The Wishing Tree

by Marybeth Whalen

published by Zondervan

2013

Downloaded to my Kindle (borrowed from lovely daughter) from Amazon

Summary

Savvy, determined Ivy Marshall discovers that her husband has cheated on her on the very same day her sister’s perfect boyfriend proposes on national television. When Ivy’s mother asks her to return to her family’s beach home to plan her sister’s upcoming wedding, she decides to use the excuse to escape from the pain of her broken heart. When her return to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, brings Ivy face to face with her former fiance, old feelings are rekindled and she wonders if there is a future for them. However, when Ivy refuses to talk to her husband, he resorts to tweeting to her, expressing his remorse and making it clear he doesn’t want to give up on their marriage. As she helps prepare the wishing tree for her sister’s wedding, she must examine her dreams for her own future and what true love should be.

My Review

This book was one of the featured summer reads listed on She Reads, which led me to choose to read it on my recent vacation to Bermuda. The author, Marybeth Whalen is also the co-directior of She Reads.  I downloaded it and a few others and off I went, thinking that with 4 days and 5 night, I was going to get in lots of reading!  Instead, I spent more time having fun, swimming and sunning, relaxing and reconnecting with my husband.  This was the only book I finished-and I read it all within a 24 hour period.   That being said, I think this is a great summer read.  It tells the story of Ivy, who, going through a very difficult time in 5 year marriage, decides to return home to Sunset Beach, to help her estranged mother and sister plan the sister’s wedding.  While there, she begins to question her choice to marry her husband Elliot, rather than her childhood sweetheart (and jilted ex-fiance) Michael.  This story showed very well the seldom spoken of dark side of young marriage-that it requires a constant amount of attention and work or it will wither and die like a delicate plant.  Actually, I think it requires work no matter how long you have been married (hence the reading of only one book on vacation).  I thought this book was very well written.  If you are looking for an easy summer read, I would definitely recommend this book.

You can read more about this author at-

http://www.marybethwhalen.com

Rating
3.5 out of 5

Sunset Beach (Photo credit: stepol)