Review: Absolutely Loved It!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 9, 2013
This book far exceeded all my expectations!  I thought it would be a sweet romance and I knew it would be very well written and enjoyable since I was already a fan of the author.  But having finished it recently, I'm blown away by the depth of the book and the way Hickman so beautifully weaves such important messages into the story.  The budding romance between Sam and Sophie was captivating and sensual and very satisfying.  The relationship between Sophie and her sister Evie was so real and allowed me to feel what it must be like to have a sister since I don't have one. I loved the way they were so devoted to each other, yet knew exactly how to push each other's buttons. Very realistic family drama!  And the changes in Sophie's feelings about her brother-in-law, Christian, as she was forced to challenge her own judgments and see that sometimes people do what they do for complicated reasons and compassion and forgiveness are always possible, sent a clear and profound message.  The scenes at school were also incredibly touching, as Sophie and Sam connected through the joys and challenges of being teachers.  The incident that happened at school was very much like stories we hear in the news and reminded me that everyone involved in bullying is a victim, all the way around, and we need to work to understand all aspects of this phenomenon to be able to prevent it.  I don't want to give anything away but what happens toward the end with Sophie and Sam brought tears to my eyes and put a smile on my face for an entire day, as it circled around in my mind over and over!  So many wonderfully spiritual moments to reflect on and so many opportunities to use the underlying messages that come through in this book as an opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth.  Thank you for this wonderful book, Shelly Hickman. I hope that many, many more people read it and reap its benefits!