*I received a free DRC of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Blurb: A mother returns after years of abandonment, but can she be forgiven?
Haunted by the memory of a devastating accident that claimed the lives of her husband and oldest daughter, Marissa's life is struck by another tragedy. Her thirteen-year-old daughter, Maisy, suffers a perilous fall under mysterious circumstances. Marissa finds herself desperately hoping her deepest fear—the loss of another child—will not be realized.
While Marissa paces the emergency room, her brother Owen searches their town on Princess Island for his son, Charlie, who hasn't come home from school. Hours later, Charlie shows up unwilling to explain where he's been. When he skips school a few days later, and is spotted in town with a strange woman, Owen comes face to face with his own greatest fear—the return of Charlie's mother.
As Marissa and Owen confront their worst fears and navigate the treacherous waters of the unknown, they realize that while the path forward might be fraught with pain, the potential for healing is immense.
For a story of how confronting the ghosts of our past can lead to the most unexpected of futures, Dive into Beyond the Broken Shore today!
This is the third book in the Princess Island series of family drama stories featuring siblings Marissa and Owen as they navigate love, loss, parenting and other of life's challenges and trials.
I definitely suggest reading When the Storm Ends and Where Hope is Found first as, although each story stands alone in terms of the plot, the character development and changes in family dynamics are slowly built up through each new instalment.
In this story, I was immediately gripped by the drama of Maisy's mysterious accident and Casey's reappearance which brings her addiction struggles to the forefront. I was kept reading, engrossed in their struggles and the stress they put on the wider family, long into the night. I just felt like I knew these people and cared about what was happening to them and whether they could weather it all together.
There are strong Christian values in the book, as the family hold fast to their faith throughout every disaster, praying and trusting in God that all will turn out as it should. While these religious beliefs are not part of my own personal belief system, I didn't find them intrusive to the story or 'preachy' at all, and believe that anyone can find this story entertaining and heart-warming, regardless of their spiritual stance.
And the struggles Owen and Marissa face are very relatable to anyone too, from wayward teens/tweens becoming secretive and getting into trouble in their quest towards grown-up-hood, to prickly parents who have their own secrets and ways of doing things. Then there is Maisy's serious injury and the frustrations of the recovery process and Marissa's terror at the thought of losing another child; Casey's battle with her addiction demons; Charlie's desperation to have his mother back and well, and Owen's fear that he may lose his son to either Casey or heartbreak. There is a lot going on and it is all handled sensitively and believably. Like I said, I couldn't stop reading because I felt like I was watching the whole drama play out in real-time and didn't want to miss anything!
I would recommend this book as ideal for anyone looking for thoughtful, heartfelt fiction based around a loving, forgiving family facing life's troubles together with fortitude and faith.
Owen stopped walking, his forehead crinkling. "He's with a woman? Who? What does she look like?" The questions tumbled out quickly.
"Missy said the woman has thin brown hair and looks kinda rough."
Owen's stomach dropped at the description. One of his greatest fears might be coming true. "No, it can't be," he said.
- Rebecca L. Marsh, Beyond the Broken Shore
About the author
Rebecca L. Marsh is an award winning author of women's fiction and a member of the Paulding County Writer's Guild. She grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina and now lives in Dallas, Georgia with her husband and daughter.
When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family (cats and dog included), watching movies, and reading a good book. Rebecca occasionally makes home-made candy and works on her scrapbooks (she is woefully behind).
Rebecca is the author of five novels, When the Storm Ends, The Rift Between Us, Where Hope is Found, Remember the Butterfly and Beyond the Broken Shore.
Website: https://www.rebeccalmarsh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaLynnMarsh/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaLMarsh1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18198824.Rebecca_L_Marsh
Don't forget to check out the other blog stops on the tour for more great reviews and content (see the poster below for details)!
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