Making Waves

SEILSTAD, LORNA

MAKING WAVES

When spunky Marguerite Westing discovers that her family will summer at Lake Manawa in 1895, she couldn't be more thrilled. It is the perfect way to escape her agonizingly boring suitor, Roger Gordon. It's also where she stumbles upon two new loves: sailing, and sailing instructor Trip Andrews. But this summer of fun turns to turmoil as her father's gambling problems threaten to ruin the family forever. Will free-spirited Marguerite marry Roger to save her father's name and fortune? Or will she follow her heart -- even if it means abandoning the family she loves?

I'M SO THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THIS REVIEW BECAUSE I KNOW LORNA AND HAVE READ SOME OF HER UNPUBLISHED WORK. WE BELONG TO A SMALL LITTLE GROUP OF 'WRITING ENCOURAGERS' AFFECTIONATELY DUBBED 'THE SCRIBBLERS' SO I'VE BEEN THERE (IN CYBERSPACE) FROM THAT FATEFUL ACFW CONFERENCE TO THE EDITOR/AGENT CALL AND THE WHOLE BIRTHING OF THIS WONDERFUL BOOK. I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON MAKING WAVES, IRRITATED BECAUSE IT HIT CANADIAN BOOKSTORES LATER THAN THE AMERICAN ONES. BUT IT HAS ARRIVED AT LAST AND I HAVE DEVOURED IT AND HERE IS MY REVIEW!

WORDS LIKE 'FRESH', 'WITTY' AND ENTERTAINING' HAVE BEEN REPEATED OVER AND OVER TO DESCRIBE LORNA'S WRITING STYLE IN REVIEWS AND BLOGS I'VE READ AND I HAVE TO ECHO THEM. THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT LORNA'S STYLE. MAYBE IT'S HER QUIRKY HEROINE, MARGUERITE WHO UTTERS THE MOST OUTLANDISH PRAYER REQUESTS THROUGHOUT THE BOOK. OR MAYBE IT'S LORNA'S COMEDIC TIMING OR THE SUBTLETIES SHE USES TO SHOW US THE INNER WORKINGS OF HER HEART-PALPITATING HERO, TRIP ANDREWS. IT COULD ALSO BE THE WAY SHE WEAVES AN IMPORTANT GOSPEL MESSAGE INTO THE MIX WITHOUT IT SEEMING FORCED OR PREACHY. NOT TO MENTION THE WAY SHE WRITES AN ACTION SCENE! OY, I COULD GO ON TRYING TO ANALYZE WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK SO UNIQUE AMONG OTHER HISTORICALS BUT NO MATTER WHAT I SAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT QUITE GETTING TO THE HEART OF IT, SO I'LL SIMPLY TELL YOU WHAT I LOVED ABOUT MAKING WAVES INSTEAD.

LOVED THE SETTING -- DEFINITELY DIFFERENT, COMPLETELY FASCINATING. I ACTUALLY THINK I COULD ENJOY CAMPING IF I COULD BRING ALONG MY SERVANTS AND FURNITURE AS WELL! LORNA'S ATTENTION TO DETAIL FROM THE BATHING COSTUMES WITH THOSE ITCHY BLACK STOCKINGS (UGH) TO THE TECHNICALITIES OF SAILING BROUGHT THIS STORY TO LIFE.

LOVED THE HEROINE. 'FREE-SPIRIT' AND 'SPUNKY' ARE GREAT DESCRIPTORS FOR MARGUERITE. SHE HAS AN OUTGOING PERSONALITY BORNE OF A YOUNG WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN PAMPERED, BUT NOT SPOILED. HOWEVER, SHE IS NAIVE AS WELL -- ENOUGH TO THINK THAT IF SHE JUST WAITS LONG ENOUGH HER DADDY CAN FIX JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. AND SHE HAS A WAY OF TWISTING THE TRUTH JUST A SMIDGEN TO SMOOTH THINGS INTO GOING HER WAY. BUT WHILE THESE ATTRIBUTES CAN BE ENDEARING, THEY ALSO MAKE HER FALLIBLE WHICH KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY 'READING' SEAT.

I DIDN'T JUST LOVE THE HERO, TRIP ANDREWS -- I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM. FROM HIS DIMPLED SMILE TO HIS HONORABLE NATURE TO HIS PENCHANT FOR RESCUING MARGUERITE -- WELL, LET'S JUST SAY THAT HE IS DEFINITELY ON MY SWOONWORTHY LIST! OF COURSE, HE COULD BE INFURIATING AS WELL, SOMETIMES OVERLY FIXATED ON HIS SIDE OF THINGS, BUT -- HEAVY SIGH -- WITH A FLASH OF THOSE DIMPLES I WAS READY TO FORGIVE HIM ALL.

LOVED THE CONFLICT. ONE OF THE THINGS TRIP VALUES MOST IS HONESTY. HE HAS A PAST THAT MAKES HIM MORE SENSITIVE TO EVEN LITTLE 'WHITE' LIES -- THE KIND MARGUERITE HAPPILY INDULGES IN. AS I GOT DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE BOOK AN OMINOUS FEELING OF DOOM STARTED WEIGHING ME DOWN. GREAT MOTIVATION TO KEEP READING!

THE CHARACTER I MOST LOVED TO HATE: ROGER. EWWWW! I KNEW HE WASN'T THE MAN FOR MARGUERITE ON PAGE ONE...UNFORTUNATELY ROGER DIDN'T FIGURE THAT OUT UNTIL PAGE THREE HUNDRED AND SOMETHING! LOL. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT MARGUERITE'S MOTHER, CAMILLE, CAME A CLOSE SECOND. WHAT KIND OF MOTHER COULD...WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING AWAY. YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO READ THE BOOK AND ENJOY EVERY SECOND OF IT LIKE I DID!!!!