What Matters Most

– Courtney Walsh –

Nantucket Love Story #3

Tyndale House Publishers

Published 5 April 2022

♥♥♥♥

In What Matters Most, author Courtney Walsh returns readers to the shores of Nantucket for a story about grief, secrets, and forgiving yourself.

Emma has moved herself and her young son to Nantucket in the hopes it will give them both a fresh start. Five years after her husband’s death, she’s still reeling from grief and guilt. Jameson too carries much guilt over the death of Emma’s husband and in a bid to move on with his life, he arrives in Nantucket to tell Emma the truth about her husband’s death. When Jamie arrives on Emma’s doorstep, she thinks he’s there to answer her ad for someone to clean out and renovate the guesthouse on her property. Jamie agrees but fails to tell Emma the real reason he’s there. Maybe he can help her in other ways. As Jamie works on the house, he and Emma grow closer, sharing their love of art and even rekindling that creative spark. But they both have secrets that could destroy any future they might have.

What Matters Most deals with some heavy themes (see my themes list below, be mindful they contain spoilers). Both Jamie and Emma are carrying some massive levels of guilt. Both try to share these secrets and stories with each other and yet know that the truth will destroy everything that is growing between them. Forgiveness of each other is key but more importantly, this book is about accepting forgiveness for themselves and learning to believe they can have a new and forgiven future.

Jamie and Emma are both artists, and Emma’s new job in an art gallery opens them both back to a world that had closed themselves to in their grief and guilt. Jamie is a photographer and Emma paints with watercolours. Art is just another thing that brings them together, along with the renovations, and spending time together with Emma’s son CJ.

There are some dramatic moments as both their secrets are shared in ways they would have avoided, thanks to the surprise appearance of other characters, so there is no shortage of tension and drama. But there are also moments of grace and understanding and let’s not forget the romantic chemistry. There’s no shortage of kisses in this book.

If you enjoyed the other books in the Nantucket Love Story series or enjoy the work of Denise Hunter, you’ll love this heartwarming story.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Adult fiction.

Genre: Christian contemporary

Themes: Grief, guilt, forgiveness, secrets, adultery, photography, art, artists, children, family, romance, friendship.

Advisory: References to adultery, references to death and injury in a war setting,

Published: 19 April 2022 by Thomas Nelson

Format: Paperback, ebook. 336 pages.

ISBN: 9780785240532

Find it on Goodreads

Buy it on Booktopia

* This post contains affiliate links. That means I might earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on my site at no cost to you. It helps to keep this site running.