sent a text the night before that asked if she'd memorized Psalm 27 yet. Wren hadn't read it even once."

And a nugget that hit a little too close to home:
"As Ruth had pointed out, Wren knew her worries never produced anything of value.
Yet her worries gave her some misguided sense of control. If she could worry about it, then she could prepare for it. Today was the perfect example of how her fears did nothing to prepare her for the real challenges of life."

There was one thing that greatly annoyed me about this book. The authors give teaser after teaser about some tragic event of the past that changed everyone's life. I don't know how many teasers there were before they finally revealed what happened that day, but I know there were way too many for me.

All in all, though, this book is an example of the reason I read fiction. An interesting story, a few things to think about, and a couple of evenings enjoyed.


I received this book free as part of the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.

[Jacque Stengel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wren and her son, Charlie have been muddling along in Maine without the help of anyone. When her grandmother arrives on her doorstep demanding a party, her son wanting to move to the big city for school and the threat of more family dysfunction and fights on the horizon, Wren isn't sure where to turn. She knows she doesn't want another man in her life, but Paul seems to have the right answers at the right time. Can she face the past and come to terms with answers she may not want or is time to sprout those wings and fly away?








My Take:




This is not a simple book to sink your teeth into. There are a lot of unsaid questions at the beginning of the book to try and hook you into reading it all. I did think there were a few scenes that could have been dealt with better (maybe more thoroughly exploring the issue), but for the most part a well written suspenseful romance. If you are looking for strictly romance, I would shy away from this one, because there is much more to this story. Forgiveness seems to be the key word in this book, and this is one area in which I wish the authors would have shown a bit more like adding more key scriptures and spiritual guidance. I'd recommend this book for anyone who is weathering their own storms in life and needs to find shelter or for anyone looking for something a little more challenging to read.

[Beth Peninger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wren (love the name, so quirky and unique!) is a single mom of Charlie and runs away from hard situations. She lands at the seaside town that her family used to vacation at when she was younger. For the past year she has carved out a life for she and Charlie in this quaint Maine village. In a quick series of events Wren is forced to examine her past, her faith, and the unknowns of her present and future. Ultimately what is needed most is forgiveness and the healing that comes from it.
I thought I would like Sweet Sanctuary much better than I actually did. The storyline has a lot of promise as do the characters but in the end I felt dissatisfied. The story and its characters lacked the depth that I think the book had the potential to deliver. It isn't that the writing is bad and Walsh and Coloma are both accomplished writers so perhaps it was the combining of both of them to co-author this book.
What I regret about this book was its inability to suck me in as I was hopeful it would. With that being said I still enjoyed it as a pleasant, no brainer read.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on goodreads giveaways, and I was unsure about how excited I was for it. I thought it was going to be one of those books that are just whatever, good stuff, but nothing too great.
I was so wrong, this book was great, :). It started off a bit slow for me, but I'm also used to reading thriller/mystery books, rather than heartwarming woman's fiction. The relationship between Wren and Charlie was amazing and I just fell in love with the characters.
I want to read this book again, for sure. My only poor critique is that the foreshadowing was slightly annoying. I wanted more delatils about 'that awful weekend' they kept hinting at, but it wasn't explained until until the end... Which, I understand, is to build suspense and whatnot but for me it was a tad irritating. I would have preferred slight details that still hid what happened while still giving the reader something to hold onto. Other than that- good stuff. :)

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review:

Wren passed through life carrying a lot of guilt. While a sweet God-loving woman, she could not let go of her past hurts enough to forgive herself, her family or her ex-husband. She tends to put a shell around herself and her son to protect them from further hurt. As the story goes on and other characters are introduced, Grandma Ruth, Wren's sister Barb and brother Jack, Paul, the author does a good job of intertwining them and building the history. I'm not sure what was missing but this just didn't have the WOW factor for me. It was predictable throughout and maybe that was the issue. There's a little bit of anguish, romance, mystery of sorts so it was a pleasant read, just a little disappointing!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook for the purpose of review as part of the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze program. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Wren as a mom and friend. She's devoted to her son without being an overbearing or spoiling mom. She's a true friend even when things become difficult. I also loved how real she was in not knowing how to go about dating or for that matter if she should date someone. Wren was basically a well developed character that was true to life.
Although Grandma Ruth just shows up and pretty much demands a party, Wren agrees out of love for her grandmother. She has no real desire to spend time with her siblings but she is willing to do so for her grandmother. Wren's a woman that I can respect for making the right decisions even though they are not easy ones.
This was one of those books that once I got started I had to finish it today. There was no waiting until tomorrow to see what would happen. I will be looking for more works by Sheila Walsh & Cindy Martinusen-Coloma.

[Alena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways. It was a perfectly pleasent break from some of the heavier literary fiction I've been reading. The plot if somewhat predictable -- Wren is a single mother,struggling to do right for her son and denying her attraction to the dashing Paul. Crisis comes in the form of her damaged family and she must figure out how to move forward.
What was unusual for me was the presence of faith and prayer in the narrative. I admit I was jarred out of the story the first few times, but once I got into the groove, I found this dimension of Wren's character interesting.
I do wish the authors trusted themselves more to get their message across without beating me over the head with it, especially at the end. I don't like when the "author's message" is spelled out so blatantly.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story of consequences of the decisions we make and how they can change the way we look at each other. Wren carries the guilt of not watching her younger brother at a family reunion when she is but 11 years old, and feels the weight of her mother's judgement. Her marriage fails, her relationship with her siblings is distant, yet she loves her son deeply and fully. Her grandmother shows up one day to announce that she would like a birthday celebration for her 90th birthday, and this leads to reconcilliation with her siblings. She also finds forgiveness in secrets revealed, and ammends offered. Along the way she is also able to open her heart to romance, and finds sancutuary in the place she calls home.

[Kittybchelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book...so much in fact that I might just read it again! Wren, is a sweet mother who lovingly cares for her only son. The pages are filled with heart-wrenching thoughts and oozed with details of a mother's unconditional love. I just wished the author would have included more meat with other things like her romance with Paul. If Paul were real, I would like to meet him. :) He seems like a dream.

As far as the overall book goes, I felt like I was in Wren's shoes. It is written in a way that makes you feel involved, like you're there. The scenery details and imagery makes the book come alive and the characters go along well with everything. It was hard to put down and sad to end. I wish the ending was longer.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Sanctuary caught my attention because of its setting. I grew up near Boston and spent a lot of time in Maine during summer vacations. Walsh and Coloma’s description of Cottage Cove reminds me an awful lot of Northeast Harbor, just eighty miles south on the coastline. The familiar landscape made the story resonate with me in a way it might not have otherwise. I also enjoyed the literary and film references dropped every once in a while, including a salute to The Princess Bride, which, as I have stated before, improves any book.

Continue reading this review here: http://parchmentgirl.com/?p=4731