Blue Moon Bay

I must admit, I almost returned this book about 1/4 of the way in because it seemed to be headed down a "preachy" path. And yes, there is a spiritual/religious undercurrent to this story of a woman who must return to the place of her youth to try to close a real estate deal - to get rid of it.

Heather Hampton is a Seattle architect whose career has become her life. When a broker deal comes up offering to buy the Texas land where she spent her childhood, still owned by her family, she can't wait to get her mother's signature on the dotted line. But Mom doesn't show up, so Heather must return to Moses Lake, Texas - to a place she still has nightmares about. To the place where her father died when she was just a teen.

What follows is a richly textured emotional journey of a woman who has been trying to bury her past by walling herself up from the world of emotions. Many twists and turns in this plot kept me riveted, and the author's mastery of description and language is nothing short of poetic. The religious factor is, at times, a bit off-putting, which is why this was a four- and not a five-star for me. But the lessons Heather learns, the revelations she comes to, and the peace and love she discovers are inspiring. A very satisfying read.

Heather Hampton had no idea how her life would change when she hopped on a plane to Moses Lake, TX, for what was planned as a short visit to coax her mother and uncles into signing the sales agreement for the family farm. After coming into contact with townspeople when she arrives, Heather discovers that the one year she lived in Moses Lake during her senior year in high school has left wounds that have followed her into adulthood. Her family’s vagueness and procrastination on signing over the farm only adds to Heather’s insecurities, frustration at her mother’s flightiness, and suspicion that handsome Blaine Underhill- her once high school crush and now banker in town- is using her family for his own financial gain. Heather soon comes to understand that her frustrations are misguided and that things are not as they seem as a long-standing family secret is revealed.

Wingate taps into the insecurities and fears that we all have as Heather explores the pain from her past and comes to grips with her need for acceptance, validation, family, and love. I enjoyed her journey as she re-evaluates her own perceptions, life choices, and priorities. Although it took a while to reveal that a family secret was behind her family’s vague and clandestine actions, an intriguing plot unfolded in answer to the family mystery.

This review contains my own thoughts and opinions. I have not been compensated by the author or publisher in any way.

BLUE MOON BAY. by Lisa Wingate. Book 2 in Shore Moses Lake
A childhood, filled with ghosts that continue to linger. For Heather the dream is back, of the cellar steps. Broker offer to buy family land,
ends in 8 days, and her mother has flown the coop, back to Moses Lake. A trip to drag her back,would not be easy, when you consider the twisted family ties. An with her little brother, who is still floating thru life, who knows what advice he is giving. So Heather is force to go to Moses Lake. Her future, the families that would benefit and needed the money was at stake. Things change would it be for better or worse for Heather. A good plot, and rich with character dynamics in this 2 nd book, readers will enjoy, and look forward to the next one in series.

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate
Lisa Wingate, author extraordinaire has done it again!!!! She's written a book that brings real life to the surface. Blue Moon Bay is about Heather Hampton returning to a place she couldn't wait to get away from...Home. A lot of us can identify with this feeling. When we were young we wanted to go out and conquer the world, which Heather has done. She has it all or thinks she does until she returns home and discovers how fast the past can take over.

Looking at the past as a young girl and looking at it as a grown woman sometimes forces you to take a hard second look. Good looking Blaine Underhill, high school football hero, turns out to be more human once he is taken off the pedestal. A mother and brother who conspired to make Heather's past life miserable now lead her through adventures she would rather not take. An old woman, once a caretaker, shows Heather love and wisdom, that has never changed...Heather's one constant in life. But with all the mystery and sneaking around, how can Heather save her crazy family? Heather feels there is no choice but to jump in and save all concerned and expose the villain, even if it happens to be her brother. Blue Moon Bay is a place where past meets present and future, come enjoy the ride across the Bay!

This was my first book by this author, and let me just say that Ms. Wingate's writing sucked me in from the very beginning! Just like the main character, Heather, I had no clue what in the world was going on, so I just held on tight and went along for the ride, enjoying every minute of it. I found the plot extremely interesting and unlike most mysteries, I wasn't able to figure out what was going on ahead of time, which was a nice surprise. I only wish there could've been more of *spoiler* Heather and Blaine's story!
As interesting and nail-biting as the mystery was, though, it wasn't the thing I loved most about this story. What Heather went through, returning to a painful past she'd avoided for years, had me thinking about how people live their lives in limbo or fear like she was, never allowing themselves to take chances or let people in, for fear of getting hurt. So many of us have pasts we don't want to face, and it was interesting to think about how it would be to go back and face my own memories and demons. For some of us, perhaps we'd find, as Heather did, that what we remember and believe about our past is only part of the picture, and that perhaps there's a greater plan, one we never thought about or imagined, and open our eyes to new possibilities.
This was a wonderful book and I look forward to reading more books by the extremely talented Lisa Wingate!

This book took me a while to get into...like over halfway through the book. The story wasn't bad. I was interested enough to keep reading, but I wasn't involved in the story until the half way point. Then, I couldn't put it down.

For most of the story, I found Heather to be childish, selfish, and annoying. I understood her reasoning for being the way she was, but it still bothered me. I wanted her to look, REALLY LOOK, at the people around her and how they perceived her, rather than how she perceived them. The secondary characters, the uncs mainly, provided a sort of relief to the story. I loved Blaine's "all-American good boy" character. The romance kind of seemed forced, though.

The message was my favorite part of this story. "In keeping my defenses high, in striving to maintain a self-sufficient, ordered, controlled life that contained minimal risk, I was missing everything that mattered most. A well-lived life, an authentic life, involved risks - and faith that allowed you to take those risks." In keeping your self locked away because of the risks involved, you are missing out on the blessings God has in store for your lives!

Overall, the book was good. I thoroughly enjoyed the message it contained and look forward to reading the third book in the series.

Lisa Wingate has brought real life experiences that we all go through to the surface in her book Blue Moon Bay. Stepping into Heather Hampton’s shoes can bring the issues you may have with your own family to light.

Heather Hampton is an architect in Seattle that has become comfortable with her life. She has a good job, even though her boss is demanding. She is settling into a long term relationship, or so she imagines. And she is going to finally breakthrough to a promotion once she gets her mom to sign off on the family farm deed. That is, until she realizes that her mom and estranged brother have returned to the farm and no longer have any intention of selling it.
Jumping on the first flight home, Heather endures an adventure that any weary traveler can sympathize with. Once home, she finds that her family won’t truthfully communicate with her about anything, so she knows she is in for the long haul. She suddenly finds herself caught up with an old high school crush and begins to learn more about her life from an old Mennonite woman. The more she finds out, the more of her past is starting to unravel until she is unsure what to believe.
Wingate’s attention to detail in setting the scene and character development really brings this story to life. She writes about experiences that could happen to anyone, but makes it so interesting that it is difficult to put the book down. She also manages to show spiritual and personal growth through the main character that resonates with the reader.

- a quote shared with Heather Hampton the main character by her father.

You looking for family drama, romantic confusion, a wise elderly Mennonite woman named Ruth, and more? (I don't want to keep going because I was surprised at everything that occurred toward the end of the book. So I don't want to spoil it for you!) Then look no further. Pick up your copy of Lisa Wingate's Blue Moon Bay today! Actually since it is the second book of Moses Lake series, I would suggest checking out the first book, Larkspur Cove. However, I found that I was able to read Blue Moon Bay without feeling lost even though it was a little slow at times.

I was very impressed with how Blue Moon Bay grabbed my attention. When I started this book I didn't have time to read often - due to family circumstances and other obligations. This usually makes it hard to get in to a story. You know what I mean? However, Lisa Wingate's story and characters held my attention even with the little bit of time I was able to spend in it. Heather Hampton, her family, and Blaine Underhill (a local banker and Heather's former crush in high school) were layered characters. We get to know the real them the more we get into the book. I wouldn't mind going back to the first book to see what I missed.

Here's a great quote on family towards the end of the book:

"I'd been so busy focusing on my self-determined parameters of what I felt my family should be, that I'd missed the beauty of what they actually were - fragile, flawed, heroic, imperfect, champions of lost causes. Each with things to learn and things to teach. God had knit us together like plantings in a garden - wild and unique above ground, blooming in different ways at different times, the roots intertwined deep beneath the soil."

Very beautiful and true!

Disclosure: I received the book free from Bethany House Book Reviewers' program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Following on the heels of her 2011 release, LARKSPUR COVE, author Lisa Wingate brings readers back to Moses Lake, Texas, with her latest novel, BLUE MOON BAY. Each is a stand-alone, although several of the characters from the first book are mentioned in the second.

Growing up in Moses Lake, Heather Hampton had always felt like an outcast. She hid behind a virtual mask and didn't make friends easily. Her high school classmates thought she was "weird," and the "Casserole Ladies" from church seemed fake and judgmental. Her brother, Clay, and her uncle Herb's Mennonite housekeeper, Ruth, were pretty much the only two people Heather could trust, besides her father, whom she admired more than anyone else in the world. When Heather witnessed her dad's gruesome death, her world was shattered. She left Moses Lake soon after, determined never to go back.

Sixteen years later, Heather is living in Seattle and has everything a woman could want: a successful career with a prestigious architectural firm, a beautiful apartment, and a boyfriend she expects will propose any day now. She is helping to facilitate the sale of her childhood farmland in Moses Lake, which she should be able to handle remotely. But when her mother misses the meeting to sign the papers with an investment broker, Heather reluctantly heads back to the town she can't stand --- a town that holds memories of the past (of her father's death) that have haunted her since the day she left. She hoped she would never have to face them, but now she has no choice.

Heather is surprised to find her mother and brother living at Harmony Shores, the home attached to the now-closed-down funeral parlor owned by her uncle Herb. Everyone is acting strangely suspicious, particularly her mother and Clay, refusing to just come out and tell her what's going on with the sale of the property. There's no doubt her family is keeping secrets, and Heather finds herself thrown into the middle of a mystery.

Many of Lisa Wingate's books depict a strong, independent woman as the protagonist. In the case of BLUE MOON BAY, main character Heather represents many women today: hard-working and career-oriented, ambitious, determined. But beneath the surface lie insecurities, fears and unresolved resentments that Wingate expertly explores. While this story offers a wonderfully compelling plot, it is definitely character-driven. Besides Heather, the novel includes an entertaining and extensive supporting cast. From brief characters like the Christian man and his family whom Heather meets on her way back home to Texas, to the quirky and sometimes obnoxious residents of Moses Lake, to her zany family members, the secondary characters created the greatest page-turning factor for me.

One of the most touching characters is Ruth, the Mennonite family housekeeper with a calm, accepting and non-confrontational nature, who now is dying of cancer. Heather reconnects with Ruth, whom she hasn't seen since she left 16 years ago. Ruth shares memories and stories from the past. During her few visits and heartfelt conversation, Heather discovers a few things about herself and about her life that she has tried to avoid but is finally ready to face.

Don't despair, romance fans, as there is certainly a romantic thread throughout. An unlikely high school classmate enters the picture and causes feelings in Heather she's never had before. The chemistry between them is undeniable and delightful.

The last quarter of the book is by far the most absorbing, as the mystery finally unfolds and comes to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. If you're like me, you'll find that BLUE MOON BAY drops you into a beautiful setting, surrounds you with multi-faceted and wonderful characters, entertains you with a riveting plot, and leaves you highly anticipating the next novel set in Moses Lake, Texas.

Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate explores the concept of family in an intense novel about returning home, running away, and facing the shadows of the past. This southern-spiced novel brings us to Heather Hampton's hometown of Moses Lake, Texas as she hurries to close a land deal between her family and her Seattle, Washington firm who represents Proxica--a large, Texas commercial farming company interested in developing her uncle's land.

It's the first time Heather has been able to head a large deal at her firm. Her reputation, her future at her firm rests upon the flakiness of her mother and her restless brother and quirky uncles. During a presentation, a phone call from her so-called boyfriend and mother alert Heather to the complications all ready arising. A disastrous flight out to Moses Lake, Texas brings her to the place she has run from all her life--a home of secrets and grief.

Her father was shot in Moses Lake in the basement of their home. Her view of the townspeople became colored by her emotions as a goth teenager, and it's what she remembers as an adult. Circumstances force Heather to slow down and she becomes a reluctant participant in her family antics--a dog that hides her iPhone, chews her purse, and the entire clan stepping outside with spades to locate the items the dog buried. Heather meets Blaine Underhill, a high school heartthrob, and at first, I am not sure I liked him. She had so much suspicion about his intentions and involvement in the land deal.

On the surface, the deal with Proxica looks good, even healthy for the town as it would bring in so many much needed jobs. She can't understand the secrets everyone is harboring and she isn't sure of Blaine's intentions with the land deal or what his involvement could mean.

Wingate manages to keep me tethered to the story even after I have temporarily put it down for the day, and I couldn't wait to get back to it. Her romantic storyline is not predictable. You are left wondering during the first half of the book if Blaine is likable, and then if he is the one, or will she return to her so-called boyfriend that she's mistreated emotionally--having left the boyfriend wanting in the relationship for the emotional vacuum that she herself lives in. I had marked so many quotable areas in Blue Moon Bay, but rather than tease you with that, I will encourage you to read the book. It's worth the time. I give this book five stars. She's earned every star.

*Book given by Bethany House Publishers to review.

If you are looking for a story in a place with a little romance, a little mystery and a whole lot of small town charm, then you will want to visit Moses Lake, Texas in Lisa Wingate's Blue Moon Bay.

Blue Moon Bay is the second installment in Wingate's Moses Lake Series. Lakespur Cove was the first.

Book Synopsis:
Every once in a blue moon your heart waits at a crossroads. For Seattle architect Heather Hampton, a trip back to tiny Moses Lake, Texas, is hardly in the plan. Yet because a promotion hinges on the sale of the family farmland, Heather heads to the last place she ever wanted to go. She's determined to return home, signed contract in hand, the next day. But the currents of Moses Lake take visitors on unexpected journeys. As Heather's stay lengthens, she discovers a family steeped in secrets and an unexpected connection to local banker Blaine Underhill, despite his opposition to Heather's project. With each new revelation and question, Heather can't help but wonder if the handsome banker - and the family she has come to know again - are crooks or crusaders. Somehow she must find out the truth before she loses everything she has worked for and everything she's found on the shores of Moses Lake.

My Thoughts:
Ms Wingate has written a beautiful story in Blue Moon Bay. This is the first of this author's book I've read and I'm glad to have discovered her writing. The story in this particular book is filled with multiple layers of intrigue: family dysfunction, sweet romance, mystery and even a bit of humor in places. I'm sorry I missed out on the first book in this series and will have to catch up at some point. The third book Firefly Island is due to be published in February of 2013. The book includes a discussion guide with questions that probe the many layers of conflict presented in the book making it an excellent pick for a book club.

Bethany House publishers provided me a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of this review.

My blog can be found at [...]

Though I've never lived in Texas, I have lived on farms near small towns. Lisa Wingate's Blue Moon Bay brings back the memories of slow, small-town life where everyone knows everyone's business.

However, in Lisa's book, Blue Moon Bay, everyone doesn't know everyone's business when it comes to the Hampton family's questionable behaviors. Heather Hampton, a Seattle architect, living in big city Seattle and fast times must adjust her hasty lifestyle when she returns to Moses Lake, TX, in order to get her mother's signature for the sale of the home place for her firm's contract project and return the next day. However, her family deliberately won't tell her anything. She's totally unable to gather them all in one place to hash out the situation.

Lisa caught my eye and my heart from the first page of her book, Blue Moon Bay. I love her free-flowing style of writing, her in-depth characters, and the complicated and sometimes funny circumstances that Heather finds herself in as she travels to and arrives at Moses Lake, TX. The novel is laid out as a story of family grief, secrets, and conniving that seem to be connected to the local banker, Blaine Underhill, Heather's former high-school crush. Her family's apparent rejection of her and her presence at Moses Lake and their complicity in avoiding any communication with her is mind-boggling to her. She doesn't know if what they are doing is conniving or crooked. Toss in a clandestine romance, an overt courting, and suspense and the story is complete.

I found the small-town TX story absolutely intriguing. The "back-hills" family keeping the "high city roller" in the dark was done to perfection. The suspense added to the story as well as Heather's heart-breaking memories of her father's death and her mother and brother's flighty lifestyles. Will Heather ever be able to overcome her unrest over her father's death? Will she be able to forgive her mother and brother for their flighty, irresponsible behaviors? A great read! Be sure to pick up a copy!

This book was provided by Noelle Buss of Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was exchanged.

In "Blue Moon Bay" by Lisa Wingate we meet Seattle architect Heather Hampton. Heather grew up in Moses Lake, Texas but when she left, she had no desire to ever go back because the tiny town holds bad memories for her. For Heather to climb in her job she must convince her family to sell the farm land in Moses Lake, but her family does not want to cooperate. Heather travels back to Texas to talk some sense into her family and she finds out that they are leaving her out of their plans. While she is in Moses Lake, Heather runs into a former classmate, Blaine Underhill. Heather tries to get Blaine's help with her family and she soon realizes that her high school crush on Blaine has never gone away. Heather also realizes that she has forgotten the good times she had with her father in Moses Lake. Will she be able to put the past behind her and move forward? And just what is her family really up to?

"Blue Moon Bay" is the second book in the Moses Lake series. This book grabs your attention quickly and you will not want to put it down. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading "Larkspur Cove" first as it will give you a little more background of some of the minor characters in "Blue Moon Bay". I can't wait for the next book in the series, and remember; "The future is a blank page, but not a mystery." I received a complimentary copy of this book to review from Bethany House Publishers.

The dark events of Heather's past constantly haunt her. Immersing herself in work, she's done her best to forget and lock the memories away, but in the process she's also shut herself off from those who love her. When a sudden trip to Texas takes her back into the heart of her darkest nightmares, all she wants is to get business taken care of and get back to her work in Seattle asap. But the lake in Texas has a way of obscuring her plans...

I initially found Heather's character a bit hard to like and sympathize with...she is a complete work-a-holic, with everything in her life revolving around her career ambitions. Her clueless self-absorption is a bit irritating, however it does come off as realistic, so in actuality I think the irritating things about her are exactly the things that give authenticity to her character. It definitely makes the change that much more noticeable when she eventually starts to get her priorities straightened out.

Lisa Wingate is certainly a master storyteller; I was shocked at the intense turn the story took as the end drew near. I don't want to give any spoilers, but suffice it to say that I never imagined such an explosive turn of events would come from this plot. All through out the book I was waffling between 3 and 4 stars, but the dramatic ending sealed it for me at a solid 4 stars.

Blue Moon Bay is second in the Moses Lake series, however it works fine as a stand alone, too. I do recommend that you read the first book (Larkspur Cove) simply because it's a great read, however it's certainly not mandatory to have read it before you start Blue Moon Bay.

My Rating: 4 stars
(I received this book courtesy of the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, a positive review was not required.)

Heather Hampton has felt she has accomplished much in her life since leaving the town of Moses Lake and working as a successful architect in Seattle. Just when she is about to finally get her dream project, her family throws a wrench into her plans to acquire the property from her family surrounding Moses Lake. This will enable many people to finally find work in a small town that hasn't grown much over the years since she has left. Only now on the verge of signing the papers, her mother tells her that they are considering another bidder on the property.

Feeling a bit more than frustrated, she flies home in hopes of talking some sense into her mother, and expediting the sale of the property. When she arrives in Moses Lake, she is in for a huge surprise. First she is delayed on her flight into Texas and has to relying on the kindness of a dentist she meets that is rushing home for his anniversary and offers her a ride. Second, she leaves her purse behind on the bus and with it her identification, her Iphone that she can't live without, and all her money and credit cards. Third, a phone call at the airport to her boyfriend Richard, leaves her with the impression that her relationship with him is in jeopardy especially since she leaves just days before his birthday with no idea she was missing it. Last, going back to Moses Lake isn't something she ever wanted to do again since it held so many bad memories for her.

Now that she arrives in Moses Lake, a lot more than just a little needy, she soon learns that her family has other plans for what to do with the property and that will completely upset the life that Heather had hoped for and her plans for a better life.

I received, Blue Moon Bay Lisa Wingate compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and have to say I could find myself transported back to Moses Lake with Heather. That to me is a sign of a great book if I can feel myself in the setting and walking in the characters shoes. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars! The story is definitely believable and one worth a look at!

I enjoy reading and often accept books to be reviewed. Bethany House sends me an email when they have new books coming available to review and I request ones that sound interesting. It's a great system, but occasionally the book I request isn't as great as it sounded. That is the experience I had with Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate. I've read and enjoyed several of her books before, but this one just didn't work well for me.

From the Back Cover:

"For Seattle architect Heather Hampton, a trip back to tiny Moses Lake, Texas, is hardly in the plan. Yet because a promotion hinges on the sale of the family farmland, Heather heads to the last place she ever wanted to go. She's determined to return home, signed contract in hand, the next day.

But the currents of Moses Lake take visitors on unexpected journeys. As Heather's stay lengthens, she discovers a family steeped in secrets and an unexpected connection to local banker Blaine Underhill, despite his opposition to Heather's project. With each new revelation and question, Heather can't help but wonder if the handsome banker--and the family she has come to know again--are crooks or crusaders. Somehow she must find out the truth before she loses everything she has worked for and everything she's found on the shores of Moses Lake."

I suppose I expected this to be more lighthearted and less suspense. It was just the opposite and I didn't enjoy it. However, it may be just the kind of book you're in the mood to read, and if so you can check out Blue Moon Bay for yourself!

{Disclaimer: I received this book free from Bethany House to review. I received no other compensation and all opinions presented herein are my own.}

Blue Moon Bay
Lisa Wingate
Bethany House
Contemporary Fiction
Feb 1 2012
4 Stars

First I have to say this is the first book that I have read of Lisa Wingate's so I cannot in good faith compare it to any of her other books.
The story revolves around Heather Hampton who has accomplished much in her life. When she left Moses Lake Texas and settles in Seattle Washington she accomplished what she set out to do and that was to become a successful architect. But like all good plans in life there is always someone in the shadows ready to tear them apart. With no desire to return to her home town her family is calling her back. There are too many bad memories back home and Heather is just going back to talk them into selling the family farm, but they have other plans and they are not including Heather in them.
As the mystery deepens and things point to her father's suicide years earlier she also feels like she is being followed and now she is wondering what is really going on in this town. Can she find the truth before something happens and ruins her own security?

This was an interesting thriller with a romantic touch to it. I felt it started a little slow but then I got into the book and felt it had a great ending. According to the front of the book this was the second in the Moses Lake Series. I do not know if I missed anything but I felt like the book could be read as a stand-alone. I felt like the book was a worthy read without having any others to compare it with, I will look into reading more of her books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review from Bethany House Publishers. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Heather Hampton is a Seattle architect, looking for a Valentine's Day engagement to her boyfriend, Richard. Yet when a promotion hinges on the sale of the family farmland, Heather is anxious to get her hands on the money--but her mother is balking. So Heather ditches Richard on his birthday, and heads to the last place she ever wanted to go. She plans to return home, signed contract in hand the next day.

But the trip to Moses Lake isn't without incident. Richard breaks up with her via the phone in the airport. At the bus station, Heather's purse and all her ID is stolen, leaving her stranded and at the mercy of a dentist. And things go from bad to worse when she discovers the family steeped in secrets.

And where does handsome banker, Blaine Underhill, fit in to all this? He's opposed to Heather's project, and Heather is beginning to wonder, are Blaine and her family crooks?
The truth might cost her everything....

BLUE MOON BAY is the most recent book set in Moses Lake by Lisa Wingate. I fell in love with Ms. Wingate's writing with Never Say Never, and I was glad when I got the opportunity to read this book.

Ms. Wingate has developed characters that are very real, three-dimensional, that could be walking and talking on the street right now. Attention to detail brings the reader into the setting, into the emotions of the characters, and pulls you along to the end.

If you are looking for a contemporary, then BLUE MOON BAY is a book that shouldn't be missed. Spell-binding, lyrical, and engaging. I loved some of the quotes included in the book. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book.

The main character in this novel is Heather Hampton. She lives in Seattle as an architect for an upscale firm and has it all. When she finds out that her mother is stalling on selling the family farm to a broker with which she is working and avoids all questions as to why, Heather decides to hop on a plane and fly back to her hometown of Moses Lake, Texas in search of answers. Moses Lake floods her mind with endless memories from her childhood, especially of her father's mysterious death. What Heather was hoping would be a very short trip to settle things concerning the sale, turns into a longer trip that will change her life forever.

During her stay there, she eventually finds out why everyone seems to be avoiding her questions, which in turn gives her a different perspective on their actions, instead of seeing it as a way to alienate her. While she is there she also finds real love, not some false sense on intimacy and companionship. She also finds the answers to her question concerning her father's death.

All in all Blue Moon Bay was a good read. It seems to take awhile to get to the climax of the story, but was still enjoyable. My biggest complaint about the book would be some of the details at the end of the story seemed to be left out, which leave the reader feeling a little unsettled. It would be nice to see a sequel to the story of her family being reconciled, getting married, and Heather developing her relationship with Christ to give more of a feeling of closure.

I recieved a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review.

Two words: Utterly Fantastic. Really the only way to describe this book. Let's start with the writing itself. Lisa Wingate has, without a doubt, the most beautiful writing style I've ever seen. Now I know what people mean when they say someone has "lyrical writing." Not only is it beautiful, but I thought it conveyed character voice amazingly as well.

Plot and character wise, very interesting. Heather is a girl whose more or less estranged from her family, but is forced to reconnect due to her mother interfering with the land sale of Heather's uncles in Moses Lake. The problem? Everyone seems to be against her. None of the family is being entirely cooperative, but the longer Heather is forced to stick around the place she hated growing up, the more she realizes her family isn't telling her everything. The question is, what are they hiding? Add in a highschool crush she never really got over, and there's one interesting mix going on in this book.

The other thing I really liked about this book was the emotion. I felt super connected to Heather, whether is was during a time when she was super frustrated over her family, or giddy over Blaine (said highschool crush). Lisa Wingate managed to pull me along on a fantastic ride of a book, keeping me hooked and pulling me in deeper the further I went. Recommended without any hesitation! I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Heather has been dashing through life for many years with some major family issues gnawing at her. She resents her emotionally detached mother and her seemingly flaky brother. Her dad is gone, and she misses him with all of her heart.

Family property is under contract to be sold at Moses Lake, and Heather has good reasons for wanting the transaction expedited. She takes a necessary trip to this location, which brings back nothing but painful, negative memories for her. Heather begins to learn that the family, as well as the property, harbor long-buried secrets.

This book guides the reader from Heather's frenetic-paced Seattle career to simple, small town life in Texas and some haunting images from the past. My takeaway was a reminder that people can waste years harboring resentment against family members or friends without ever knowing their side of the story. Circumstances are not always what they seem or what they may appear to be on the surface.

Kick back and enjoy Blue Moon Bay for a peek into family relationships and small town life--an entertaining and thought-provoking getaway!

Heather Hampton is an independent, no-nonsense architect hoping for a promotion. And she'll get it if she can get her family to sell the farm in Texas to a company looking to build a new plant. But when her mom doesn't show up to sign the papers, Heather has to fly to Moses Lake, a town she'd prefer never to see again. Haunted by memories and compelled by untold family secrets, she uncovers new information about her father's death, gets to the bottom of her mother's hesitation, and rediscovers who she is.

Lisa Wingate's latest book, "Blue Moon Bay," goes above and beyond the lifeless, fluffy plots of most contemporary Christian fiction I've read by questioning priorities, exploring identity, and delving into a dysfunctional family's complicated relationships. And oh my goodness, Wingate can write.

Though the story started out a bit slow and Heather was not the most likable character, the mystery of the plot kept me reading, and I grew to like her in the end. There were a few loose ends that I would have liked to see tied up, but the story didn't suffer because of them.

Overall, I really enjoyed "Blue Moon Bay" and would recommend it as a must-read for anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction. And if you're like me and you prefer historical fiction, try it anyway. You might be surprised.

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review. My opinion of this book is my own and was not influenced by the publisher or the author.

I'm just not 100% sure of my opinion of this book. While there was a good deal of intrigue and a semi-developed love story, I just wasn't that enamored with it. The story-line itself was interesting. Heather in an architect who returns to Moses Lake, Texas to complete a land deal that will lead to a major promotion at work. Unfortunately, her quick trip to Texas starts out badly and goes downhill from there. When she finally arrives in Moses Lake, she discovers problems with the land deal and family members who appear to be keeping secrets from her.

I did appreciate the twists and turns Lisa Wingate added to the book. Once I got to a certain point, I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. I like books with that level of interest and intrigue. What annoyed me was the main character. Maybe it was intentional by the author but I just did not like Heather. She struck me as spoiled and full of herself. While that changed some over the length of the novel, I didn't change my opinion of her that much. I have a hard time liking a book when I don't like the main character. It's a weird quirk of mine but I think it colored my opinion of the book. The book itself isn't bad and I'll read other books Wingate has written, I just wasn't enamored with this one.

Bethany House Publishers gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Sometimes things are not always what they seem. That sentence rang true for this book on many different levels.

Heather is a driven career woman. She is working out a deal to sell her family's land in Texas and get a huge contract that will guarantee her a promotion at work. Everything looks great until her mother and brother have a change in plans. Heather goes to Texas to try and sort things out and soon finds herself in the middle of something much bigger than she imagined. While trying to sort out the truth about her family, her father's death and her feelings for a high school classmate, Heather finds she has to choose between the life she has and the life she discovers she really wants.

I will admit that when I started this book, I thought it was going to be another predictable story. The cover looked like it, the first few chapters seemed like it. But, boy was I wrong. I don't want to give too much away, but the plot had so many more layers than it first appeared. And it still had a happy ending which was nice. While the plot as a whole was a bit farfetched for me, it was so engaging that I really did not care.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher Bethany House. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

I've read several of Lisa's books before and have always liked them. This one was no different. I was surprised to receive a copy of "Blue Moon Bay" in the mail from the publisher to review. When this happens and I don't like a book then I just don't review it. I didn't have to worry about that with "Blue Moon Bay." Heather, the main character, is working in a high stress job with a large architectural firm. She is desperate for her family to sell the old farmplace so she can land a big job.

When she gets home she finds they don't want to sell the land anymore. Heather sees this as a disaster to her future. She doesn't understand why everyone is so secretive about what is going on and why they suddenly don't want to sell. Not only does she have to deal with secrets her family are keeping from her now there are old family secrets lurking on the family farm that Heather is afraid to face - but face them she must. In the end she finds out that work and a high stress job is not all there is in life.

I really enjoyed this story and I couldn't wait to get back to the book when I had to lay it down to do other things. The only thing I would say is that there are times when the book moves kind of slow and I wanted to get to other scenes a little faster. But this is a book well worth reading - you won't be sorry.

I was so excited to start reading Blue Moon Bay, especially after seeing good reviews for the book. This is my first time reading a novel by Lisa Wingate, and though I appreciate her detailed description over Moses Lake, the athmosphere of the story, and the character's thoughts and feelings, I do feel that it is overdone. The slow moving story is saved by exciting and faster paced chapters starting approximately the last one-third of the book. The novel follows Heather Hampton, an independent and strong willed architect living in Seattle. With her career going up, she is aiming for a promotion through a sale of her family land in Moses Lake, Texas. But things are not working out as planned and force her to come to the the very place she is trying the get away from. Meeting her family again, seeing the place that is full of bitter memories, all that she wants to do is settle the business quickly and go back to her life where everything is more predictable. But an unexpected meeting with an old high school crush and family secrets starting to unfold, creating questions in her and keeping her longer in Moses Lake. Will Heather be able to face her past inspite of her fear, or will she rather leave everything behind because it hurts too much to uncover an old wound? Other than the slow story in the beginning, I really enjoy the word of wisdom that Lisa Wingate put before each chapters. I love the character Ruth in the story, I wish we can see more of Ruth in the book. And overall Lisa really bring out the message of faith inspite of fear really well . I receive this book from Bethany House to review, but I received no compensation for this review and I am not under any obligation to provide a positive review.

To be fair, the angst comes dragging into town with Heather, an uptight career woman, trying to get her flighty family to sell the family land so she can move on with her life elsewhere. Memories, both good and bad, rush in to remind her the time she spent in Moses Lake when she was young. Time she spent with her adored father, until a tragic accident befell the family.

Heather connects with her high school crush and finds out he was not as oblivious to her as she thought he was. He isn't quite what she thought he was and finds her feelings defiantly not left in the past. But can she trust him? He seems to be hiding something, along with her family.

Told in the first person, the story really did make me feel Heather's frustration with the situation she finds herself in. I wanted to ring some necks for her! It was hard knowing she is a strong, successful woman in her career, and yet, she can't seem to speak to her mother and brother in a productive way. But I think that is probably the way it is for a lot of families. You don't grow out of the patterns that were established in adolescence. We join Heather as she works to overcome the pain of her past and grow into a new woman.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

This was a surprising thriller in the end of what I thought initially to be, just another love story. Wingate writes an intriguing tale that does include a love story but also a suspenseful drama that builds and builds to an explosive ending.

Heather Hampton returns to her hometown of Moses Lake to help facilitate the sale of the family home and business. Her mother and brother Clay are suspiciously stonewalling her and preventing her from following through with the original plan. Throw her high school crush Blaine Underhill in the mix and Heather finds herself with a lot more on her plate then she bargained for.

When she feels she is being followed, Heather has to wonder what is really going on
and if her life is in danger. Links to her father's suicide fifteen years earlier start to surface and she starts to put the clues together. The obvious though, is not the reality.

I found myself drawn into this story and more intrigued the further along I got! The mystery surrounding the story is not at all what I thought it would be and I love anything that can surprise me! That is a rare feat in novels these days!
Wingate is an amazing storyteller and after this book, I'll definitely be eagerly anticipating her next!

Lisa Wingate has taken the mess that often makes up families, mixed in misunderstandings and complicated relationships and bits of humour, and birthed a moving story of hope and reconciliation and new beginnings. Her characters breathe with life, inviting you into their hearts and their dreams, their pasts and their futures. The writing is beautiful and filled with grace, accompanied by a mystery I wasn't even expecting, along with twists and turns in the story. I love the wit sprinkled throughout the novel, such as when the author describes Heather's homecoming where Heather contemplates to herself "I was conscious of everyone surreptitiously watching me and maintaining their positions, in the way members of the bomb squad might gather around a suspicious package".

Expect to be entertained, but also expect to re-examine your own priorities in life and be reminded of what really matters, that God has a far richer plan than what you might be striving after.

I highly recommend this engaging book, and give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group

This book was a bit hard to get into but after a few chapters I couldn't put the book down and the last 100 pages I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened.
Heather is forced to visit her old home town of Moses Lake to get her family to sign papers to sell their land to an investor, that would make them a lot of money. When she gets there everyone is giving her the run around. She suspects that there are a lot of lies going around and she doesn't feel at "home" in her own hometown. The one person she does trust is her old housekeeper, Ruth. Ruth shares stories from the past with Heather, stories of faith and trust. She's trying to help Heather see the really truth in life and to see what's really important. As you're reading you just hope it won't be too late for a change of heart.
As I said before, the book started off slow, but if you keep with it, you won't be able to put it down.
If you love suspense books, romance books and/or Christian books I think you'll love this one too.
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"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Written by: Lisa Wingate
Published by: Bethany House

Always up for any contemporary fiction, I decided to read this Blue Moon Bay.

This the story of an architect named Heather, and a trip she takes back to a place that haunted her childhood. She arrives to find that her family who is staying there, including her mom and brother and great uncles, all have secrets, and no one wants to share any of them with Heather.

Who the book is for:

Contemporary fiction readers, especially women.

What I liked:

The last couple chapters were exciting and fast paced.

The many, diverse, characters made the book kind of fun.

What I didn't like:

This book moved pretty s-l-o-w-l-y until the last few chapters, and was quite boring.

My conclusion:

Wow. I really wish that the whole book had been like the last few chapters, but unfortunately, it wasn't.

I give Blue Moon Bay 3 out of 5stars.

I received this book free to review from Bethany House. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

I have to admit I chose this book because of its cover. I've been desiring a nice waterside vacation. With that said, I feel I judged this book by the cover correctly. There is suspense, love, family friction, faith... all packed in to a great story. The protagonist, Heather, has to go back to a town she had to live in for part of her high school career to finish some family business. In so doing, she discovers that she still has feelings for the high school jock-of-all-jocks that she did when she was younger. She also discovers that she incorrectly judged him back then, and never gave the town of Moses Lake, Texas a proper chance. I only gave the story four stars because there were parts of the story that could have been skillfully edited a little more because of how wordy Lisa Wingate got in certain points. Overall, a delightful weekend read.
I received this book from Bethany House Publishers as part of their blogger review program free of charge in exchange for my honest review of the book.

Blue Moon Bay By Lisa Wingate

I was intrigue to read more when Heather had to go back to a place that had nothing but bad memories for her. All because her mother changed her mind about selling the land she had agreed to in the first place. Heather who is a successful architect needs this deal to go through so she can prove to her boss that she deserves to become junior partner or even a partner. While Heather is speaking to her mother on the phone trying to find out what is going on; she gets this suspicious feeling inside of her when she finds out her Mother is at Lake Moses, Texas and so is her brother Clay. Heather's Mother never like Lake Moses, in fact she hated it. All the memories that Heather lock away far back in her mind started pouring out as if a dam burst wide open. There was no stopping the flood of memories, all the hurts and lies. When Heather gets to Lake Moses, she sees her brother Clay and wonders why he is there. Clay has never been one to stay in one place long enough to grow roots. Heather's Mom, brother, and Uncles start acting secretive around Heather; which make Heather even more suspicious as to why her Mother is really in Lake Moses, Texas. Heather thinks of the wonderful life she has back in Seattle and ponders if staying in Lake Moses is worth all the trouble. Heather sees her brother Clay talking to Blaine who was once the star of the football team in high school, Mr. good looking himself and now the banker of the town. She starts to wonder what they could possibly be talking about out at the lake. That's a mystery in it's self since Clay and Blaine are totally different from each other. Clay is the one who is always off to save the world and Blaine's family are very wealthy; they own a lot of business in Moses Lake, Texas. Heather decides she should stay to find out what is really going on with her mother's decision on not wanting to sell the property, and what is her brother and Blaine up to. Why does everyone skirt around Heather's questions when she tries to get some answers from them.
I really enjoyed Lisa Wingate's book. I only put the book down when I had to do some things around the house and get some sleep. I couldn't wait to find out what would happened next.

Rebecca Adkins
I received a free copy of Blue Moon Bay -By Lisa Wingate from Bethany House so I can review.

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate was a very good book. It is about an architect, Heather who has to go back to Moses Lake where she spent part of her childhood and holds bad memories. She is going home to find out why her mom has not come to sign the papers to sell the land and funeral home. While there Heather deals with some issues that she has wanted to forget and not deal with, while working through the mystery of why her mom has not signed the papers to sell. This is a Christian book that has a bit of mystery and romance, while also dealing with family issues. At first it was a little slow but the farther I got in the better it got, and I had a hard time putting the book down. I think a lot of people can relate to Heather in how she has moved away from her past and doesn't want to go back home, because she doesn't want to remember and deal with some of the things from the past. In the end it is not always bad to go back and deal with the past. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy from Bethany House Publishers to review.

Heather Hampton, a Seattle architect is trying to work a deal to sell her Father's family farm, to a huge food corporation. When her Mother fails to turn up to sign the papers, she takes off to go "home" to get to the bottom of whatever the holdup is.

Heather HATES this place, where she was dragged her senior year, and shunned by everyone. On top of that, her adored Father died there, and it's 'eally unclear as to how, or why.

Heather's trip leaves her totally frustrated, as it seems that the whole family is hiding something, and shunning her.

This is a trip of self-discovery, and a mystery that needs to be solved. It's frustrating and funny and sad, all rolled into one.

Through it all we see God working on Heather's hardened heart.

A very good book, and my first Lisa Wingate. I will be reading more, I'm sure.

Blue Moon Bay is indeed another great book by Lisa. I own every book she's written. Several years ago, I was looking to buy a book for a friend that was having surgery. I spotted "Tending Roses" on the book stand and was drawn to it by the pretty cover. After reading the back to see what it was about, I purchased it. The next day, I went back and bought another copy for myself. I was hooked and now wait anxiously of each of her new books to come out.

Lisa writes about things that are affecting many people/families in today's society - job loss, estranged families, drug addiction, aging parents, divorce, death, etc. She reminds us of the truly important things in life and the values that we often forget in today's busy world. Her stories have intrigue, romance, and thought-provoking life lessons.

Lisa's books are so good that I keep hoping to see one of them made into a Hallmark movie.

Thank you Lisa! Keep up the great work and keep them coming.

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate
Moses Lakes, TX, Heather returns to her hometown, she's lived in the big cities as an architect.
She hopes to get her mother and uncles to sign off on the property but when she arrives she wonders who is the crook here, her relatives or her once boyfriend who is the banker, Blaine Underwood. She learns so much about her father's death and that leads to more questions.
Just when she gets answers more questions arise. When you think you know who is the culprit there are more surprises.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

I really can't say it better than Booklist said it on the back cover, "Wingate's attention to deal, her poignant depictions of her characters, and her lyrical writing style make this book a draw."

Blue Moon Bay pulled me in from page one and kept me turning pages as fast as I could until the last. {You know a book is good when you're able to maintain focus on the storyline while sitting outside watching your kids play!}

Lisa Wingate did an excellent job of developing characters, creating a setting, and building a story that captured her reader's interest. Even in the story building stage, I felt drawn in - unlike some books where you can't wait to "get to the real story" - as I began to connect with the characters and found myself intrigued with the storyline.

I wish I could remember when I started this book...I know it has been a few months ago. I finally finished it last night. The beginning and the ending were pretty good but the middle was murky and went on too long. Which is why I got bored and kept reading other things. Maybe I'm looking for more romance which barely came around in the end. I know I wanted to 'feel' more for the main character but I kept wanting to tell her to snap out of it and get-it-together. I know without a doubt I cringed everytime the author used the term 'Uncs' for uncles. If this was the only book I'd ever read by this author, it would probably not motivate me to read another one of her books.

In Lisa Wingate's Blue Moon Bay, we meet Heather Hampton. She's an architect from Seattle with family ties to the tiny town of Moses Lake, Texas. She left the town years ago, abandoning a pile of tragic memories and a town full of people she believed she couldn't trust.

Heather is forced to return to Moses Lake, something she never intended to do; her career depends on the sale of land her family owns. But her mother and brother -- two flighty peas in a pod, from Heather's perspective -- are working behind the scenes to keep the sale from happening. Their reasons and their plans are kept from Heather, causing more strife the longer she remains in Moses Lake. In the end, Heather learns surprising things about the company that wants to buy the land and realizes that the sale would harm people she loves. At the same time her brother, Clay, finds himself neck-deep in an investigation that could prove fatal.

All-in-all it's an interesting read with a peak of action toward the end.

Woven through the book are the themes of restoration and reconciliation. There is something satisfying in reading about family members who are learning again to trust one another, whose age-old wounds are finally healing. Specific to Heather, the main character arc is in her realizing that what she thinks she wants isn't necessarily what's best for her (and that her perspective isn't always correct).

As far as recommendations go, it's a pretty clean novel. There are a couple of "bad guys" toward the end of the book that aren't very nice, but I don't recall any foul language. There are two kisses between unmarried people; depending on your thoughts there it may not be suitable for certain age groups. Finally, it can be implied that Heather fails to respect her mother on various occasions, but she's never outright rude.

Blue Moon Bay is a comfortable read. I think I expected a bit more of a "coastal" voice -- whatever that sounds like! -- because of the title and the cover art, but I'm only marginally disappointed that it wasn't there. I'm eager to check out a different title by Wingate to see how versatile she can be.

*I received at ARC at no cost from the publisher, Bethany House.

Such an inspiring story. Very unlike the first book in the series. This is truly a great story line and inspiring. Great read!

So not what I was expecting. The family dynamics are realistic. The inner workings of family life like. The interspersed religious comments well placed and thought prevoking. Not preachy or goody goody.

Well done!

I really enjoyed the story line in this book. Heather Hampton, returns to Moses Lake TX on business, and ends up fighting her demons and finding acceptance and forgiveness. The characters seemed so real, and my favorite was Ruth and her stories.
Heather reunites with her brother Clay, her Mom and her loveable Uncles, and likeable Blaine. Then there are the members of a small community, and the way she thinks they are talking about her. You will be wondering where all of this is going to lead, there are a lot of twists and turns, and an unexpected ending.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

The story opens with Heather Hampton, successful Seattle architect, on the verge of her biggest career move yet. The entire deal hinges on the sale of her family's property in Texas. This is the place she experienced tragedy and depression and wanted nothing more to leave the past behind. In this deal she hoped to erase the past and forget the memories of her home. Instead she has to face the past to deal with the present. This past includes the mystery of how her father died in a place she never wanted to live. Heather tries to solve this mystery but only uncovers more secrets instead of answers.

I got frustrated reading this book as the secrets continued to build instead of being revealed. I read page after page waiting for the truth to be revealed. It took 300 pages before the truth started to come out. Once the mystery was solved, everything unraveled quickly. It was almost too quickly for as slow as the book started.

I did like one line toward the end of the book, "The great leaps in life are not made in the absence of fear but in the presence of faith." There were some good parts to the story, but overall the book was not satisfying.

Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.

I just recently discovered Lisa Wingate and now I can't get through her series fast enough. With Blue Moon Bay, she brings an emotion that is unexplainable and unexpected. Lisa makes you fall in love with the characters, makes you wonder what happens to them after you've read the last word of the last page of the book. In Blue Moon Bay, Heather, dreading going home, makes you really think if you can go home again, and expect things to be the same, or as you remember them to be, at the same time not wanting them to be the same. It begs the question all the way through the book, how much can a person change and are you willing to accept that change if the hurt runs deep? The complexity of the characters that Lisa creates keeps you guessing until the end. Her ability to draw you in and throw you off keeps you invested all the way to the end of the book. I thought I was good at predicting what would happen, but not in this book, or any other I have read of Lisa's. I would absolutely recommend this book. It makes you rethink what is important about family. And that sometimes something may seem obvious, but if you don't ask questions, or like Heather, demand them, you may spend your whole life thinking one thing that is entirely wrong, that can skew your view of someone and make you lose one of the most precious things.....time. Her writing is unpredictable and with such depth that she leaves you wanting more every time you finish a book. My words when I finished this book, "Are you kidding me?", in a good way. But most importantly, her desire to weave her love of God and importance of faith in her books is what I cherish the most.

This book will keep you guessing on what will happen next. There are so many twists and turns that you will have to keep turning the pages to find out. Great plot, characters are well written. Surely a book everyone can enjoy.

Lisa Wingate's new book, "Blue Moon Bay" is exciting and charged with feelings! The mysteries and happenings in a small Texas town held this reader's interest from start to end. I believe the book will be a best seller.

Heather Hampton, an architect has to go Moses Lake, Texas to try and salvage a land deal her company is working on. Moses Lake is where she spent some unhappy times as a young girl. Roger, the "no dull moments" dog has a field day with Heather's personal things. His trek and command of the farm and folks presents funny and exciting times for everyone!

Remember to read the riddle on the first page. It's significant and the answer extraordinary!

This book will be long remembered. I very highly recommend Blue Moon Bay!

Ed

The second book of this series is filled with more suspense & turmoil than its predecessor. I love how characters are tied together & how the character of the town is developed throughout this novel.

What I enjoy most in the books written by Lisa Wingate is the way she can make them connect to your life. In Blue Moon Bay we are connected to her characters in many ways - challenges when dealing with family members, challenges with events from our youth, challenges with work, friends, or finding our place in the world. More than once as I read the book I had to stop and think about a point that was being made about love or relationships and consider how I might take that to heart in my own life. She may not have a lot of plot lines like popular crime novels or thrillers, but her plot lines go deep and strike a chord in her reader. When I am still thinking about a point made in a book long after I've put it down, you know that book has made a difference. I encourage everyone to read Blue Moon Bay - it's interesting, fun, poignant, and has a great twist to the ending.

Normally I do not like it when people assume things and that happened once or twice in the story. It is human but does drag out the story line and missing each other only added to it. Overall I liked the story.

After the tragic death of her father, Heather Hampton graduated from high school and left Moses Lake, Texas never intending to return. Years later, the opportunity to get ahead in her career compels her to return to the place that left such deep wounds. Blue Moon Bay is about how pain affects our perception of events and makes it hard to receive the love being offered us.

Heather gets a chance to see her past with new eyes, find healing and maybe even love. The book is a blend of romance and suspense. Although Lisa Wingate writes realistically about family dysfunction and the deep pain that life causes, she manages to do it with humor and hope. Even her secondary characters had a depth that I appreciated. I especially liked Ruth, the Mennonite housekeeper who becomes a substitute mom for Heather after her father's death. When Heather returns to Moses Lake years later, Ruth continues to be a gentle and wise voice in Heather's life.

This is the first book of Lisa's that I read, but I think I will be picking up more. I saw that one of her other books, Larkspur Cove, was recently nominated for the prestigious Christy award. The Christy is like the Oscar for Christian fiction. For Lisa Wingate to be nominated is an indication of how adept she is at storytelling.

Heather Hampton goes back to Moses Lake found in Texas. Heather expects this visit to be a quiet and peaceful reunion with her home but she guessed wrong. Heather finds a family hidden with secrets that somehow all point to a man named Blaine. Heather finds herself going through and searching for answers of this unexpected mystery.

Lisa Wingate's novel is filled with love, mystery, and detail. It is a very interesting novel with a great plot. I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to more from Lisa Wingate.

Bethany House provided me a copy and asked for a review. They did not influence my review. The main character, Heather, goes back to the town of her youth reluctantly. While dealing with family issues, she rediscovers the joy of human companionship and examines her modern life. Some lessons she learns are joyful and others are painful. The book moves along at a nice pace and you can feel Heather's frustration with the hometown situation. I look forward to more stories from Lisa Wingate about Moses Lake. I enjoyed the story.

It's nice to find an author that gives you a" clean" romantic series that you can enjoy on the plane, beach, de k, etc. this one gave me a bit of a surprise ending that kept you hanging on to the end. While I have an idea of the " happily ever after " endings, it's nice to have a bit of a twist

Lisa Wingate writes a story that doesn't leave any room for speculation,. You just have to go with it until it finally comes to a conclusion. There are always lots of twists and turns. I have never come up short. In one of her books and this was true of Blue Moon Bay.

This story is very thought provoking; I especially related to the feeling of helplessness when she was without her wallet and phone and with her family from whom she felt no kinship or approval. It is truly amazing what Our Father can create when we give him a chance.

I enjoyed this book because the story line is believable and because of the hope throughout the book. I like the clean reading (no vulgar words, violent scenes, or graphic love scenes). I look forward to reading more of Lisa Wingate's writings!

I loved Blue Moon Bay. Lisa Wingate totally nails the characterizations. Loved the mystery, romance and Christian principles all in one great novel. My guess is that this is a series. Can't wait to see what happens with the woman from Fort Worth, Blaine, Clay and others in the next one! Way to go, Lisa. FUN READ!

In some ways I feel like this book,Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate was written for and about me. All Heather's fears and tragedies faced at such a young age without the emotional tools to know how to deal with it. This is a great read about her journey through the fear, coming to terms with her childhood and learning to really live and love life without needing to control everything.

Thank you, Lisa, for your heartfelt, insightful writing. It always somehow reaches into my soul and moves me.....encourages! So inspiring!

Wingate writes with hypnotic prose, sucking the reader into a world of secrets, mystery, pain, love, and redemption. The folks in Moses Lake seem so real, you might just want to take an afternoon drive to meet them.

this is the second book in the Moses Lake trilogy. it was a little disconcerting, at first, to have completely unknown characters in a familiar setting, but the book was just as good as the first one.

The story was hard for me to connect with, as were the characters. It moved slow and unfortunately didn't hold my attention. I enjoyed Larkspur Cove, the first book in the Moses Lake series, but not so much this story. Maybe Firefly Island will be better.