Driftwood Lane

Title: DRIFTWOOD LANE
Author: Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
July 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59554-800-9
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary romance

Meridith Ward is stunned to find out her father and her stepmother have died in a tragic accident and named her as guardian to three children she’d never even met. Meridith and her father have been estranged ever since he walked out on her and her mother years ago when Meridith was a young child. But Meridith is the only relative, other than an uncle no one knows how to contact. Without her, the children will be forced into foster homes and seperated. So, reluctantly, she puts her life on hold and goes to Nantucket, planning to give the uncle custody as soon as he shows up.

Jacob Walker is stunned to hear of his sister’s death, and even more hurt to realize that they named the older sister—someone unknown to the kids—as legal guardian. His thirteen year old niece, Noelle, swears Meridith is crazy, so Jake determines he’d discover the truth and fight her for guardianship. But when he arrives, Meridith mistakes him for the handiman she hired and Jake doesn’t bother to correct her, figuring he could get the proof he needs to get the kids.

With the kids in on his secret, Jake does the work Meridith wants but he soon decides she is far from crazy. What will it take for the five of them to have a happy ending?

DRIFTWOOD LANE is the best book in Ms. Hunter’s Nantucket series that I’ve had the privilege of reading so far. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this island vicariously and getting to know Meridith and Jake through the pages of this book.

Meridith and Jake are both realistic characters and Ms. Hunter is a stellar story teller, helping them to come to life on the pages of this book. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. If you are looking for a good romance, don’t miss DRIFTWOOD LANE. It is the perfect summertime read. $14.99. 320 pages.