I, too, love beach books! There's no place I'd rather be (in person) than a Carolina beach; so reading about them helps me to imagine I'm there…

Side Note: My husband and I spent the 1st 2 days of our honeymoon on Sunset Beach… on our way to the Outerbanks… from Folly Beach in Charleston where we got married. So… Sunset Beach is one of my special places; and I am thrilled that we get to spend time there (in my mind ; ) all month as we read The Guest Book!

1. Yes… that would be the beach. When I'm on the beach, time stands still. All I can hear is the roar of the ocean. All I can taste is the salty air. All I can touch is the exfoliating sand (does wonders for the feet!)… and all I can see is a vast treasure chest of life that brings tiny, recycled surprises to my feet.

Like Teresa, it usually helps me if I'm alone; and I believe tears are incredibly healing. It's a release. It helps me to let go. It saddens me when people are afraid to cry because tears are so healing… but I digress…

I agree with Teresa in regards to people seeking places of comfort in order to heal. It makes me wonder what it is about people's particular places that offers healing. For example: At the beach, my soul connects with the ocean. My spirit connects with the constant breeze. My body connects with the warm sand… and that heavenly combination evokes the healing process. I can be tied up in knows (for whatever reason)… but when my toes sink into the sand, my face feels the breeze, and my mind is filled with nothing but the ocean's roar… I am at peace. Everything unravels, and I just come apart (in a good way). Nothing like it.

I'm not sure why being at the beach does this for me (might be something fun to explore); but I do know it's an unmistakable feeling… one that I yearn for… one that calls me from the upstate down to the coast more times than I am able to answer.

Reading beach books helps me to answer in a different way!

2. I think Macy makes so many excuses for Max and Chase because she wants to hold onto them–because she cannot hold onto her father, physically. It's almost her way of making sure she can keep that male figure in her life. She's probably afraid about future possibilities of a positive male figrure because her dad was the ideal and she lost him. Even though she and Max have a great relationship, it's maybe not the most healthy one (she keeps baling him out and saving him). The relationship with Chase would require great healing for her to move forward.

Additionally, she probably feels as if she has some sense of control because she is able to keep Max and Chase in her life–out of control that she couldn't hold onto her father. And who wants to feel out of control? So, she controls what she can and chooses to ignore what she can't.  I smell healing mingled with the salty air… and I just hope Macy catches that breeze.

* Can I just say that my mind is swirling with possibilities over the artist's identity!?!? Anybody?

I just want to tear through this lil' gem and not stop. The suspense is killing me! I had to stop myself from reading past Ch. 9 last night because I'm afraid if I get too far ahead I won't be able to stay true to the questions without blurting too much out! lol

Okay… my new focus: savoring the story, wanting to spend the whole month at Sunset, not just a couple of days or an afternoon (I think I could finish this book today!)  Patience…..  

Post edited 10:00 pm – July 8, 2012 by Linda A.

1. Just coming off a week at the lake cabin, I would have to say that's the place I go to heal my hurts!  The first 3 days I was all alone and it was wonderful waking each morning to gaze out at the lake.  I feel close to God when I'm there.  And the beautiful nature that is His creation always amazes me.  Sitting on the end of the dock watching the loons swimming on the lake, watching the eagle fly overhead and seeing all the little fish swimming by, gives me a kind of peace that is hard to describe. 

2. I too think her memories of her father are too painful for her.  I think Macy is afraid of losing the men in her life and that's why she makes excuses for them.  It's easy for us to make excuses for some of the people in our lives.  We don't want to be hurt. 

I also am trying not to read ahead.  So far so good, I hope it lasts. 

Shelly, I too believe in tears!!  And I would love to visit your Carolina beach.  I've never been to the ocean and I can only imagine what the beach is like.  Thank you for you wonderful descriptions!

I'm really enjoying the book, but after having read two of the author's previous books, I knew this one was going to be good.  I'm not disappointed!  Thank you MaryBeth, for sharing your gift of writing with us.  

1. My favorite place for healing these days is in my living room or being alone in the church sanctuary with "soaking" music playing and with my Bible and my journal, where I just sit or lay on the floor and invite the presence of the Lord to speak to me.  I listen to the music and listen for His voice.  I find it to be a very healing thing to do.  

2.  I think maybe she runs from the memories of her father because she hasn't grieved him yet; I wonder if she is just trying to avoid the grieving process but by avoiding it she is unable to come to terms with his death and receive healing.  Therefore, her mother's seemingly over-indulgence of grieving is a continual and irritating reminder of what she's trying so hard to avoid.  I think she makes excuses for Max and Chase because the mercy she extends is the mercy she longs for herself.