Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Litfuse Publicity Group book blogger campaign. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Title: Firefly Island (a Moses Lake novel)
Author: Lisa Wingate
Format: trade paperback with Discussion Questions
Genre: Christian, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Fiction
Published: Bethany House / 2013 / ISBN: 978-0-7642-0823-2 / 379 pages / $14.99
Why I Read this Book: When I first saw the posting for Firefly Island's blog tour, I wasn't sure if it was something I'd actually enjoy reading. I tend to go through phases in my reading and I was not in my romance phase at that point, but something kept drawing me back to reread the summary about the book, and the suspense portion is what finally won me over. Thank goodness it did because Firefly Island is a wonderful read!
What I Liked: I really enjoyed the fact that the characters are realistic in their behaviors. Mallory's job is demanding because she works on Capitol Hill and comes from a family where her dad worked as a lobbyist, so she feels right at home in the world of DC politics. She is self-sufficient and finds that her time is consumed between her work and friends. Daniel is a single father who works as a biochemist for the USDA. He had come to DC to discuss "poultry" with the state Senator and had happened to run into Mallory on the capitol steps-literally. As we go through their whirlwind romance, both characters shed light on their doubts and insecurities as they begin their life together.
When we meet Jack West, Daniel's new boss, I was just as concerned as they were about his abruptness and uncaring attitude. As we read on, we do find out the reasons for his behavior and realize that life has been harsh and unjust to Mr. West. Thankfully we do see a change in behavior and attitude as we near the end of the story.
The townspeople of Moses Lake are also as big a part of the story as anyone else. Without their friendships and "small-town" network, I think many things would have turned out differently in the end.
I love the fact that the author chose to bring to light the political and social issues of the Moses Lake area--with the low quality of life for many of the people, to the seemingly innocuous land development that would rip people from their livelihoods.
I also love the fact that Mallory started blogging about her life in Texas. It makes me wonder if this is the real story behind "The Pioneer Woman's" life, or if this is just something the author fabricated? (As a city-girl who moved to a small town in Texas, I can completely relate to Mallory's culture-shock--except I didn't have a lake to play in, or a farm to run. There were cows however, but that's another story. I've moved back to the city since then, but still have nightmares dreams about it.)
Firefly Island helped me to take an introspective look at the challenges I've faced in my life and how my character has developed (good and bad) because of them. Don't get me wrong--this is NOT a "heavy" book-in fact it's quite a light-hearted read. I've just had several life experiences similar to the characters and it made me question my own motives and desires as I had to learn to lean and trust in God more--the same thing Mallory had to do when she arrived at Moses Lake. I think all well-written stories cause us to think about our own lives and how we relate to others. In this case, Firefly Island certainly did.
What I Didn't Like: The book ended too soon! I wanted to learn more about the mysterious disappearance of Jack's wife and son. I also want to know if another character had something to do with it. (You'll have to read the book to understand.)
Overall Impression:
Rating: 4 out of 5
Side Note: Firefly Island is part of the Moses Lake series. However, it does read as a stand-alone book. I was not aware that it was part of a series until I started reading all of the novels by the author and saw it posted there. Now I want to go back and read the first two books in the series-- Larkspur Cove and Blue Moon Bay to see if any of my questions are answered.
One fortunate winner will receive:
- An iPad Mini
- The Moses Lake series (Firefly Island, Blue Moon Bay and Larkspur Cove)
So grab your copy of Firefly Island and join Lisa on the evening of the March 19th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 19th!
Let me know what you think! Happy Reading!
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