If the quintessential summer beach day could be summed up with five bullet points, my list would look something like this:
*Low 80 degree temperature with a slight breeze.
*A low-to-the-sand chair (preferably striped because that’s extra beach-y).
*A vanilla milkshake within arm’s reach.
*A super big (and super cute, of course) beach bag next to my chair.
*And whatever must-read book I’m working on at that moment.
A pretty good list, if I do say so myself. Though really, if I could “only have one” as my mom was fond of saying throughout my childhood, I’d pick the must-read book without missing a beat. I mean, think about it…
The 80 degree thing is nice, but without a book boredom will invariably come knocking.
The low-to the sand chair is cozy, but without a book, what’s the point?
The super big (and cute) beach bag is great, but if it doesn’t have a book inside, why risk the potential back strain?
The vanilla milkshake is yummy, of course, but without a book to quiet your inner I-shouldn’t-be-drinking-this voice, guilt will rule your day.
But a book? On a beach? Well, that’s truly the ultimate beach day, in my book (see what I did there?).
So here’s to a summer filled with ultimate beach days for all of us!
~Laura Bradford
Katie Beiler was always the follower to her twin sister Hannah’s lead. That is until Hannah left their Amish upbringing for an English life—leaving Katie to find her own footing in a world that no longer looks as it once did . . .
Katie has always imagined her life being just like Mamm’s. It’s why she chose baptism and why she’ll soon marry Abram Zook. But ever since Hannah left, the only thing that truly makes Katie smile is the sketchpad in which she indulges her talent for drawing faces—a sin that, if discovered, could get her shunned by her family, her friends, and even Abram. Yet Katie sees her secret pastime as the only way to quiet a growing restlessness she’d just as soon ignore. That is until their Mamm’s untimely death brings Hannah back home to Pennsylvania, with a new outlook on life, a man she adores, and, soon, an invitation for Katie to visit her in New York City.
Suddenly, Katie is experiencing a freedom she’s never had, in a world she never imagined. She’s also spending time in the company of a fellow dreamer, someone who sees her as strong and brave and makes her laugh. But it’s when Hannah shows Katie’s drawings to a gallery owner that she truly finds herself at a crossroads between the only life she’s ever known and the powerful lure of an unfamiliar future.
“A charming, well-told story of love and devotion between sisters—one seeking a new way, one devoted to the old. Bradford’s story portrays the power of love we all long to possess.” —New York Times Bestselling author Rachel Hauck
“Portrait of a Sister made me laugh and cry and question. I wrestled alongside main character Katie as she wavered between the life she’d always known and a different life that could be. Kudos to Bradford for a complex and compelling story about faith, family, and love that’s perfect for either a lively book club discussion or a quiet, uplifting read.” –Sally Kilpatrick, author of Bless Her Heart
“Laura Bradford’s Portrait of a Sister is women’s fiction at its finest. Set among the Amish, the story puts on full display the power of love for family, the unique love shared by sisters, and the relationships that define our world. I read Portrait of a Sister in one sitting and I loved every single page.” — New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo
“Never predictable, Portrait of a Sister is a rich and heart-wrenching tapestry of love, faith, and the questions we ask to find out who we are. Laura Bradford is a master storyteller; this book will stay with you for a long, long time.” —New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander
Uncover the Truth With These New Mystery Series