3 Legs On The Stool
The Secret To Happiness by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the most charming contemporary Christian novel that I read mainly in one sitting. I paused only to sleep. It is the second book in the Cape Cod Creamery series and can be read as a stand-alone. However, I recommend reading the books in order, so that you see character progression and development, as well as maximum enjoyment.
Cape Cod and family are the place to go when life gets tough. Family and the community offer love and care. It is surprising to witness healing coming in the form of six year old cowboy Leo. His warm, sunny nature and his openness, help souls heal. One cannot help but smile when he is around.
The story, once more, centres around the ice cream parlour. Now it is winter and the tourists are gone, it has to adapt and change. Likewise, we need to be adaptable as we start new chapters in life.
We all need lives that have purpose. “She’d hit her goal… there’d always been a vague feeling of emptiness… Is this all there is?” We need to make sure that are lives are centred on what gives meaning. So much in life is just chasing the wind. We need to find our purpose. Knowing God makes our lives meaningful. “Do you talk to God?” God longs to hear from us. Prayer is simply conversations with God. We need to listen as well as talk.
Who is writing your story? Well-meaning family members try to project their wishes onto others – but their dreams are not our dreams. Our dreams are unique to us. “Stop letting other people tell our story… let God tell our story.” When God is in charge of our lives, we can rest secure in Him.
There is beauty and contentment to be found in nature. The novel explores happiness. Happiness comes from within. When we have an attitude of gratitude, we will learn that there is pleasure to be found in the small things in life – a cup of coffee, a sunrise, an ice cream.
Life can be scary. “God is with us in the scary places.” We do not walk our journey alone. God walks beside us. We need to learn that we can trust Him, and to find our rest in Him. “Peace comes with a deepening faith.” Know God, know peace despite our circumstances. No God, no peace.
All the characters are wonderfully drawn, warm and inviting. We see characters stepping up to help others as teenage rivalries are put aside.
We learn the importance of grieving. A character whose mother died in her childhood, has never had the opportunity to say goodbye – until now, as an adult in her late twenties. In contrast we see a child with a healthy view of heaven as he knows his mother is there.
I really enjoyed The Secret To Happiness. It consumed my heart and soul. We all need a Cape Cod to escape to. It is a place of love, community and nature. It is a place where hearts and lives heal.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
