Review: Making Waves

Making Waves (Lake Manawa Summers series - Book 1) by Lorna Seilstad

Publication Date: September 2010
Publisher: Revell Books (A division of Baker Publishing Group)
Format: Paperback, 364 pp
Genre: Christian Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780800734459
ISBN: 0800734459

Synopsis (Courtesy of Barnes & Noble):

When spunky Marguerite Westing discovers that her family will summer at Lake Manawa in 1895, she couldn't be more thrilled. It is the perfect way to escape her agonizingly boring suitor, Roger Gordon. It's also where she stumbles upon two new loves: sailing, and sailing instructor Trip Andrews. But this summer of fun turns to turmoil and her father's gambling problems threaten to ruin the family forever. Will free-spirited Marguerite marry Roger to save her father's name and fortune? Or will she follow her heart - even if it means abandoning the family she loves?

Thoughts:

Author Lorna Seilstad has taken the typical themes for Christian Fiction romance and tossed them on their collective heads, LOL... I have read a lot of novels from this genre over the years and have never read one with a sailing theme. It was refreshing and full of great descriptions and an engrossing storyline. The characters were very well developed and I thought the author did a great job of starting out a new series.

Marguerite Westing is such a great character. She is spunky and full of vim and vigor. But, she also is very loyal to her family. It is easy to see that she loves them very much and the decision as to whether or not to marry Roger is very agonizing for her. She understands her duty to her family but also realizes the duty she has to her own heart. I became very engaged in Marguerite's love for sailing. Not only did she like the instructor, Trip, but sailing itself seemed to take hold of her interest. It's something I've always wanted to do myself. Marguerite's relationship with Trip starts out as most relationships do, they are thrown together for reasons beyond their control and a relationship is born.

Trip Andrews is a typical hero. He is handsome and athletic, a sailing instructor with a deep love for the water and his craft. But, he also has a deep sense of faith and understanding as Marguerite's family is thrust into a terrible situation with her father's gambling. I liked the way he comforted Marguerite but was also strong in his ideas of what she should do. He is the total opposite of Roger, who seems a bit stuffy and definitely boring, but also a very well written character.

I always love it when a book has a very big dilemma that the heroine must face and this book is no exception. What would you do if you had to choose between saving your families fortune or livelihood and following your heart. I'm not sure I could have made the decision that Marguerite did. It's a tough choice when deciding where duty really lies.

I liked this book a lot and look forward to the next installment in the series. Lake Manawa seems like a place I'd like to vacation, LOL. I recommend this one to readers who enjoy Christian Fiction with a different theme. It's not your average title in this genre.

Available September, 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Here is some additional information about author, Lorna Seilstad

Lorna Seilstad is a history buff, antique collector, and freelance graphic designer. A former high school English and Journalism teacher, she has won several online writing awards and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in and draws her setting from Iowa. This is her first novel.