Bitterness, a stalker, and a neighbor to die for. What’s a girl to do?
Trailed by a stalker in New York City, Willow Thomas, a young ad executive, scurries back to her small North Carolina hometown and the lake house where ten years earlier a scandal revealed her entire life had been a lie, and a seed of bitterness took root in her soul. The cocoon of safety Willow feels upon her arrival home … soon unravels when she meets opposition from her family, faces the man she left behind, and the stalker reveals he is close on her heels.
Can Willow learn to trust God to tear out her roots of resentment, reunite her family, ferret out a deadly stalker, and to rekindle the love she left behind?
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This novel is possibly the finest example of contemporary Christian romantic suspense I’ve read. It kept me guessing throughout as to the familial relationships, motivation, and intent of each character I met. At one point, it made me cry, attesting my strong emotional connection with one of the characters.
Stalking Willow
It took me a few chapters to get into the book, but it was really exciting toward the end. It was definitely one dysfunctional family. One of the best characters of the book was the grandmother that already passed away. She left behind a lot of things but most of all her wisdom. Loved Quentin, he loved Willow so much, had a hard time winning her over and protecting her. Willow had a lot to learn in life.
A great suspense book, I has trouble trying to figure out which was the good guys in the book. Definitely some surprises in the book but I did have my suspicion of who was behind stalking Willow. I really got attached to Willow and hated for the book to end.
I received an complementary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review.
Great books start with a first sentence that is irresistible. Stalking Willow, by Fay Lamb, definitely does. “In the growing darkness, a maniac waited for Willow Thomas.” Yikes! I’m in!!
Mystery characters, missing treasures, MIA parents, and a stalker who cannot wait to enact his heinous plan. All make for a very fast-paced romantic suspense novel that will have you turning the pages as fast as possible. The downside is, the book has an ending. I hope to read more by Fay Lamb.
Willow Thomas flees the big city and her job in advertising to get away from a stalker. Returning to the North Carolina home she shared with her grandmother, she finds old friends and enemies who stir up her painful past. If that is not bad enough, the stalker moves with her and becomes more and more of a threat. Will Willow lose her sanity before she loses her life?
The characters are very three- dimensional. I was happy to see that several persons had changed since high school. Several found strength through Christ, without being preachy, to alter the trajectory of their lives.
I loved the great love Willow’s grandmother had for both her granddaughters as evidenced by what Willow finds upon returning home. She is the grandparent everyone wants to have or be.
Quotables:
“I’ve learned beauty blooms on the inside. I’m pouring in the water and the fertilizer, but I’m not there yet.”
“Then I realized I was never the one in control. God was. And still is.”
I gratefully received a complimentary copy if the book from the author and CelebrateLit. This in no way affected my opinions, for which I am solely responsible. I was not required to leave a positive review.
The story is non stop action and I enjoyed how the author kept readers on the edge of their seats. Willow is a complicated person. She comes from fame and money, but that sure doesn’t guarantee a happy life. Willow has come back home to Amazing Grace to get away from someone who is stalking her. The author writes with a style that gives you characters that are complex but extremely intriguing. Buried deep inside Willow is a little girl who just wants to be accepted and loved.
I have always heard the saying, ” You can never go home again.” I have often thought that to be true since I had a horrible childhood. Willow left Amazing Grace a long time ago to escape all the bitterness, gossip and pain that could destroy her. Will coming hone help her heal old wounds and let go of her distrust of everyone? I so much wanted Willow to give into her feelings and let God show her how to forgive. When she sees her old boyfriend Quentin, you can feel the chill in the air. I would say there is some unfinished business between them. Quentin has never forgotten Willow , but will she tear down those walls and let him in?
The danger Willow finds herself in escalates and Quentin has taken it upon himself to protect her. Willow is really stubborn but at some point she has to trust someone if she wants to stay alive. Who is trying to harm Willow? I had several suspects in mind and was not far off from my prediction. There is not much to say about her parents, except how awful it would feel to be abandoned because you may get in the way of fame for them. That part really bothered me and I understood her pain so well. Being rejected by your parents is the hardest thing to overcome.
My favorite character hands down was Bear. He was this large as life person who would do anything to keep Willow safe. What happens when Willow finds out his true identity? Willow has a very dysfunctional family , and at times I couldn’t keep up with who was good and who hated Willow. The story does have many twists that kept me intrigued and I was very pleased with the ending. I loved the story because it shows what jealousy and bitterness can do to people. Forgiveness is something that many of us have a hard time giving to others. It destroys relationships and keeps us from the blessings of God. As you read this book, let the message of unconditional love feel your soul and allow bitterness to be removed.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
As I began to read this book I soon realized that nothing was really as it appeared, and at first, I felt myself lost, was there another book that I was missing? No, as I continued the story pulled me in, and unfortunately, I guess right, but I can’t even imagine!
Above all, someone is tormenting Willow, a stalker, but as we read his intent is even more, and why?
There is so much jealousy here, greed? A bit of romance, child abuse, but then we are also shown how God’s hand is being offered and the gifts that are offered.
Yes, once you get reading, you won’t be able to leave this one!
I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.
I absolutely love a story that grabs me from the first page and has me not wanting to put it down, and Stalking Willow definitely did that to me! From the very first page, I was hooked as the twists and turns in the plot had me turning page after page to the very end to see who was stalking Willow and what would happen next.
As a new author to me, this definitely will not be my last book to read by this author.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, but was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion of this book.