What do you think?
Rate this book
From Shards to Sea Glass
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?
- GenresChristian RomanceRomance
ebook
Published July 11, 2018
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 11, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed editing this book for Michele. The heart and small-town charm were lovely, and the seaside and mystery made it that much better of a read. While it wasn't entirely unpredictable, it was hard to put down. I loved watching Claire grow (more like shouting at her not to do things), smelling the sea, and picturing all the pretty sea glass. Philip was probably my favorite character. The spiritual growth was realistic and touching as the story unfolds at a small- town pace. So while things could have sometimes progressed faster, there are multiple subplots to focus on and the tone is very real-to-life. I highly recommend this for lovers of Christian reads, small shops, artistic endeavors, clean romances, the ocean, and mystery.
Recommended for ages 14+ for interest. There is some brief kissing (some unwelcome), and several scenes of peril.
Recommended for ages 14+ for interest. There is some brief kissing (some unwelcome), and several scenes of peril.
December 5, 2018
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
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
October 18, 2020
I am not sure why I put this book down, but am determined to try and finish all the books I started and put down for some reason lol. This book is suspenseful, mystery, love story, plots and many incidents in it.
August 31, 2018
From Shards to Sea Glass by Michele Wilder
A beautifully compelling mystery
My rating is 4.5 stars
Claire was riddled with anxiety and fear and didn’t know or understand God’s love. Despite her fear of the ocean, she moved to the rugged coast of Maine, hoping to solve the mystery left by her parents.
From Shards to Sea Glass is a beautiful debut novel. I was drawn to it from the moment I saw the cover and read the description. I have been excited for the opportunity to read it and was not at all disappointed!
The characters were delightfully flawed and perfectly likable. Except when they were stubborn or did mean things when they were hurting. Like we all tend to do. I loved the way the author didn’t make things easy for them. With circumstances, fears, and others attempting to keep them apart and their attraction for one another drawing them together, I was very interested to see what was going to happen. And then, once everything seemed to be going so well – it wasn’t.
The secondary characters were also wonderful! I fell in love with Grace, the owner of the tea shop, with her meddling ways. And the postmistress was perfectly stereotyped, which really was appropriate here.
The mystery was compelling. The clues were doled out sparingly but not so much so to be frustrating.
My favorite part of the book, however, was the beautiful analogy of the sea glass. I’ve already been fascinated by the way things that have been broken and discarded can be transformed into something beautiful and desired by storm-tossed waves. The way the author compared that to the way that God works in our lives – lovely!
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads
I would like to thank Michele Wilder for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
A beautifully compelling mystery
My rating is 4.5 stars
Claire was riddled with anxiety and fear and didn’t know or understand God’s love. Despite her fear of the ocean, she moved to the rugged coast of Maine, hoping to solve the mystery left by her parents.
From Shards to Sea Glass is a beautiful debut novel. I was drawn to it from the moment I saw the cover and read the description. I have been excited for the opportunity to read it and was not at all disappointed!
The characters were delightfully flawed and perfectly likable. Except when they were stubborn or did mean things when they were hurting. Like we all tend to do. I loved the way the author didn’t make things easy for them. With circumstances, fears, and others attempting to keep them apart and their attraction for one another drawing them together, I was very interested to see what was going to happen. And then, once everything seemed to be going so well – it wasn’t.
The secondary characters were also wonderful! I fell in love with Grace, the owner of the tea shop, with her meddling ways. And the postmistress was perfectly stereotyped, which really was appropriate here.
The mystery was compelling. The clues were doled out sparingly but not so much so to be frustrating.
My favorite part of the book, however, was the beautiful analogy of the sea glass. I’ve already been fascinated by the way things that have been broken and discarded can be transformed into something beautiful and desired by storm-tossed waves. The way the author compared that to the way that God works in our lives – lovely!
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads
I would like to thank Michele Wilder for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
October 13, 2023
This is a wonderful story of 2 people healing from deep hurts and the good and not-so-good people in their lives.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews