I was looking for a shorter read on my kindle and this happened to be on the first page and the shortest of the options listed. This was a quick, easy read. It was also your typical Christian romance, with the exception of the ages of the protagonists. In my experience, typical Christian romances place the main characters in their twenties or thirties, and every once in a while you may have a character or two who have slipped into their forties. In this case, the two protagonists were both retirees who had lost their spouses within the last 3-5 years.
62-year-old Maggie lost her husband of 39 years three years ago and she has traveled to New Mexico, where she and Joe took their honeymoon, to get some closure, as well as some good hiking in. 65-year-old retired judge Carson lost his wife to cancer five years ago and since his only daughter isn't speaking to him, he decided to finally take the trip across the country that he and Emily had always talked about taking. Maggie and Carson cross paths when she falls while roller-blading and he helps her up. The owners of the B and B where Maggie is staying encourage the romance, on both sides. Things move rather quickly and eventually Maggie and Carson set out for her daughter's home in Texas for her grandson's birthday in Carson's RV. Maggie's daughter is none too happy about this situation, while everyone else (her older brother included) are happy for Maggie.
Like most Christian romances, this one has a happy ending and all the loose ends are tied up by the end. A year from now I probably won't remember it, but it is a light read, if that is what you're looking for.
Happy Reading!!
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Monday, July 8, 2013
Sunday, July 7, 2013
#19--Tilly by Frank E. Peretti
I have yet to find a Frank Peretti book that I didn't like. My fiance handed me this one several months ago to read, but I finally grabbed it for vacation--and it was the first thing I read after leaving the house! This is a quick and easy read, while also being something of a tear-jerk-er at times.
The book opens with Dan and Kathy attending the funeral for a man they didn't know well as the only mourners other than the pastor. After the graveside service, they are walking through the cemetery and they come upon a woman mourning at a headstone that simply reads "Tilly" with one date on it. Despite Dan's warnings, Kathy approaches the woman and tries to comfort her and at the same time, find out who Tilly was. The woman flees in fear. For about a week afterward, Kathy is unable to function and spends most of her time in the bedroom, trying to figure out what happened, as well as how to talk to Dan about it, and other things on her mind. At the end of the week, Kathy is sleeping and when she wakes up there are hundreds of children in her yard....children she doesn't recognize....making noise that she doesn't appreciate because she is trying to sleep. She shoos most of them away, with the exception of one small girl. This small girl asks to eat lunch with Kathy in her house. Once Kathy hears her name, Tilly, she acquiesces. As Kathy and Tilly spend time getting to know one another, Dan is on a mission of his own--to find out who the woman was and who Tilly is.
Both Kathy and Dan are able to get the answers to their questions and are also able to lay aside the guilt that had plagued them for a number of years for something they did. In an effort to not completely spoil the ending, I won't say anymore, other than...this book is an example of forgiveness....forgiveness that we must give one another, the forgiveness that comes from God, and accepting that forgiveness once it is meted out.
Happy Reading!!
The book opens with Dan and Kathy attending the funeral for a man they didn't know well as the only mourners other than the pastor. After the graveside service, they are walking through the cemetery and they come upon a woman mourning at a headstone that simply reads "Tilly" with one date on it. Despite Dan's warnings, Kathy approaches the woman and tries to comfort her and at the same time, find out who Tilly was. The woman flees in fear. For about a week afterward, Kathy is unable to function and spends most of her time in the bedroom, trying to figure out what happened, as well as how to talk to Dan about it, and other things on her mind. At the end of the week, Kathy is sleeping and when she wakes up there are hundreds of children in her yard....children she doesn't recognize....making noise that she doesn't appreciate because she is trying to sleep. She shoos most of them away, with the exception of one small girl. This small girl asks to eat lunch with Kathy in her house. Once Kathy hears her name, Tilly, she acquiesces. As Kathy and Tilly spend time getting to know one another, Dan is on a mission of his own--to find out who the woman was and who Tilly is.
Both Kathy and Dan are able to get the answers to their questions and are also able to lay aside the guilt that had plagued them for a number of years for something they did. In an effort to not completely spoil the ending, I won't say anymore, other than...this book is an example of forgiveness....forgiveness that we must give one another, the forgiveness that comes from God, and accepting that forgiveness once it is meted out.
Happy Reading!!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
#29--They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti
During the summer I always have great aspirations to getting lots of reading done....as is evidenced by the piles of books I pack anytime I go anywhere. However, life, and this year, the Olympics, gets in the way.
I finished They Almost Always Come Home several months ago, but never posted it....so, here goes....
The story opens with Libby fretting over whether dead people wear shoes....it seems like a waste since no one will see them, but "no outfit is complete without shoes". Every time her husband goes away on one of his Canadian wilderness trips, Libby tends to over-dramatize if he is even the tiniest bit late....but Greg has never been this late before, and he has never been in the wilderness alone...
When he doesn't return home within a few days of the anticipated time, Libby files a missing persons report....and waits, and waits, and waits. Her father-in-law, Frank, and her best friend, Jenika (Jen), are there by her side. During her agonizing wait for Greg, Libby waffles between wishing she had left Greg before his trip, to wishing he were home again and by her side. Part of her indecision lies in the fact that their daughter died a few years ago, and then everything changed.
Jen is convinced that God wants Libby and Jen to find Greg....Libby's not so sure about that. She is convinced that Greg is either dead or he has found a convenient way to leave her. The fourth day after filing the missing persons report, Frank announces that he wants to go up to Canada to take a look around...hoping to see something the authorities missed, or to find "his boy". Much to his chagrin, Libby and Jen insist on tagging along--two inexperienced and anti-outdoors women--to the wilderness of Canada. And they only have one week to find him.
Along the way, Jen, Libby and Frank come across clues that indicate they are on the right trail....empty sunflower seeds, Greg's paddle that he made in high school wood shop. And Libby also has one of Greg's journals that she reads at night while questioning God the whole time.
Two-thirds of the way into the book, the perspective switches to Greg's side of the story. I don't want to give anything away....but I loved his side of the story just as much as Libby's and the ending was fantastic as well.
Christian fiction can sometimes come across as preachy or trite, but this one doesn't. Will definitely be checking out her future works.
Happy Reading!!
I finished They Almost Always Come Home several months ago, but never posted it....so, here goes....
The story opens with Libby fretting over whether dead people wear shoes....it seems like a waste since no one will see them, but "no outfit is complete without shoes". Every time her husband goes away on one of his Canadian wilderness trips, Libby tends to over-dramatize if he is even the tiniest bit late....but Greg has never been this late before, and he has never been in the wilderness alone...
When he doesn't return home within a few days of the anticipated time, Libby files a missing persons report....and waits, and waits, and waits. Her father-in-law, Frank, and her best friend, Jenika (Jen), are there by her side. During her agonizing wait for Greg, Libby waffles between wishing she had left Greg before his trip, to wishing he were home again and by her side. Part of her indecision lies in the fact that their daughter died a few years ago, and then everything changed.
Jen is convinced that God wants Libby and Jen to find Greg....Libby's not so sure about that. She is convinced that Greg is either dead or he has found a convenient way to leave her. The fourth day after filing the missing persons report, Frank announces that he wants to go up to Canada to take a look around...hoping to see something the authorities missed, or to find "his boy". Much to his chagrin, Libby and Jen insist on tagging along--two inexperienced and anti-outdoors women--to the wilderness of Canada. And they only have one week to find him.
Along the way, Jen, Libby and Frank come across clues that indicate they are on the right trail....empty sunflower seeds, Greg's paddle that he made in high school wood shop. And Libby also has one of Greg's journals that she reads at night while questioning God the whole time.
Two-thirds of the way into the book, the perspective switches to Greg's side of the story. I don't want to give anything away....but I loved his side of the story just as much as Libby's and the ending was fantastic as well.
Christian fiction can sometimes come across as preachy or trite, but this one doesn't. Will definitely be checking out her future works.
Happy Reading!!
Friday, March 30, 2012
#18--Sweet Baklava by Debby Mayne
As I was sitting in the doctor's office this afternoon, I pulled out my kindle to pass the time. I picked out one of the freebies I downloaded recently to read. I finished it after I got home, with my ankle in a boot and elevated. :(
This was a typical Christian romance. It was a quick, easy read, but nothing really new in this genre. The best part is the recipes at the end of the book for many of the Greek delicacies that are mentioned throughout the book--can't wait to try them...make that, have my dad make them and me eat them!!
Paula's childhood was anything but stable. But once she and her mother moved to Tarpon Springs at the beginning of middle school, she found stability in the family of her new best friend, Steph Papadopoulos. During high school, Paula dated Steph's cousin, Nick, but when she went off to college, Nick left for the Air Force and they lost touch. It is now ten years later and Nick is home on an extended leave. He never forgot about Paula and is determined to prove to her that they should be together for keeps.
Not the next great classic, but a good story...the characters and relationships were believable--reminded me a bit of the movie My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding! Some of the resolutions were somewhat contrived or arrived at a little too quickly to be believable, but overall, not too bad.
Since my foot will be in an air cast for much of the next week and a half, I'm hoping to get more reading done than originally planned for my spring break....we shall see if that comes to fruition.
Happy Reading!
This was a typical Christian romance. It was a quick, easy read, but nothing really new in this genre. The best part is the recipes at the end of the book for many of the Greek delicacies that are mentioned throughout the book--can't wait to try them...make that, have my dad make them and me eat them!!
Paula's childhood was anything but stable. But once she and her mother moved to Tarpon Springs at the beginning of middle school, she found stability in the family of her new best friend, Steph Papadopoulos. During high school, Paula dated Steph's cousin, Nick, but when she went off to college, Nick left for the Air Force and they lost touch. It is now ten years later and Nick is home on an extended leave. He never forgot about Paula and is determined to prove to her that they should be together for keeps.
Not the next great classic, but a good story...the characters and relationships were believable--reminded me a bit of the movie My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding! Some of the resolutions were somewhat contrived or arrived at a little too quickly to be believable, but overall, not too bad.
Since my foot will be in an air cast for much of the next week and a half, I'm hoping to get more reading done than originally planned for my spring break....we shall see if that comes to fruition.
Happy Reading!
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