Where did love find you? {Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska Book Review}

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You might know that Tricia Goyer is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I wrote about her book, The Memory Jar, recently, and that book inspired Ben and me and create our own memory jars in 2013.

Recently, Tricia put out a call on her blog for reviewers to apply to her Fiction Launch Team for 2013. I jumped at this opportunity to pre-read all of her upcoming books and share them with my readers. I was honored to have been chosen for the team. That means you’ll be hearing a lot from me about Tricia in the coming months. I’m sure you’ll grow to be quite a fan yourself!

You might have a;ready noticed my chatter recently about a new book co-authored by Tricia and Ocieanna Fleiss. Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska is their third installment in a whole series of Love Finds You . . . books being published by Summerside Press.

I received it a couple of weeks ago and immediately immersed myself in Ginny’s story . . .

About Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska

Singer Ginny Marshall is one signature away from the recording contract of her dreams—a deal that would guarantee success for the former foster child, who still struggles to bury the memories of her painful childhood. But Ginny needs advice from the one person who will look out for her best interests—her former fiancé, Brett Miller. She travels to the remote town of Glacier Bay, Alaska, where the town’s colorful characters and stunning scenery provide respite from LA’s pressures.

In Glacier Bay, Ginny discovers a box of old letters and is swept up in the love story between Clay, an early missionary to Alaska Territory, and Ellie, the woman who traveled there to be his children’s governess. When Ginny is reunited with Brett in Glacier Bay, will she discover—as Ellie did—that healing and love are sometimes found in the most unexpected places?

My Review: I would just like to write, “I loved this book. Go buy it.” But that wouldn’t be much of a review. I will work to find the words to tell you why I loved it. If I succeed in that, you will want to buy this book.

First of all, it’s not just a love story. It’s multiple love stories. There’s the obvious love story between Clay and Ellie mentioned above, and the rather complicated love story between Ginny and Brett, also referenced above. But more than that, this book is a love story between all of these characters and Glacier Bay, Alaska. Not the bay itself, though the way the authors describe it, you will long to be there, but between the people, the community of Gustavas. Unlike the fast-paced, me-me-me world that many of us live in, this slower-paced community, where every person’s name in the community is tossed into the pot for a Christmas gift exchange, and Thanksgiving dinner is one ginormous potlock at the local lodge, people understand what it means to love your neighbor, and to love God.

It is because of that sense of community and love (and Clay and Ellie’s letters) that Ginny is able to realize that recording contracts and fame are not the stuff real life is made of. I was touched down to my core as Ginny is able to peel back the layers of her own heart and discover that when love finds you, it may not be quick or easy, or free from pain, but when it is God-ordained, it will not ever let you go.

A really nice addition to the story is the factual, historical information provided about this intriguing part of Alaska as well. The glimpses into the struggles of those who settled this area nearly 100 years ago help tell the love stories that are the heart of this book.

Something else struck me about this book — all of the little nuggets of wisdom worked into the story. I would like to share a few of my favorite quotes to give you more of a sense of how special these writers are, and the true life lessons of the book:

“I’m quite certain that before God can ever bless a woman, and use her to impact many, He uses the hammer, the file, and the furnace to do a holy work.”

“Life is difficult for me here, as you’ve probably garnered from my letters, but I’m starting to see how these folks get by. They depend on each other.”

“As we go through life, it’s hard to see the big picture. Things happen that seem random. We question why God allows hard things to happen to good people. And while those letters aren’t always easy to read, they give a glimpse of a bigger picture. . . . It’s not often you get to see how one life can impact many, but it’s something I have a feeling God wants you to know.”

I loved this book. Go buy it.

Amazon.com

ChristianBook.com

Barnes & Noble

About Tricia Goyer:

Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of over thirty books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

Find out more about Tricia at http://triciagoyer.com.

About Ocieanna Fleiss:

Ocieanna is a wife and mom of four. Discover ongoing insights from her mom adventure on her Mommy-O blog as well as at MOPS.org. As for writing, fiction is her first love. She is blessed to express this passion in two other novels she co-authored with Tricia Goyer, Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana, and Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington.

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