Customer Reviews

Surrender Bay (Nantucket Love Story Series #1)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll be honest, here. I'm extremely picky about what I read. There are many authors who are praised by the masses and critics alike, but I can't get past the third chapter. So it was with a nervous hand and much apprehension that I opened "Finding Faith" by Denise Hunter. She is my good friend's wife and, I suppose, a friend to me in her own right. That alone made me pause before reading the first page. But there is more reason to doubt why I should crack the pages of her book. Denise writes in what has to be my least favorite genre; Christian Chic Lit. But I enjoyed the book. No, I really enjoyed it. A lot. There were more twists and turns and surprises than most thrillers and the `Christianity' was not a smack in the face with a solid oak two by four that most Christian writing tends to be.

So then Denise wrote her next story, "Surrender Bay" and I decided to give that a go as well. Two chapters in, not a single reference to God, church, Satan, the Bible or any of the Christian writer's staples. Eight chapters in, still quite secular. Or is it? "Surrender Bay" is an allegory. It is decidedly not for everyone. It is not for the Christian reader who wants to be spoon-fed church-like platitudes and beatitudes. It is not for the extremely conservative or the reader who is looking for a `nice little love story'.

"Surrender Bay" is reality. It can be raw and tender, gritty and romantic, ugly and passionate. In fact, sometimes the passion can be quite ugly. If you have not read the book, you might not want to continue reading this review. If you have read Denise's previous works and have the misconception that this is like "Finding Faith", you might not want to read "Surrender Bay". You might not want to, but you should.

"Surrender Bay" is a story of doomed relationships. It is the story of a woman so wrought with self-loathing and guilt that she can not see the perfect answer to her pain even when he continually stands in front of her. She is hurt, emotionally closed off, and mother to a child who does not appreciate or understand her. It is also a story about a man who loves her unconditionally. And finally it is a story of broken relationships, betrayal, lust, anger, forgiveness, hatred, death, loneliness and, most of all, unconditional love.

As I read through "Surrender Bay", I was at first a bit confused. I was unaware that the story was an allegory for the love and hate that we sometimes feel toward God. But it is also an allegory for the love and hate we sometimes feel toward those we are closest to. I kept waiting for the kindly neighbor to "share God" with the protagonist (who is her own antagonist throughout most of the story) but it never happened. No one ever got down on their knees and `prayed the sinners prayer'. No one saw a miracle. No one begged God for forgiveness. Or did they? As I reread the ending, and it only took three evenings to read the entire book, I found so much useful information in the story. Useful in my own journey of Spiritual understanding and the relationship with my wife. I never felt preached at, or condemned, but I did feel, at times, convicted. I know, that's a `church' term that gets tossed a round a lot. I meant it as convicted that I was not always the strong husband or father that my wife and children need me to be. It was encouraging without all of the usual religious guilt.

So who should read "Surrender Bay"? All of Denise's fans should. But be warned that it is gritty and raw at times. And that is a good thing. But anyone who is having a troubled relationship should pick it up too. Anyone who does not understand forgiveness would benefit. Anyone who thinks they have ticked off the Almighty one too many times might want a go at the story.

But I don't want you reading this review and thinking that Denise has written something that is emotional manipulation or a "How-to-improve-your-whatever" sort of story. On the contrary, it is entertaining, suspenseful and, as I have come to expect from Denise Hunter, great story telling. I hope that one day Denise will find it in her nature to write a suspense story or a thriller. I believe it is in her head just waiting to come out. Until then, I will continue to enjoy reading a genre I normally would poke fun at.

A surprising inheritance fills Samantha Owens with burgeoning hope and sickening dread. While the rundown ocean front cottage on Nantucket Bay could signal the end of her financial worries, it also requires Sam to return to the very place where her childhood dreams were shattered, leaving her scarred, fearful and alone.

Reluctantly, Sam returns to Nantucket with her young daughter Caden hoping she can restore the cottage quickly and sell it for an attractive profit. Sam hadn't anticipated that Landon Reed, her childhood confidant, would be living in his parents' home, unmarried and still so much in love with her.

Sam is drawn to Landon's generous heart and the security he offers and yet she knows all the professed love in the world won't last when her betrayal all those years ago comes to light.

To call Surrender Bay just a romance novel, though it is that, is to sell it short. It is a beautiful love story that I literally could not put down. The setting is enticing, the characters complex and their emotions and heartache palpable. Sam epitomises an adult whose heart and mind has been scarred by a traumatic childhood. Her first thought is to protect herself no matter what the cost to others and yet is so appealing that I wanted to comfort her myself! And Landon is compassionate, faithful and protective while remaining a realistic character, a tribute to Denise Hunter's talent as a writer. Sam's choices and their consequences are painful to read, Landon's constancy is a joy and the romance is simply mesmerising.

God's love, faithfulness and the heartache He endures to draw us back in to relationship with Him is powerfully told in this story by way of allegory. Without any overt reference to God, Denise has turned the spotlight on the depth of God's love for His children in a story that will remain with you long after the last page is read.

I was so taken with Surrender Bay I have chosen is as one of my book club's selections for 2008.

I've always thought Denise Hunter was an amazing writer but this wonderful story sets her firmly at the forefront of compelling love stories. How Landon breaks down Samantha's determination that she is unworthy of love kept me glued to the pages. An amazing story!

This is the first Denise Hunter book I have read and I couldn't stop reading. After reading all the books of some of my favorite authors like Karen Kingsbury, Dee Henderson and Lori Wick, I searched on amazon.com for a good book to read. I thought Surrender Bay sounded like a good book, but I was blown away at how much I enjoyed this book. I picked it up one evening, after putting my children to bed, to read a few chapters and to check out if I liked Denise Hunter's writing syle. I read the entire book in five hours. Denise Hunter is an amazing author. I was never bored and my mind never wandered throughout the entire story. Great job. I can't wait to read her other books, especially her next book to be released The Convenient Groom.

Surrender Bay by Denise Hunter is the story of Samantha (Sam) who has to return to Nantucket to sell the house of her hated stepfather after his death. But returning home brings up a lot of ghosts for Sam and questions for her eleven-year-old daughter Caden. This story could be seen simply as a romance, but it is so much more than that! Landon, Sam's childhood best friend, has been waiting for Sam his whole life, but secrets Sam has kept for far too long threaten to tear them apart. Sam is not your typical character in a Christian novel. She drinks, has poor impulse control, is sexually lax and not a great mom. But she's trying. Her entire focus is trying to improve her daughter's life and ensure that Caden won't have to be a house cleaner like Sam. Abandoned by her mother, abused by her stepfather, and pregnant under mysterious circumstances, Sam does everything she can to push away anyone who shows her love, especially Landon who wants so much to be everything to her. Sam makes mistakes again and again, getting drunk, flirting with strangers, etc, to avoid the closeness she could have with Landon. And through it all, Landon loves and forgives her. He is not a pushover; he gets angry with her, but as he tells her "Love isn't earned; it's a gift." The story is an allegory of God's love for us, but it's told without preaching or rigidity. It flows easily, and is an enjoyable read despite some occasionlly awkward metaphors. Have a friend who loves romances but isn't Christian or doesn't understand God's love? This book makes His love for us eminently clear. I look forward to the next entry in this series.

Had I been given the opportunity to pass on Surrender Bay, I likely would have. I've not read Denise Hunter before, but the romance/love story angle wouldn't have appealed to me. Not that I'm against romance and love. But sometimes , well, I tend to like stories that are more than just escapism.

But Surrender Bay replaced another book that I had signed up for. So I read it.

And what I found surprised me. There is a complete lack of Christian lingo in Surrender Bay. Sam, the heroine isn't very heroic at all. As a matter of fact I wanted to throttle her a few times. Landon, as hunky as he came across, should've cut his losses a dozen or so years earlier and moved on. In my book, anyway.

What Denise Hunter has done is paint a picture of screwed up people, their consequences, victimization and slimy pits and she has added undeserved love also known as grace. This is a story of grace and all it overlooks.

Who should pick up this novel? Romance lovers, yeah. Looking for a well plotted tense love story? Sure. Wanting to discover a story published in the CBA that lays life out in all its messiness? Seeking edgy Christian Fiction that includes alcohol abuse, drunkeness and sexual situations? Need a story that shares a portion of God's good heart with just a hint that it's all about God? Then you need to check further into this story.

Denise Hunter amazed me in this story. I enjoy allegories, and she skillfully created a love story which reflects on the love of God and His heart. I have a shelf in my office of favorites and Denise's books are there consistently. She won a new fan with her book Surrender Bay and I still tell people about it, though I read it last year. Her follow up "The Convenient Groom" was very well done, too.

I love a romance with deep emotion, a bit of angst, and plenty of romantic tension. Well this story packs a powerful punch in all three areas. It's an allegory and one of the coolest examples I've ever read. There are many, many women in this world who are just like Samantha, and there are many people in this world who are running from Christ as well. If He only knew what my heart was really like, they think, then there is no way He could love me. Wrong. And this story so beautifully illustrates that point. Samantha wanted Landon so badly, yet she was terrified of his intense love. And the scenes where he showed his love to her were so beautiful and powerful! Oy, I loved that. It literally swept me away.

Though God is never mentioned in this story you still see His love on every page. In Samantha's thoughts you hear the same doubts that Satan often puts in people's heads. Don't trust him. Don't let anyone love you. It hurts too much when they leave you. Poor Sam was abandoned by so many people, and that affected every stupid decision she made. And she made plenty of them. Quite a few you experience right along with her. The sense of desperation and self-loathing is multiplied with every wrong choice until she thinks there is no way that he could really love her. Not if he knew. And just like she hurt Landon in so many ways, we hurt God by rejecting His unconditional love.

I've read everything Denise Hunter has published. I've seen her transition from historical to woman's fiction and was amazed at the growth and finesse she showed. So it's no question, I was really looking forward to her newest book, Surrender Bay.

Immediately I was drawn into the life of Samantha Owens. A young single mom, doing the best she can to provide for her 11-year-old daughter. When she gets news that her estranged stepfather died, she learns that because he never had a will, she's inherited his oceanfront cottage in Nantucket. For the first time in her life, she has hope. Hope for a future for her daughter. She plans to renovate the cottage and sell it for top dollar. Using the money to pay for her daughter's future college fund.

Once back at the cottage, the painful memories of her childhood assault her full force. She struggles to get the job done as fast as she can. What she hadn't counted on was her childhood best friend, Landon Reed, still living two doors down. Landon and Sam were soul mates. Two kids that shared everything.

Landon has wondered for years why Sam ran away and he's never fully moved on or found anyone to love like he loved Sam.

What Landon doesn't know is that Sam is hiding a secret. A secret that she's sure will change the way Landon sees her.

This is where Denise Hunter did a fabulous job. This wasn't your typical romance book that you can figure out right from the beginning. As usual of her writing, she has a twist that kept me guessing until the end.

She masterfully created real life characters who make choices like real people make. The turmoil the characters felt was so real I felt like I knew them and wanted to comfort them.

Something worth mentioning is that even though it's published by Thomas Nelson, it's not overtly "Christian" in tone. There's no long-winded sermons or scriptures to skim over and there's no pat answers for the problems facing these characters.

However, this book moved me more than any I've read in a long time. Sam has to come to the realization that Landon's love can't be earned. She doesn't have to do anything to gain his love...just accept it. When you see the love between the characters and can feel the correlation between how God loves each of us...it was simply beautiful.

Surrender Bay (Nantucket Love Story Series #1)

When Sam returns to Natucket with her daughter Caden to fix up the childhood home she inherited upon her stepfather's death, she finds more waiting for her than she bargained.

I loved Hunter's skillful weaving in of back story and her often brilliant way with words. While Sam struggles at times to be forthcoming with our hero, Landon, about certain situations, Hunter shows us in this well-painted story that fear and doubt often bind us in ways we can't easily undo.

I highly recommend Surrender Bay. Like authors would be Sue Monk Kidd for pacing and literary beauty.