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Moses Lake #3
Firefly Island
At thirty-four, congressional staffer Mallory Hale is about to embark on an adventure completely off the map. After a whirlwind romance, she is hopelessly in love with two men--fortunately, they're related. Daniel Everson and his little boy, Nick, are a package deal, and Mallory suddenly can't imagine her future without them.
Mallory couldn't be more shocked when Daniel asks her to marry him, move to Texas, and form a family with him and motherless Nick. The idea is both thrilling and terrifying.
Mallory takes a leap of faith and begins a sweet, mishap-filled journey into ranch living, Moses Lake society, and a marriage that at times reminds her of the mail-order-bride stories. But despite the wild adventure of her new life, she discovers secrets and questions beneath her rosy new life. Can she find answers on Firefly Island, a little chunk of property just off the lakeshore, where mysterious lights glisten at night?
Mallory couldn't be more shocked when Daniel asks her to marry him, move to Texas, and form a family with him and motherless Nick. The idea is both thrilling and terrifying.
Mallory takes a leap of faith and begins a sweet, mishap-filled journey into ranch living, Moses Lake society, and a marriage that at times reminds her of the mail-order-bride stories. But despite the wild adventure of her new life, she discovers secrets and questions beneath her rosy new life. Can she find answers on Firefly Island, a little chunk of property just off the lakeshore, where mysterious lights glisten at night?
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
503 people are currently reading
2703 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Wingate
57 books13.4k followersLisa Wingate is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Before We Were Yours, which remained on the bestseller list for over two years. Her award-winning works have been selected for state and community One Book reads, have been published in over forty languages, and have appeared on bestseller lists worldwide. The group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa and six others as recipients of the National Civics Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life. She lives in Texas and Colorado with her family and her deceptively cute little teddy bear of a dog, Huckleberry. Find her at www.lisawingate.com, on Facebook at LisaWingateAuthorPage, or on Instagram @author_lisa_wingate
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
February 2, 2014
I could not put down this book. I loved the romance and the mystery. But, I also like how the authors helps us to see that when life puts us in situations we don't expect (and that happens to all of us), we should look for the good and have an adventure with it. And, how we are not alone and we can't always handle things by ourselves. We are here to help each other. Also, I like how she takes people that aren't devoutly religious, but they see how God can and does have influence in their lives.
A passage that spoke to me was; "For some reason, I thought of a tapestry in the little white church where Daniel and I had married. Jesus, gathered with a crowd of listeners, some wealthy, some in rags. All sizes, all ages, all colors, all worthy of His presence, of His attention and efforts. Why should I be any different? Why were some people worthy of my attention and not others? Why was I so afraid? Could I change? Could today be the start of a kinder, gentler me, with my eyes and hands open to new people and new adventures?"
A passage that spoke to me was; "For some reason, I thought of a tapestry in the little white church where Daniel and I had married. Jesus, gathered with a crowd of listeners, some wealthy, some in rags. All sizes, all ages, all colors, all worthy of His presence, of His attention and efforts. Why should I be any different? Why were some people worthy of my attention and not others? Why was I so afraid? Could I change? Could today be the start of a kinder, gentler me, with my eyes and hands open to new people and new adventures?"
March 18, 2021
The author has a beautiful way with words. This is more of a women's fiction with a bit of mystery, the third in a series, and I hadn't read any of the others, but that was no problem. The style was different, mostly told, but I enjoyed it.
October 14, 2018
Loved this book but did not like the ending.
February 1, 2013
Mallory Hale lives life in the fast lane, loving the hustle and bustle of Capitol Hill. She has her life all planned out. Enter Daniel Everson and his little boy, Nick. She is swept off her feet, in love and after a whirlwind romance, finds herself married and on her way to Moses Lake, Texas.
Something or someone in her new life is unsettling her and she MUST get to the bottom of the mystery. What she discovers sends her full force into saving the new life she has made.
I enjoyed this read, but it seemed to be a little slow until midway through when the action really picked up!
This ARC copy was provided by NetGalley and Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.
Something or someone in her new life is unsettling her and she MUST get to the bottom of the mystery. What she discovers sends her full force into saving the new life she has made.
I enjoyed this read, but it seemed to be a little slow until midway through when the action really picked up!
This ARC copy was provided by NetGalley and Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2017
I loved this book up to the last quarter when I fell out of the story so a 5 star became a 4.
This is the last book in the trilogy and I sure have enjoyed Moses Lake where "if you are lucky enough to be at the lake, you are lucky enough" !
This is the last book in the trilogy and I sure have enjoyed Moses Lake where "if you are lucky enough to be at the lake, you are lucky enough" !
February 8, 2024
I don't typically read religious books, but I've come to admire Wingate's stories because religion is important to a lot of people I know and love. This isn't her best effort because her main character, Mallory, is way more flighty than most of her stronger leads. But I still enjoyed the story and her focus on bringing out the good in people.
August 24, 2021
Just finished listening to the third in the Moses lake series. It was a bit predictable, but I enjoyed it. Moving on the the fourth in the series
December 21, 2013
A common theme I’m finding with Bethany House books is that they all have beautiful covers: striking photographs, a silky-smooth feel, and a satisfying shape and weight. I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but a nice cover sure does enhance my reading experience!
The book centers on Mallory, a successful and upwardly ambitious Congressional staffer who’s living up the single life in D.C. until she’s swept off her feet by a striking stranger. They enter into a whirlwind relationship and when he’s offered a seemingly top-notch job with an eccentric, wealthy researcher in Texas, she takes the plunge and marries him, becoming a step-mom to his toddler son and finding herself at loose ends getting used to small town life.
From the description on the back of the book, I expected this to be a pretty straightforward sweet romance, with some cutesy Southernisms thrown in as she acclimated to Texas. I somehow didn’t catch onto the fact that it was a mystery and somewhat of a page-turner!
Since I knew it was going to be a romance, I was okay with accepting the speedy transition from single girl to wife and mother. Daniel, the husband, was not a fully fleshed out character, but he was appealing enough to make the romance believable. I couldn’t quite believe his son Nick, though, and was really bothered by the way the author chose to transcribe his “kid speak.” It was distracting and not even that realistic to me. Other than that, their family unit was sweet and satisfying to follow.
It was fun to “get to know” the characters who inhabited Mallory’s small-town Texas, but I ended up feeling like I’d been left hanging by the way the conclusion came together. I’ll try not to give anything away, but it seemed to me like Wingate abandoned the mystery right at its climax and switched to explanatory prose in an epilogue, rather than continuing to let the reader follow along with the action. That was annoying to me. I felt like there was history with Mallory’s family and some of the other characters that was similarly brushed aside in favor of wrapping up the story, but I’m sure there’s a fine line between writing a book that reads well and writing a thousand page tome that no one will buy.
Another fun element was that Mallory becomes a blogger as she’s trying to find ways to fill her time. While her astronomical overnight success felt a bit unrealistic to me as a fellow blogger, I guess it could happen, and I was a little jealous of it!
While this was an enjoyable enough read, I found some of the plot structures to be a bit tenuous. It was as if Wingate wanted to write a book about legislation and so she had to find ways to fit that in, and it didn’t necessarily work for me. I can’t say that this book will have any sort of lasting impact on me.
The book centers on Mallory, a successful and upwardly ambitious Congressional staffer who’s living up the single life in D.C. until she’s swept off her feet by a striking stranger. They enter into a whirlwind relationship and when he’s offered a seemingly top-notch job with an eccentric, wealthy researcher in Texas, she takes the plunge and marries him, becoming a step-mom to his toddler son and finding herself at loose ends getting used to small town life.
From the description on the back of the book, I expected this to be a pretty straightforward sweet romance, with some cutesy Southernisms thrown in as she acclimated to Texas. I somehow didn’t catch onto the fact that it was a mystery and somewhat of a page-turner!
Since I knew it was going to be a romance, I was okay with accepting the speedy transition from single girl to wife and mother. Daniel, the husband, was not a fully fleshed out character, but he was appealing enough to make the romance believable. I couldn’t quite believe his son Nick, though, and was really bothered by the way the author chose to transcribe his “kid speak.” It was distracting and not even that realistic to me. Other than that, their family unit was sweet and satisfying to follow.
It was fun to “get to know” the characters who inhabited Mallory’s small-town Texas, but I ended up feeling like I’d been left hanging by the way the conclusion came together. I’ll try not to give anything away, but it seemed to me like Wingate abandoned the mystery right at its climax and switched to explanatory prose in an epilogue, rather than continuing to let the reader follow along with the action. That was annoying to me. I felt like there was history with Mallory’s family and some of the other characters that was similarly brushed aside in favor of wrapping up the story, but I’m sure there’s a fine line between writing a book that reads well and writing a thousand page tome that no one will buy.
Another fun element was that Mallory becomes a blogger as she’s trying to find ways to fill her time. While her astronomical overnight success felt a bit unrealistic to me as a fellow blogger, I guess it could happen, and I was a little jealous of it!
While this was an enjoyable enough read, I found some of the plot structures to be a bit tenuous. It was as if Wingate wanted to write a book about legislation and so she had to find ways to fit that in, and it didn’t necessarily work for me. I can’t say that this book will have any sort of lasting impact on me.
March 5, 2013
Simply put, I loved Lisa Wingate's latest release. The beginning hooked me right away with Mallory's hurried marriage and sudden move across the country. That piece of the story has a fun "mail-order bride" feel. But even more than that, I so appreciated the voice in Lisa's writing...it was lilting and reflecting and heart-tugging. Mallory was so honest--painfully so, at times. I liked the "Pioneer Woman" touch, too. The storyworld was also fabulous. Definitely felt like I was in Texas. :)
September 7, 2021
This is third and last in the Moses Lake inspirational trilogy. Story has great characters as well as wonderful quotes ~ all posted on the Wall of Wisdom of the “Waterbird” Bate and Grocery Store, Moses Lake, Texas.
I read the other two in this series and found them enjoyable. There are a few recurring characters but basically a reader can read out of order.
Love that the ‘Waterbird’ is a recurring feature. There should be an addendum to these stories with a list of all the quotes. One of the best is “If you are lucky enough to be in Moses Lark ~ you are lucky enough!
This story features Mallory Hale, a thirty-four year old Congressional Staffer in DC. She falls in love with Daniel Everson and his adorable four- year old motherless son Nick.
He asks Mallory to married him and move to Moses Lake, TX. She is head-over-heels in love, so says yes! Hmmm Moses Lake is about as far as one can get from DC’s life style. Mallory finds herself trying to be a ‘frontier woman’.
This is a bit of mystery around land owner Jack West.
I enjoyed this more than I thought.
Love Mallory, the frontier woman from DC.
The mystery part was great and especially liked that it connected Mallory to her dad and her DC experiences.
Now have to start another Lisa Wingate series perhaps the ‘Blue Sky Hill’ series.
I read the other two in this series and found them enjoyable. There are a few recurring characters but basically a reader can read out of order.
Love that the ‘Waterbird’ is a recurring feature. There should be an addendum to these stories with a list of all the quotes. One of the best is “If you are lucky enough to be in Moses Lark ~ you are lucky enough!
This story features Mallory Hale, a thirty-four year old Congressional Staffer in DC. She falls in love with Daniel Everson and his adorable four- year old motherless son Nick.
He asks Mallory to married him and move to Moses Lake, TX. She is head-over-heels in love, so says yes! Hmmm Moses Lake is about as far as one can get from DC’s life style. Mallory finds herself trying to be a ‘frontier woman’.
This is a bit of mystery around land owner Jack West.
I enjoyed this more than I thought.
Love Mallory, the frontier woman from DC.
The mystery part was great and especially liked that it connected Mallory to her dad and her DC experiences.
Now have to start another Lisa Wingate series perhaps the ‘Blue Sky Hill’ series.
July 7, 2023
This book was very - moderately paced
She meets and marries the guy within the first 40 pages of the book.
And then the rest of the book is a mystery of who’s political scandal can we unravel, and things get weird and there’s rumors of a murder or two murders actually .
She meets and marries the guy within the first 40 pages of the book.
And then the rest of the book is a mystery of who’s political scandal can we unravel, and things get weird and there’s rumors of a murder or two murders actually .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2024
I’m definitely a Lisa Wingate fan which is why I only gave 4 stars to this book; it definitely did not measure up to the other ones that I read. I found myself yelling at her main character, Mallory for not standing up for herself. I felt that the ending was rushed and lack-luster.
March 6, 2018
“How often ... do we pass by a need, a life that could be changed with the smallest bit of effort? And it's not that we don't care but that we're driving so fast, all we see are the fence posts flashing by on the side of the highway?
Love, love this.
Love, love this.
April 24, 2018
This really should have been a 5 star book but a couple of continuity errors bumped it down to 4. Great book though!
April 1, 2021
My favorite book in this series so far. A great mix of romance and mystery!
August 30, 2022
Was an ok book not one of my favorites from this author
August 31, 2022
3.5 stars. This is my favorite so far in the Moses Lake series. I liked that it was not a love story that led to a wedding but a wedding and then it followed the couple after-when the work really happens.
March 21, 2017
I love her kind of suspense! Besides, I love how the main character finally found where she fit in and what God's plan was for her.
February 23, 2013
"Mallory, a smart woman doesn't settle for a man, just to have a man. That's like buying shoes just because they're cheap. If they don't fit, what good are they?
You wait for fireworks!"
Great advice from Mallory Hale's grandmother and one she finds she must follow through with despite all her unsuccessful romances with men up to this point. But when a chance encounter with a handsome, green-eyed man keeps coming back to her wishing she would have made a point to talk to him and get his number, she wonders if she'll ever see him again.
Her best friend Kaylyn believes in fate and in way too many romance stories she reads all the time, and bets Mallory that she will not only meet this mystery man again but that he asks her out before the month is over. All that is on the line is a year's supply of romance novels for Kaylyn. Mallory feels it's a sure bet. Yet not only does she meet Daniel Webster Everson again, but he does ask her out. More than just once. In fact within a month they are dating exclusively and she finds herself falling in love with him but his 3-year-old son, Nick as well.
Just when the happily ever after is about to commence, Daniel receives a phone call that will literally change their entire lives. A job offer. In Texas. They both live in Washington D.C. Soon that fairy tale romance is about to fade into history when Daniel asks her to come with them. To marry him. His new job is working for a man named Jack West, the owner of tiny, but well funded, West Research. He felt that Daniel's work with genetically modified grains would fit nicely into West's master plan to develop super crops and super growth environments designed to produce food in the increasingly harsh conditions of a world plagued with erratic weather.
But when the family arrives, they soon find out that there is more to this offer than they thought. First the house that is included in the deal is less than liveable, unless you find sharing the home with scorpions, mice and a handful of other insects and the elusive Jack West warns them that they are not allowed on Firefly Island or in Jack's little house that remains locked up. Mallory has been given a handful of information from one of her brother in laws who's a reporter that Jack West was married and had a son. But both of them disappeared and no one knows what happened.
Pretty soon Mallory gets a feeling that there is more going on in the small town of Moses Lake than what she's been lead to believe. No one the town's residents will take about Jack West. When her trailer gets a flat after going in to town to gather groceries, and she's given a ride home, even the driver won't enter the property and just leaves Mallory's groceries and supplies next to the fence outside of her property. Just what is really going on with Jack West? Why all the secrecy about Firefly Island? What is with the floating lights she sees at night on the island? Is Jack West a murderer who has managed to evade the police after all these years? You'll need to pick up novel to find out!
I received Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. Having read the other two books in the Moses Lake Series, Larkspur Cove and Blue Moon Bay, I knew I would once again love reading this one. First of all Lisa Wingate's writing style is so poetic at times, you can completely imagine you are at Moses Lake. The sights, sounds and people are so creatively written that you almost feel like they are being created right before your very eyes.
"I imagine that I am at home, not here in DC. I hear the waters of Moses Lake lapping at the shore, feel the rhythm of it beneath my feet. My eyes fall closed, and I drink in the water-scented Texas air, the oleander blooming, the sound of small feet tramping up the hallway, a favorite blanket dragging behind. The honey-sweet tastes of a summer morning."
From the very first page, I was captivated and the deeper you get into the relationship between Mallory and Daniel along with their son Nick, the more you become part of their lives. Lisa does an exceptional job at keeping just enough about Jack West hidden that you find yourself reading faster because you simply have to know what's going on, like a nosy neighbor who believes something is really up! While I won't spoil the novel, trust me, it's a great book to pick up for a summer day. But be warned, you won't be able to put it down! I rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and this can be read as a stand alone!
You wait for fireworks!"
Great advice from Mallory Hale's grandmother and one she finds she must follow through with despite all her unsuccessful romances with men up to this point. But when a chance encounter with a handsome, green-eyed man keeps coming back to her wishing she would have made a point to talk to him and get his number, she wonders if she'll ever see him again.
Her best friend Kaylyn believes in fate and in way too many romance stories she reads all the time, and bets Mallory that she will not only meet this mystery man again but that he asks her out before the month is over. All that is on the line is a year's supply of romance novels for Kaylyn. Mallory feels it's a sure bet. Yet not only does she meet Daniel Webster Everson again, but he does ask her out. More than just once. In fact within a month they are dating exclusively and she finds herself falling in love with him but his 3-year-old son, Nick as well.
Just when the happily ever after is about to commence, Daniel receives a phone call that will literally change their entire lives. A job offer. In Texas. They both live in Washington D.C. Soon that fairy tale romance is about to fade into history when Daniel asks her to come with them. To marry him. His new job is working for a man named Jack West, the owner of tiny, but well funded, West Research. He felt that Daniel's work with genetically modified grains would fit nicely into West's master plan to develop super crops and super growth environments designed to produce food in the increasingly harsh conditions of a world plagued with erratic weather.
But when the family arrives, they soon find out that there is more to this offer than they thought. First the house that is included in the deal is less than liveable, unless you find sharing the home with scorpions, mice and a handful of other insects and the elusive Jack West warns them that they are not allowed on Firefly Island or in Jack's little house that remains locked up. Mallory has been given a handful of information from one of her brother in laws who's a reporter that Jack West was married and had a son. But both of them disappeared and no one knows what happened.
Pretty soon Mallory gets a feeling that there is more going on in the small town of Moses Lake than what she's been lead to believe. No one the town's residents will take about Jack West. When her trailer gets a flat after going in to town to gather groceries, and she's given a ride home, even the driver won't enter the property and just leaves Mallory's groceries and supplies next to the fence outside of her property. Just what is really going on with Jack West? Why all the secrecy about Firefly Island? What is with the floating lights she sees at night on the island? Is Jack West a murderer who has managed to evade the police after all these years? You'll need to pick up novel to find out!
I received Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. Having read the other two books in the Moses Lake Series, Larkspur Cove and Blue Moon Bay, I knew I would once again love reading this one. First of all Lisa Wingate's writing style is so poetic at times, you can completely imagine you are at Moses Lake. The sights, sounds and people are so creatively written that you almost feel like they are being created right before your very eyes.
"I imagine that I am at home, not here in DC. I hear the waters of Moses Lake lapping at the shore, feel the rhythm of it beneath my feet. My eyes fall closed, and I drink in the water-scented Texas air, the oleander blooming, the sound of small feet tramping up the hallway, a favorite blanket dragging behind. The honey-sweet tastes of a summer morning."
From the very first page, I was captivated and the deeper you get into the relationship between Mallory and Daniel along with their son Nick, the more you become part of their lives. Lisa does an exceptional job at keeping just enough about Jack West hidden that you find yourself reading faster because you simply have to know what's going on, like a nosy neighbor who believes something is really up! While I won't spoil the novel, trust me, it's a great book to pick up for a summer day. But be warned, you won't be able to put it down! I rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and this can be read as a stand alone!
March 5, 2017
4+Stars
March 17, 2013
My overall rating would be a 4.5 stars!
Firefly Island was a fantastic read! Lisa can weave a story that is so realistic, heart-felt, and very thought provoking! The characters are easy to relate too because they are imperfect. They are just like us in the sense that we love passionately as well as fail miserably at times like Mallory did!
I truly enjoyed Mallory's character! She was so honest with God about her struggles concerning her marriage, her identity, her pregnancy, and other issues relating to life! One of my favorite parts in the book concerning Mallory is the changing of her heart as it becomes a mother’s heart. It is so beautiful to see the transformation and the realization that we can't waste our days wishing our lives were like this or that, but enjoying the now. The sweet thing’s our children say and do for us as parents is the things that we need to stop and appreciate instead of rushing around in life! I am a currently learning this as a new mother and felt I could greatly relate to Mallory on this, especially about when getting the pregnancy test! I had to laugh because I was the same way!
One of the best things I liked about this novel is the inspiration! I felt like Lisa called and inspired her readers to step out of being an "I can do it all by myself" mindset where we don't want to leave our social clicks or ask others for help (whether we ask people in our social group or outside of it). I also felt inspired in being involved in the community. Daniel and Mallory have a conservation in the novel where they discuss about is it really worth getting involved in the affairs of Moses Lake, but Mallory comes back with this statement concerning children in low economic homes: "I don't see how I can ignore it. These are the kids Nick will go to school with. It's going to affect him, whether we want it to or not. He'll be sitting in class with the kids who didn't get enough to eat that morning, or the ones who are growing up with parents who don't care, or the ones who have been yanked back and forth between forth between foster care programs. We're involved, whether we want to be or not." This one statement is one out of many that made me have to think about different issues in my community where I could make a difference. These people will effect (and are) me as well as my family in some way and as a Christian it is my responsibility to reach out to these people and help. Lisa drives home this very strongly in her book, which despite that it was tough to swallow, I am appreciative that she addresses it!
Overall, Firefly Island is a fantastic read! It such an encouraging and inspiring book that it will not disappoint you! I recommended to anyone who is looking for a novel that has depth, romance, and mystery as well as a side of laughter!
Firefly Island was a fantastic read! Lisa can weave a story that is so realistic, heart-felt, and very thought provoking! The characters are easy to relate too because they are imperfect. They are just like us in the sense that we love passionately as well as fail miserably at times like Mallory did!
I truly enjoyed Mallory's character! She was so honest with God about her struggles concerning her marriage, her identity, her pregnancy, and other issues relating to life! One of my favorite parts in the book concerning Mallory is the changing of her heart as it becomes a mother’s heart. It is so beautiful to see the transformation and the realization that we can't waste our days wishing our lives were like this or that, but enjoying the now. The sweet thing’s our children say and do for us as parents is the things that we need to stop and appreciate instead of rushing around in life! I am a currently learning this as a new mother and felt I could greatly relate to Mallory on this, especially about when getting the pregnancy test! I had to laugh because I was the same way!
One of the best things I liked about this novel is the inspiration! I felt like Lisa called and inspired her readers to step out of being an "I can do it all by myself" mindset where we don't want to leave our social clicks or ask others for help (whether we ask people in our social group or outside of it). I also felt inspired in being involved in the community. Daniel and Mallory have a conservation in the novel where they discuss about is it really worth getting involved in the affairs of Moses Lake, but Mallory comes back with this statement concerning children in low economic homes: "I don't see how I can ignore it. These are the kids Nick will go to school with. It's going to affect him, whether we want it to or not. He'll be sitting in class with the kids who didn't get enough to eat that morning, or the ones who are growing up with parents who don't care, or the ones who have been yanked back and forth between forth between foster care programs. We're involved, whether we want to be or not." This one statement is one out of many that made me have to think about different issues in my community where I could make a difference. These people will effect (and are) me as well as my family in some way and as a Christian it is my responsibility to reach out to these people and help. Lisa drives home this very strongly in her book, which despite that it was tough to swallow, I am appreciative that she addresses it!
Overall, Firefly Island is a fantastic read! It such an encouraging and inspiring book that it will not disappoint you! I recommended to anyone who is looking for a novel that has depth, romance, and mystery as well as a side of laughter!
March 3, 2018
3.5 stars. This is book #3 in the Moses Lake series. Although you don’t have to read them in order, each book does mention the characters from the previous book(s) briefly which always put a smile on my face. And although each book is an independent novel on its own, each one does allude to The Water Bird (local restaurant and hang out) among other community info. So I do recommend reading these in order.
WHAT I LIKED: I loved most of this story. I was intrigued right away with the whirlwind romance and real life marital problem. I loved the crazy ranch house beginnings and the mysteries of Jack and his family. I thought Malory was very relatable and I was very interested in her new life unfolding. This book started off a five star book for me. And even though I thought Mallory’s quibbles were warranted, I was also encouraged that she learned to look at the positive and enjoy life and people for what it was and who they were. I think Malory grew tremendously in this new life and it was very uplifting.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: was that I spent the whole book trying to figure out all the twists and turns and I was so pumped up to find out the answers and then the ending just fell flat for me. I thought it was a bit boring and quite disappointing. The mystery itself was way more intriguing then the ending. I kept asking myself if I missed something. I also felt like the ending was very rushed and didn’t really answer all the questions I had. The story introduces what could be a murder but the question also goes unanswered. I also felt like the mystery surrounding the character, Al, just seemed a bit disjointed. It also didn’t make sense to me that she could have a possible budding romance with Jack at the end when she was out to nail his son for murder. Especially since Jack was in complete denial that his son did anything to hurt him nor would do anything to hurt anyone he loved. And what happened with the work relationship between Daniel and Jack? That seemed to be a bad working relationship that was unhealthy for his family, yet again, those answers went unanswered.
All in all, I enjoyed most of this book and found it entertaining. I almost hate to rate this as low as 3.5 stars because 90% of the book was fantastic! Perhaps other readers will not be as opinionated about the ending as I am.
I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narrator, Meredith Orlow did a phenomenal job! I give her five stars for performance! I highly recommend the audiobook version!
WHAT I LIKED: I loved most of this story. I was intrigued right away with the whirlwind romance and real life marital problem. I loved the crazy ranch house beginnings and the mysteries of Jack and his family. I thought Malory was very relatable and I was very interested in her new life unfolding. This book started off a five star book for me. And even though I thought Mallory’s quibbles were warranted, I was also encouraged that she learned to look at the positive and enjoy life and people for what it was and who they were. I think Malory grew tremendously in this new life and it was very uplifting.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: was that I spent the whole book trying to figure out all the twists and turns and I was so pumped up to find out the answers and then the ending just fell flat for me. I thought it was a bit boring and quite disappointing. The mystery itself was way more intriguing then the ending. I kept asking myself if I missed something. I also felt like the ending was very rushed and didn’t really answer all the questions I had. The story introduces what could be a murder but the question also goes unanswered. I also felt like the mystery surrounding the character, Al, just seemed a bit disjointed. It also didn’t make sense to me that she could have a possible budding romance with Jack at the end when she was out to nail his son for murder. Especially since Jack was in complete denial that his son did anything to hurt him nor would do anything to hurt anyone he loved. And what happened with the work relationship between Daniel and Jack? That seemed to be a bad working relationship that was unhealthy for his family, yet again, those answers went unanswered.
All in all, I enjoyed most of this book and found it entertaining. I almost hate to rate this as low as 3.5 stars because 90% of the book was fantastic! Perhaps other readers will not be as opinionated about the ending as I am.
I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narrator, Meredith Orlow did a phenomenal job! I give her five stars for performance! I highly recommend the audiobook version!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2016
I love Lisa Wingate's books. They are suspenseful and romantic. But above all, they are Christian in orientation. In this book, the protagonist meets and very quickly follows in love with the man of her dreams. Within a short space of time, she goes from Washington, D.C., and a life of politics to the life of a wife and mother on a ranch in Texas. Along the way she discovers many things about herself and the world around her, as well as how to trust her family and friends. This books is well worth the read!
Favorite quotes:
"It wasn’t in the tides that the breath of God could be found, I decided, but in the water itself, in the endless rhythm of it, ever present, ever constant, louder amidst the storms of life, softer in the peaceful times. Not a god only moving twice a day like the mythical Tangaroa, but a God moving countless times. Always. Continually. A God present in the deepest parts of our lives, sometimes crowded out by all the surface clutter as we stroll along the shore, our minds preoccupied with things that seem important. Then a wave rises higher than the rest, strokes soft and cool over sun-warmed skin, and we hear it again, the constant breath of God. We think, How could I not have heard that all along?"
"How often, I wondered, at the end of the story do we pass by a need, a life that could be changed with the smallest bit of effort? And it’s not that we don’t care but that we’re driving so fast, all we see are the fence posts flashing by on the side of the highway? Maybe the first step in changing the world is in slowing down and looking through the fences."
"Do you ever just have the feeling that God’s using you right where you are?"
"No one. No one but the God who knit us together, who knows the very fiber of who we are and who we can be"
Favorite quotes:
"It wasn’t in the tides that the breath of God could be found, I decided, but in the water itself, in the endless rhythm of it, ever present, ever constant, louder amidst the storms of life, softer in the peaceful times. Not a god only moving twice a day like the mythical Tangaroa, but a God moving countless times. Always. Continually. A God present in the deepest parts of our lives, sometimes crowded out by all the surface clutter as we stroll along the shore, our minds preoccupied with things that seem important. Then a wave rises higher than the rest, strokes soft and cool over sun-warmed skin, and we hear it again, the constant breath of God. We think, How could I not have heard that all along?"
"How often, I wondered, at the end of the story do we pass by a need, a life that could be changed with the smallest bit of effort? And it’s not that we don’t care but that we’re driving so fast, all we see are the fence posts flashing by on the side of the highway? Maybe the first step in changing the world is in slowing down and looking through the fences."
"Do you ever just have the feeling that God’s using you right where you are?"
"No one. No one but the God who knit us together, who knows the very fiber of who we are and who we can be"
May 11, 2013
Firefly Island
By Lisa Wingate
Sometimes a book just stands out and Firefly Island is one of those books. Written in a blog type style and in first person voice you are introduced to Mallory Hale and her new life.
New life you ask? Mallory, after a mishap on the floor of the Capitol building (yes the one in Washington, D.C.), meets Daniel Everson and has a whirlwind romance. Throw into the mix a 3-1/2 year old son named Nick and Mallory was a goner. But when Daniel was offered a research job by Jack West on his middle of nowhere ranch in Texas, Mallory was left with a major life altering choice. Does she stay in her high-powered Washington job or marry a man she's known for just a couple of months, leaving friends and family behind for a new ready-made family?
Moses Lake is remote but there is a beauty that captures Mallory's heart after she gets use to the bugs and rodents that have taken up residence in her home (Well, o'kay she doesn't actually get use to them but she does wage war on them!). But the rumors that Mallory heard about Jack West before she moved there give her pause and something just feels off to her and when Jack's son comes for a visit it just increases her feelings of unease.
Firefly Island is an interesting book that captured my attention and I wanted to know what happened next. Mallory and Daniel's honeymoon was unique to say the least and I love her mother's response when they have their first disagreement. Take a trip down to Moses Lake with Mallory and you'll make some new friends too!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher Bethany House Publishers through BookFun.org in exchange for a fair and honest opinion.
By Lisa Wingate
Sometimes a book just stands out and Firefly Island is one of those books. Written in a blog type style and in first person voice you are introduced to Mallory Hale and her new life.
New life you ask? Mallory, after a mishap on the floor of the Capitol building (yes the one in Washington, D.C.), meets Daniel Everson and has a whirlwind romance. Throw into the mix a 3-1/2 year old son named Nick and Mallory was a goner. But when Daniel was offered a research job by Jack West on his middle of nowhere ranch in Texas, Mallory was left with a major life altering choice. Does she stay in her high-powered Washington job or marry a man she's known for just a couple of months, leaving friends and family behind for a new ready-made family?
Moses Lake is remote but there is a beauty that captures Mallory's heart after she gets use to the bugs and rodents that have taken up residence in her home (Well, o'kay she doesn't actually get use to them but she does wage war on them!). But the rumors that Mallory heard about Jack West before she moved there give her pause and something just feels off to her and when Jack's son comes for a visit it just increases her feelings of unease.
Firefly Island is an interesting book that captured my attention and I wanted to know what happened next. Mallory and Daniel's honeymoon was unique to say the least and I love her mother's response when they have their first disagreement. Take a trip down to Moses Lake with Mallory and you'll make some new friends too!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher Bethany House Publishers through BookFun.org in exchange for a fair and honest opinion.
May 11, 2013
It’s a romance flip. The wedding doesn’t close the book, it opens the story and I think I was pretty much captured by that premise alone.
I personally love the first person writing style. Done really well, the reader is welcomed into the story in one of the most intimate ways. To do so, you really have to come to like the main character and I loved Mallory. She struggled and fought through what was less than the ideal, but she transformed through her circumstances. Now true, every good novel character is going to change, but I love to watch a good character refuse to let her circumstances define her.
Mallory and Daniel truly love each other in this story. There is no false glamour, (though there are false expectations for sure), but it broke the mold of the normal tried and true romance formula.
The premise of the book definitely has some high concept elements with the politics, and the lies and cheats woven amongst our less-than-shining secondary cast of seedy characters. A hint of mystery and intrigue to mix with our romance.
Beginning to end I thought the story crafting was fabulous. The characters very likeable and the pace exceptional. All in all: a thumbs-up read!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.
I personally love the first person writing style. Done really well, the reader is welcomed into the story in one of the most intimate ways. To do so, you really have to come to like the main character and I loved Mallory. She struggled and fought through what was less than the ideal, but she transformed through her circumstances. Now true, every good novel character is going to change, but I love to watch a good character refuse to let her circumstances define her.
Mallory and Daniel truly love each other in this story. There is no false glamour, (though there are false expectations for sure), but it broke the mold of the normal tried and true romance formula.
The premise of the book definitely has some high concept elements with the politics, and the lies and cheats woven amongst our less-than-shining secondary cast of seedy characters. A hint of mystery and intrigue to mix with our romance.
Beginning to end I thought the story crafting was fabulous. The characters very likeable and the pace exceptional. All in all: a thumbs-up read!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.
February 28, 2022
In this crazy insane world filled with things that stress my soul, I find Lisa Wingate’s books one thing that lets me escape all of the turmoil, aggravation and stress of reality. Books that quietly remind me of God’s importance in our world. I find the characters well developed and likeable. Lisa has a way with words that tell a story that keeps your attention. Audible - the narrator did a great job
This wasn’t my favorite Lisa Wingate book. All of the entire book lead up to the last chapter. I felt sort of hanging as to what happened to Mason, and would love more closure. The final short chapter just seemed to cut off and I wanted to know more.
Now on to #4 of the Moses Lake series.
@Lisa Wingate - thanks for your talent and sharing good stories to read during this crazy mixed up world we live in. I only have a few more of your books left to read!
This wasn’t my favorite Lisa Wingate book. All of the entire book lead up to the last chapter. I felt sort of hanging as to what happened to Mason, and would love more closure. The final short chapter just seemed to cut off and I wanted to know more.
Now on to #4 of the Moses Lake series.
@Lisa Wingate - thanks for your talent and sharing good stories to read during this crazy mixed up world we live in. I only have a few more of your books left to read!
September 20, 2022
Awesome series. Highly recommend. Lisa wingate is a terrific author
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2013
I recieved this as and e-book to review from Bethany House. I appreciate the chance to review. I really enjoyed this book until about 50% through I did grow weary of Mallory's constant bemoaning and self reflection. Although at this point the mystery aspect of the story does pick up with a quick wrap up in the final chapters to finalize. I will read more of her books as she does write well and make her stories good. I just tend to be disapointed in books that try to wrap up a lenghty storyline in the final few chapters. I lookward to reading the other books in the series Blue Moon and Larksspur Cove.
January 27, 2013
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Firefly Island. I love Lisa Wingate's books. This is the third book in the Moses Lake Series, however each is a stand alone book. This is the story of a young newlywed couple who move from Washington D.C. to Moses Lake, Texas. The job comes with a home full of critters and a mystery that has been unsolved for far too many years. If you enjoyed a book mixed with mystery, romance, and learning how to trust in new friends this is the book for you! You can never go wrong with a Lisa Wingate book!!
August 10, 2015
This is my lest favorite of this series. It's not because it wasn't good or was missing anything. I think for me it was because the couple got married early in the book. I love romance so much, and for me it just wasn't the same. I didn't want to take away any stars because of my preference. It is just a wonderfully written as the other books in the series. The characters are still great and fun. Definitely worth reading.
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