Friday, December 28, 2018

The Prayer Box

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!


WINGATE, LISA
THE PRAYER BOX

When Iola Anne Poole, an old-timer on Hatteras Island, passes away in her bed at ninety-one, the struggling young mother in her rental cottage, Tandi Jo Reese, finds herself charged with the task of cleaning out Iola's rambling Victorian house. Running from a messy, dangerous past, Tandi never expects to find more than a temporary hiding place within Iola's walls, but everything changes with the discovery of eighty-one carefully decorated prayer boxes, one for each year, spanning Iola's youth to her last days. Hidden in the boxes is the story of a lifetime, written on random bits of paper -- the hopes and wishes, fears and thoughts of an unassuming but complex woman, passing through the seasons of an extraordinary unsung life filled with journeys of faith, observations on love, and one final lesson that could change everything for Tandi.

My Review:

published in 2013
My thanks to my public library for providing me with the audio version of this book.

I'm kinda gobsmacked right now, searching for words to express all my mixed emotions over this book. Stunned. Awestruck. Furious. Fuming. Melty-hearted. Goosebumped. Exasperated...you name it, I felt it as I immersed myself in this story.

Lisa Wingate has such an exquisite writing style. So beautifully descriptive that you feel like you are living every excruciating second along side the characters. And I think listening to the audio version enhanced my 'reading' experience. I especially loved Iola Anne's voice which we get through her written prayers.

And then there's Tandi. Oy. True confession -- I didn't like her for about half of the book! I almost couldn't continue with the story because I found her so unrelatable! But -- and here's where real writing talent comes in to play -- Wingate wooed me with her words and the way she slowly allows Tandi's backstory to unfold. I got to the point where I still didn't like the choices she was making but I could understand why she acted the way she did. And then I began to wonder what business I had judging her anyway. lol Nothing like a real-life lesson on grace in the middle of a novel!

 Iola Anne's simple, heartfelt prayers are a kind of ethereal thread that binds this story together. That woman's simple faith worked a change in both Tandi and me! And there comes a point were past and present collide and -- whoosh -- amazing grace!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Prayer Box, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca.  If you add your email to comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced Sunday December 30 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

27 comments:

  1. I'd forgotten about this one! It's already on my to-read list, but I lost track of it til now. Thank you for rectifying that and reminding me I need to read this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So easy to get behind with all the excellent new books being released! Good luck, Elly!

      Delete
  2. I loved The Prayer Box so much I read all three books in the Carolina Chronicles series and the three novellas that went with it. My first Lisa Wingate books. I keep thinking I'll go back and reread this series, or her backlist, but there
    are always so many new books vying for my
    attention, reader problems!
    Still, a five star series I recommend! Thanks for the mini review walk down memory lane!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just have to read The Story Keeper now and I'll be up to date with this series. Didn't know about the novellas though. Having too many books is the best kind of reader problem, don't you think?

      Delete
  3. Would love to read this one by Lisa Wingate, Kav. Incluede me, please!

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I will read anything Lisa Wingate comes up with! She has a way of immersing the reader in her stories and making them feel part of the story, urging you to read "just one more chapter". She also knows how to bring out all the range of emotions you didn't know existed! I loved her "Before We Were Yours", a definite re-read and I DON'T re-read! That should tell you something right there :-)

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She definitely has a talent for storytelling! Such a beautiful, lyrical style and such depth! Good luck, Trixi!

      Delete
  5. Lisa has a way of telling stories. What I tell people is you gotta read The story keeper her best UNTIL Before we were yours which is a best seller for her. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just checked and my library has a copy of The Story Keeper so I'm taking your advice and going to read it soon! Good luck, Kim!

      Delete
  6. I'm looking forward to seeing how the past & present come together.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I’ve wanted to read this one for a long while. Loved your review.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lucy. It's an incredible story. Good luck!

      Delete
  8. I read this many years ago, but I don't remember much of it. Love Lisa Wingate though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Time to refresh your memory! Good luck, SIS!

      Delete
  9. I always enjoy Lisa's books. This looks awesome!
    pbclark(at)netins.net

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is a new author to me. I would love to read this!
    pkildow at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa Wingate is incredible! Hope you get to read something by her soon. Good luck, Pat!

      Delete
  11. I’ve actually never read Lisa Wingate. Thanks for the chance.
    mindyhoung AT msn DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, wow, you have lots of good reading ahead of you! Good luck, Mindy!

      Delete
  12. Sounds really good 👍
    Great choice 😍💗😍
    Thanks for the chance 💖🍯🐝
    iamabho AT gmail DOT com 😍

    ReplyDelete
  13. We have several of Lisa's books in the church library but not this one.
    Thanks for giving me the opportunity to win this book.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I haven't listened to audio books. What a great review ~ hope to win and find the 81! prayer boxes. WoW. Thank you for bringing this story to our remembrance. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

    ReplyDelete