This Chick Read: Chase the Light (National Parks Summers #2) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

When National Park ranger Scout Johnson discovers a packet of notes in an old lighthouse in Acadia Park, she joins together with Naki Dana, a historian of Penobscot heritage and together they start to unravel the mystery of forgotten shipwreck and its treasure. As they explore the territory, it brings them together and ignites feelings in Scout that take her by surprise. Also hunting for this treasure is journalist and newspaper owner Chase Fletcher. Chase see’s this treasure hunt as being his last chance to save his paper and despite his attraction to Scout and the possible future he sees with her, he’ll have to make a decision to save his paper or hold off on getting the scoop of a story of a lifetime.

I have never read a novel by this author and I was eager to unravel what sounded to be a great mystery. I love history and the mix of native american heritage, shipwrecks, and treasure hunting drew me in and after the first chapter where Scout discovers a letter with a clue, I wa all in. Suzanne Woods Fisher created a fascinating main character. Scout’s childhood, which we learn all about in this novel, created a strong-willed, caring, true to herself main character. She grew up in the south and had the qualities you’d expect from a young southern woman, and then she had this backbone. I love that mix of strength and honor. I also loved how Naki Dana, described as inhumanly tall, dark, good looking, and with Presence- note the capital P, made her extremely nervous. Although polite and polished, she couldn’t help but take peeks at him and was tongue tied in his presence. This made for a very fun tension as they hunted for treasure.

There were other wonderful side characters and sub-plots, a teen romance, a missing father and domineering mother, and of course, Chase Fletcher and his chase to save his family’s business. I loved how the author gave us the contrast of Naki’s strong silence, and Chase’s smooth charm and how different their interactions were with Scout. All of these things helped create a well-rounded cast list and a story that shone. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Chase the Light

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchased this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chick Read: Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn

Finding out her entire life is a lie, Meg Hennessey leaves the safety of the town she has grown up with to take a trip up north to meet the family she never knew she had. On her first day in town she meets Micah Allen, son of an ex-pastor who is now in prison. The two strike up a friendship having more in common than first thought. Both are struggling to find themselves and reconnect with their faith that they feel betrayed them. Instead they find a connection that helps them find solace at the same time makes them question the ways they were brought up even more.

Never Saw You Coming is an apt title for a story that I truly did not see coming. Equal parts YA Contemporary and Christian fiction Meg and Micah’s story opened my eyes to a community that was supposed to be about support but instead seemed restrictive, especially towards women. Meg was brought up in a strictly religious household. Her church taught their girls to not catch the eye of a boy, wear clothing that covered their skin, and to keep themselves pure for God and their future husband. When she found out her mother got pregnant when she was a teenager with someone she met from youth group (who died shortly after) and her “father” was her mom’s best friend, all of that strict upbringing seemed totally hypocritical. Instead of taking her gap year like she had decided Meg drives upstate to visit her real dad’s family and see if she can make a connection to them and to her lost faith.

I don’t usually read Christian fiction. Well, I don’t go looking for it anyway but have been pleasantly surprised by a few novels in the past. Never Saw You Coming hit me like a freight train. Meg had this innocence from her sheltered upbringing that brought a joy to the decisions she made when she got to Marquette. When she meets her great-grandmother and uncle she brings to their lives that same joy, and it’s not surprising that she wants to delve into that relationship a bit more. Meg was also homeschooled and didn’t have a ton of friends so is pleased that she seems to have no trouble making friends in Marquette. Especially making friends with Micah who she shyly finds attractive.

Meg and Micah are both secure in their relationship with God, but they aren’t as secure in the way that faith seems to be addressed through Church. This is a topic that is deeply explored in this novel and which, truthfully, opened my eyes. I found this look into their faith fascinating and was really pleased with how the characters explored their questions, rejecting some attitudes, and accepting others. It seemed a realistic viewpoint and although I was a little horrified at how this religion treated Meg, I was pleased with how the men in her life stepped forward claiming that treatment unacceptable. (Thank goodness!)

As with other Erin Hahn novels, I really enjoyed this story! She is a truly talented author and while this topic isn’t my usual I could tell that it meant something to the author and I’m glad she told this story as I think it needed to be told. I’m a bit older than her target demographic but I think this is a message that was well told and needs to be heard. I will definitely be keeping an eye for this author’s next novel as she is quickly becoming a go to author for me. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase!* Never Saw You Coming: A Novel

Copyright 2021 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.