Charity Island

Craig Matthews’ Charity’s Fire takes place on Charity Island in Lake Huron. The story in his novel takes place on a real island, which you can find on a map. Yes, I’ve looked it up. Craig’s Charity’s Fire, an inspirational thriller, has been featured before in a blog post. Here’s the link.

Sanctuary Island

Recently I read a novel by another favorite author, Robin Lee Hatcher, who lives in Idaho. When my Favorite Guy was in the Air Force, we lived in Idaho at Mountain Home and enjoyed visiting Boise. I especially enjoy it that many of Robin’s books are set in and around Boise. But this latest one takes the reader to Sanctuary Island, in Lake Huron. I couldn’t locate it on a map. 

Well, the island is imaginary: “Welcome to the shores of Sanctuary Island, where six bestselling authors of Christian romance bring you stories of love and redemption. From tender romance to enduring faith, each standalone novel in this series promises unforgettable characters and heartwarming small town charm.”

Wishing for Mistletoe

From Amazon: On Sanctuary Island, Ariel Highbridge seeks refuge from crippling writer’s block and a disillusioned heart. As a writer of Regency romances who’s been betrayed by love herself, Ariel struggles to weave tales of romance when her own faith in it has frayed.

Tom Fuller is a devoted schoolteacher and a widower, whose life orbits around his daughter Shauna. He has sworn off the possibility of new love. Yet, the arrival of their enchanting neighbor stirs an unexpected warmth in both father and daughter’s lives.

As the island’s Yuletide enchantments weave their spell, Tom and Ariel find themselves drawn to each other. Ariel’s burgeoning belief in love and Tom’s tentative steps towards healing suggest that perhaps, this Christmas, they could write a love story of their own.

But their fledgling romance will soon face its ultimate test, and it will take the magic of the season and the island’s charm for their love story to prove the most enchanting tales don’t end—they simply transform into new beginnings.

My short review: I’d love to visit Sanctuary Island in Lake Huron, if only it were real. Robin wrote it into such a delightful place with such delightful, and thoughtful, characters. What a sweet gift this book would make, with its compelling story and uplifting verses and prayers.

Robin Lee Hatcher

Robin Lee Hatcher is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 90 novels and novellas with over five million copies in print. She’s known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of courage, faith, and love. In addition to many writing awards—including the Christy, Carol, and RITA Awards—she’s the recipient of prestigious lifetime achievement awards from both ACFW and RWA. She lives in the Boise area with a demanding papillon dog.

Here’s Robin’s Amazon Author page.

When I was a student in the online class called Write That Book With Tricia Goyer, Robin Lee Hatcher was one of the more generous instructors–with her time, advice, feedback, and spirit.  Here is her website.

So, two stories set on islands in Lake Huron. A spiritual thriller on Charity, a real island. And a small town Christian romance on Sanctuary, an imaginary one. I very much enjoyed them both.

One of my favorite Robin Lee Hatcher’s books is Catching Katie, a Carol Award winning historical novel set in Idaho and featuring the 19th Amendment.