Message in the Sand is more than the "beach read" vibe given by the cover and the title. I went into the book fairly blind (the synopsis sounded great when I requested the book and I did not re read it before picking this one up.) Message in the sand is not a light read, so don't let the summer cover vibes fool you. Cover judgement aside, this book is well worth the read. The characters are multi-dimension, especially Wendell Combs. I liked the development of his character throughout the book and seeing him open up his heart to others. I also really loved Julia's character. She's strong, determined and a not a stereotypical teen in a book. The writing is well done, the plot is engrossing and I felt so much for all the characters.

I knew I was going to LOVE Hannah's new book Message in the Sand!
I just love her books! Like major major fan over here!

MITS Is a must read. Its great for a day at the beach or just laying around the house!
I devoured this beauty.

The story is told in third person narratives from the perspectives of Wendell, Julia, Roberta and Ginny.
The book takes you on journey and one that I was interested in! White Pines.... Is it a real place? Because if so I need to go like now! 😍
These characters felt real. Like they were my friends I connected to them. And that was impressive.

Overall this book was flat out amazing, engaging, wonderful, simple!
I will read anything by this author!

I surprised myself on how much I enjoyed this book, I mean that in a good way. It's a genre I don't usually read a lot of and sometimes it pays to follow a gut instinct.

Message in the Sand is a heartbreaking story that showed the determination in the mist of grief to stand up and well, take a stand. I was drawn in right away with the writing and the characters. It's not often that I like most, if not all the players in a book. Here is a cast of characters, each with baggage, heart and afraid to let anyone in. While it might have been a little predictable I enjoyed the journeys that were taken.

With multiple layers this book was written with feeling and flowed smoothly. There were also a number of different POV's that just rounded this book nicely.

Hannah McKinnon is a new author for me, I'll definitely be on the lookout for more.

My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

McKinnon has written a tender story. Two young girls suddenly are alone in the world, except for their aunt. Wendell Combs knows the girls well, but has his own issues and the girls’ aunt is determined to take them away. What transpires is a good story about family, blood relations, integrity, love, and commitment. I liked Wendell the best. He made no apologies for who he is but was willing to open his heart to two girls who needed a family. Several twists and turns in the story made me wait for the outcome, but it was worth it.

Wendell Combs is the caretaker of White Pines estate in the small town of Saybrook, Connecticut. The estate is owned by the Lancaster family. They have two daughters, Julia and Pippa. When a tragedy occurs, the girls' estranged aunt Candace comes to visit them from London. Candace wants to sell White Pines and take the girls back to London with her. Julia fights her every step of the way to make sure that this doesn't happen.

This was a wonderful, heartfelt story about family and friendship. The story was well-written and flowed nicely. This was my first Hannah McKinnon book and certainly will not be my last. I recommend this one if you are looking for a great beach read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) on June 11, 2021.

When I started this book I had very high expectations. I have read Hannah McKinnon before and was swept away, so I was expecting that again. I also have to admit I started reading this when I in a very busy time of my life. So take my thoughts with all that in mind.

I am not sure why this one did not sweep me away. I did enjoy it, but I felt I was watching it all take place from a distance instead of being involved in the story. It took a while to get to know the characters. I think Julia's perspective was my favorite part of the book. I will definitely read another Hannah McKinnon and I am glad I read this one.

Wow, I just really loved this book! I had never read anything by author Hannah McKinnon so I didn’t know what to expect. Was I ever surprised, there wasn’t a thing I didn’t love and enjoy about this story! The characters were amazing, I could connect and sympathize with them all. I especially loved Wendell. He sounded like the perfect man. And I loved Julia and Pippa. It amazed me how strong Julia was at the mere age of 15 to stand up for what she wanted and take on her aunt like that. This really was a perfect read to me, I loved picturing the scenery at White Pines and the fact that the book made me so emotional that I cried through several parts just proved that it was great writing. Message in the Sand is a book I will recommend to all my reading friends. And now that I’ve experienced reading this book and enjoying it so much, I’m anxious to get my hands on all the other books by this author. My only hope is that they are this good! I’d like to thank Atria Books for accepting my request and NetGalley for the arc to read, review and completely enjoy. I’ve never read a book in such a short time, it was so good, 5 stars!

The story started off a little slow and the characters didn’t quite develop but then midway through the story picked up and everything was right on the world. The story revolves around two sisters who lost their parents; an unusual potential guardian and a lost love. This is my first story by this author and won’t be my last!

This was a new author to me and I was surprised how much I liked this. It was emotional AF. Children learning to deal with moving on from grief after the sudden loss of their parents. Not a new idea for a book, but presented differently. The emotions throughout were raw and real. I would definitely read more from this author in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley, Hannah McKinnon and Atria Emily Brestler books for an ARC in exchange for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 8/1/21

Small town, character driven novels are my favorite genre so this book was an enjoyable read for me. The characters were easy to connect to and the emotional storyline kept me turning the pages. I was impressed with how to author connected each character in the story as well. This was a fast, entertaining read with lots of heart.

Thanks to Hannah McKinnon, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“…everything you’re feeling is normal. Let yourself feel it, and don’t worry if it’s not what others might call socially acceptable. Right now isn’t about that. It’s about identifying what you’re going through and forging a way.”

This passage in Message in the Sand stood out to me and could apply to a number of the characters in the book . . . characters who have been abandoned, isolated or on the outside, whether by circumstance or choice. The book starts out in the worlds of a few different characters and, at the beginning, it was hard to imagine how these stories would intersect. As the story progressed these disparate parts became the pieces of a tightly woven tapestry where the reader can see how the stories of each of these seemingly unrelated characters are actually deeply related to one another’s survival and happiness. So much so, that by the end we see how much these independent people actually need one another to move forward and live full lives.

I was emotionally vested in this story in a way I hadn’t been in a long time. Hannah McKinnon’s book, The Lake House, is one of my favorites and I would say that this one ranked up there for me, too. There were a few parts of the story that I wish could have been fleshed out more, but overall I found this book to be a satisfying read. I highly recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Beatles Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A new author to me, I ABSOLUTELY loved Hannah McKinnon’s unforgettable and emotional read exploring the definition of family. She writes so beautifully; her rich prose evokes emotion and pulls at the heartstrings.

I think I loved her character development the most. Not only were the characters some of the best I’ve read, but they interacted well with each other. They were complex and balanced people. They were crafted with multiple layers that were exposed as McKinnon developed the story. I loved Pippa, the 6-year-old, as much as I loved Roberta, the retired judge. The main characters’ growth was visible; I read about Julia, the 15-year-old who was more interested in her newfound love than her parents, change and put family first at the risk of losing young love. I read about a sad and lonely war vet who seemed to pass his days going through motions, change as he realized that he did need people in his life. I read about a reclusive, retired judge who spent her days in regret, come alive when she felt needed. The characters responded to each other as plants respond to water. The villain is marvellously crafted, too. She believes she’s a hero in her own right and that’s what makes her so interesting. I won’t mention any more of them, but all the characters have secrets and inner conflicts that prevent them from reaching their full potential. The tragic event in this small town affects them all and is the catalyst for them pulling together to help each other, which culminates in them helping themselves in return. If I had to pick a favourite, I’d pick Wendell Combs. I hope to read more about this spectacular human being.

Yes, the story was predictable, but that’s not why a reader will stick with it. It’s the character-driven plot that will make you love this book. When I put the book down, it’s all I could think about. I wondered about the characters and how their attitudes and personal evolutions would affect their decisions and, as a result, how those decisions would shape the plot and the story. I couldn’t wait to get back to reading. This rich story spotlights an environmental issue, PTSD, family court battles, death, a daughter returning to help her ageing parents, young love, second chance love and sibling love.

The author’s purpose comes across clearly. She explores what makes a family and leads us to conclude that family is not defined by biology, marriage or even a home. Family is the people you love and who love you back, the people you feel safe around, and the people you can count on to be there when you need them the most…just ask Julia and Pippa Lancaster.

This is a story of love and loss. Two children experience the unimaginable...the loss of both parents and the life they once lived. Will they be able to stay in the only town that is familiar to them, or will their only living relative whisk them to another country? This story has a lot going on and really keeps you hooked until the end. I really enjoyed it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Beatles Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title.

This was quite a story that took me on a journey that I did not expect. When I read the synopsis of this book I was hesitant, because I thought of how many books I could be reading and this one just did not stick out like some of the others in my to be read pile. Anyways, the characters were all so well-rounded and I liked all of them, except for a couple, but that is what really made the story. You cannot like all the characters, all the time. The main reasons for not liking a couple of the characters mainly was because of what they were striving to take away from Julia. If you read the title yourself, I am sure you will locate those two characters fairly easily.

What I loved most about this book, aside from the story itself had to be how the author put these characters into each other’s lives. They all played such important roles, but these characters needed each other and most importantly, the changes that came about were for the betterment of the characters. I will not supply any spoilers, but the end kept me on the edge of my seat!

Well done!

Message in the Sand is the first book I’ve read written by Hannah McKinnon. While I enjoyed the overall story, I struggled to connect with the characters. Something was missing.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

3.5 stars — This was the first book I have read by McKinnon! I enjoyed the overall story and thought it was written well. McKinnon did a good job capturing themes of love, family, friendship and forgiveness in the story. However, I was not able to build an emotional connection to the characters, which kept me from giving this book a higher rating.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Booke for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is my first book by this author and with the exception of a few hiccups, I enjoyed the storyline and characters.

Wendell Combs is the caretaker of White Pines, a rambling, bucolic estate in the small New England town of Saybrook, Connecticut. As a National Guard veteran who has sustained the loss of both parents and his younger brother, he draws solace from the peace and quiet of this natural setting. The estate is owned by Alan and Anne Lancaster who live there with their two daughters, Julia (age 15) and Pippa (age 6).

When tragedy strikes, Alan’s estranged sister, Candace, travels from her home in London, England to care for the girls and the estate. The dynamics of the story focus on the troubled relationship between the girls and their aunt and Candace’s desire to sell off White Pines and return to her home and career. Subplots include the tenuous reunion between Wendell and his ex-girlfriend, Ginny, as well as his ongoing relationship with Roberta Blythe, a retired judge and surrogate mother figure.

The story is told in third person narratives from the perspectives of Wendell, Julia, Roberta and Ginny. The book explores a broad spectrum of emotional issues including love, friendship, grief, sorrow, alienation, forgiveness, and recovery. Wendell’s journey from his self-imposed isolation to healing through reconnecting with his feelings is a major theme. Julia’s determination and focus to influence her destiny is both admirable and inspirational.

Which brings me to the two “hiccups” that detracted from this book earning 5 stars. First, while most of the characters are well-developed and relatable, they lacked the ability to evoke a real emotional connection with the reader. This was especially true of Candace. I was left wanting to know more about how she came to be so emotionally repressed and alienated from her family. Her motivations for most of her actions were murky and never addressed. Consequently she remained the “villain” of the story without the benefit of empathy or understanding of her dilemma.

Second, I was disappointed in the way the author wrapped up the story. The outcome was satisfying, if a bit predictable. However, after building up the major conflicts over the whole book, the author chose to resolve them in a short, final chapter labeled “Six Months Later.” It left me wanting a more nuanced ending.

My thanks to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing a digital ARC in exchange for an independent, honest review.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Oh, I really wanted to love this book. The story was compelling and could have been so wonderful. The author told us what people were thinking, but I wasn't able to experience their feelings. I wanted to feel the parentely love develop Wendell and the girls. I wanted to feel Wendell and Ginny find their love again. I wanted to know why Caroline and her brother were estranged, why she disliked White Pines so much! How did she react when her plans her spoiled!

I just wanted more! With that being said, it really was a good story. It kept my interest and I wanted to know how everything would be resolved. I am not disappointed that I read the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story. Small town mysteries always have a special place in my heart. I thought this novel was very fast paced and it really grabbed my attention from the start.