Lorna Seilstad

his is the second in the Lake Manawa Summer Series. This is a stand alone book and does not have to be read with the previous one.

Lorna Seilstad has yet again created lively, believable characters and a story line that keeps your attention, and keeps you hoping for a home run.

Poor, ungraceful Emily Graham can't seem to walk without tripping. This very characteristic causes her to collide into the life of her brother's old school mate Carter Stockton. Both are looking to pursue their own dreams and trying to find their fit in the world.

Outspoken Emily is fighting for women's rights and struggling to silence God's determined voice in her life. She has purposed that no man is worth sacrificing her dreams for. She is determined that she will follow the women's suffrage movement all the way to a national leadership position.

Carter Stockton is spending the summer playing ball and preparing to settle into the suffocating business world of his father and older brother. However, with his collision with Emily his world is rocked. He can't seem to get her off his mind.

I appreciate the descriptions of how Carter continually asks for God's direction. This is in contrast to Emily who is desperately trying to do things on her own justifying each choice she makes.

These two are a match made for each other from the very start. However, neither of them wants to admit it. Things cause them to come together, then other events drive them apart. In the end the question that must be asked is if they are willing to surrender their own will in order to follow God's plan for their lives.

Thank you Revell for this review copy.

Available June 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.… (meer)

Thank you in advance to JustRead and the publisher for providing a complimentary copy to review. All words are my own in this review and a positive review was not required.

This is my second read of The Mosaic Collection and my first by the author.

What starts out as a quirky read with a sad tale – fun program facing a shutdown due to no funds – turns into a beautifully written, charming, and unique read with intermittent moments of humor.

As my mother worked in a hospital for 25 years, so this was a realistic read with regard to corrupt hospital officials, budget shortfalls, budget cuts, and staff sentimentality for certain programs. I could’ve easily seen this story-line (with almost any department) happening where my mom worked.

Using Fiona’s own heart-breaking past, Seilstad combines family drama to highlight what drives Fiona and her defense of her department in a realistic way. Her own childhood scars has given her insight into what kids in a hospital and traumatic situations need to stay calm on focus on treatment.

Seilstad puts a gut-punching reality into this story. Her writing style flowed so natural that it was difficult to put it down. To be honest, I wasn’t exactly sure about this book in the beginning. The premise sounded adorable, but at first I was standoffish. But, I ended up reading this in one sitting. That is RARE. I haven’t done that in almost 15-20 years.

There were also a few smaller stories going on here – Fiona and Gabe’s romance, Fiona helping some foster kids adjust, and Fiona’s own family drama. The writer also added a touch of suspense to it with Fiona’s sister and the hospital corruption. So, this is a well-rounded story.



Fiona and Gabe’s relationship did seem to move a bit fast given he was only supposed to shadow her for five (5) days. Then again, this is a “light-hearted”, inspirational read.

Fiona’s character was very well developed so that she could’ve been someone my mom would’ve worked with.

Gabe’s personality was slightly “lighter” than the normal hospital management I’ve been around. However, he was a welcome addition.

The other characters were realistic in their support roles and what they were in the story.

I also enjoyed how the writer balanced the two types of family against each other – Fiona’s “chaotic” and “imperfect” against Gabe’s “calm perfection”. The quote that Fiona’s foster mom had used is perfect for this novel – “family aren’t like socks, they don’t have to match”.

This was a bit lighter on the faith than other books I have read. But, that was all right by me.

The author also did a great job in piquing my interesting into the role of a Child Life Specialist (CLS).

As mentioned above, my mother had worked at the county hospital for 25 years and I really hadn’t heard of a CLS. After reading about Fiona, I wanted to find out more about the job and learned that it started around the 1960’s in the U.S and Canada.

This was a time when it wasn’t uncommon for parents to be excluded from hospital visitation except perhaps on weekends. This history would’ve been a very interesting fact for Fiona to reveal to Gabe as to how crucial the program is and how it got started.

Despite a few minor issues, I was pleasantly satisfied with this novel which reminds all of us – broken and those who seem to have it together – we are more than enough.
… (meer)

Author Lorna Seilstad has filled More Than Enough with great characters, realistic situations, and some wonderful, thought-provoking quotes and conversations. Mama Cat, the foster mother who offered Fiona love when she needed it most, has a plaque on the wall that says "Families aren't like socks. They don't have to match" and there is a conversation between Fiona and Gabe that I especially loved. In explaining her reliance on God, Fiona says

"I love working with clay. It reminds me that God is still shaping me....I know He's the Creator and He knows what He wants me to be. He knows my purpose even when I'm not sure what it is."

If you are looking for a contemporary romance filled with faith, prayer, forgiveness, and even some mystery, you will want to read More Than Enough. This is a story that will stay with you for a long time!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from The Mosaic Collection but I wasn't obligated to write a positive review. These are my own thoughts.… (meer)

One of the nice things about collections like the Mosaic Collection is the opportunity to discover new authors. Of the twelve authors contributing to this collection over a twelve-month span, I’ve only read a few of them.

In More Than Enough, I learned a ton about what a Child Life Specialist does and the benefits they provide to young hospital patients and their families. Seilstad does an excellent job of giving readers a well-rounded picture of all this specialized position entails.

Fiona and Gabe are from different worlds, but watching Gabe grow from questioning Fiona’s sanity to respecting her and the services she provides despite the numbers was wonderful. And, despite her difficulties—past and present—Fiona is a character I couldn’t help but root for.

More than Enough gives hope to those who feel broken and less-than (and there’s a pretty spectacular romance in there too).

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.… (meer)