Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt
Howard Publishing, 2012
Reviewed by Amanda Stephan
5 stars *****
Realistic Portrayal of a Confused and Hurting Woman
Meet Seth Rayner. Self-absorbed and selfish, he's so self-assured that he never takes Allison Denman's thoughts or feelings into consideration.
Allison Denman, the lucky bride-to-be who is looking for safety. But is Seth the one to give it to her? After one kiss shared with his brother, Daniel, Alli's not so sure.
With Seth around, you never had to think...
Tough decisions face Allison as she leaves her groom-to-be standing at the altar with his mouth hanging open. Marrying Seth was what everyone expected. It was what Alli wanted. Or so she thought. Until she had to do it. Now, all she could see in her ruined future were lists of regrets and apologies she owed everyone. There was no un-doing her choice. She hadn't thought of all the consequences. Such is the conflicted state of Runaway Bride, Allison.
Guided by her wise friend Meghan and the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit, Allison faces her confused future. Would it have been right to go through with the marriage? While the kiss shared with his brother had at first been innocent enough, was she right to have enjoyed it so much? Would it be possible to share a future with her fiance's brother? These are just a few thoughts troubling Alli.
"If you can stop controlling your life, maybe God will finally have a chance to get a word in edgewise and be able to tell you what He wants for your life."
How many of us could have that statement uttered to us? Meghan, Allison's maid of honor and best friend, is a lighthouse of wisdom as she helps guide Alli back to reality and pull the pieces of her broken life back together.
Are we just the sum total of our past mistakes? Would it be possible to say sorry for a mistake so huge that it would take God's grace to forgive it totally?
This isn't a story about freedom-seekers who have everything under control. This is a story about real people dealing with real situations. Hurting, bruised, broken people. People who make mistakes and people who they've hurt with those mistakes. Although this book is fiction, it packs a punch and is loaded with wisdom. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to more from Beth Vogt.
Highly recommend!
Beth hit some pretty hard issues and treated them respectfully without going into detail.
Amanda Stephan ~ Christian Romance Author
www.booksbyamanda.com
Leave a comment here, too, for the giveaway.
What a great review, AMANDA, and thank you for being our guest today! I have not had the pleasure of reading any of Beth's books yet, HOWEVER, I have read one of yours and it was really awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Diana :) I'm so thrilled to have you as a friend, that you reading my book is just a bonus! :)
DeleteAnd. Let me say that Beth's book is very good reading. It completely sucked me in and stole my evening. I like the contemporary stories just as much as the period pieces! Well worth your time.
DeleteGreat review you pulled me in to the book already. Would love to read this. Thanks for the chance at winning it,
ReplyDeleteBlessings
joeym11@frontier.com
Thanks for stopping by, Diana. It was a very good read. One word of caution, though. Make sure you have an afternoon or evening free, because its not one you'll want to put down.
DeleteWishing You Were Here sounds like a very good book. Thanks for the review and a chance to win. However, if this is only in e-book format please do not enter me in the drawing since I have not purchased an e-reader yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Katie J.
johnsonk133[at]yahoo[dot]com
Hi Katie :)
DeleteYou know, I'm one of those people that loves paperbacks (as evidenced by my bookshelves). I prefer to have a book in my hand rather than a reader. There's just something about having it in my hands. But, I did download the Kindle for PC from Amazon, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed using it.
Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for your review of Wish You Here, Amanda!
ReplyDeleteBeth, you are more than welcome for my review. You, my dear, are a very talented writer! I met you on the MBT voices on a chat one evening. It was very fun getting to know you better. All the best with your writing in 2013!
DeleteWow Amanda, loved your review!! You really captured the essence of this wonderful book! I really loved the humor and wisdom this story has and also look forward to more of Beth's books :)
ReplyDeletePlease don't enter me, already have a copy :)
Blessings Amanda!
Hi Kara :)
DeleteThis was a very easy book to review. Beth is gifted, indeed! I always love it when the characters and the style of writing come to life and make me think long after the book is finished. These are those characters. I rally wants to dislike Seth, but I just couldn't. Somehow, she made him likable in spite of himself, didn't she?
...and rally should be really.
DeleteSheesh! Autocorrect and I do not always get along, as you can see!
AMANDA great review of a terrific book by BETH. Thanks for being with us on OWG. Can't wait to read one of your books too. :)
ReplyDeleteWell hello, Teresa! Thank you for the warm welcome - I'm truly honored to be the guest reviewer today. I love the OWG group - so much friendship and lots of fun with these gals. I'm very blessed to get to know them and you better. I think there was a time in the not-too-distant past, that I probably scared Diana and Carrie witless. I just started chatting out of the blue with them, they were that friendly! (I'm probably one of those people parents use to caution their children...)
DeleteAmanda didn't scare me, lol! I don't think she scared Diana either! We love to chat--with nice people, anyway!!!
DeleteAmanda, this was a great review. Thanks! I know I would love to read this book. And, I'm hoping to win it here. You are new to me and hope to see more of you. These girls on OWG are wonderful. Always enjoy visiting their site. Please drop my name in the pot, and then gently take it out for the winner! :) Have a great day. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
ReplyDeleteOkay. Maxie, I *love* how you put that.
Delete"drop my name in the pot, and then gently take it out for the winner!"
LOL, that was so eloquent! I wish you the best of luck :)
By the way Beth, I would love to be able to own your Debut book, "Wish You Were Here". It sounds really good from Amanda's review. GOD bless!
ReplyDeleteMaxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
sounds like a wonderful book thanks for chance to win
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Apple Blossom, Hi! It's been a long time since I've seen you ~ but, I haven't been online nearly as much as I used to be. Anyway, it is a marvelous book. I wish you much luck!
DeleteI am slapping myself upside the head over here! Until I read Amanda's review, for some reason the synopsis of this book just did not click in my brain but I know why. I checked this book out from the library when it released last May and y'all know what was going on in my life then. So...Please take my name off the list as a potential winner because I would hate to deprive someone of this MOST EXCELLENT book!!! I really did love this story. It had me crying and laughing and definitely sighing :)
ReplyDeleteThat's how I felt, Anne! The slapping and crying part. When I first saw this book, I thought that it would be a little more light-hearted than it was because of the cover, but Beth really did a fantastic job.
DeleteHope you're doing well :)
I'm doing better, other than still having some obvious brain fog :)
DeleteWhat a great review! It sounds like an awesome book! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletemakeighleekyleigh at yahoo.com
Without even blushing Megan, I can tell you it's a great book. I loved it ~ good luck!
DeleteMEGAN PARSONS, you are our second winner!!! CONGRATS!!! You will receive an autographed copy of Beth Vogt's "Wish You Were Here!"
DeleteHi Diana, Carrie, and all OWT friends! Thanks to you for having me here today!
ReplyDelete...and here's another faux pas on my part...
DeletePlease forgive me for having a T instead of a G. All I can say is my brain went out for lunch and has yet to return.
*face palm*
Thank you for the chance to win this book, it sure sounds like a good read
ReplyDeleteShirley Blanchard
Good luck, Shirley! :)
DeleteAMANDA, Thanks so much for visiting with us on OWG!!! We appreciate you being a guest reviewer.
ReplyDeleteCarrie, did you know that you're the Bomb?! Absolutely. Truly enjoyed being here, and thank you for sharing your space with me. I'm honored!
DeleteThank you all for such encouraging posts. It delights an author to know readers enjoyed her book. Your comments today have blessed me.
ReplyDeleteBeth, so glad you've been encouraged, and I do have to agree with you about when readers comment about your book.
DeleteGreat review, Amanda! Your thoughtful analysis of Beth's book encourages me to want to read it. Thank you,
ReplyDeletemay_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Kay :)
DeleteThanks for your kind words! Beth really wrote a great book. It has some pretty deep issues and makes you think. Good luck!
The sounds like a great read. Thanks for a chance to win it. LeAnn Mooneyham angel4god@charter.net
ReplyDeleteGreat review. A book I must read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for chance to win, keeping my fingers crossed it will be me.
Carolyn Jefferson
carolynj63@att.net
Have not read! Would love to win a copy. Thank you for offer.
ReplyDelete"If you can stop controlling your life, maybe God will finally have a chance to get a word in edgewise and be able to tell you what He wants for your life." This is so true.
This takes Truth and belief!: "Are we just the sum total of our past mistakes?"
Thank you for your review. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
That's the kind of review I wish I could write!! Very well done, and I certainly wish to read this novel soon. I'm quite attracted to the cover also. Thanks for this giveaway and the chance to win a great read!
ReplyDeleteIn Christian Joy,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com
Great review Amanda! Thanks for sharing with us. I have not read any of Beth's books yet...maybe later when I have more time.
ReplyDeleteThe book, "Wish you were here" by Beth Vogt would be a wonderful addition to the church library.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover of this book.
Thanks for entering me in the book giveaway.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and leaving a new review for the faithful followers of this blog. I love reading all the different opinions. Add my name to the pot!
Patty
pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love the cover it makes me want to open the book and find out what's inside :) Enter me please :D
ReplyDeletewinterrose (at) comcast (dot) net
This sounds really good! I love the Runaway Bride movie and I'm sure would love this too. shopgirl152nykiki(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDelete