4.5 Stars

A beautifully written story that takes you on an incredible journey of discovery, healing and hope.

So clever the way the plot intertwined. I enjoyed all the aspects. I couldn’t resist the cover, I mean a gorgeous Nantucket beach, and a cottage that is in need of transformation- it’s not lost on me that the owner of the house is in desperate need of it herself. Almost everyone has some unresolved business that has to be challenged- and all the way throughout, an insight into the authors own real life world of theater production. That was a fun element I really enjoyed.

Descriptive enough, not over powering I was sucked right into this story. Plenty of tension, mystery regarding the truth that has eluded Emily since the death of her mother.

I also enjoy the non-overbearing way the text inspires and lifts without being preachy. A fantastic Christian Fiction read.

Thanks to Tyndale House & Netgalley for the eARC. This is my honest review. (

“When you find something worth fighting for, fight.”

What a treat to read another fantastic book by Courtney Walsh. She’s one of my favorite contemporary Christian fiction authors. There were so many things I loved about If for Any Reason. The setting on Nantucket Island was so fascinating. I’ve never been there, but this book had me putting it on my bucket list.

I loved the well-developed characters. Emily and Hollis were endearing, realistically flawed main characters, and I enjoyed seeing them growing through their trials and also seeing their relationship develop. The stellar cast of secondary characters was colorful and added such depth and interest. I loved Jolie and the way she gave Hollis a chance to redeem himself as a father. Hollis’s family was a treat to meet. I’d love to live next door to them!

The story was creative and the children’s musical theater angle was such a fun addition. Including letters from Emily’s mother as a major part of the story was a special touch.

“People will tell you God will never give you more than you can handle. I disagree. God allows us more than we can handle so we have to rely on him. After all, if we could handle everything life throws at us, why would we need God at all?”

Walsh is a master at seamlessly including inspirational messages in her stories. Uplifting themes of redemption, forgiveness, and healing are woven through If for Any Reason and give added depth and dimension to it.

“Because life isn’t only about the good things. It’s about the roller coaster of emotions. It’s about diving in headfirst even when you’re scared. It’s about finding the place where you belong and then holding on with both hands. And it’s especially about working through the hard to get to the beautiful.”

I recommend this story to those who enjoy well-written contemporary romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Tyndale Publishers through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The letters between Emily and her late mother provided a fresh twist on a tried-and-true plot device. Allowing readers to experience Isabelle and JD's story through the letters and also in a few well-placed scenes throughout the novel added a richer layer to If for Any Reason. Emily's reliance on the letter as both a link to her mom and a compass for her life choices made for interesting reading.
Real life is messy and the struggles and setbacks humans often encounter are carefully examined in this novel. Second chances after personal and professional failures, acknowledging deception, asking forgiveness, and overcoming fear are consistent themes. Walsh does an excellent job of creating a story line that resonates with readers. I feel readers will relate to the characters' faith journeys as well.
My favorite aspect of If for Any Reason is the hero, Hollis. Super swoon worthy! Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. The pace in the first half was a bit slow for my liking. Hollis kept me reading though and I'm so glad because the second half is fantastic.

If For Any Reason by. Courtney Walsh is a beautifully written tale of a woman living her mother’s dreams and following her words left behind. I absolutely loved the depth of emotion in this novel and the letter/diary form that her mother’s words came in. This novel is put together in such a way that you won’t be able to stop reading— it’s a seamless, beautiful work form start to finish. With sweet romance and second chances, this book is for anyone who loves women’s fiction and books about family relationships. I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the author with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Romance, clean; mild faith elements
More of a 4.5 for me as a reader. Emily story her past present and we get a glimpse at her new future, is a sweet, introspective, romantic lovely read. Her past with her mother, grandparents and the bits of her father that she knows, collide in the present when secrets start coming to light. Second chances for many people. Hollis' worries with regard to his daughter, his want for Emily, lovely, hurting, wondering, and romantic as the tender, soft spoken, and kind man is trying to figure out his present after bumbling his past as he navigated his career as a professional baseball player. His parents' tender, romantic and family center marriage is an example to both Hollis and Emily. Strong characters, beautifully peaceful setting, and moving backstories for both MC made this a strong read for me.
As a house is renovated, and a play is scheduled, they both find bits of themselves, fix the present, and create a lovely future for themselves. Time is the best gift of all, and the words expressed by the heart so lovely to see as they heal the bitter wounds of Emily and Hollis' pasts and weave their hearts together.
Lovely, cathartic, reflective, beautifully romantic read, and gorgeous setting on Nantucket.
I think this is one of my favorite books I have ever read of C.W. Truly a masterfully created story that will resonate in your heart for a long time after reading it. I know I will re-read this to savor this story and gather bits I missed on my first voracious read through. Hard to put down, and definitely wanting more of this story. It was hard to stop turning the pages.
I received an ARC from the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. My opinions are my own.

Once again, Courtney Walsh excels in bringing the lost and broken through a magnificent test of faith and forgiveness.
Emily has spent her life trying to live up to the expectations she's placed upon herself based on a book of letters her mother left her. When everything she thought she knew begins to unravel, the letters are all Emily has left to cling to. But what if she's been wrong? What if her mother meant for Emily to live her own life and not the life her mother always dreamed of having for herself?
I can always count on a Courtney Walsh book to be deeply moving and emotional. If For Any Reason is no different. Emily and Hollis have their issues they need to work through and neither of them makes the right decision every time.
A redemptive storyline is one of my favorites, and the friends-to-something-more trope on top of the redemption made this one of my favorite books for this year.
Emily has so much anger, it leaps off the page. Hollis is so lost in his attempts to connect with his daughter, you'll want to jump into the book so you can try and help.
Emily has a letter for every situation, or so she thought. When everything about her mother's death and her father's abandonment begins to steamroll through what she's always known, she is faced with several hard truths. She's blamed God for years, and it won't be easy to accept that He has always had a plan.
I requested a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The thing I most found interesting in If For Any Reason is the letters Emily carries from her mom. As a mom, I’m always fascinated by what kind of legacy other moms are leaving for their children. I have a notebook I write into for my boys, but not like Emily’s mom. Still, I loved seeing how Emily treasured these, how they effected her life, and the new insight she gained when her past came forward.

In true Courtney Walsh style, this book hits on a lot of heartache we go through. But there’s always growth, a romance to make you smile, and an ending that gives you the hope that life will get better.

If you’re a fan of Ms. Walsh, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re looking at checking out one of her books, give If For Any Reason a try. There are many insights to glean while reading.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

I love everything that Courtney Walsh writes. And seriously, that’s no exaggeration. Her latest novel, If for Any Reason once again hit if out of the park for me.
I enjoyed the uniqueness of the letters Emily has from her mom. And how her perspective on those changes throughout the book. It was a sweet idea, and one that really kept me engaged.
Each of the characters in this novel were unique and multi-faceted. Some I liked more than others, as they were designed to be, but I liked how each one had their own flaws.
The faith element in If for Any Reason is subtle, and honestly, I would have liked to see it developed just a little more, but it still struck a meaningful chord for me.
If for Any Reason is an emotional, authentic, and meaningful novel, and one that I could see myself picking up again. Highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

If For Any Reason is set in charming Nantucket and showcases the quaint summer vacation town to it’s fullest. This story does not shy away from the hard or messy things of life. Courtney Walsh dives head first into the range of emotions that are stirred up when Emily Ackerman returns to Nantucket and the past is unearthed. I think one of the things that is great about this book is that it shows that everyone has flaws. People make good and bad decisions and the consequences are sometimes far reaching. As the past is uncovered in this story and answers come to light, these characters have to really dig deep and decide how to deal with their relationships and how to move forward. While I didn’t love a lot of the characters or their decisions in this book, I felt like the author wasn’t afraid to show that life decisions are complicated and not everyone gets it right the first time. However, there was also forgiveness and an acknowledgement of wrongs which allowed these characters to move past some of the hard things.

If you are looking for a contemporary romance with more of a serious tone then you should check this book out.

A retired baseball player crosses paths with his childhood actor-friend in Nantucket, where old memories burn deep and the future seems as rocky as the waves beyond the shoreline.

Emily Ackerman is still reeling from a failed theater venture; Hollis McGuire has a tween-age daughter he barely knows. Despite the years that have passed since they last saw each other, their connection is somewhat instant, though the fight for a lasting relationship is thwarted by their respective baggage. Who knew that a book of letters from her late mother and a history of misunderstandings would be the guiding force keeping her life in limbo?

If For Any Reason is the story of Emily and Hollis, but also of Emily's mother and the real story behind the letters she penned for her daughter. As the two stories unravel in tandem, readers are treated to front-row seat to Emily's discovery of the truth--that some things in life are worth fighting for.

Another sweet story, another dose of pure heart, another must-read from Courtney Walsh.

I’ve been a fan of Courtney Walsh for many years.. she writes complex family struggles and sweet love stories with people who feel real and spiritual struggles that I can and have identified with. Thus, when she announced last year that this one was on the way, I knew I’d be reading it ASAP.

The main characters in this story grew up together on the little island of Nantucket, went their own ways and had their times in the spotlight, and are now adults and back on Nantucket with difficulties and shadows in their past that of which they are not proud to share.

Emily has a journal of notes from her deceased mother, and she aims to live by them to accomplish “hard things,” and grow into the woman that her mother had hoped she’d be; however, her childhood friend and retired professional baseball star, Hollis helps her realize that sometimes she has to try hard things on her own strength. Hollis has a daughter whom he is striving to get to know, and Emily is the key to helping him connect with his theater-loving Jolie.

This heartwarming story is written in the perfect setting: a warm, breezy beach on Nantucket. I felt transported there while reading, and Courtney expertly writes characters that are easy to identify with, and also impossible not to cheer for. Excellent read!

This might be my favorite @courtneywalsh novel thus far.... 💛 it’s out tomorrow, but available on Amazon today! 🎉 thank you so much Courtney and Tyndale House for this #gifted copy (and Netgalley for the eARC) in exchange for an honest review!
#IfForAnyReason #CourtneyWalsh #TyndaleHouse #Netgalley

If For Any Reason, the newest story to wing its way from Courtney Walsh doesn’t disappoint. We have a washed up pro-athlete, trying to rekindle a non-existent relationship with his teenage daughter and a failed director scarred by the loss of her mother and never knowing her father.

Emily and Hollis both return to Nantucket for the summer. Hollis only wants to repair his family, and Emily can’t wait to escape after renovating her grandparents cottage for sale. But as their relationship develops, thankfully, wounds begin to heal.

Emily is haunted by a book of letters from her mother and can’t let go of the words from the past. Her grandma’s arrival, and a shaking discovery about the accident that claimed her mother, throws her in to further turmoil.

Throughout the book, we see glimpses of why Emily’s mom came to be a single parent and why Emily never knew her father. For those who don’t enjoy time slip novels, don’t worry. Walsh drip feeds her readers just enough to peak curiosity and foster care for the characters.

Meanwhile Hollis struggles to connect with a daughter who thinks he doesn’t care. Only when Emily takes over a summer production for children do lives start to improve. But can Emily create a future while clinging to the past?

There’s a surprise twist towards the end and, most importantly, a different sort of happy ending than I’d expected. Are you like me and love when that happens? With delicately written characters and a heartwarming thread of healing and wholeness, I really enjoyed If For Any Reason.

To buy the book or read and excerpt, click here…

To visit Courtney Walsh’s website, click here…

If For Any Reason is one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, to see the rest, click here…

A story about second chances, forgiveness and how loving someone can lead you on a grand adventure!

Emily Ackerman has grown up as a child star. But when fame slips away and she loses her grandfather, Emily returns to Nantucket, a place she spent time as a child. She hasn’t been back since her mother was killed in a car accident. Everywhere she goes, she carries a book of letters with her from her mother. It is as if her mother is right beside her with advice she needs at the hard moments in her life. She has never known her father and never spends long enough in one place to make lasting relationships. As she arrives back in Nantucket, Hollis McGuire is one of the first faces she sees. They knew each other before she left the island and even though she has no intention of staying, it is nice to have a familiar face. Hollis had a career as a baseball player, which ended in injury. He has returned to the island to get to know the daughter he has never had time for. Emily starts to learn secrets about her mother’s death and falls for Hollis, making her plans to keep her time on the island short harder and harder. Emily must decide if her mother’s advice to guard her heart is worth it or if she should take a chance on Hollis.

Emily is a character that has trouble dealing with her past and the failure she has recently experienced. I loved the way she was written with a controlling grandmother but still finds the strength to stand up for what she believes in and find out the truth. Love is hard and can be painful at times, but Walsh has written characters that learn that heartache and difficult times can help them grow into who they are meant to be. Emily and Hollis’s relationship has a great start, but I do think the ending was a little rushed for them. The other members of the family make the relationships come alive, especially Hollis’s daughter. The interactions between her and Emily were some of the most authentic in the whole story. Emily was going through a hard time and I felt for her, more than some of the other characters. She didn’t whine about what she was going through, instead she kept trying to find her spot in life and without realizing it found her instead. If you are looking for a good contemporary love story, I would recommend this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

If for Any Reason
by Courtney Walsh
Release date: February 3, 2020
Rating: 4.5/5

Wow. I was already a fan of Courtney Walsh, but this story was just so good. Well written and heartwarming. I think it would make a great Hallmark movie.

Emily Ackerman has no choice but to return to the place where her mother died 18 years ago. With her grandfather's passing, she inherited their house on Nantucket and she needs the money from the sale. Having lost her mother and never known her father, Emily clings to the letters her mother wrote for her in dealing with what life throws at her, especially when it comes to love. When she returns to the island and finds her childhood best friend, Hollis McGuire, still living next door, she is hesitant to reconnect but unable to resist him and his family. Hollis has never felt like he fit in with the rich people on the island. Emily's mother always encouraged her to be different, so the two of them were always together off on some fearless adventure. Hollis is a retired professional baseball player with his own ghosts and a daughter that he can't seem to connect with. Can Emily and Hollis get what they want this summer?

Beautifully flawed characters and great storytelling are essential to making me laugh and cry. The premise of a dying mother writing letters to her daughter is not necessarily new but Courtney Walsh made the idea fresh and I loved how she wove in Emily's mother's story in the book as well. I will say that I guessed the big mystery almost immediately but only because I was looking for it. It didn't take away from the story for me at all. This story is about belonging and forgiveness - definitely has faith elements in the story.

Highly recommend for those that enjoy Contemporary Christian Romance with a bit of mystery.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

'So much for believing God was really going to be there for her this time.'

After suffering a huge professional failure and going broke, Emily Ackerman comes back to the little Nantucket island she lived on as a child. Her grandfather has died and left her their cottage and she plans on renovating it and selling it. She discovers that her childhood friend, Hollis McGuire, is staying next door with his family. With his 12 year old daughter. Hollis's baseball career has ended and he's trying to connect with his daughter but not being very successful at it.

Soon Emily discovers shocking secrets about her mother's fatal car accident 18 years ago but nobody will talk to her. Her world has just taken a nose dive and she keeps reading the series of letters her mother wrote to her when she was small. Can she get past all this and build a life for herself and stop running?

Courtney Walsh knows how to engage her readers' hearts. Always has. I was rooting for Emily all through the book. And Hollis's daughter Jolie is so precious. And Walsh made me want to visit Nantucket so much! Walsh takes us on a journey of love, heartbreak, faith and new beginnings. Recommended.

*My thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions here are entirely my own.

The island of Nantucket is the place where Emily Ackerman learned to love theater. It's where she experienced her greatest freedom, and where she experienced her greatest loss. She never expected to return but a professional failure has her looking for a place to hide. What better place than the house her grandfather left to her on the island?

Hollis McGuire grew up next door to Emily's cottage on Nantucket. His family rented their house, and his father worked for the "rich folks". Hollis was a "have not" to Emily's "have everything," but their friendship was close in spite of the differences in their finances. As an adult, Hollis is a single dad, retired baseball player, with wealth of his own. He has a month to prove to his daughter that she is more to him than a responsibility he never wanted. Can he convince Jolie that she is more important to him than anything else?

Emily grew up knowing only her mother's love. While she felt the absence of her father, between her mother and her grandfather, she never seemed to lack love. Her world crashes at the age of 11, when her mother dies in a crash that Emily survives. Her only solace as an adult is the book of letters her mother left behind for her that she titled "If for Any Reason." When she arrives on Nantucket to discover that the beautiful cottage she remembers has fallen into disrepair, and to top everything off the summer children's production has been discontinued, she can't sit idly by and let her grandfather's legacy disappear. As it becomes apparent that for the production to proceed, she will need to take the reins, every one of Emily's insecurities makes an appearance. Can she put all of that aside to bring one good thing out of the losses she's had?

Emily feels abandoned by nearly everyone who ever loved her, and by some who SHOULD have loved her. Her mother dies tragically, she never knew her father, and her grandparents were always distant, at best, critical, at worst. She even lost her childhood best friend, Hollis, when she is whisked away from Nantucket after the accident. So much of her life has been spent chasing her mother's dreams, Emily doesn't even know what her own dreams are. As she immerses herself in the world of children's theater, and works to rehab the cottage, clues arise that point to her past being different than she always believed it to be. Can she "do hard things" and unravel the mystery while not doing what she does best, run away?

Wow! What a story! Courtney Walsh's ability to show every emotion her characters feel is on full display in "If For Any Reason". Emily's abandonment issues take center stage, but Hollis' guilt over his own parenting comes a close second. Emily's grandmother's rich snobbishness nearly destroys both her daughter and her granddaughter, and over all of this is a sense of God at work to make things right again. When Emily's world seems the most unraveled it has ever been, God knits something new in her, and in those around her that just might be better than she could have imagined.

Fans of Courtney Walsh will LOVE this story, as will those who love sweet romance with a touch of mystery. I especially loved the letters from Emily's mother, imparting wisdom from her experiences. Don't miss this one from Courtney Walsh!

Packs an emotional punch! Courtney Walsh knows how to write genuine, heartfelt, romances. Emily is a strong, but currently broken woman, who returns to Nantucket to repair and flip her old family cottage. She did not intend on reuniting with Hollis, returning to her acting roots, or uncovering the deeply buried secrets behind her mother’s death. Emily has long been guided by her mother’s letters, and as a mother, I resonated with many of her nuggets of truth from her own experiences. I really enjoyed the character development, the demonstration of community support, and the sweet progression of friends to more. A deeply satisfying, clean, inspirational romantic story.
I received a complimentary copy of this from the publisher. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

If for any reason is a beautiful, insightful and sometimes sad journey into the hearts of Hollis and Emily’s passage into freedom and confidence to be their true selves. I loved the children’s theater and letters from Emily’s mom. This book includes a lot of soul searching and love. And it made me want to go back to Nantucket!
I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley but the opinions are entirely my own.

This story whisked me into a wonderful summer getaway. Nantucket is a spot I can imagine going with these characters I enjoyed getting to know. It’s been 18 years, but Emily was back to a place she had called home. A place where she fell in love with theater and suffered a great loss. The house she used to love is now run down and needs a lot of work if she intends to sell it. She wasn’t prepared for the memories of her mother and that fateful day to smack her in the face like it did.

She runs into Hollis her next-door neighbor who grew up to become a professional baseball player. He’s home recovering from an injury. She meets his daughter, who’s a preteen struggling to get along with her dad. Hollis and Emily resume their childhood friendship as he and his family want to help in any way, they can with the house renovation.

Emily refers to a book her mother left her filled with letters her mother wrote Emily just in case she couldn’t be there to watch her grow up. Emily has most of the letters memorized. They are words she lives by. I enjoyed how the author sprinkled these letters throughout the novel. Here’s a peek at one, ..”As I write this, you are approximately six days, three hours, and thirty-two minutes old. We’ve been home from the hospital for four days, and I’ve haven’t been able to stop looking at you the entire time….I don’t want to mess you up…People always talk about how wonderful it is to have a baby, but no one ever talks about how terrifying it is too. You see, I’m a little bit terrified, and I’m not sure who else to tell. I’m pretty sure my mother would use that fear against me somehow, so I’ll only share it with you, my little girl.”

When Emily gets to the island, she checks on the theater her grandparents donate money to. It’s there she hears things and discovers newspaper articles about her mother’s death that just don’t add up with what her grandparents told her. It’s then she is determined to dig deeper, solve the mystery of her mother’s death and confront her grandmother and demand the truth..

I enjoyed the characters and the plot twists and turns. I disappear into the pages of this story. I didn’t want to climb out. I wanted to stay in Nantucket and be part of the theater group there.

This makes for a fun read and one that would work well for your next book club pick.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

Walsh is one of my favorite authors and this book is no exception. I adored this book and have read my ARC twice already!

Emily's mantra throughout this book is "I can do hard things." I know that might seem cliche to some but it really is truth and it resonated with me through the whole book.

Often as I read a book I fall more in love with one character than any other - but in this book I really connected with a lot of the characters. I loved the setting of Nantucket and really loved all the theatre parts in the story. Walsh's own personal experience and love for theatre was evident in this book and only made it better. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves theatre because while it isn't the main event it is vital to the story.

I love how realistically flawed the characters are. Each of the main characters is dealing with one or more difficulties in life. The moments of spiritual insight in the book are beautiful and the unconditional love examples that imitate God's love for us between the characters was amazing.

Books are an escape but sometime they also teach us and this one is perfect for learning to forgive and move on with life and love.

The romance in this book was fantastic. So many great kisses and numerous deep and heartfelt conversations. I felt tingles more than once!

I received an advanced copy of this book through the publisher. This is my honest review.