From Shards to Sea Glass

Author: Michele Wilder
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Anxiety and loneliness grasp Claire Wycoff's shattered heart and mind in the wake of her parents' unexpected deaths. A peculiar riddle discovered in their safe deposit box leads her to a small town on the coast of Maine. Not long after arriving in Lone Spruce Cove, the talented young woman accepts the opportunity to create a mosaic in the recently vandalized vestibule of the local church. After her handsome landlord introduces her to the beautiful, gemlike pieces of sea glass found on Maine's beaches, she becomes mesmerized by the ocean-tossed treasures and decides to use sea glass in the mosaic. Her heart breaks anew with the revelation that she can never have the man she falls in love with. Then the discovery of her family's troubled past and solving the mysterious riddle plunge her life into danger. Can faith in God give her the inner peace she craves? Can the tossed shards of her life ever be turned into something treasured like a frosted piece of sea glass?

---

Reviewer: Sandra Burson

I don't think I can review this book without gushing, just warning you!

I so enjoyed this book, I didn't want to put it down. This is one you will read long into the night. When I finished the story, I went right to the internet to look for others by this very talented writer. I was so surprised to learn this was her debut novel.  Michele is an incredible storyteller.

The location for this book was a small town off the coast of Maine, Lone Spruce Cove. 

What an ability this author has for making a setting come to life. 

“Below a blue metal hanger, a sign in the shape of a black teapot blew back and forth. Claire smiled at the name, Tea with Grace, accented in silver-gilt lettering and surrounded by painted forget-me-nots.” I loved Grace and her shop. Maybe because I love all things tea.

You will genuinely care for her characters they are people you would want to live next door to.

Michele writes with a faith thread throughout the book, giving it an extra bonus. 

Without giving too much of the story away my favorite quote  (speaking about what each of them would name their boat, if they had one) Claire said,  “I'd name mine From Shards to Sea Glass.” “When I arrived at the Cove, my heart and emotions like shards of glass were broken and---and ugly and useless.  I've been through a lot of tumbling, so to speak, this past year dealing with my parents' deaths and becoming a Christian and...” She blinked repeatedly.  “...other experiences. I know my sharp edges aren't smooth yet, but eventually I hope my life will become something useful and---and beautiful like a piece of roughed-up sea glass.” 

I would say this is a must read, one of my favorites I have read this year. I will not stop at reading it one time, I loved this book.

I received a copy of this book from the author. My opinions expressed here in this review are my own.

---

---

Reviewer: Sabrina Wade

Absolutely loved the storyline from start to end. The riddle Claire had to solve and work through kept me leaning off my chair each time she was getting close to her Aha moment! However, my favorite part of the story, learning the title of the book. It got me thinking, the character Claire's story is our story. Our story just waiting to be discovered! We too are broken in some capacity thanks to our individual battles through this world. Yet we can either choose to look at our imperfections and scars as broken trash or something worth treasuring. As Wilder perfectly described it, from Shards to Sea glass!!!

---