Hatteras Girl

This book is comfy one to take to the beach. I felt at home with the main character, Jackie. We both love beaches,a certain soft drink,and
having friends and relatives around. The only thing I didn't like was her fairy tale belief in 'someday, my prince will come". At least she grew up in the end. I liked the easy to follow story and trueness of her friends and relatives. They were people who would be good to know in real life.

I like the way, that Katie's good memories of the Bailey House became part of what she wanted to do in life. I think she really wanted to do the same thing that the grandmother who owned the bed and breakfast did when she was living. Just like Mrs. Bailey, she wanted to make connected with the children and give show more comfort to the people who needed a shoulder to lean on. Not a bad dream!

I would like to try the recipes in the back of the book, particurly the tomato pie. I will keep my eye out for more books written by Alice Wisler, this one gave me a sense of home.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting a comfort book to go along with their comfort food. show less

This book is a pleasant read, especially since I have spent a lot of time in the area from 1973 to present. Alice has managed to catch the Outer Banks at a time when things were much simpler, Alice has presented a great cast of characters who are likable and believable.

You will be delighted with the charming characters in this book set in North Carolina's Outer Banks. Jackie Donovan has two wishes: one is to own the closed down bed-and-breakfast house in her community and two is to find a wonderful man to marry. Her friends and relatives keep helping her out with the second wish, but nothing seems to turn out right on her dates. Then she finds herself attracted to man who turns out owns The Bailey House, which is her hearts desire to buy and fix up and run it again with her good friend Minnie. But when it looks like both her wishes are coming true she finds out sometimes jumping into a relationship and a business deal too fast can be cause for regrets down the road.

I loved the way this author helps show more you get to know the people in this community. There are a lot of fun and quirky individuals and you get a real feel for Jackie as she tells the story and shares with us her thoughts and emotions. Sometimes what you are looking for is right in front of you but you were just so busy looking, you couldn't see what was right there all along. It wasn't the romance in this story that takes center stage for me, but just getting to know the folks on the Outer Banks and being a part of that community that made me enjoy this story so much (not that I don't enjoy a little romance mixed in).

This story is book #3 in the "Heart of Carolina" series. I have read book 1, "Rain Song", and now this story, which is book #3. Both these stories were stand alone stories that did not relate to each other. I can't speak for book #2, "How Sweet It Is", but feel you could probably read these stories in any order you desired. I also discovered that there is a 4th book in this series, "A Wedding Invitation". show less

I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. I'm glad I read it, but it seemed to have more potential than it lived up to. I really enjoyed Alice Wisler's How Sweet It Is and was looking forward to this one, especially since the Outer Banks are one of my favorite places.

So the setting was a winner, and the characters were too. They were very realistic, as were the everyday trials they faced. But . . .


(SPOILER ALERT)





I cannot believe that any thirty-year-old woman would approach a life-altering business deal in the manner Jackie does in this book. It strains credibility. I kept wanting to shout at her about that and about her so-called relationship with her "dream man."

Overall this was enjoyable for the setting and show more characters, but the plot was a bit thin. show less

Jackie Donovan dreams of just two things. One is a husband and the other, something she wants possibly even more than a husband, is to own and manage a bed and breakfast; but it can't be just any bed and breakfast. She has her sights set on the Bailey House Bed and Breakfast which is situated on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This is the very same bed and breakfast that was owned by the Baileys; it was one of her favorite childhood hangouts and the place where she spent many happy hours.

While waiting for her prayers to be answered, Jackie earns her living as a writer for a magazine, Lighthouse Views. She goes on one disastrous blind date after another which are arranged by her well-meaning family members who only want to see her show more happily married. Then comes the day she is assigned to interview the handsome, up-and-coming young realtor, Davis Erickson. When a romance develops between Jackie and Davis and Jackie also learns that Davis is the grandson of the Baileys and current owner of Bailey House, she thinks that both of her dreams are going to be realized at once.

Hatteras Girl portrays the story of several different scriptural truths. For Jackie's friend, Minnie, the young widow and mother of the incorrigible Zane, it depicts the truth found in Psalms 30:5 (KJV) that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." For Jackie, it is the same lesson that King David spoke of when he said "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry." (Psalms 40:1 KJV). Jackie also learned, once again in the words of King David, to "delight thyself in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Psalms 37:4 KJV). Sometimes we pray and then continue to look for the answers on our own instead of giving it over to God and trusting in Him to supply our needs and wants. Sometimes, as Jackie learned, the answer is where we least expect to find it; and sometimes is right in front of us all along if we but open our hearts and minds to Him, for He always knows what is best.

This is an enjoyable and relaxing book. If you are looking for lots of tension, suspense, and excitement, this is not the book you want. If you want to sit back and relax with your favorite beverage and meet some funny, kind, and quirky characters while watching how God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform, then I recommend Hatteras Girl to you.

Hatteras Girl was written by Alice J. Wisler and is published by Bethany House. You can learn more about Alice and her previous books by going to her web site at www.alicewisler.com. If you have a book club and are looking for a book for discussion, there are some very nice discussion questions included in this book.

A copy of this book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers for review purposes. I received no compensation for this review nor was I under any obligation to provide a favorable review. All comments are the true and unsolicited observations of this writer. show less

Jackie Donovan is a journalist who has been praying for two things. Owning the Bailey House Bed and Breakfast and finding a wonderful man to marry. Imagine her surprise when she interviews the very handsome Davis Erickson, owner and operator of a property management company, and finds he holds the deed to Bailey House. She feels like this whole thing is God sent. But as Jackie begins to learn some unfavorable things about Davis, she wonders if she might be wrong.

This was an enjoyable tale. Loaded with southern charm, a bit of mystery, sweet tea and good friends. It's easy pace guides you along as you journey with Jackie in her quest to own Bailey House and find that certain someone. I enjoyed all the secondary characters. They were an show more eclectic group from handyman to hairdresser. But they all truly cared for one another. All their interaction was fun to watch. I think the underlying message that 'God answers prayer but it might not be how you think', is a good one. I like the way the story concluded. As a reader it was a very satisfying ending where you say, Ahhh. A Thank you goes to Bethany House for providing me with this complimentary copy for my review. show less

This is a story that grabbed you from the beginning and wouldn't let you go until the end. I loved Jackie, the main character. She was down-to-earth and easily likeable. As I read her story, I wanted to warn her against the guy that seemed too good to be true. I was hoping that his true colors would show and that Jackie would realize who her perfect match was.

The font was just the right size to make you want to keep reading. I also loved the cover of this book. It just looks so peaceful and relaxing. It made me wish I lived closer to the ocean.

If you're looking for a delightfully entertaining read, then you should pick up a copy of this book and give it a go.