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debs4jc's review
3.0
Lisa Wingate is always good for an enjoyable read, and she doesn't disappoint with this romance that throws in a few elements of suspense. Andrea--a recently divorced mother who has moved beck to Moses lake to work as a Social Worker and live in her parents lake house with her son Dustin meets Mart--the local game warden who has some painful past secrets that he doesn't want to confront, at least not when the book starts. As Andrea and Mart get to know each other--they meet after Dustin gets picked up by Matt for horsing around with the wrong crowd out on the lake--they are intrigued by the mysterious appearances of a young girl who appears to be with the local recluse.
I enjoyed the community of Larkspur Cove, the suspense of what was going on with the little girl, and some aspects of Andrea and Mart and their relationship. The story was told in alternating points of view between the two of them. I felt that the author could have gone a little deeper with their characters (or maybe they were just being shallow in their own thoughts and avoiding their own issues). Andrea was dealing with a recent divorce where her husband (a minister) left her for another woman and Mart's beloved nephew had passed away in an accident that he blamed himself for. This set them up to be characters that needed a lot of emotional healing (which made me question the wisdom of them getting involved with each other) and while there is some growth and healing it was not gone into in depth. For fans of romance and romantic suspense who don't get into analyzing it too much this would be a wonderful read.
I enjoyed the community of Larkspur Cove, the suspense of what was going on with the little girl, and some aspects of Andrea and Mart and their relationship. The story was told in alternating points of view between the two of them. I felt that the author could have gone a little deeper with their characters (or maybe they were just being shallow in their own thoughts and avoiding their own issues). Andrea was dealing with a recent divorce where her husband (a minister) left her for another woman and Mart's beloved nephew had passed away in an accident that he blamed himself for. This set them up to be characters that needed a lot of emotional healing (which made me question the wisdom of them getting involved with each other) and while there is some growth and healing it was not gone into in depth. For fans of romance and romantic suspense who don't get into analyzing it too much this would be a wonderful read.
katrenia's review
4.0
3.75. A sweet story, not too intense. Good character development. There was a lot of internal monologue that seemed to go on longer than made sense, especially when trying to determine how to answer a question. I only wish the book had an epilogue. I wonder if the next books in the series revisit these characters as minor players.
jbarr5's review
4.0
Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate
Read some of the other works of the author and really liked them.
Andrea Henderson is a social worker with a teen age son, Dustin and they live in her parents lakeside house but they don't want them there.
Moses Lake, TX is where she was raised and she returns there to heal her wounds.
She is a counselor and has just gotten stuck in a ditch with a flat tire and the cell is dead. What else could possibly go wrong with this day?
Game worden, Martin McCullen is healing from pain in his past. Locals Sheila and Darcy run the grocery store at the end of the lake where others can buy food for their day at the water.
Wall of wisdom is for anybody to write a quote and each chapter begins with one. Each chapter also alternates between Martin's life and Andrea's life.
Mart has to keep Dustin til his mother picks him up as he is in trouble with the others who took a boat out and had beer on the boat-all are underaged.
They combine their knowledge and together go after the little girl who appears to be abused and abandoned...they also get to know one another by talking...
Lots of action and danger-Andrea recalls he said to head for the water...Moses Lake can heal others if you faith in God and yourself.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Read some of the other works of the author and really liked them.
Andrea Henderson is a social worker with a teen age son, Dustin and they live in her parents lakeside house but they don't want them there.
Moses Lake, TX is where she was raised and she returns there to heal her wounds.
She is a counselor and has just gotten stuck in a ditch with a flat tire and the cell is dead. What else could possibly go wrong with this day?
Game worden, Martin McCullen is healing from pain in his past. Locals Sheila and Darcy run the grocery store at the end of the lake where others can buy food for their day at the water.
Wall of wisdom is for anybody to write a quote and each chapter begins with one. Each chapter also alternates between Martin's life and Andrea's life.
Mart has to keep Dustin til his mother picks him up as he is in trouble with the others who took a boat out and had beer on the boat-all are underaged.
They combine their knowledge and together go after the little girl who appears to be abused and abandoned...they also get to know one another by talking...
Lots of action and danger-Andrea recalls he said to head for the water...Moses Lake can heal others if you faith in God and yourself.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
reneesmith's review
5.0
“If you’re lucky enough to be at the lake, you’re lucky enough.”~welcome sign, Moses Lake~
Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate is a sweet story about the people who inhabit tiny Moses Lake, Texas. The relaxed pace of this novel gave me the feeling I was on vacation at just such a spot—with all the time in the world to enjoy the everyday goings on of the folksy characters.
At first the people in the town seem like a group of ‘no one specials,’ some might even call them losers . . . a single-for-life game warden, pushy reverend, bitter divorced mom, rebellious teen, old man whose brain doesn’t “work too good anymore,” and timid little girl who never speaks. But as the story progresses, their inner beauty shines. The townsfolk have been especially judgmental of Len, the misunderstood old man who is trying to make a home for his granddaughter in spite of his disabilities. I loved the scenes where Mart, Andrea, and the Rev begin to see Len as someone cherished by God, someone of value.
It was equally touching when long-time single Mart takes a chance on falling in love. Or when Andrea, the bitter divorced mom, realizes how wrong her attitude toward the Lord has been. She muses . . .
“I’d been so certain that a perfectly smooth, perfectly predictable, perfectly blessed life was my rightful inheritance for having been a regular churchgoer, a volunteer, a devoted mother, and a good and faithful servant. When the road turned rocky, I was angry that I’d been robbed of what I deserved. What I was owed. I was like one of those spoiled kids—the ones who had everything and took it all for granted.”
For truly God owes us nothing yet showers us with blessings. As James reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
This book somehow brought to mind Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, a play that celebrates the special treasure that is everyday life.
I didn’t want to leave my new friends at Larkspur Cove when their story ended. With little fanfare, they’d crept into my heart. Don’t miss out on getting to know them, too!
I advise you to purchase a copy of the book for yourself. Then save it for day when you need a fresh view of the ordinary people who share your life!
Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate is a sweet story about the people who inhabit tiny Moses Lake, Texas. The relaxed pace of this novel gave me the feeling I was on vacation at just such a spot—with all the time in the world to enjoy the everyday goings on of the folksy characters.
At first the people in the town seem like a group of ‘no one specials,’ some might even call them losers . . . a single-for-life game warden, pushy reverend, bitter divorced mom, rebellious teen, old man whose brain doesn’t “work too good anymore,” and timid little girl who never speaks. But as the story progresses, their inner beauty shines. The townsfolk have been especially judgmental of Len, the misunderstood old man who is trying to make a home for his granddaughter in spite of his disabilities. I loved the scenes where Mart, Andrea, and the Rev begin to see Len as someone cherished by God, someone of value.
It was equally touching when long-time single Mart takes a chance on falling in love. Or when Andrea, the bitter divorced mom, realizes how wrong her attitude toward the Lord has been. She muses . . .
“I’d been so certain that a perfectly smooth, perfectly predictable, perfectly blessed life was my rightful inheritance for having been a regular churchgoer, a volunteer, a devoted mother, and a good and faithful servant. When the road turned rocky, I was angry that I’d been robbed of what I deserved. What I was owed. I was like one of those spoiled kids—the ones who had everything and took it all for granted.”
For truly God owes us nothing yet showers us with blessings. As James reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
This book somehow brought to mind Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, a play that celebrates the special treasure that is everyday life.
I didn’t want to leave my new friends at Larkspur Cove when their story ended. With little fanfare, they’d crept into my heart. Don’t miss out on getting to know them, too!
I advise you to purchase a copy of the book for yourself. Then save it for day when you need a fresh view of the ordinary people who share your life!
aprillikesbooks's review
4.0
This story is told by both Andrea and Mart, from each character's perspective. We also get to experience the building of their relationship, tearing down walls they've put up around themselves, and learning to trust (and love), as they put together pieces to solve the mystery of the little girl seen with the local war-damaged recluse. The story draws us into the small town of Moses Lake where we get to meet the residents and learn more about their lives and the strength of their little community. It does a great job of making you pine for idyllic small town life amidst unspoiled nature! While this whole series is chock-full of wonderful quotes and nuggets to ponder (thanks to the wall of wisdom at the local bait shop/cafe!), this is one I need to remember in my daily life, "Joy, I realized, isn't so much a circumstance you find yourself in but a choice you make."
raechsreads's review
4.0
Great book dealing with hard choices and amazing chances to make not only your but another's life better. All it takes is a bit of faith and hope to leap into a new adventure.
marmeelovesbook's review
5.0
Ok, I can definitely see why this one was nominated for a Christy. This is a good one. The writing is lovely and hits on so many real emotions, while wading through real life situations. I found myself tearing up many times in one moment and laughing out loud at the dialogue in others. I really liked this one...now to read the next nominee in this category!
allieblank's review
3.0
This book was...okay. Not one of my favourites of hers. It wasn’t terrible or great. A bit of a slow start, but the story did pick up.