Ms Wingate takes readers on a tale of colorful characters, love, and mystery. And the way she masterfully paints with her words drew me into this story so much so I could hardly put this book down.
Apparently Firefly Island is book three in the Moses Lake Series; however, I have not read any of the previous books and didnt feel that it was necessary to understand the storyline. This is my first time reading any of Ms Wingates book but after reading Firefly Island, Im definitely putting her books on my TBR list.
Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary copy from the publisher as a part of The Litfuse Publicity Tour in exchange for honest review.
Apparently Firefly Island is book three in the Moses Lake Series; however, I have not read any of the previous books and didnt feel that it was necessary to understand the storyline. This is my first time reading any of Ms Wingates book but after reading Firefly Island, Im definitely putting her books on my TBR list.
Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary copy from the publisher as a part of The Litfuse Publicity Tour in exchange for honest review.
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
With a hook at the beginning that shows a bit from the future, the reader is quickly taken into the past and through the entire story to find out how this young woman goes from a single lady working in DC to a married woman in rural Texas. From the beginning, I was rooting for Mallory and wanted to know not only where she was going to end up but how she would get there.
With a hook at the beginning that shows a bit from the future, the reader is quickly taken into the past and through the entire story to find out how this young woman goes from a single lady working in DC to a married woman in rural Texas. From the beginning, I was rooting for Mallory and wanted to know not only where she was going to end up but how she would get there.
This is the third book in the series, but the first one that I have read. I believe the book stands on it's own very well since Wingate does an impeccable job of giving the reader enough backstory in the beginning. I found the protagonist, Mallory, instantly likable. I was so excited for her when the man she loved asked her to marry him and his little boy. Uprooting from everything you know to start fresh, on top of a new relationship, seems imposing, but Mallory does it with charm. Even though she has her own insecurities, she laughs most of them off and I enjoyed the new bonds she made. There is a bit of a mystery though, when on the island, she sees lights sparkling at night. What are they and where do they come from? What do they mean? If you enjoy a clean romance with memorable characters, pick up Firefly Island. I loved it!
Not as interesting as some of her other books (The Tending Roses series), but I just noticed this was book three in a series. I liked all the supporting characters, so I guess I better look up books one and two! The love story between the young couple quickly turns into a mystery, which I really got tired of. I suppose it was the whole point of the book, but I could have done without it! Lisa Wingate is a Christian writer, so there are a few passages in there with her religious beliefs.
Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate
Moses Lake, Texas Book 3
Unlike her four older, married sisters, Mallory Hale wanted to be independent and make her own decisions. Not catering to the wants and needs of a husband. She was working in DC at The Hill, making her own path in the political world, like her dad. The day she ran into Daniel Webster Everson, literally, changed her life and it quickly became an adventure.
The story is told from Mallory's view. A city girl born and raised, used to the trappings and business of DC, who finds herself in the quiet town of Moses Lake, Texas. The most exciting store being a Walmart the next town over. The reader follows along as she deals with creepy crawly critters, becoming a mom, a wife and a frontier woman. She meets unique people from the small town and faces the fact that she is snobbish from her upbringing. Rumors about her husbands boss has her wanting to flee back to the world she knows.
There were so many great twists and turns in this book. People being more than they seemed at first glance. And lessons of life, how one person can really make a difference in peoples lives.
**Received Through Bethany House Publishers for review
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2011/10/bethany-house-publishers.html
Moses Lake, Texas Book 3
Unlike her four older, married sisters, Mallory Hale wanted to be independent and make her own decisions. Not catering to the wants and needs of a husband. She was working in DC at The Hill, making her own path in the political world, like her dad. The day she ran into Daniel Webster Everson, literally, changed her life and it quickly became an adventure.
The story is told from Mallory's view. A city girl born and raised, used to the trappings and business of DC, who finds herself in the quiet town of Moses Lake, Texas. The most exciting store being a Walmart the next town over. The reader follows along as she deals with creepy crawly critters, becoming a mom, a wife and a frontier woman. She meets unique people from the small town and faces the fact that she is snobbish from her upbringing. Rumors about her husbands boss has her wanting to flee back to the world she knows.
There were so many great twists and turns in this book. People being more than they seemed at first glance. And lessons of life, how one person can really make a difference in peoples lives.
**Received Through Bethany House Publishers for review
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2011/10/bethany-house-publishers.html
"Firefly Island" by Lisa Wingate is the third book in the "Moses Lake" series. Mallory Hale was working as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill when a chance encounter allowed her to meet Daniel Everson, a biochemist working for the USDA. A whirlwind courtship culminates is a quick marriage and move to Moses Lake, Texas, where Daniel begins a unique job opportunity. Daniel is immediately immersed in his work, leaving Mallory to adjust to life as stepmom to three-year-old Nick and figure out a way to fit in rural Texas.
Questions are immediately raised about Daniel's new boss, who comes across as mysterious, demanding, and intimidating. As Daniel spends more and more time away from home, Mallory immerses herself in settling in. She starts a blog about her transition from city girl to cow girl. As she gets to know the people in her new town, she begins to see great needs there for things like education and making healthier foods available to all. The last few chapters of the book are dedicated to the unraveling of political intrigue.
Overall, the book was just okay. It was told in the first-person, which caused it to fall a little bit flat. The characters lacked depth. There were a number of interesting pieces to the storyline, but they felt a little disconnected from one another. It was a bit slow and unrealistic to start off, but the action picked up in the second half of the book. This was my first dive into a Lisa Wingate novel; I liked it enough to try another one, but I will "proceed with caution".
(Ive received this complimentary book from Bethany House Publishers through the Book Blogger program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
Questions are immediately raised about Daniel's new boss, who comes across as mysterious, demanding, and intimidating. As Daniel spends more and more time away from home, Mallory immerses herself in settling in. She starts a blog about her transition from city girl to cow girl. As she gets to know the people in her new town, she begins to see great needs there for things like education and making healthier foods available to all. The last few chapters of the book are dedicated to the unraveling of political intrigue.
Overall, the book was just okay. It was told in the first-person, which caused it to fall a little bit flat. The characters lacked depth. There were a number of interesting pieces to the storyline, but they felt a little disconnected from one another. It was a bit slow and unrealistic to start off, but the action picked up in the second half of the book. This was my first dive into a Lisa Wingate novel; I liked it enough to try another one, but I will "proceed with caution".
(Ive received this complimentary book from Bethany House Publishers through the Book Blogger program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
Its a romance flip. The wedding doesnt 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.
I enjoyed this book by Lisa Wingate. Once again Moses Lake in Texas is the setting for mystery and romance. Great characters. I enjoyed Mallory and her sweet relationship with her new stepson. Highly recommended!
