"firefly island" by lisa wingate

About the book (from the back cover): Sometimes love takes you on an adventure completely off the map.

Mallory Hale's life quickly veers off course when she falls hopelessly in love. After a whirlwind romance, Mallory finds herself leaving the bustle and action of Capitol Hill for the remote town of Moses Lake, Texas-with husband, stepson, and a U-Haul in tow.

A sweet, mishap-filled journey into marriage, motherhood, and ranch living ensues, and Mallory is filled with both the wonderment of love and the insecurities of change. But what she can't shake is the unease she feels around her husband's new boss, Jack West. Jack's presence—and his mysterious past—set her on edge, and when hints of a scandal emerge, Mallory finds herself seeking answers . . . and comes to realize that the middle-of-nowhere home she wasn't sure she wanted is the very place she'll risk everything to save.

My take: As I sit here trying to find words to describe Firefly Island, I'm at a loss. There are so many aspects to the story that it's a bit difficult to describe. Contained in the nearly 400 pages you'll find romance, suspense, political intrigue, and humor. But more than that, Firefly Island is about a woman finding her way—to motherhood, to herself, and to her God.

From the opening pages, I was swept into Mallory's story, and I remained captivated until the very end. Author Lisa Wingate does a wonderful job of drawing the reader in and painting a picture in his or her mind. The supporting characters, the vermin (I am so thankful that Nebraska doesn't have scorpions!), and the struggle to begin a marriage while settling into an unknown (and completely foreign) place all struck me as completely realistic.

While I loved the secrecy and tragedy surrounding Jack West, I found the mystery about Mallory's neighbor Al to be one of the highlights of the book, even though it was definitely a subplot. (And I would love, love, love to read a book where Al is the main character. That woman is fascinating!)

The only thing I couldn't quite buy was Mallory's blog "The Frontier Woman." Not only is that name perilously close to The Pioneer Woman, but also we bloggers know that it usually takes time and effort to build a blog's audience. Mallory wasn't famous prior to beginning her blog, so I thought it was rather implausible that she would rise to blogging prominence so quickly.

Firefly Island is the third book in Wingate's Moses Lake series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. After reading this book, I definitely want to go back and read the other two in the series! Blogging quibble aside, I absolutely loved Firefly Island, and I hope Wingate revisits Moses Lake in the future! 4-1/2 stars.

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About the author: Lisa Wingate is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books, including Tending Roses, Talk of the Town, Blue Moon Bay, and Larkspur Cove, which won the 2011 Carol Award for Women's Fiction. Lisa and her family live in central Texas.

Visit her online at www.lisawingate.com.

About the giveaway: Lisa Wingate is celebrating the release of Firefly Island with an iPad Mini giveaway and a fun Facebook Author Chat Party (March 19th).  

  One fortunate winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• The Moses Lake series (Firefly Island, Blue Moon Bay and Larkspur Cove)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 18th. Winner will be announced at the "Firefly Island Author Chat Party on March 19th. Connect with Lisa, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

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!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."