My Comments
I know nothing about sailing, but I truly enjoyed everything about this book! Goddard knows how to write stories that are touching and heart rendering, but also filled with characters who want to do the right thing while loving God. Sailing is Maddies escape and something she has been doing her whole life. However, she will soon learn that there is more to life than sailing.
Grady Stone is at a crossroads in his life. His business has not succeeded, the business his beloved grandfather left him and has since passed away, so he is being forced to sell it and find work elsewhere. His best friend, Taylor, calls him just in time to demand a favor from him. Grady jumps at the chance to be there for him and the chance to be sailing again.
I knew in the first few chapters that I did not like Taylor. Hes an okay friend and a great sailor, but the way he demands of Grady and Maddie was annoying for me. I didnt see him as a true friend and he was the character I liked least in the story. To keep things balanced, I would choose Lindy as the character I liked most. Shes a beautiful friend to Maddie as well as her boss, and they have a wonderful relationship managing the store and confiding in one another.
Heres Maddie and her team!
Maddie is the tactician and skipper
Lance is the trimmer
Ricky is the driver
Cameron is the mast man
IF Grady gets the job, he would be taking over for Taylor as the bowman
Another issue in the story that Maddie has a difficult time absorbing is that she was just informed recently by her parents who her real birth father is, not the man who raised her. She is stunned by this and even though they have a good reason why they didnt tell her earlier in life, it creates more insecurity within her/trust issues. Her relationship with her birth father is a wonderful one and its obvious that the man wants to spend time with her now more than ever.
There are only a few times in the book that there is sailing, but most of the plot takes place near water and the passion of sailing is tangible by all of the characters as they prepare for this race. Maddie is determined to win for the wrong reason, but shes a natural leader with her team and it was endearing how well they all treat her.
My favorite parts of the book are the scenes where Maddie spends with Grady. The run they share together in the beginning was a hoot! Why would Maddie insist they run at 5AM when she herself is NOT an early morning person?! They hit it off immediately and both are surprised by the connection they share. I loved how well Grady understands Maddie and how supportive he is. Grady is haunted by the realization that he doesnt want to disappoint Taylor or Maddie, that he wants to honor them both by being a man of his word like his grandpa taught him to be. However, sometimes doing the right thing will disappoint someone regardless, especially if Taylor is making unfair demands.
This was such a great book and a fast read! I started it late last night thinking I would only read a few chapters, the next thing I knew it was two hours later and I was halfway through the book! Love it when that happens! There were a few times in the book that I felt like shaking Maddie and Grady out of their heavy emotions, but overall I liked where the story went and how it ended. These were great characters and they gave me a nice story.
I want to thank the author for the review copy received. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
I know nothing about sailing, but I truly enjoyed everything about this book! Goddard knows how to write stories that are touching and heart rendering, but also filled with characters who want to do the right thing while loving God. Sailing is Maddies escape and something she has been doing her whole life. However, she will soon learn that there is more to life than sailing.
Grady Stone is at a crossroads in his life. His business has not succeeded, the business his beloved grandfather left him and has since passed away, so he is being forced to sell it and find work elsewhere. His best friend, Taylor, calls him just in time to demand a favor from him. Grady jumps at the chance to be there for him and the chance to be sailing again.
I knew in the first few chapters that I did not like Taylor. Hes an okay friend and a great sailor, but the way he demands of Grady and Maddie was annoying for me. I didnt see him as a true friend and he was the character I liked least in the story. To keep things balanced, I would choose Lindy as the character I liked most. Shes a beautiful friend to Maddie as well as her boss, and they have a wonderful relationship managing the store and confiding in one another.
Heres Maddie and her team!
Maddie is the tactician and skipper
Lance is the trimmer
Ricky is the driver
Cameron is the mast man
IF Grady gets the job, he would be taking over for Taylor as the bowman
Another issue in the story that Maddie has a difficult time absorbing is that she was just informed recently by her parents who her real birth father is, not the man who raised her. She is stunned by this and even though they have a good reason why they didnt tell her earlier in life, it creates more insecurity within her/trust issues. Her relationship with her birth father is a wonderful one and its obvious that the man wants to spend time with her now more than ever.
There are only a few times in the book that there is sailing, but most of the plot takes place near water and the passion of sailing is tangible by all of the characters as they prepare for this race. Maddie is determined to win for the wrong reason, but shes a natural leader with her team and it was endearing how well they all treat her.
My favorite parts of the book are the scenes where Maddie spends with Grady. The run they share together in the beginning was a hoot! Why would Maddie insist they run at 5AM when she herself is NOT an early morning person?! They hit it off immediately and both are surprised by the connection they share. I loved how well Grady understands Maddie and how supportive he is. Grady is haunted by the realization that he doesnt want to disappoint Taylor or Maddie, that he wants to honor them both by being a man of his word like his grandpa taught him to be. However, sometimes doing the right thing will disappoint someone regardless, especially if Taylor is making unfair demands.
This was such a great book and a fast read! I started it late last night thinking I would only read a few chapters, the next thing I knew it was two hours later and I was halfway through the book! Love it when that happens! There were a few times in the book that I felt like shaking Maddie and Grady out of their heavy emotions, but overall I liked where the story went and how it ended. These were great characters and they gave me a nice story.
I want to thank the author for the review copy received. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
