Customer Reviews

Making Waves: A Novel (Lake Manawa Summers)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I absolutely LOVE getting to read debut novels by new authors. Lorna Seilstad had got what it takes to create a novel to fully capture the reader instantly, and make them feel right at home with the wonderful characters. Ms. Seilstad has the skills to pen novels that are sure to be best selling!

Making Waves is the first book in this amazing, brand-new series, Lake Manawa Summers, and oh what a start it is! It's 1895 in Iowa and Marguerite just wants to live life adventurously for herself and not like some of the high society women attending dinners and balls. And that's just what she tries to do. She was such an adorable character. She had that real-to-life feel and reminded me of myself at that age, wanting to do what I wanted to do and not meaning to cause raucous. And oh what raucous she caused! Let's talk about her "intended" Roger....DID NOT LIKE HIM! Come on, really? Did he have to be so boring? Oh, and how about Trip? Now THAT was a DREAMY character! I fell in love with him at the first description of his tender hearted, yet strong soul! He really completed the depth to the characters and made the book that much more fun!

Lorna Seilstad packed this series start full of laugh-out-loud humor and antics, a hint of mystery, lots and lots of love, and a spiritual message of never settling for less than God's will in your life, no matter what or whom may think otherwise.

If you like a story full of love, laughter, and God, than this is a 5 star story you won't want to miss. It's a perfect start to a new series and book 2, A Great Catch will be at the top of my wish list until it's Summer '11 release! Great job, Lorna!!

*This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Company*

I am delighted to add new author, Lorna Sielstad, to my favorites list!! What an unexpected treasure "Making Waves" turned out to be! Lorna combines romance and humor with just the right amount of depth and suspense to make this a fun-loving, never-get-bored, page-turner!

Marguerite Westing is a headstrong, fearless, risk-taking beauty who turned out to be one of the most hilarious heroines I have ever had the pleasure of reading! She is always somewhere polite society says she shouldn't be, doing something polite society says she shouldn't be doing, but it's her explanations out of such situations and her reasoning for finding herself in them in the first place that makes for a most enjoyable read! But within her explanations and reasonings, however well intended they might be, is a little web of lies- lies she tries to justify but soon finds out (rather painfully, might I add) that every lie has its day in the sun.

To her credit Marguerite has none of the airs you would expect from a girl of her station- her dearest friend (who is more like a sister to her) is Lilly, her personal maid- and she also possess a sacrificial love for her family, which showcases more as the story goes on. But there is a dark cloud hovering over the Westing family in the form of Roger Gordon, Marguerite's self-proclaimed fiancé, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants- and what he wants is the beautiful Marguerite for his own. Our heroine started her summer with dreams of adventure and fun but soon finds that secrets, be they hers or someone else's, have a way of catching up and putting a real damper on things. Is there a silver lining to be found on Lake Manawa?

Tripp Andrews is a strong, handsome, sailing instructor, with a heart as gold as the setting sun and a smile to match its warmth. He reluctantly agrees to teach Marguerite's younger brother how to sail, yet the clever beauty with the azure eyes manages to convince him to let her tag along. He's never seen anyone, let alone a girl, take to sailing as fast as she does and her love for life and adventure is contagious and beckons him like waves to the shore. But he can't seem to shake the feeling she's hiding something from him. Will misunderstandings and good intentions gone awry be enough to destroy this burgeoning love? Will their relationship survive its sifting when the winds of unforeseen circumstances threaten to carry it away? Sorry, I can't tell you but I promise you're gonna thoroughly enjoy finding out! :)

I really liked how Lorna portrayed family in this book. Tripp and his dad have a strained relationship. All he wants is to make his father proud but feels he'll never measure up. But a revelation from his childhood might be just the balm that's needed to repair and restore. Marguerite is a "daddy's girl." She and her father have always had a close relationship, but that bond will be tried and tested when she realizes her father is hiding something that affects them all. From the start of the book she has a strained relationship with her mother (which reads quite comical at times!), but her father has always been her hero and ally, so this revelation is a devastating blow. I like that Lorna shows that parents are human too and capable of making mistakes like anyone else. I also love how Lorna portrayed faith in this book and the struggle her characters have in finding it. But will Marguerite take problems into her own hands or will she leave them in the very capable hands of the Lord and trust Him to work the outcome for their good? The Truth will set you free!

This book was wonderful and just the summer escape I was needing during these cold winter months! I can't wait to get my hands on Lorna's next book, "A Great Catch", coming out in May!!

One of the most clever, fun books I have read this year. Lorna Seilstad takes a period of history and weaves a delightful story around the setting. The setting (Lake Manawa, Iowa) actually becomes one of the characters as the story progresses and I had so much fun visualizing the area around the lake. Marguerite Westing is a fantastic heroine - she is full of vim and vigor and won't conform to anyone's expectations, including the man who wants to marry her. Though her mother is pushing for the marriage, she is relying on her dad to let her marry for love not money... right? There are mysteries surrounding happenings at the lake, where everyone who's anyone is camping for the summer. It's hard for me to imagine camping as a sign of the "in crowd", but okay... I loved the history surrounding the lake as explained in the back of the book and I adored this story.

With all the glowing reviews, I feel like the odd man out (I am a man). Looking forward to some light but stimulating reading, I found, after 82 pages I couldn't continue. I was too depressed. Believing the reviews, the expectation was that I would be smiling and turning pages as fast as I can. The characters seem shallow and trite. The bad people too cartoon like. The main bad guy was a sociopath and that was evident from the beginning. This put a really gloomy haze over the story. The mother was evil in her selfishness, yet an attempt was made to make her appear a good wife, and concerned mother. It just didn't come together. The story wasn't real.

I hate to write negative reviews, so this gets 3 stars when, in my opinion, it should get 2. Also, even though I am a male, I do enjoy good romance. Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors (her earlier books). I read them for escape. This book didn't give that to me.

I just want to add myself to the list of those who loved this book! There was such a good bit of history behind the story. The Lake Manawa elite, and the way those poor women were forced to dress! I'm sure the dresses were quite beautiful, but can you imagine having to wear those layers in the summertime? Bathing suits with stockings? Not to mention the impropriety of a woman on a sailboat.
I loved Margeurite, the main character. She was a spoiled, nineteen year old who reminded me of myself at that age, not wanting anybody to tell me what to do. She struggled with the same kinds of things Christians still struggle with to this day.
Good history, good romance, and a bit of mystery thrown in made this book a favorite of mine, and I will add Lorna Seilstad to my list of favorite authors as well.

This is a sweet summer romance between a wealthy, head strong woman and a hard working, head strong man! Trip and "Maggie" will melt your heart!!! The "other" man, Roger will make you want to push him in the lake!! This is a very clean romance with a beautiful setting and interesting story line. It has a "Dirty Dancing" feel to it (without the dirty or the dancing!!) READ the BOOK!!!!

This was a great debut novel for this author. The story was cute and gave a glimpse into what life must have been like for women in the late 1800's. The main character in this story does not go with convention and knows what she wants and goes for it. It was a great read. I will definitely be looking for more books by the author.

I loved it! Very lighthearted sweet book. It was not too " swooney" and I couldn't put it down.

I found it hard to believe Making Waves was Lorna's first book! I read hundreds of books a year and am pretty stingy with my five star ratings. But I so enjoyed this book. The main character Marguerite Westing is such a spunky, driven, funny young lady. How could you not love her. Maybe one reason I loved the book so much is because I saw myself in her! Trip Andrews is a perfect counterpart for her and the conflicts they get into and they have are both humorous and touching.

I grew up reading historicals and have pulled away from them over the years. This book takes place in the late 1800's and I did not mind a bit. The setting, the characters, the plot, and the romance all grabbed me and held on until I closed the book. I look forward to reading more from Lorna. I highly recommend this book!

'Marguerite Westing seems bent to break all the elite set's rules for proper young ladies in 1895. She is a smart, capable, young lady and doesn't see any reason to pretend otherwise. When Marguerite Westing`s father decides the family is spending the summer at Lake Manawa, Iowa, she is thrilled. It fits right in with her plan to avoid suitor Roger Gordon - the most boring man she's ever met. Her mother keeps pushing him at her and she can't seem to escape him when he follows her family to the lake. She's not the least bit attracted to him. In fact, she can barely tolerate him. However, he seems intent on winning her hand in marriage. Her mother won't listen to her objections and she finally stops voicing them. She knows that her father understands and won't let her marry a man who put the "bore" in boring and that she doesn't love, so she puts off doing the inevitable.

There is a plethora of things to do at the lake - and her mother seems determined to put the kibosh on her plans to partake of them. Her brother gets to do whatever he wants and he's only twelve. All because he's a boy. It simply is not fair. Being a woman should not disqualify one from participating in fun and interesting activities.

Despite the fact that the forced outings with Roger are mind-numbing and wearisome, Marguerite avoids telling her mother and Roger the truth about not wanting to marry him. She talks her father into taking her on a sailboat, and she falls in love with sailing, and soon after, a certain handsome sailing instructor. She escapes camp and her mother's influence and finagles a way to do what she wants. Will she weave a web that she finds herself caught in?

Her summer of fun quickly turns to heartache, when she learns her father's secrets. Will she be forced to give up the man she's fallen in love with and marry Roger just to save her family? Or will she learn to trust God in all things and follow her heart --even if it means hurting the family she loves?

This book was an absolute delight to read. It has it all - history, romance, humor, and some suspense. If you like any of those things - this book is a must read for you. The story drew me in and I was transported back to 1895 at Lake Manawa, Iowa. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. Congratulations, Lorna, on your first novel. Well done!