Don't take for granted the love this life gives you: MESSAGE IN THE SAND.

Message in the Sand by Hannah McKinnon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wendell Combs knows loss more than most. Both his parents are gone, along with his little brother. Wendell still lives in his hometown and he's found comfort in White Pines, the large estate of Alan Lancaster, his wife, and their two daughters, Julia and Pippa. There he can seek peace in the land and the animals. But all that changes when tragedy strikes. Suddenly, Wendell, Julia, and Pippa find their lives upended.

"It was true what others said about him: that Wendell preferred the company of animals to people."

This book was sadder than I expected for a Hannah McKinnon story, but it was excellent. I love McKinnon's work, and this was a very heartfelt read that delved into loss and the meaning of family.

I fell for Wendell immediately--I am a sucker for a loner who prefers animals to people! (I wonder why, ahem...) Throw in two kids (teenage Julia and six-year-old Pippa) and this was pretty much guaranteed to be a winner for me. The cast is also filled with other interesting female characters, including Candace, the girls' prickly aunt, whom they've never met; Roberta, an ex judge with strong ties to Wendell; and Ginny, Wendell's ex-girlfriend who has returned to town to help her parents with their real estate agency.

So, is the plot a little predictable at times? Sure. Do we care? Not at all. A few times the book veered toward overdone or a tad too schmaltzy for me, but otherwise I found it to be a sweet and touching tale. Julia was a tough and wonderful character and, as mentioned, I loved Wendell immediately. He is faced with the systematic destruction of White Pines, the place that saved him, in the novel, and watching him overcome that, as well as seeing Julia and Pippa become stronger--it's beautiful. I loved SAND's message about finding family in the most unexpected places. 4+ stars.

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