Prelude to The Prayer Box (A Carolina Chronicles)

Any book that makes me cry while riding on the NYC subway deserves the description of touching.

In a few short pages, the author sets up a story of three women in transition. Family dynamics, career challenges, and geographical choices all play a role. It is well written and satisfying.

The reasons I didn't give it 5 stars are:
- it is too short
- I wanted a little more depth on the women's relationships with their husbands
- I wanted a little more consistency about the medical symptoms

Another winner by Lisa Winegate! This novella wets your appetite for the coming, sure to be best seller novel, The Prayer Box! Beautiful setting and a story that grabs you from the very first page. I love the outer banks and her beautiful descriptive writing takes you right there!

Any book that makes me cry while riding on the NYC subway deserves the description of touching.

In a few short pages, the author sets up a story of three women in transition. Family dynamics, career challenges, and geographical choices all play a role. It is well written and satisfying.

The reasons I didn't give it 5 stars are:
- it is too short
- I wanted a little more depth on the women's relationships with their husbands
- I wanted a little more consistency about the medical symptoms

Another winner by Lisa Winegate! This novella wets your appetite for the coming, sure to be best seller novel, The Prayer Box! Beautiful setting and a story that grabs you from the very first page. I love the outer banks and her beautiful descriptive writing takes you right there!

My first read by this author BUT not my last. Ms. Wingate
brings home family values and the power of love that we sometimes take for granted and forget. The story flows without difficulty and her descriptions take the reader along on their journey. Would recommend this book to my best friends as I know that after reading they will not be disappointed.

An enjoyable short read, a novella and a prelude to the novel "The Prayer Box." The main character, a 911 dispatcher from Michigan, finds herself suffering guilt due to what she considers a horribly mismanaged call. Her mother is worried about her sister, whose health is declining, who lives on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The two of them drive to NC to try to convince the sister to move back to Michigan.

As they arrive in NC, a hurricane is approaching and many people are fleeing the island. These three women, though, ride it out and through it and the aftermath, they have to deal with their own problems as well as trying to help each other.

Although there was a bit of closure at the end, there was also much that wasn't thoroughly explained and some themes were left unfinished -- not totally unexpected in a prelude like this.

After reading the short intro to the novel "The Prayer Box," it is unclear how many of the characters & their stories will continue but I presume it will be more than that short excerpt told me.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of family based stories. Look forward to reading the next book by Lisa Wingate. Never had a book of hers I didn't cherish. Trying to clear out some of my collection of books but will keep all by her.

When I finished the book (short story, maybe?), I felt like much of the conflict has not only not been resolved, it is never dealt with. What about the husband? Is he having an affair or just working late? What about the conflict between the kids? The sisters? So I re-read the blurb on the product page and found out that this is a prelude to a series. What? A prelude? It isn't enough that authors are writing parts of books and selling them as complete novels to entice readers to keep buying a series that never should have been. Now we have sliced the book into even smaller bits, beginning with a prelude. NOT FOR ME!! I'm heading back to the classics where authors knew that a novel is an entire story and a sentence is a complete thought. I'd avoid this one if you are at all interested in literature.

A wonderfully written, quick read book. Lisa Wingate has a beautiful, descriptive style of writing that allows the reader to "know the characters". The Sea Glass Sisters is a journey of the heart and being part of a sisterhood. I will be reading more of her books.

One of Lisa's best! I have read all of lisa's books and love each one, but this one stands out for sure....perfect book for anyone who loves a great story with unforgettable characters....didn't want to put it down :-)

I love everything Lisa Wingate does! She started building my interest and excitement during her research trip to the Outer Banks last year (on her Facebook page). I have been anxiously waiting to see how she puts her research into The Sea Glass Sisters and the upcoming The Prayer Box in September. Now her research and now this novella have The Outer Banks calling my name for a visit next year.

Lisa's development of her characters and their relationships are so real that I believe many of us can relate to them in our everyday lives. I always find myself wanting to read more! I can't wait until September for the release of The Prayer Box!

Thanks Lisa for your beautiful and inspiring stories!

Wonderful! There are some of us that have known the wonderful healing powers of salty air, barefeet in the sand, and the sound of the tides. To get that feeling reading words on a page: priceless. I think I have found a new favorite author. Fell into the story immediately and enjoyed thoroughly.

This is one of those books you don't want to put down but you don't want to end either. The characters and story line seem so real. I am so thankful I found Lisa Wingate and look forward to reading all of her writings!

Another five-star read by Lisa Wingate is THE SEA GLASS SISTERS, prequel to her newest book, THE PRAYER BOX. This enjoyable story about the very special bond between sisters and mother/daughter relationships kept me up all night reading. The responsibilities and personal involvement of a 911 operator are an extra bonus.

I liked the author's intro to the island. The visitors who came - to talk Sandy into leaving the island. Didn't work. Even with a hurricane, they were drawn to the place and people. Hope the author expands this book into a novel!

The Prayer Box is also a terrific read.

It told how the sisters came to running the shop, but I felt it kept you hanging at the end. There seemed to be some loose ends that we're left hanging. I would have liked it more if it had tied up these story lines. What happened with the daughters family when she returned home? How did the brother feel when his sister moved to the coast , etc. like I said too many loose ends.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT READ.THE STORY LINE WAS GREAT AND THE CHARACTERS VERY LIKABLE. I AM ANXIOUS TO READ MORE ABOUT SANDY AND SHARON IN LISA'S NEW BOOK THE PRAYER BOX. I LIKED THE DOG AND SUCH A CUTE STORY ABOUT SANDY SAVING CHUM AND CHUM THEN SAVING SANDY. A NICE CLEAN STORY WITH DEPTH AND HEART AND CONCERN FOR FAMILY.

Great! I can't wait to read the Prayer Box! Lisa Wingate is a great author and I am going to read the rest of the chroncles! I love
the Outer Banks and have been there only twice but hope to go again next year!
Sheila Wallace

Haven't read the book. Was considering downloading to my Kindle since it's free. But, then I realized that this book isn't Historical Fiction like the author classified it! I just cannot stand to be lied to or deliberately misled. It just infuriates me. And now I'll ignore a potentially good book because the author apparently saw fit to attempt to deliberately classify this book as s genre it most definitely is NOT. Good luck with that........

Elizabeth Gallagher is struggling professionally and personally. As a 911 operator, she took a call for a missing child and made a mistake, so she feels responsible that the child is still missing. Her husband is detached, and her family is fighting over selling off a portion of family property. She decides to take a road trip with her mother to visit her aunt to try and come to a conclusion over the property.

This could have been such a great book. The characters are interesting, and the message is encouraging. However, the plot was too quick and disjointed for me to really enjoy it. When I saw it was a novella, I thought, well it should be a quick read. It was a very quick read, but I wish it had been a full length novel to really see more character development.

It is the prelude to Wingate's novel, The Prayer Box, which I haven't read yet. I can only hope that the same characters are included in that book so that I can learn more of their stories.

There isn't anything wrong with this little book, I just wanted more. If you are looking for a quick read, without a lot of depth, this would be a good book for you.

Lisa Wingate has used her amazing talent in this new series. Lisa has such amazingly well developed characters, such a in-depth setting in which the story takes place, and the multiple issues she writes about all intertwine so easily bringing forth an amazing novel, both this one and in a her books. I have yet to be disappointed with any of Lisa's books.

The story of each characters personal convictions and how that affects their viewpoint and actions; the role of family and its many facets, mother-daughter relationship, the bond and breach that can develop between sister, ones faith and how it is utilized by each character, change of life situations and focus, the female bond, and so many other topics are examined on this book.

Set on the Outer Banks for most of it, this is a heartwarming and wonderful story of three women who all have different issues and focuses going on in their lives, yet come together during a Hurricane which proves to be a time of growth, awakening, better understanding, as well as a time for letting go and acceptance of each other's issues but also of personal issues each one is facing.

An incredibly well-written and moving book that you can't put down. The prelude to the "Prayer Box," hit its own A+++ mark. You will not be disappointed. Another hit from an amazing author who seems to genuinely love her characters and their story and lets it shine through from page one...

Lisa Wingate has done it again. This start of a new series tells story of a close knit family with some problems .
a visit to the sister that stays on an island and runs a little shop is full of surprises and a wonderful ending. Canot wait for
THE PRAYER BOX.

I liked this book and really can't wait to start The Prayer box. I liked the characters and of course love the setting. Being I live near the water I certainly understand when hurricanes come most certainly understand the damage and the scarceness of it.

I gave this book 5 stars because it was very well written. The theme of relationships changing as we age is a theme any woman could relate to. I am eager to read more about the characters in the next book.

I’m just getting introduced to Lisa Wingate’s books, and I love and enjoy her writing style. Her characters are so real and dealing with real issues. I love the faith, inspiration, and encouragement that she weaves into each story. Looking forward to reading more in this series!