The Tidewater Sisters by Lisa Wingate

Tandi Jo Reese has finally found a safe place to build her life and hope blooms strong as her wedding nears. However, when Tandi receives notice of a lawsuit against her, she is convinced she must confront her sister, Gina, who, most likely, is the cause of this issue. However, when she arrives in Tidewater, she finds the past she needs to confront is far more vast than she knew.

The Tidewater Sisters by Lisa Wingate is the postlude novella to The Prayer Box. In a sense, the novella could stand-alone as Wingate gives the essential background information, but I don't think it would be particularly engaging to me if I hadn't read The Prayer Box. It was my previous enjoyment of these characters that helped me enjoy The Tidewater Sisters.

As is common for novellas, there's limited character development, but Wingate does an admirable job in other areas. The plot never dragged. The relationship between Tandi and Gina rings with authenticity. She remarkably portrayed the reality of dysfunctional families without a miraculous, neat, wrap-everything-up-in-a-fake-way ending. However, she managed to give Tandi a hopeful and healthy future.

Bottom Line: If you enjoyed The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate, you'll enjoy revisiting Tandi Jo Reese in The Tidewater Sisters.

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate

Just when Tandi Jo Reese has found a safe place for herself and her children, her landlord, Iola Anne Poole, passes away. Desperate to find income and stay in the rental cottage, Tandi agrees to clean out Iola's home. To Tandi's surprise, she finds beautifully decorated prayer boxes that contain prayers and a life story. She finds unexpected connection with the author of the prayers and healing begins to take root. Read more in The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate.

Once again, my book club has introduced me to an amazing book that wasn't even on my radar. It's one of the best books I've read this year. The novel held my attention from the beginning, was well-written, and progressed at the perfect pace. I was intrigued by the prayer boxes and the characters pulled me in, making me wish they were real. Tandi's character development was phenomenal. I loved watching her grow, change, and open her heart to the right people. Prayer is a prominent theme in the novel, but there were other secondary themes about grace, empowerment, and helping others.

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate is the first full-length novel in the Carolina Heirlooms series. It has a prequel novella, The Sea Glass Sisters, and a postlude novella, The Tidewater Sisters, which appears to continue Tandi's story. Neither of these are required to understand and enjoy The Prayer Box. I highly recommend The Prayer Box to anyone who enjoys inspirational fiction.

Read an excerpt from The Prayer Box on the publisher's website.

My TBR Stack...

My current TBR stack:

I'm planning to read at least one of these fabulous sounding books this weekend. 

Probably The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate as it was this month's pick for the book club I attend. 

I received Tessa Afshar's Thief of Corinth in the mail just today and I am really looking forward to reading that one.

Actually, I'm really looking forward to all of these books....  😁