Review: Formulaic at best
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 4, 2014
I was so excited to find this book as I've been looking for good, contemporary Christian fiction. This has all the makings of an interesting, unique book; unfortunately, it falls short of its promise for several reasons.First, the prologue introduces a female author who loves tea. Typically, a prologue sets the reader up for the story, but all this prologue does is introduce a character that doesn't return again until the epilogue. Both the prologue and epilogue create a sense of confusion and lack of completion -- not good in any way.Secondly, and here's my main concern, is that other than the motorcycle riders, there's not a single thing original in this book. Nothing.1. The protagonist is an attractive young woman running back home -- a simpler, more peaceful place than what she's leaving -- over problems with a man and job (in this case, the two go hand in hand).2. Almost immediately, she meets a handsome, mysterious man who has -- yes, you guessed it -- a tragedy in his past that has caused him to be vulnerable and to shun falling in love again.3. The antagonist is a city leader who fights the family at every turn.4. The protagonist and the handsome man hit it off and fall in love, only to have a tragic event cause their relationship to hit a crisis point.5. In the end, all is resolved (both with the antagonist and between the love birds).There's more contrivance, but these are just a few of the points.Third, a major lack of logic creates a huge question. How is the plot even possible? How do 2 unemployed young women -- both of whom worked in traditionally low-paying positions (elementary school teacher and admin assistant) suddenly have the money needed to completely remodel/rehab an old building and decorate it AND buy even rough antiques and vintage items by the truck load and refinish/paint them? Likewise, how do the various (obviously unemployed) bikers have the funds to buy all the materials needed for the wide variety of jobs they do as part of their ministry? The protagonist and her family spend money very, very freely with no discernible income -- and like the 2 girls, their father had been in a low-paying field (ministry).This could have been a great book, but these flaws and others made it merely mediocre . . . at best.