From the beginning sentence, I was intrigued by Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate. It is a story of faith lost, faith gained and healing. The community of Moses Lake sees the characters of Andrea Henderson a 38 year old divorced Mother and Social Worker and her teen son looking to make a new life. The other main character is Mart McClendon the town's Wild Life Officer running away from something in his past. Their paths collide when they must work together to help a mysterious little girl who is seen with the town recluse.One of the aspects of the book I liked most is how the author uses nature to connect the characters to themselves and each other. The result brings a deeper understanding for the reader of each character. Some examples of this are: Andrea Henderson comes from a background where she always felt sheltered and that she couldn't take risks. "A visceral shudder ran over my shoulders-pathetic for a girl whose favorite childhood place had been the lake shore, where I could run barefoot all day, dig in the dirt, and let the wind and the water turn my hair into a giant knot, which my mother would spend hours combing out later. What happened to that girl, anyway."
Later in the story, as Andrea's feelings for Mart McClendon grow: "Freedom, life, exhilaration swirled through me as I dashed down the hill in the moon shadow of pecan trees. An owl hooted and I stopped short, then laughed silently at myself and continued toward the water, my feet landing in the wet grass, splashes of dew flicking upward, showering my skin with cool pinpoints."
Comparatively, Mart McClendon is a real man's man and guards his feelings as such. Partly because of his past. "I'd been through enough mental warfare in the past three years to last me a lifetime. Coming to Moses Lake was all about moving on, letting go, leaving it behind." However, as the story moves along Mart begins to open up, as can be seen from the following dialogue he has with Andrea. "The river has a sound, and the hills have a sound, and the cliffs have a sound." So their relationship evolves from there.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book is how the author shows how our words and actions can open roads within someone else's soul and create hope. As Mart and Andrea begin coming to terms with their own internal struggles they must try and help the orphan like little girl Birdie mentioned early in the story. One day, as Andrea heads over to the place where the child is staying she observes and then comments in her mind the following: There was Birdie in what most people would have considered to be bleak circumstances, yet her face was alight with happiness over something as small as a caterpillar..." From this Andrea is able to see that joy is in the simple moments.
Larkspur Cove is a soulful story of faith rediscovered and of healing. Much of what is learned by the characters is learned through their experiences with nature. What I especially loved, is that as a reader I could feel myself growing right along with the characters. To me that is the mark of a story well told! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys having a story wrap itself around you like a hug, classic style really!
By Candace Duiker
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."
www.grafmartin.com
