AUTHOR: JoAnn Durgin
DATE: 2013
STARS: *****
A woman torn apart by secrets. A man held prisoner by the truth.
Can the greatest love of all set them both free?
Serenity McClaren had it all before her life crumbled around her like the sand castles on her beloved beach, causing her to flee Croisette Shores and the only home she’d ever known. Nearly five years later and living in Atlanta, she receives a mysterious, unsigned note: “Come home, Serenity. Things aren’t as they seem. Time to find your answers.” Returning to South Carolina, she prepares to face her demons and the ailing father she left behind, hoping to make peace with both.
Child psychologist Jackson Ross is a man with a surprising past. He’s ready for the quiet life and eager to establish his practice in the quaint, coastal village. After he hires Serenity to decorate his new office, he’s drawn to the beautiful and enigmatic woman yet sees she’s haunted by a past she can’t escape. Wanting to help her, he begins to suspect one of his young patients may hold the key to unlocking Serenity’s secrets. Jackson follows his instincts and discovers the shocking truth, but how can he tell the woman he’s grown to love what he knows—and set her free—without compromising his professional ethics and losing her forever?
Catching Serenity, a poignant story of faith, hope and love, and discovering the everyday miracles from an all-powerful God.
.Serenity—what a beautiful name, and so fitting for the heroine of this story. At least on the exterior. Underneath Serenity McClaren’s beauty and poise is a woman who has endured extreme loss, and she is desperate for resolutions. Jackson Ross seems like the perfect man to help her, or maybe simply the perfect man.
Author JoAnn Durgin has mastered the art of creating realistic, multi-dimensional characters, and the ones in Catching Serenity are particularly appealing. I loved the personalities and many-layered mysteries in this inspirational novel. Croisette Shores is a town I’d love to visit for an extended period of time. I could almost smell the sea air and feel sand compress under my feet, and I experienced the pain and hope of Serenity and Jackson.
Realism, mysteries, and romance—what more could a reader want? I love this story and award Catching Serenity five stars. Disclaimer: I took advantage of Amazon’s offer of a free e-book to add to my collection. This review is my honest opinion, and I was not compensated for it.