The Guestbook

This dramatic but lightweight contemporary romance begins Hurst’s Madrona Island trilogy with a pleasantly cozy atmosphere and a troubling narrative. When Lily Mitchell finds her affluent Los Angeles lifestyle crumbling along with her troubled marriage, she flees to fictional Madrona Island in the Pacific Northwest, where her late grandmother ran a well-loved bed and breakfast. Though Lily, a phenomenal cook and baker, initially struggles with self-doubt, she begins to carve out a niche on the island, selling baked goods, considering whether to reopen her grandmother’s business, and running hot and cold with her new beau, Ian. While occasional moments of skillful prose stand out—mostly descriptions of beckoning Puget Sound landscapes or tantalizing edibles—they aren’t enough to offset wooden characters and perplexing plot developments. Scenes from the perspectives of other characters, particularly Lily’s estranged husband, often add more confusion than clarity. Elements of Lily’s journey toward fulfillment are heartwarming, but fans of well-plotted romance will be disappointed. [em](BookLife) [/em]