All Mary-Margaret ever wanted to do was to follow the calling she had received from God devote her life to him in Religious service. But then Jesus showed up in her life and had other ideas. Ideas that involved getting involved with Jude Keller, the lighthouse keepers son, and a wayward one at that. Despite the attraction Mary-Margaret feels for him, she resists the idea of getting involved and continues with her plans to join a religious order. But Jesus keeps showing up and telling her how Jude needs her and how He needs her to help him.
This book is not for the person in the mood for a light hearted inspirational book. Mary-Margaret walks through some dark places in her own life and with Jude before getting to the other side where all can be redeemed. However, those looking for thoughtful and moving fiction that does not ignore the harsh realities of life this book is definitely worth recommending. ( )

I had a little trouble getting into this at first. It was hard to get used to flipping from past to present. After I adjusted to that, I really enjoyed it. It was a very touching read. ( )

It's such a beautiful story about a girl who had plans on how to live her life but yet she followed Jesus obediently, and there were times she understood Him, and there were also times that she was confused about His plans but she followed Him obediently nevertheless. Her plans may not have matched with His plans but yet everything turned out for the best and every piece fell into the rightful place. The passion and intimacy between Mary-Margaret and Jesus was so strong and envious. It's such a stunning novel. Full of wonderful characters. ( )

The saving grace about this book are the characters -- they are compelling, they are unique, and they have a history that seems incredibly real and tangible. The ideas the story is built around are great as well, especially the theme that what God actually asks us to do is sometimes not what we think God should be asking a nice, neat Catholic girl to do. The characters in the book all interact with their faith in very different ways, and it makes for a great tapestry in that. All that, and the setting is also done extraordinarily well -- enough so that I'd love to find out what it's based on, so that I can take a summer vacation there. :)

However, the book is written in the voice of an elderly religious sister. And perhaps a bit too realistically, she tells the story the way elderly women are often wont to do -- skipping from one time period to another without warning or transition, skipping backwards and forwards throughout the story. It's realistic, but it also ultimately kept the story from being as engaging and gripping for me as I think it could have been. At the end of the day, I put up with my Grandmother's rambling story telling because I love her, but when a novel starts out like that from the get go, I just don't have that same commitment. ( )

Mary-Margaret has always wanted to be a religious sister, but God has added some twists in her journey to that goal. This is a beautiful story of trust and redemption. ( )