TITLE: Home Where She Belongs (Abbot Island #1)
AUTHOR: Penny Frost McGinnis
DATE: 2022
PUBLISHER: Mt. Zion Ridge Press LLC
STARS: *****
From the back cover:
Tired of being a pawn for her father and an emotional punching bag for her ex-boyfriend, Sadie Stewart escapes to Abbott Island where she spent summers with her grandparents. Would the love and faith she learned from them be enough to fuel her new life? She wants to believe God's promises, yet broken trust holds her back.
Joel Grayson left the island long enough to train at the Police Academy. The community trusts him, even though he's failed. When he finds Sadie at her grandparents' cottages, his heart skips a beat. He'd love to get to know her again, but no one needs to share the hurt he harbors.
When Sadie discovers someone is sabotaging her future, she seeks Joel's help. As they are drawn together, will Joel let down his guard and let her in? Will Sadie trust the man who loves her and the Father Who cares?
My review:
Sadie comes back to Abbot Island, desperate for a measure of peace. The last few years have damaged – if not broken – her, and the home and cabins given her by her grandparents is her only hope. But as she rediscovers old friendships, including her old crush, Joel, a longing begins to tug at her heart.
Joel knows something is wrong with the grown-up version of the girl he fell in love with so many years ago, but she’s not talking. As he does his best to discover who is tormenting Sadie, their relationship tip-toes forward and back again, as she struggles to cope with conflicting emotions.
Faith plays a crucial role in Home Where She Belongs, and it is expressed clearly without even a hint of preachiness. Author Penny Frost McGinnis has created a setting I'd love to visit, characters who intrigue and compel, and a plot that keeps the pages turning. I truly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it. Five stars!