About the Book
Fresh Start Family
Zoe James is starting over. She's worked hard to get past the foolish mistakes that landed her in trouble four years ago. Now the young mom is back in Shelby Lake and ready to reconnect with her son. When she bumps into old friend Caleb Sullivan and his two adorable girls, she sees the possibility of a happy future. Caleb has always secretly loved Zoe, but her turbulent past brings up tough memories of his own. As they spend time together training his girls' new puppy, Zoe and Caleb will learn that if they can forgive themselves, they might have a chance at a new life—and new love—together.
This book was released in January 2015
This is a well loved library book that was used for the review.
My Review
“Lakeside Redemption” by Lisa Jordan has some ties to “Lakeside Sweethearts” and those connections are mentioned in this book so that the reader is not left lost. This reader, who has read “Lakeside Sweethearts” still took a moment to remember the whole story but I didn't feel lost up until the pieces were all put in place for me to remember the full story from "Lakeside Sweethearts".
Here is a story that I had to laugh at one point, not because the scene itself was partially funny, but it was a statement about who was helping in planning a party. It seems like the last few books, I have picked up it seems as if one of the characters is in the middle of this major, full blown pity party, and while there are times of a pity party starting, in this story, it is nipped in the bud fairly quickly, thankfully. I know we are prone to pity parties at one point in time or another, and sometimes they are warranted as they were in this book, but sometimes we can carry them way too far (as it seems in a few books I tried to read).
As always I look for messages and the pity party is something that struck with me for some reason through this book and the ones I tried but couldn't get into, so I am taking a break for a moment to state something personal. If anyone is struggling and not sure where to go because things are so overwhelming, please know that God is there for you, with you, and struggling with you because He has something wonderful for you in the future. Please talk to someone such as a friend, parents, siblings, spouse, pastor (even if you talk to one who is not your own) and sometimes the best release is talking to a stranger who is willing to listen. There is nothing so far beyond God's grace that you are alone, for you are LOVED. Ok off the soap box.
This is a story that is full of second chances. There is just something about a story-line with a character who has a past like Zoe, that touches me, especially when love conquers all. Her past might seem as if she is beyond any kind of second chance but with God and her courage she faces her future with determination. There are times when she seems to tuck tail and run, but I thought it was more of her compassion for others who were hurting too. Zoe is a woman who has something's to learn too for it seems as if I saw something in her that she didn't see in herself, and that was a heart so tender she was willing to suffer than cause more pain for others.
Caleb is a man with a past too though not on the level of Zoe's but still he has had some rough times. Here is a man who is trying to move on after some hard blows in his life, and with that struggle he is trying to prove he is the best. Seems strange but it is that flaw, trying to prove that he is the best, made him attractive to this reader. We get to see him try, try and try some more with some success sometimes and other times just frustrated. Oh there are some lessons that Caleb learns and I so enjoyed watching this man change through the story.
It is Zoe's past that is the biggest conflict within the story. As the story unfolds it is understandable why there are doubts, uncertainties and the perfect excuse for the wonderful conclusion of the story. Really I think that if things didn't blow up like they did at the end, there would always be a grain of doubt and worry that someone was going to slip up and go back into their former habits. Truly a touching ending that I really enjoyed.
I look forward to more books by Ms. Jordan in the future, and I hope all who read this book enjoys it as much as I did.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank You for your Comment