"the guest book" by marybeth whalen

About the book: When Macy was a child, her family traveled to Sunset Beach and stayed at Time in a Bottle guest house each summer. One year, she drew a picture in the house's guest book, and when she returned the next year, she found a response—another drawing and a picture of the boy who drew it. For several years, Macy and this boy corresponded only through drawing in the guest book, and Macy fell more in love with him each year. But then her dad died, and the family stopped visiting Time in a Bottle.

Ten years later, Macy, now a single mother, returns to Time in a Bottle with her mother, brother, and daughter. She prays a desperate prayer, begging God to allow her to meet the boy she knows only as "the artist," having no idea how radically that prayer will change her life.

My take: I requested this book from Vine because I'd become familiar with author Marybeth Whalen through the website Southern Belle View. (Though Whalen no longer writes for the site, I'd still encourage you to check it out.) Because of what I'd read on the site, I was fairly certain I'd enjoy The Guest Book—but I had no idea just how much I'd love it!

The Guest Book is one of those novels that you could easily see being made into a movie. (Are you listening, Hallmark Channel???) Though it starts off a bit slowly, the pace is nice. It's a thought provoking, gentle book that deals with some weighty issues without being heavy handed or overbearing.

I loved Macy's quest to find the artist, and, like Macy, I was thoroughly confused as to who he might be. Though it is a romance, the book is more about Macy finding her way back to God than about finding a man, and I like it that way. (I also wish that God would drop three incredible men into my lap, as happened in this book. What a problem to have!) This is one of the most enjoyable books I've recently read! 4-1/2 stars.

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About the author: Marybeth Whalen is the wife of Curt and mom of six children. She is the director of She Reads, an online book club focused on spotlighting the best in women's fiction. Marybeth is the author of The Mailbox, She Makes It Look Easy and The Guest Book. Marybeth spends most of her time in the grocery store but occasionally escapes long enough to scribble some words. She's always at work on her next novel. Marybeth and her family live in North Carolina. You can find her online at www.marybethwhalen.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through it's Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.