Reviewer's Bookshelf: "If For Any Reason" by Courtney Walsh

Book Summary (Amazon): Emily Ackerman has traveled the world, her constant compass and companion a book of letters her mother left for her when she died. With no father in the picture, her mom’s advice has been her only true north. But when professional failure leads Emily back to Nantucket to renovate and sell the family cottage she inherited, she wonders if her mom left advice to cover this . . . especially when her grandmother arrives to “supervise.” And especially when her heart becomes entangled with Hollis McGuire, the boy next door–turned–baseball star who’s back on the island after a career-ending injury.

As sparks fly between her and Hollis, Emily is drawn to island life, even as she uncovers shocking secrets about the tragic accident that led to her mother’s death. With her world turned upside down, Emily must choose between allowing the voices from her past to guide her future or forging her own path forward.

My thoughts...This was my first fictional trip to Nantucket, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I looked up pictures online so I could visualize the seaside homes and landscapes. Then I went on to imagine who these characters were.There were several moments in this story that I really connected with the main character, Emily. My own mother passed away a few years ago, and Emily's struggle to stay connected with someone she cared deeply for resonated with me. When you lose someone you care so much about, you cling to the words they've left behind as much as possible. Courtney Walsh really captured Emily's feelings of abandonment and fear so well...the emotions lept off the page. Not only did the heroine have a strong desire to be loved and accepted, the hero did as well. Hollis has had his share of highs and low, made mistakes, and while he has the love and support of his family, he has yet to make a long lasting romantic connection with someone. This book explores these emotions, as well as the need to have the love that will never leave us and never betray us, which is the love of a heavenly Father. Wonderful book by Courtney Walsh!

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in order to give my honest opinion, which I did.**