Return to Edisto Island in the rich, Lowcountry story of a young woman’s difficult decision to run from threat and danger, changing the course of her well-ordered life and, in turn, the life of the young man who loved and lost her.
It was a long trip back to Edisto Island, South Carolina, and the beach house that shaped so much of Mary Helen Avery’s early life. Now her mind flashed between … between anger and hurt over the difficult situation she’d left behind at the job she loved. Was she doing the right thing to leave? Should she have stayed to fight? She hoped at the quiet, beloved island she knew so well, she’d find the answers she needed and peace from all this turmoil.
J.T.’s heart took a familiar lurch when he saw the car with New Jersey plates parked at the Avery’s beach house. Even after ten years, the memory of Mary Helen Avery still tormented him. Finding her on the porch weeping lit old fires he thought long dead. Was he a fool to hope for something more between them with all their problems of the past? Probably so, but if she stayed long enough, he’d find one more chance to try.
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Claire’s children have grown up, and this book is all about Mary Ellen, the feisty, take-no-crap, stubborn, and speaks-her-mind child from Claire at Edisto. First off, don’t let Mary Ellen’s spunk turn you off, because she’s a strong woman, but she’s got a soft inner core where many hurts and wounds can be found. By far, she is one of my fave heroines that I’ve come across in contemporary Christian romance.
I really enjoyed Mary Ellen’s character arc. She’s a driven woman who’s let her faith sit on the backburner while she’s climbed the corporate career ladder after leaving behind Edisto and her high school sweetheart J.T. after she caught him kissing Mary Ellen’s biggest rival Gracie.
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Return To Edisto by Lin Stepp is a delightful, heart-warming contemporary Christian novel. It is the second book in the Edisto Trilogy but can be read as a stand-alone.
The reader immediately feels at home with the characters in the novel. We can sense the chemistry between the two lead characters and there is a wonderful feeling of community. Edisto is the place where everyone knows your name, and love and care are the order of the day. Your private business is in the public domain but it is a small price to pay in exchange for the community spirit.
“The island is a good place for healing.” Edisto, with its small town charm, spreads a blanket of love and compassion over the hurting.
Sometimes life pulls us away from God. “You might be mad at Him right now… but it’s you that’s distanced yourself from Him.” We sometimes transfer our feelings about others onto God. “Don’t be assigning blame to God for things He didn’t do.” God’s character is love. He will never hurt or reject us. He is with us in the good and the bad times, we just need to seek Him. “It’s never too late to come back to God.” No matter where we’ve been, no matter what we’ve done, we will never be out of reach of the Father’s arms.
Church is important. We need to find a church where our relationship with God can grow. We need a warm and welcoming church that is Christ centred.
We make our plans but life intervenes. The best plan is to seek God and His will for our lives. “I count myself fortunate I … didn’t get what I thought I wanted.” God doesn’t always give us what we want. He gives us what we need.
I love my ‘visits’ to Edisto. Lin Stepp paints the landscape in such a way that I can ‘see’ my way throughout the novel – from the walk along the seashore to the seaside cottages – there is a vivid picture in my mind. I cannot wait for the final book in this wonderful trilogy.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
My Thoughts on Return to Edisto:
I loved return to Edisto! Mary Helen is a sweet girl who has dreams and goals. She also has an insane distrust of men ever since her dad died and a man betrayed her and her sister/mother’s trust. No matter that she is in love with a man and has been for years she can’t trust him. And because she can’t trust him any little thing that looks like him not being faithful tears them apart.
J.T. love Mary Helen and has since they were children. He would do anything to convince her of his love and get her to marry him. But even if she did he’s not going to leave Edisto and she’s not going to stay.
Mary Helen is between jobs right now after she left her position that she loved without notice. But she had to leave. That or compromise herself. And she didn’t turn him in because he’s happily married and in-laws to the family who owns the company. Can she ever find a place that she loves without a man ruining it?
While Mary Helen is back on Edisto she works for a sweet little shop that she helped in when she was younger. She fits back into life on the island like a glove. But can she forget her dreams? Can she let herself admit how much she loves the island and J.T.? But what about her love of her job and her dreams?
Such a great novel! I can’t recommend it enough. There is even a hint of mystery going on too! Go give it a read. Great author and I’ve loved everything I’ve read from her.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
I tried and tried and tried to like this book, but I couldn’t. I read the BARE MINIMUM I could for the review company I got this book from. And I did like some parts of the book.
I liked Mary Helen and J.T.’s romance, I liked how they were old flames, I liked how they got to know each other again. I enjoyed the ending, it was a cute ending, even if it was the only part I nearly almost loved.
What I disliked: #1 The reason Mary Helen returned to Edisto, her boss had made advances that he said came with her promotion, and he ran his hand up her leg… This was off-screen and she tells someone else about it.
If this had been a book I picked up for pleasure and I hadn’t given my word to review it I wouldn’t have read as much as I did … I had planned on doing a spotlight but that didn’t work out. And I’m glad it didn’t since I wouldn’t have known about content that I disagree with. Now, the boss did get in trouble, and it also came to light that he had tried to rape the girl who had the job before Mary Helen, and he likely would have raped/tried to rape her. She didn’t go to anyone since the boss was married/claimed he’d say she was at fault/etc.
In the end, the boss did suffer consequences but I didn’t appreciate how it was wrapped up.
#2 Wacky Winnie, umm, I didn’t like her at all. And the fact she was killing dogs because they attacked turtles, why? The fact they blackmailed her into leaving Edisto was WRONG. I am sorry I disliked this book, I’m sorry I am likely to get removed from tours for this review but I don’t NOT review books because they have questionable/bad content, I still give my review even if I don’t read 100% instead of %80 of a book.
#3 Gracie kissing J.T. ummmmm………… Again why? I feel that the author tried too hard to cause bad things to happen to Mary Helen and it was not well done.
Like I said I liked the romance, I could have even been fine with the reason for Mary Helen’s return to Edisto but the way it was described I disagree with.
I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book which I received from the author. All VIEWS expressed are only my HONEST opinion.
Another heart-warming story from author Lin Stepp, Return to Edisto features a young woman who has no choice but to leave her much loved job due to an unpleasant experience with another employee. She packs up and runs to her safe place, the family beach house on Edisto Island. Her first encounter there is with the very man she ran from ten years ago and his sweet and caring demeanor tempts her to renew their relationship but old trust issues die hard.
I very much enjoyed this novel although there were times that Mary Helen tended to exasperate me no end. Her lack of trust and refusal to allow J.T. to explain himself got just a little bit old. And J.T. – was he just a little bit dense or oblivious to what was going on with Mary Helen’s old nemesis?
Return to Edisto is fun to read and has a strong message about trust and forgiveness. I look forward to reading more by this new-to-me author.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.