The Mailbox

Sunset Beach #1

by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

Centered on a real landmark on the coast of North Carolina, The Mailbox blends intriguing folklore and true faith with raw contemporary issues that affect every woman.
 
When Lindsey Adams first visits the Kindred Spirit mailbox at Sunset Beach, she has no idea that twenty years later she will still be visiting the mailbox—still pouring out her heart in letters that summarize the best and worst parts of her life.
 
Returning to Sunset for her first vacation since her husband left her, Lindsey struggles to put her sorrow into words. Memories surface of her first love, Campbell—and the rejection that followed. When Campbell reappears in her life, Lindsey must decide whether to trust in love again or guard herself from greater pain. The Mailbox is a rich novel about loss, hope, and the beauty of second chances.

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

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2010

About the author

Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is the author of When We Were Worthy, The Things We Wish Were True and five previous novels. She speaks to women's groups around the US. She is the co-founder of the popular women's fiction site, She Reads www.shereads.org. Marybeth and her husband Curt have been married for 26 years and are the parents of six children. The family lives in North Carolina. Marybeth spends most of her time in the grocery store but occasionally escapes long enough to scribble some words. She is always at work on her next novel. You can find her at www.marybethwhalen.com.

Reviews

[Holly (2 Kids and Tired) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this novel. I love the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It's been far too many years since I was there, but I have very fond, warm memories of spending time on Okracoke and Cape Hatteras. So, the North Carolina beach setting of this story was appealing to me. I've never been to Sunset Beach, which is south, near the North/South Carolina border, but I certainly want to go now. I want to visit the Kindred Spirit mailbox, which is a real mailbox on Bird Island.

The story is told through narration and letters spanning a period of 20 years. Lindsey and Campbell are the classic teen summer romance separated by choices and time. Reunited once again, they each have baggage and issues to work through with ex-spouses and angry, hurt children. But, both also learn that God knows and loves them and they each realize they've been given a second chance at love.

The description of the mailbox and the real person who secretly cares for it and keeps the letters was fascinating. I know nothing about the real mailbox or if there is a person who retrieves the letters and keeps it stocked with writing supplies. I almost hope so, because it seems like such a tender, sweet thing to do.

I would have loved more exploration about Nikki's history, which is something she hints at with her father, but is something we never learn.

In many ways, this should simply be a sappy Nicholas Sparks-esque piece of drivel. But, instead, it's a thoughtful, heartwarming, well written story. I'd say it's a terrific debut novel and I look forward to many more from Marybeth Whalen.

[Chickadee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read ONE book on your summer vacation this year – make it The Mailbox! This book made me cry at the end and very few books move me to the point of tears.

I adore this book and after reading it, I added Marybeth Whalen to my list of favorite authors. Marybeth’s writing is so vivid and descriptive that I could hear the seagulls crying, the waves lapping on the shore and almost feel the sun on my skin as I read. This book is about the discovery of first love and the joy and heartache that sometimes comes with it. It is also a tale of lost love, second chances, forgiveness and healing.

I found myself totally caught up in the story of Campbell and Lindsey and the emotions they felt as they fell in love over the summer. This book is hard to put down and I have to admit, I let the laundry pile up just so I could finish it! I held my breath waiting to see what would happen – feeling the anticipation as Lindsey and Campbell are given a second chance on romance.

If you can’t make it to the beach this summer, don’t worry – The Mailbox will take you there. This is one of those books you could read over and over again.

If you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks or Charles Martin – you are going to love this book!

[Melody K. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading books like these makes me regret the lesson my mother taught me to always finish what I started. Such a waste of time.

[Beth Given · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out promising -- interesting premise, decent writing. Letters are part of my own love story, so the whole mailbox idea does seem rather romantic -- even if they aren't love letters but letters to the anonymous "kindred spirit" (whose mailbox really does exist out on some Carolina beach). And, since this is written by a Christian author, I could count on a squeaky-clean read (it is).

By about halfway through the book, though, I had grown disappointed. I wasn't really impressed with Campbell, the male half of this love story, whose one redeeming character trait is that he's hopelessly devoted to Lindsey ... to a fault, really. Some of his behavior seems downright stalker-ish to me. The whole ending left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

I am probably overthinking this "beach read" -- I don't know why I read these books and then am disappointed at how shallow they turn out to be! I guess I'm ready to go back to my meatier reading again.

[Tales and Treats with Tay · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

I held on to this book for 2 years so that I could read it while vacationing at Sunset Beach, NC.

I really enjoyed seeing a place that my family has been going to for years (since the '80s just like when Lindsay goes to Sunset for the first time) in a novel--one of my favorite things I've learned is reading about places that I've been to in real life. I understood and appreciated Lindsay's connection and feelings of nostalgia with this place.

I was excited to read a Christian novel set in a place I love, but I was disappointed with the MMC in particular. Yes he made some mistakes (that I don't understand how he could have made them but I am a sinner too) but it felt like he was still acting like a petulant, self-pitying teenager 20 years later. After Landry and Campbell break up as teens and go their separate ways, both of them still think about the other when they are married to other people. Now, humans will have thoughts pop into their heads, so I get to an extent why Lindsay thought about Campbell when she went to a place every year that a first love bloomed. However, I think it went a bit too far in thinking about the other person as married people, particularly in Campbell's case. This slowly becomes apparent over time, especially at the end when something becomes revealed.

Also, Landry is divorced at the very beginning yet she repeatedly refers to her ex-husband as her "husband." That bothered me: she's thinking about Campbell while calling another man husband still. One Part with her ex seemed unbelievable to me, this happened near the end. Additionally there was a phrase that Lindsay uses to describe her children going to be with their dad that felt wrong to me: sitting in the car like "obedient little dogs."

Other than the above, there was praying, a character going to a church service, and something that God reveals to a character-- all of that was lovely. I also really enjoyed reading the parts written from the third person perspective of the Kindred Spirit.

I love the idea of a romance related to the Kindred Spirit mailbox but this execution had some problems for me. My favorite parts of the book related to the setting.

Content: cheating/adultery/infidelity, thoughts of other people while being married, eating disorder

Christian faith rating: 0/3

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story of love, folklore, second chances and faith. What is there not to like - a story set at the beach, first true love and the Outer Banks, NC! This was my first book by Marybeth Whalen and I look forward to reading more of her writings. This was a selection for one of my book clubs - will be interested in hearing others comments.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good beach read that takes place in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Lindsey Adams grew up in Charlotte with a single mother who didn't have time to be a good parent because she spent her time with different men in her life. One positive thing that she did for Lindsey was to send her off with her brother, his wife and children on trips to Sunset Beach growing up, Lindsey continued to go with her uncle and his family each summer to Sunset Beach. Lindsey met her first love, Campbell Forrester, a local boy at Sunset Beach. Unfortunately events happened that prevented things to work out for them but she never forgot him nor did he forget her. When she married and had children of her own, her uncle and aunt allowed Lindsey's family to use their beach house. A mailbox in the dunes holds paper and pens for tourists to write letters to "Kindred Spirits" about their visit to Sunset Beach and that is a tradition that Lindsey has always done. Every year, she has written a letter to Kindred Spirits about her summer and even her year leading up to the beach trip, She never knew who read her letters but she has always poured her heart out to "Kindred Spirits" about all her ups and downs in life. As the story starts, Lindsey and her children are going to Sunset Beach alone because she and her husband are now divorced. She is mourning the death of her marriage and remembering her romance with Campbell that ended in disappointment as well. Her children are sad also because this is their first time without their father there. Lindsey sees Campbell after all the years and they have an opportunity to get to know each other again. This is a story about reliving old memories, healing, forgiveness, faith and second chances.

[Jenn O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I would have read this book two months ago - maybe rather than a cool, almost autumn day, it would have gone down on a better hot summer day. Then you as the reader could be on a beach vacation with the characters of the book.

It started off with such promise - kind of a Nicholas Sparks meets somewhat Christian fiction. But about halfway through, the story became predictable, the characters lost some of their effervescence and I started skimming just to get through the book. The two main characters meet, fall back in love, have a spat, get over it and go walking off into the sunset.

There were a bunch of side characters in this book that could have provided background stories and supported the main characters much better. As is, the extended family members get lost along the way and you never know what happens to them.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cheesy. I liked the premise but thought the whole story was cheesy. I didn't like how easily the relationships were repaired at the end. There had been betrayal and years of hurt. How can it be so easy to resolve?

[Sue Rupnow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooooooo good!! Gave me that happy, sappy, romantic smile on my face, made me sigh when it was always at a really good part when my "breaks over!" alarm sounded at work! Ive been to this mailbox in real life, so I could perfectly picture it and the feeling it gave me as well!

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

MY REVIEW:

Since last Fall I have enjoyed reading Marybeth Whalen's blog and have anxiously awaited the arrival of her first novel - The Mailbox. Marybeth is a talented writer and this book is truly a piece of artwork in black and white.

In The Mailbox, Marybeth creatively weaves together a story that crosses the past with the present as you learn of the old and the new all at the same time. The main characters were easy to relate to and understand as they grappled with serious life choices. Their emotions came alive and swept me into the story. I also enjoyed the unexpected twist that came towards the end just when you thought everything was being wrapped up neat and tidy.

Overall, this is a great summer read to pack in that beach bag or tote bag for any adult woman. I do stress that fact that I think this is an adult fiction read that needs to stay in the adult audience and not young teen girls due to some small references and conversations that while not inappropriate, are still best for adults only. I also rated this book with only 3 stars because of some theological differences I have with some of the content. I think it's an amazing storyline and an incredibly fascinating fictional plot with a sprinkling of fact; but I can not give it 4 stars because I think that the ideas expressed on divorce need to be read with caution and not with complete acceptance as is our tendency when we become emotionally attached to characters.

So while I have some reservation on the spiritual side of this book, I will not throw out the baby with the bath water. The Mailbox is a unique story, a relaxing read, and makes the reader want to slip away to Sunset Beach and find the real mailbox!

BOOK OVERVIEW:

A rural mailbox stands alone on an isolated North Carolina beach, and within its unobtrusive confines lay the hopes and dreams, the heartaches and joys of countless strangers. Tending the lone mailbox on this deserted beach is an anonymous reader called the Kindred Spirit…drawing hearts toward healing and hope. Marybeth Whalen’s debut novel, The Mailbox, is set around this real-life landmark. She explores the possibility that this isolated and mysterious message center can reunite two people who have been separated by a lifetime of regret and confusion. Because of the mailbox, second chances arise in the face of painful loss, and the promise that enduring love and faith can overcome the destruction of long-kept secrets rings true.

Lindsey Adams begins her visits to the Kindred Spirit mailbox as a young teen. There, she finds her first love, Campbell Forrester. But twenty years later, she returns to the beach as a woman whose husband, Grant, has divorced her after a string of infidelities. Remembering her first love, and wondering whatever became of Campbell, Lindsey allows the salty beach air to reengage her sense of hope. She begins to imagine that Campbell might not be long lost after all.

Meanwhile, Campbell faces his own hardships—including his broken relationship with his daughter and his longing to undo his inadequacies as a father. When Campbell learns that Lindsey has returned to the beach, he cannot help but feel hopeful that he may discover love again.

* * * * *
This review copy has been provided by the courtesy of The B&B Media Group, Inc.

[Ruth Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew really nothing about this book when I picked it up. I remember that it had been suggested to me by some online group. It was just a filler while I waited on another book. I was pretty sure it would not be a book that would truly capture my attention.

I was completely wrong! I instantly knew I would like this book when I read in the acknowledgements that the author thanked her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I was astounded! This was a Christian book? Not only that, but the author was one that I recognized from Proverbs 31 ministries.

I loved the way in which the story was written. The story jumped back and forth between the 1980's and the 2000's and occasionally the 1990's. The story was told through letters and narratives. I feel in love with the two main characters! I guess because I tended to understand their situation. Since it deals with divorce and second chances, I could identify with them.

While this book is not a literary masterpiece, it is a nice romance that takes a couple twists and turns that the reader may not see coming--I certainly didn't. It makes me want to go visit the mailbox since the author herself says that it really does exist. I certainly wish I had a Kindred Spirit after reading this book.

I enjoyed the fact that faith was interwoven so easily into the story. Sometimes Christian novels really force the religion issue. In this novel, the character's faith and coming to faith are such an integral part of the story that it makes you believe that with God, nothing is impossible! And He is the God of second chances.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mailbox: A Novel is a heartwarming beach read set, of course, at the beach. When she is in high school, Lindsey visits Sunset Beach with her aunt and uncle. While there, she meets Campbell, who she thinks is the love of her life. He introduces her to The Mailbox (which the author says really exists). The Mailbox holds paper and pens for those who wish to write to The Kindred Spirit. No one knows who he or she is. Lindsey begins a yearly ritual of going to the mailbox and telling the Kindred Spirit about her hopes, dreams and life.

The book takes place mainly in two time periods--the current day when Lindsey is freshly divorced, and during her high school years when she fell in love with Campbell. Of course the Campbell makes another appearance in her life as she tries to figure out where life should go from now.

The Mailbox: A Novel is a sweet easy read that brings back memories of summer romances. It is a Christian novel and we learn a bit about the character's faith lives and the Christian themes are apparent but not preachy. It is one of those books that I think a non-Christian could enjoy if she/he likes sweet happy endings wrapped up in a bow.

Grade: B.

I'd like to thank B & B Media for providing a review copy of this book

[Edwina Cowgill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review
The Mailbox
Marybeth Whalen

When attending the She Speaks 2010 Conference a couple of weeks ago, I was privileged to receive an autographed copy of Marybeth Whalen’s debut fiction novel The Mailbox. Marybeth has served as the general editor of For the Write Reason and The Reason We Speak. In my opinion, The Mailbox is the first of many highly successful fiction books for Marybeth.

Here is part of the back cover summary:
“When Lindsey Adams first visits the Kindred Spirit mailbox at Sunset Beach, North Carolina, as a teenager, she has no idea that twenty years later she will still be visiting the mailbox—still pouring out her heart in letters that summarize the best and worst parts of life.”

Marybeth draws the reader into the book and the characters’ lives almost immediately. All women will be able to identify with Lindsey Adams, but especially those who have gone through a divorce. However, this is not a book that focuses solely on divorce. It is a book about second chances. About healing and redemption. About hope and love. It’s message will stay with the reader long after the book is closed. And it is a book that one will want to read over and over again.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mailbox is a wonderful novel. Written very well, we go back in time and then in the present but you don't even notice. The way Ms Whalen writes this, you will want more and more..

We have a just recently divorced mother of 2, who is going to her aunt and uncle's beach house where she spent her summers as a teenager and has taken her family every year since. She hopes to get away to recouperate after just getting through with the divorce. However she has an old love that lives full time at Sunset, Campbell and can't get him out of her head.

Campbell has had a daughter and been divorced, and of course the 2 meet up again. However the real story is the whole mailbox, betrayal, what does God really want for us and how does that fit in with our plans? Of course it isn't our plans that we need to follow, it is His.

This book was such a blessing for me. Grace and mercy pour out of this book and are the central themes. You will want to buy a copy for everyone you know. This is sure to be a summer hit!

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book before I even read it. First of all, it’s a debut novel. I’m probably boring my readers by repeating myself over and over, but I just have a thing about debut novels. I love to read new authors and fresh voices. I also fell in love with the setting. I live in North Carolina and even though I have only lived here for three years, it is my home state and I love. I have not been to Sunset Beach where this book takes place, but you just cannot go wrong with a beach book.

Even with everything The Mailbox had going for it even before I read it, I still had high hopes that I would enjoy it as much as I expected. And, I really enjoyed it. Marybeth Whalen has written a lovely story with characters I really liked. I’ve seen other readers compare this book with the likes of Nicolas Sparks, but I like The Mailbox much better. This book is an inspiring, heartwarming story that was such a joy to read. I’ll be looking for more books by Marybeth Whalen in the future because her debut was an absolute delight.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

good convicting "aha" moment of mother realizing time spent with kids is as holy as time alone in prayer, at least when they are all together. She should live in the moment with them, not retreat to her room.

Good reminder for me as a mom!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light, quick, one-day read, recommended by Goodreads based off the Mary McNear novels I read last year. I enjoyed that it was so quick to read, and I liked the story line...something a bit magical. However, it can't quite measure up to McNear's novels, so I give it 4 stars.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

After spending the week on Sunset Beach, this was the perfect book to finish my vacation. I fell in love with the characters instantly. I loved knowing the exact locations referenced in the book. I will not only miss Sunset Beach, but also the characters in this book.

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christian chick-lit.

[Rachel Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great debut novel by terrific writer. Perfect beach or poolside read.

[Mya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hesitant at first I really was but now I glad I read it

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uplifting with a smattering of predictable cheese.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a waste of my time. Ridiculous and very predictable fluff. :(

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the course of 20 years, Lindsay Adams visits the same beach house owned by her aunt and uncle. Over that same span of time, she leaves a yearly letter at the end of each summer in the mailbox tended by the Kindred Spirit. Lindsay's first visit comes when she's just 15 and she meets an amazing boy named Campbell Forrester, who quickly becomes her first love. Though Campbell lives on the island and Lindsay further away, they make a pact to continue their relationship over the year, to be reunited in the summer. After a couple of years visiting the beach and Campbell, things take a drastic turn when Campbell gets sucked into a relationship with another girl. Lindsay is heartbroken but continues to visit the beach and the mailbox, avoiding Campbell for many years. Now Lindsay is returning to the beach after a painful divorce that has left her a single mother. When she comes across an old friend of Campbell's, she admits to herself that she is curious about her first love and takes pains to run into him again. Campbell is living a lonely life with his mother and teenage daughter, and is thrilled to have encountered Lindsay again and possibly have a second chance. But there are things in both of their pasts and present that will present some serious roadblocks to their happiness, and only with the help of God will they finally be able to reconcile and share each other's lives. Both tender and touching, Whalen creates a tale of lost and found love amid the everyday struggles of a life that continues to march along ceaselessly.

Late last year, I had the great honor of meeting Marybeth Whalen at one of the SIBA dinner events. After introducing ourselves and finding out a little about each other, she asked me what types of books I like to review. I mentioned that I read almost everything but there were a few exceptions, one of them being Christian fiction. Much to my chagrin, Marybeth told me she is a Christian fiction author. She told me a few things about her book The Mailbox and also about the book she was currently working on, and I had to admit I was intrigued. I explained to her the reason I generally don't enjoy Christian fiction is because at times it can feel a little sanctimonious and the messages are always batted expansively over the readers' heads. Marybeth replied that she often feels this way as well and that she strives not to do these types of things in her stories. It pleased me greatly to hear this, and as the weekend wore on, I kept running into her in unexpected places and we had more in-depth conversations about both her life and her books. I knew I wanted to read her book and see how she handled faith within the constructs of her story and she was nice enough to provide me a copy to review. When I read the book, I thought, well now this is the type of Christian fiction that I can get behind!

One of the first things I noticed about the characters was they were very original and socially dynamic. There wasn't anything about them I couldn't relate to, and though they had their feet firmly planted into the Christian world, they were flawed and troubled and didn't go on mini-rants about religion and spirituality. They were also not too wholesome to feel connected to, and Lindsay had a lot of both internal and external strife that she was trying to work through. These characters weren't goody-goodies and they weren't obsessively preachy about their beliefs. They didn't alienate other characters or, more importantly, the reader by being flawlessly even-tempered and morally overpowering. As the story begins to wind its way along, Whalen's characters reveal themselves to be people troubled by the past and burdened by the future. They come to discover their lives are filled with conundrums and half-realized dreams. They were engaging people, dealing with isolation, loneliness and heartache, and they struggled mightily with their pride and their expectations. In other words, these were the type of people that just about anyone could relate to and become invested in. I also think Whalen has an incredible gift for the creation of her male characters, which is not often the case with female authors. Campbell wasn't overly macho, nor was he overly sentimental.

The faith aspect mostly centered around the characters' prayer life. Instead of using her creative space to preach, Whalen instead lets the characters speak for themselves and shares how they use prayer to combat the sadness and futility of their lives. I liked this because I'm a big prayer person and feel it was a realistic portrayal of how spiritual people deal with the adversity that life throws at them. The praying also reminded me a lot of the praying I do. Instead of being formal, rigid and structured, it was more like a conversation on the fly with God. The characters spoke to Him as if He were a friend or mentor instead of an all-powerful entity that's not easily approachable. Their prayers felt real because it felt unforced and unconstructed. It was a tool they used to cope with their lives and it felt honest. I actually liked the fact that Whalen was humble enough to include this aspect in her story and it was perhaps the reason I felt especially close to the characters.

Though this book was ostensibly a love story, it also had a lot to do with moving forward in life after tragedy strikes and how life can throw a monkey wrench into carefully laid plans. The characters were not the type of people who lamented and obsessed over lost opportunity but instead they moved forward without blame or accusation. There was a feeling of perseverance and stolidness in this tale, and though most of the characters were dealing with harsh emotional issues, they all had healthy attitudes about themselves and their predicaments. The book really touched on a lot of important issues, such as infidelity, anorexia and jealously, in a way that was easy to relate to and understand. There would be quite a lot here for a book club to discuss and disseminate. Of course, I was rooting for Lindsay and Campbell to finally reunite, but before that happened, they had some serious issues to confront and they had to learn to forgive one another, not only to move forward into the future, but to heal the wounds of the past.

This book was refreshing not only in the way it portrayed its characters and their plights but in the way it encompassed the spirituality of its potential readers. It showed me that being a Christian is not about being morally smug and alienating others, and that's something most Christian fiction authors don't even attempt to accomplish with their books. It's not about being better or more spiritual; It's about finding the peace and acceptance that can heal your broken life, and learning that at its best, spirituality doesn't have to separate us at all. I thought Whalen did a great job with this book and I'm eager to read what she is working on now. I think she really gets it, and I think even those who don't share the same spiritual beliefs would get a lot from the story she tells. Recommended.

[Norma B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This romance novel was a joy to read, heartaches and joys, a family story and leaving me guessing and perhaps predictable of the mysterious letters in the mailbox waiting every year for that letter. I had a feeling who the kindred spirit was...and that was the mystery of this story, thinking who was reading the letters and happy that my prediction was true in the end of the chapters.
The author describes the summers at the beach so delightful and the rental cottages,and its family adventures and life in summers here in this town.
I enjoyed reading about these family members growing throughout the years too.

[Joanne Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I was visiting a friend who lives near Sunset Beach and told me about the mailbox. I thought it was a neat story and said I hoped to visit it one day. While I haven't had a chance to visit yet, my friend found this book and gave it to me as a birthday present last year. She is a special book as is this book. It's a good romance story filled with hope and life lesson. It is a Christian book and has inspired me to do some more building of my relationship with God. Enjoy !!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skimmed the last half of the book. I didn't realize it was religious themed although it wasn't as heavy handed as it could have been. But the plot just isn't there. The ex husband is a total douche and there are so many contrived moments - him showing up, but still with another woman, the childhood sweetheart reading all of her letters... The fact that the ex shows up and she just lets him act normal is ridiculous to me, as is the bf reading what is basically her diary. I wish there had been more of the two of them as teens, as adults they were all a mess.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I specifically checked this book out of my local library to read while on vacation at Sunset Beach, NC—the setting of the story and the location of the Kindred Spirit mailbox featured in it. I wasn’t disappointed. The story is sweet and it’s especially fun to read about the places I’ve frequented on this and past trips to Sunset. Just yesterday, I saw a stack of the books for sale at the local Sunset Beach Trading Company so lots of fun connections all around. And, yes, I figured out who the Kindred Spirit really was.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to read books about the south and this one was a great seaside story! The description on how it felt to be soothed by the ocean was right on target. The story line of a teen romance that picked up later in life was an emotional story, but working with God on repairing damaged hearts was very heartfelt and inspiring. Great Story! Looking forward to reading more from this author.