Contemporary Fiction Book Review: At Lighthouse Point (Three Sisters Island Book #3) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Book Description:
Blaine Grayson returns to Three Sisters Island with a grand plan--to take Camp Kicking Moose to the next level. Her dream starts to unravel when she discovers Moose Manor's kitchen has been badly remodeled by her sister, Cam, who doesn't know how to cook. Added to that blow is the cold shoulder given by her best friend, Artie Lotosky, now a doctor to the unbridged Maine islands. 

As old wounds are opened, Blaine starts to wonder if she made a mistake by coming home. Little by little, she must let go of one dream to discover a new one, opening her heart to a purpose and a future she had never imagined. 

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the coast of Maine for a story that reminds you to release what doesn't matter and cling to what does: faith, family, and friendships.

My Thoughts:
At Lighthouse Point is my favorite of the Three Sisters Island series. Blaine has grown up and come home, bringing along Frenchman—Jean Paul—a delightful, accident prone young man. While her best friend, Artie, doctors Jean Paul underlying tension builds. Her sisters are both expecting, other family members are dealing with health issues, and her dad has a secret. Peg Legg and the other townspeople are back and they are not happy with oldest sister Cam’s push to update the island. The story’s many layers play out into a delightful story of family, friendship, faith and love. I enjoy the setting on a Maine island with a lighthouse and camp. If you enjoy family stories with a spiritual thread, you’ll love At Lighthouse Point. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Encourage With Kind Words

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I didn’t care about fashion. Shopping left me exhausted, and my hair style skills stopped with braids.

Growing up, I was a tomboy. I’d rather climb a tree or tromp through the woods, than primp and play with make-up. Then God gave me three girls. Instead of focusing on their appearance (although they were always beautiful) I made a point to instill in them the importance of encouraging and loving each other. Many times through the years, I gave a speech reminding them their friends might come and go, but your sister will always be your sister.

It’s been a joy for me to see my girls grow close to each other and support one another. Despite my inability to raise girls in a girly way, God helped me teach them a love for truth, independence to know they could accomplish what the Lord set before them, and the desire to encourage and help others.

There is a meme on social media that says something like, “Be the woman who fixes another woman's crown without telling the world it was crooked.” Men and women, we all need to encourage each other with kind words and heartfelt gestures. Don’t point out the difficulty, instead quietly lend a loving hand and encourage your friend, family member, or even a stranger.

The Hebrews writer says to urge each other to love. What’s that look like? In 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 we find love is patient, kind, thankful, humble, unselfish, calm, and doesn’t carry grudges, rejoices with the truth, protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. That’s quite a list, but if each of us would embrace the love God outlined, we’d build each other up and find the world a kinder more considerate place.

As Jesus’ followers were not called to judge and fight, we’re asked to remind others of their worth to God. He created every one of us in his image. An image which includes loving others. He knows our hearts and has a desire for us to love Him and the people around us.

Encourage one another with kind words and heartfelt gestures.

 

Fiction Book Review: All That We Carried: A Novel by Erin Bartels

Book Description:
Ten years ago, sisters Olivia and Melanie Greene were on a backcountry hiking trip when their parents were in a fatal car accident. Over the years, they grew apart, each coping with the loss in her own way. Olivia plunged herself into law school, work, and a materialist view of the world--what you see is what you get, and that's all you get. Melanie dropped out of college and developed an online life-coaching business around her cafeteria-style spirituality--a little of this, a little of that, whatever makes you happy.

Now, at Melanie's insistence (and against Olivia's better judgment), they are embarking on a hike in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In this remote wilderness they'll face their deepest fears, question their most dearly held beliefs, and begin to see that perhaps the best way to move forward is the one way they had never considered.

Michigan Notable Book Award winner Erin Bartels draws from personal experience hiking backcountry trails with her sister to bring you a story about the complexities of grief, faith, and sisterhood.

My Thoughts:
Erin Bartels created a brilliant and moving story of two sisters searching for hope. She beautifully balances total disbelief with belief in whatever gets you by, while telling a heartrending tale of love and loss. The sisters, as most are, come across very different from one another with a link that joins them forever. Through all of the ups and downs of the camping trip, I felt like I was hiking along the path with Melanie and Olivia. Bartels reveals a spiritual thread throughout the story that left me seeking more. And there is a twist or two. I won't give that away, but I will say it was the perfect way to integrate grace into a tragic story. If you enjoy heartfelt, family stories that delve deep, you'll want to read All That We Carried. I've read all of Bartels' books and this one is my favorite. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Historical Fiction Book Review: The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Story Description:

Haunted by her sister's mysterious disappearance, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to work for Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education. When Cora sends Lucy into the hills to act as scribe for the mountain people, she is repelled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters. Few adults can read and write.

Born in those hills, Cora knows the plague of illiteracy. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing schoolmaster who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?

As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose; or maybe purpose finds her. With purpose comes answers to her questions, and something else she hadn't expected: love.

Inspired by the true events of the Moonlight Schools, this standalone novel from bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings to life the story that shocked the nation into taking adult literacy seriously. You'll finish the last page of this enthralling story with deep gratitude for the gift of reading.

My Thoughts:

Suzanne Woods Fisher's story delves into the tragedy of adults who, often by no fault of their own, never learned to read. Reminiscent of Catherine Marshall's Christy, a beloved telling of Appalachian life, The Moonlight School tells the tale of Miss Lucy, a young lady from the city, who learns, with some surprise, life in the mountains has a beauty all its own. I particularly enjoyed the story of Brother Wyatt and his heart for the folks in the mountains. A variety of characters sprinkled through the story have lived fascinating lives. Cora's story, based on the real person who started the moonlight schools is inspiring. I truly enjoyed every bit of this book, including a thread of mystery. I agree with the description I found on Amazon—as I finished the last pages, I thanked God for the privilege of reading. As someone who worked in an elementary school library and as a volunteer in my daughter's first grade class, I'm accustomed to the excitement and delight little ones share when they learn to read. To read about adults who found satisfaction in the written word thrilled my heart. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sisters

Willow, the main character in my work-in-progress, teaches College English. She adores poetry, as a matter of fact; I’m sure she writes some from time to time. In April, she asks her students to pen a poem or two because April is National Poetry Month.

Like Willow, I have written poems for years. Most of mine would be considered children’s poetry, including the one I want to share today. This is dedicated to Willow and her sister Bess and all the other sisters, who nurtured their own, unique personalities.

Sisters

My sister Bailey plays baseball.
She’s not like other girls at all.
She’d rather slide around in dirt
Than wear a pretty pleated skirt.

I just don’t understand why she
Doesn’t want to be like me.

My sister Beatrice twirls around,
Hardly making any sound.
She pirouettes, she tippy toes,
She wears flowery calicoes.

I just don’t understand why she
Doesn’t want to be like me.

Two sets of sisters

My sister Bailey loves the dog.
She asked our dad to buy a hog.
Her overalls smell funny, too.
I think she drug them through the zoo.

I just don’t understand why she
Doesn’t want to be like me.

My sister Beatrice loves our cat.
She made the cat a lavender hat.
She sprays herself with sweet perfume.
It makes me want to leave the room.

I just don’t understand why she
Doesn’t want to be like me.

My sister Bailey drops her junk
And throws her clothes around my bunk.
She leaves her gear beside the door,
So I can’t shut it anymore.

I just don’t understand why she
Doesn’t want to be like me.

My sister Beatrice makes her bed,
Smoothing out her frilly spread.
She folds her clothes, puts them away.
Oh, I can’t take it one more day.

I just don’t understand why she
Doesn’t want to be like me.

My sister Bailey hugs me tight
When I wake up afraid at night.
She tells me stories, calms my fears.
She dries my weepy, seepy tears.

I’m glad my sister’s not like me
And she is who she wants to be.

My sister Beatrice helps me write
My homework on a busy night.
She quizzes me and makes me study.
She tells me I’m her study buddy.

I’m glad my sister’s not like me
And she is who she wants to be.

So be yourself, that’s what we do.
For no one will be just like you.