Tyndale House Publishers, 2014
Reviewed by Teresa S. Mathews
5 Stars*****
Tandi Jo Reese made the
decision to come to Hatteras Island to get away from a past that holds horrible
memories; she has come back to the one place that holds the few precious
memories from her abusive childhood. Now she needs to find a job so she can buy
food and pay the rent on the little cottage that her landlady, Iola Anne Poole,
owns.
Tandi and her kids had
been living in the cottage for six weeks when she decided to check on Iola.
Tandi knew the moment she stepped on the porch that the one thing most everyone
fears had come and taken the ninety one year old away. Finding the door
unlocked Tandi hesitantly enters hoping beyond hope to find the tiny lady well,
but it wasn't to be. When the minister of music from Fairhope Fellowship Church
drops by and offers Tandi the job of cleaning out Iola's house in exchange for the
rent on the cottage, she agrees never dreaming the treasures she would discover
inside that beautiful old Victorian House.
Having heard a few vicious
rumors about Iola, Tandi is anxious to learn more about her and she wishes she
had taken the time to get to know her before she passed. When Tandi arrives to clean
the house it seems as though something is drawing her back to the room where
she found Iola, lying peacefully on the antique wedding quilt. What Tandi finds
is a lifetime of memories enclosed in beautifully decorated boxes. There she is introduced
to a little girl, who like herself had a troublesome childhood and there
Tandi will find the love of a Father who has been waiting for her to come home.
What an enjoyable read
this was; Tandi was a character with a lot of flaws but also one that tugged at
your heart. It was so rewarding to see the turn her life took after realizing
who Iola's true Father was. The winding path this book leads you on to the satisfying conclusion was quite surprising. This is the
first book I have read by Lisa and I know it won't be the last; in fact I liked
this one so much I look forward to reading it again.
You may purchase this and many other of Lisa's outstanding books at Amazon, CBD and Barnes and Noble and your local bookstore.
GIVEAWAY: This week we are giving away winner's choice of any of Lisa's books and choice of format, International winner ebook only. Lisa has graciously added a signed copy of her paperback Firefly Island (USA winner only) to our giveaway this week.
***PLEASE REMEMBER TO LEAVE YOUR
EMAIL ADDRESS SHOULD YOU BE OUR WINNER!***
Thank you for this wonderful review, T. I have read books by Lisa Wingate before and really enjoyed them. Perhaps I can squeeze this one in - or the other one that Diana reviewed earlier this week. Lisa is a talented writer!
ReplyDeleteHi MARIAN you are so write she is a very talented writer! I want to read the one Diana reviewed this week too! :-)
DeleteI'm always write. ;) Hehe...
DeleteThis really does sound like such a deeply rewarding story, thank you so much for your lovely review Teresa! I was only just writing today to an author friend about those books you want to read again as soon as you finish them, or at least portions of the story that really touched you... I love it when books can do that!!
ReplyDeleteNOELA you are so right it's always the best feeling when a book finds it's way into your heart!
DeleteThanks so much for the wonderful review, TERESA! It never fails -- whenever I read a book by Lisa I always say, "gosh, this woman is so smart!" Her imagination and ideas for stories never ceases to amaze me and she is SO smart! lol
ReplyDeleteDIANA you made me LOL with that one but you are right, LISA is very smart! She is smart for listening to the Voice of GOD because that has to be where she gets her ideas and that makes her very smart indeed!!
DeleteI have been wanting to read this book for a long time!! hopefully I can soon meme_braddock@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteHi MIA I sure hope you get to read this soon too! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteSounds very interesting! Thanks for the chance to win. :)
ReplyDeletejennismith1983(at)gmail(dot)com
JENNIFER you are very welcome! Thanks for coming by! :-)
DeleteThis one is on my to-read list! Getting ready to read Larkspur Cove in April - it will be my first book of Lisa's that I've read!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
Beth
bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com
Hi BETH thanks for dropping in, I am going to put LARKSPUR COVE on my TBR stack too!!
DeleteThank you for that touching review, Teresa - brought tears to my eyes!!
ReplyDeleteAs with Diana, I love Lisa's story lines!! And - I love the idea of prayer boxes!! SUCH a neat idea, and beautiful, also!!
Thanks for another opportunity to win one of Lisa's books!!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
OWG
BONNIE how sweet, you made my day!! Lisa really knows how to get to the heart of the matter! :-) You're right about the Prayer Boxes, a very special way to talk to your Heavenly Father! I loved the moment in the story where Tandi figured out who Iola was writing too! Precious!
DeleteI haven't read Lisa Wingate's books yet, although a few are on my TBR list! Thanks so much for sharing this thoughtful review and the giveaway!
ReplyDeletecolorvibrant at gmail dot com
http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com
HEIDI I know you will love Lisa's books,. Thank you for dropping in. :-)
DeleteThis book is up for ECPA award, too, Teresa! Thanks so much for the stellar review! Hugs!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks CARRIE! :-) After reading this treasure I'm not surprised about the award!
DeleteHallo, Hallo OWG & Ms. Wingate!
ReplyDelete:) "The Prayer Box" arrived in my life at the very height of a difficult period in my life and the blessings of having read the story at that pertinent hour is not lost on me! :) She's a beautifully gifted writer in being able to not only connect her readers to her character's central struggle with faith, life, and love, but she gives us a portal into the human condition which unites all of us together. Living without hindsight regret is a grace we can give ourselves, but the measure of knowing which life experiences can help paint our tomorrows in a better walk of courage is equally as important! What I appreciated about The Prayer Box is how genuine the story evolves and how realistically Ms. Wingate paints the details!
My gratitude is hers evermore!
Thank you for the lovely bookaway!
(inkand-bookaways(at)usa(dot)net)
Jorie's Book Review of "The Prayer Box" by Lisa Wingate
Hi JORIE, it's always a blessing when you stop by to see us here at OWG! Thanks for your "review" of Lisa's book! I can't imagine anyone reading this and not being blessed or changed! :-)
DeleteHallo, Hallo Ms. Mathews!
DeleteA bit of how I felt as blessed sorting out where you are on Twitter!! :) Whilst I was on the blog tour for "The Prayer Box" I was a bit surprised the story didn't connect with other readers. I felt that perhaps we are always going to find those who may not find the same connection we do, but that's okay too! I always hope other readers will be as enigmatic about stories like I am, but I have to remember everyone is in a different place on their lifepath, and if there heart isn't open to walking with Tandi Jo then they might perceive it differently than I had!
For me, it was an unexpected gift of grace!!
Do you ever find that some books arrive in your hands right at the moment you need them the most!?
JORIE my love for books has been with me since I was a child and I find even if I'm not in love with a certain book I try to find something I like about it. In answer to your question, yes it's always a blessing when you find a book that speaks to your heart just when you need it most. That my friend proves that GOD is always looking out for us and HE will send what you need just when you need it! He truly is an ON-TIME GOD!!
DeleteI find it a little hard to believe that there are those that didn't connect with this beautiful story, and maybe the way I perceived it was a little different than someone else's take on it but either way it a wonderfully crafted story.
What a great description of The Prayer Box. I want to read it. I love books that tell a great story but are not predictable. Jorie, I do find that sometimes a book will arrive when I am ready to read and understand it.
ReplyDeleteJAN I know you will love this one, especially the twists it has. The ending was an especially sweet one that I didn't see coming! :-)
Deleteoops fishingjan[at]aol[dot]com
ReplyDeleteThanks for leaving your email address, Jan Hall, because you are the winner of a Lisa Wingate book! Congrats!
DeleteSharon Dianne King would love to win this book.
ReplyDeletecarealot1993 at yahoo dot ca
SHARON I would love for you to win also! :-)
DeleteTeresa, thank you for the wonderful review of The Prayer Box. It was a very special story for me for many reasons -- not the least of which being the wonderful "prayer box" stories that readers have sent back to me after reading the book. Prayer boxes can be used in some amazing ways among families, friends, an church groups!
ReplyDeleteLISA it was my pleasure to have been able to read and review the Prayer Box. I don't think I had heard of one before, let me say thank you for the grand introduction to them. I might have to make one for myself. :-)
DeleteThe Prayer Box sounds like a very special story and a book I would like to read. Lisa Wingate is a gifted author. Would love to win, thanks for the opportunity. Linda
ReplyDeletedmcfarl101(at)juno(dot)com
LINDA so glad you came by and you are so right, Lisa is an amazing gifted author!
DeleteOutstanding
ReplyDeleteoh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
Hi DANIE, great to "see" you, thanks for coming by!!
DeleteIt's nice being here. Your welcome. I like comeing bye and seeing what new book will be giving away.
DeleteI'm going to be quite emotional reading this I think. Sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
MARY this was a very moving story and if you are like me, yes you will be quite emotional. Thanks for coming by!
DeleteThe Prayer Box is such a great book. It's like an old friend one enjoys cozying up to with a cup of hot tea. I enjoyed reading it, and felt like I could identify with Tandi in several ways. Even though I hated for the story to end, the story was complete. It is definitely one I will read again. I have a Kindle version, but I intend to get a paper back also. Thank you, Lisa, for being such an inspiration, and for sharing what God lays on your heart with such honesty. :-)
ReplyDeletealmost.mirror.image@gmail.com
All I can add to that is AMEN!! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteHello there you OWG girls. Anyone still awake? Just wanted to say the interview was great Teresa and Now I know for sure I would love to win it. Sounds like I wouldn't want to put down until the last page and had to. I was also thinking how interesting it would be to explore through that large Victorian house. Might hold lots of treasures. But, the work, I'm not so sure about. LOL Thanks Lisa for a chance to win your book. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHello Beautiful MAXIE!! Sorry I'm missed you last night/early this morning. I'm usually up late myself but I had a dr appt today so I tried to go to bed a little earlier. I KNOW you will love this book and who knows it might be time for you to win again on here. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for ya!! ;-) lol Love ya Maxie!
DeleteBoth books sound great, i would love to win either one of them, thank you
ReplyDeleteShirley B jcisforme@aol.com
Hi Shirley! I think all of Lisa's books sound wonderful, I KNOW this one was!! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteTeresa, Thank you for the review Of The Prayer Box. I have been wanting to read this and your review reinforced my goal to read it looks like an inspiring read
ReplyDeleteThank You
mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
JACKIE so glad I could help you decide to read this, it will be worth your time that's for sure! Here's hoping you will be one of our blessed winners this week! :-)
DeleteThis sounds really good! I think it would be my choice if I win=)
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
PATTY that would be a great choice, good luck!!! Lisa was certainly led by GOD when she wrote this beautiful story! Thanks for coming by today!
DeleteThis sounds like a great book. I would love to win a copy.
ReplyDeletesusanmsj at msn dot com
Hi SUSAN it great to see you here today! The Prayer Box is an outstanding book and I know you will love it! Here's hoping for a win for you! :-)
Delete