Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate

From Goodreads:  Adventure is the last thing on Andrea Henderson's mind when she moves to Moses Lake. After surviving the worst year of her life, she's struggling to build a new life for herself and her son as a social worker. Perhaps in doing a job that makes a difference, she can find some sense of purpose and solace in her shattered faith.

For new Moses Lake game warden Mart McClendon, finding a sense of purpose in life isn't an issue. He took the job to get out of southwest Texas and the constant reminders of a tragedy for which he can't forgive himself.

But when a little girl is seen with the town recluse, Mart and Andrea are drawn together in the search for her identity. The little girl offers them both a new chance at redemption and hope--and may bring them closer than either ever planned.

My take:  I received this book from Bethany House Publisher and took it on vacation.  It was a relaxing vacation read.  Andrea is a middle aged woman whose life is thrown upside down when she discovers her husband has been doing things to dishonor their wedding vows and playing with the church tithes.  Now a single mother of an estranged teenage son, she goes about making sense of her current life.  She is relying on the charity of her parents and the use of their vacation home and trying to establish herself professionally while seeking her new relationship with God.  And then there is Mart, the highly attractive game warden who is kissing her by the dockside which doesn't sound too shabby to me.

I liked the story because Andrea's struggles are very relevant to many women of a certain age.  Many women who have spent a decade or two with a good husband discover their husbands make different decisions and the women are scrambling to catch up professionally in order to make a living.  The story explores the complex relationship of juggling a career, being a single mother, and possibly dating.  There is the added intrigue of Len, the recluse and the sudden appearance of little Birdie which I enjoyed simply because of the community support.  But the real story was Andrea's metamorphosis into a single mother/professional/likes kissing game wardens/needs other people/redefining her relationship to God. 

3.5 stars

Clean read.