So I normally love books set in this time frame and this one was no exception. The only thing was I could never fall in love with the book; I just really liked it so do not be discouraged by my 3 star review. I just have a different rating system that I use :)

This book was hilarious at times and really draws the reader into it. All you want to know is what is going to happen between Marguerite Westing and Roger.. the intended.. He was a work of art and probably because sometimes a characters is boring but sometimes the author really makes a character BORING on purpose. In this case the intentional was hilarious only because I knew that was who he was supposed to be.

Marguerite was hilarious, her mother annoying, and the rest of the characters fit in the right spot. Cute and fun FREE book on Amazon.
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Set in 1895 in the USA, this features the lively and determined Marguerite, whose family spend the summer camping by a lake. Marguerite's mother wants her to marry the dull and rather slimy Roger, but Marguerite loves her freedom and longs to sail. Naturally she falls for someone quite different, and equally naturally there are clashes before the somewhat predictable ending.

The story is well-written, the plot moves along nicely, and the Christian theme is mostly believable without being too pushy. Not sure I'd have paid for this, but it was on special offer (free) for my Kindle, and made a pleasant light read. ( )

This is not what I expected...

It’s 1881. Marguerite is going to have one last summer of adventure before even considering marrying someone boring. Hearing her father’s plans to camp them on the shores of the newly developed Lake Manawa seems perfect. Falling in love with the sailboats that glide across the lake, nevermind the charming captain of her proudest yacht, she concocts a risky plan to get sailing lessons and do what she wants for one summer more. When her mother’s choice for fiancé turns out to be almost as dangerous as he is dull, Marguerite may finally be ready to admit that she is in over her head. It’s a little late for swimming lessons once you’re drowning though.

This book shines with historical color. The boardwalk that Marguerite and Trip stroll along doesn’t exist, but is as modern and stunning as a recreation in a Rogers and Hammerstein production on broadway. And Lorna Seilstad’s attention to detail, and affection for this period of time on the shores of Lake Manawa is really impressive. When the fuzz clamps down on sin on the shoreline, it’s thrilling, when yachts pull out and race a regata, you hang on to hear every dip and tug of the ropes, when Marguerite puts on her most modern outfit - all white, slightly masculine - you feel the forwardness of the fashion, when she stands close to Trip and points out the stars in the sky, it’s definitely romantic.

One great review on GoodReads slammed this book in ways I didn’t even think of when reading it, taking it down as a member of the Christian Romance subgenre because the prayer was self-serving and felt added in. She also poked at the late night lakeside revivals that the two lovers attend. In defense of them, revivals were historically hokey as a rule.

Have you ever procured a book for yourself thinking it was one thing and cracking it open to discover something else? I added Making Waves to my list after glimpsing it on Lendle and thinking it looked like a fun story of a girl in the (why not) Australian Outback. Like, on a lake that isn’t Lake Victoria. This book was set in Iowa. In my defense, Manawa is a Maori word, which isn’t actually relevant here, only tangentially related.

368pp. Revell Books. 1 Aug. 2010. ( )

Set in the late 1890's a wealth family decides to spend the summer tenting at the beach “the place to be”. Their version is so unlike the camping we do it adds an undercurrent of amusement to the whole book.

The characters are wonderful. The wealthy moustached villein must have his way regardless of who gets hurt in the fall out. Our heroine, a sweet young girl with a penchant for adventure is so likeable, I couldn't help but be on her side. The father is hiding a secret and it appears his only way out is to force his daughter to make a tough choice. The book is filled with surprises, including the outcome.
The book is Christian fiction and tells the gospel story without being preachy. It's a perfect fit for any church library

I received this book for free in exchange for providing this honest review. ( )

The book was ok, but the characters were not so great. For me the story was slow in the beginning. It isn't till about the end of the book it starts taking off. The heroine, Marguerite is a bit reckless and comes across as a woman with no brains. She doesn't have a problem lying or flirting with other men after she gets engaged. The plot was too predictable and the characters were shallow. The book did not hold my attention therefore, I did not finish the book. ( )