Macy Dillon grew up going to the beach with her family to the North Carolina seaside home, Time in a Bottle. Such fond memories she has competing with her brother to find the best seashell, sitting atop her father's shoulders, and leaving special drawings for an unidentified little boy in the home's guestbook. For the years that followed, each year Macy would return to the beach to find her friend had left her a drawing and she, in turn, would leave him another. She always hoped they would have an opportunity to meet. All that came to a close ten years ago when her father died. Since then, her mother has maintained a "shrine" in their home, celebrated her father's birthday, and refused to move on. Macy has also given birth to Emma and been abandoned by Emma's father. In order to support her little family, she works at a local grocery store which has become her artistic outlet as she paints signs and the store windows.
When her mother suggests a two week vacation to Time in a Bottle, Macy can't help but look forward to it. Her mother begins to take some of the photos down in the home and Macy thinks perhaps they might be able to deal with their ten year old grief and live outside the shadow of her father's ghost.
Macy longs to find the little boy who left drawings for her all those years. When her family vacations at Sunset Beach, she finds not one but three now grown men that may have been the one who left the drawings. Throughout the story, Macy deals with grief, learns to open her heart, and renews the faith she left behind after her father's death.
The Guest Book by Marybeth Whalen is the first I have read by her. I found it quite entertaining, an easy light recommended summer read, especially if you happen to have a beach vacation planned. I think you will be surprised at the ending even if Macy doesn't go down the path you think she should.
I did receive this book free from Zondervan publishing in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated leave a positive review.
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