If for Any Reason

Second chances and new discoveries abound in this lovely tale from Walsh (<i>Things Left Unsaid</i>) featuring a nostalgic romance set against the backdrop of Nantucket. Despite a measure of fame found as a child star years ago, 30-year-old actor Emily Ackerman is a lost soul with only a stack of letters written by her late mother to lean on for guidance. Following the spectacular flop of a theater project that was her passion, Emily flees to the beach house her grandfather left her on Nantucket with the goal of renovating and selling it as quickly as possible. By chance, she reunites with Hollis, the next-door neighbor of her youthful summers. Hollis has his own trials—his professional baseball career has ended and his estranged preteen daughter is spending the summer with him. The two embark on a relationship, discover more about themselves and the people who love them, and develop a trust in God’s plan. Particularly poignant are the words from Emily’s mother, which, when combined with Emily’s powerful love for the theater and Hollis’s slowly growing relationship with his daughter, create a heartfelt testament to faith and the human condition. Readers of Irene Hannon will love this.