Book Review - "The Ride of Her Life"

Lorna Seilstad's Lake Manawa Summers series concludes with book 3, "The Ride of Her Life."  Lilly, Marguerite's best friend and former maid, is trying to make it on her own with her young son, Levi.  Having lost her husband in an accident, Lilly cannot stay with her controlling in-laws any longer.  Lilly takes a job at a lunch counter and moves in with Emily and her infant daughter as she saves up money for a home to call her own as this is her one true desire.  Lilly does not want to have another man in her life as she is still in love with Ben and does not want to love and trust again; however she cannot control her heart when she meets up with Nick Perrin.  Nick weaves his way into Lilly and Levi's lives and hearts and Lilly struggles with trust, not only trusting Nick, but God as well.  With her father-in-law making threats and trying anything he can to get his only heir back until his control, Lilly must learn to rely on God and face her fears and her heart desires.

I have really enjoyed this series and am sad to see it end.  It was great to be back in the lives of Marguerite and Trip, Emily and Carter and also learn more about old and new characters.  This is an exciting book filled with romance, friendships, issues of trust and jealously and learning to really give it all to God.  I would have loved to read another book about these characters, but since this is it I can imagine the lives they take from here.  Lilly will finally have a home of her own with Nick making toys, and the three friends will continue to share their summers together with their families and added to their group will be Eugenia and Mark, Mark who will be a respected lawyer and Eugenia  more self-confident and more adept in the kitchen.  This book and entire series is a great way to kick off the summer! I am looking forward to new series and characters by Lorna Seilstad!

“Available May 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”