Review: Wow! Wonderful Book...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 25, 2013
I just finished the last sentence of this book and all I can say is "Wow, what a wonderful book!" I am an avid reader, thus I can usually spot good writing when I see it. However I can probably count on one hand the number of reviews I've ever posted, with a few fingers left over.  Yet upon finishing this book I felt compelled to write a review to voice my satisfaction.  I can honestly say  it is one of the best books I've read in this category.  I was completely taken in by the characters, even though I didn't go into it with high hopes.  The plot line described on the cover, had the opportunity to go wrong in so many ways for me. However I found that author masterfully wove the story, so that it was fresh,  well-paced, and emotionally stirring.  I even found myself tearing up at the characters emotional turmoil at times.  Three things often bugs me about religious fiction novels. 1. When the novel  is too predictable...2. When the characters fixate on one emotional problem or situation, and can't seem to get over it until some miraculous awakening at the end 3. When one or more of the characters are so good and so Christian to the point of not being relatable. This novel steered clear of all three annoyances.  Though I knew there would be a good ending I felt compelled to keep reading in order to know how it all would resolve. Though the characters were dealing with tough issues such as loss, grief, guilt, and isolation, I did not feel like I was being hit on the head over and over again. with their insecurities.  Instead I found that the characters dealt with these issues in a natural progression, such that even I was learning along with them.  I found the characters very real. Sometimes I wanted to smack the leading man for his callousness, and other times I wanted to hug him for his tenderness. Lastly, I want too say the the author was able to portray the attraction between the characters in such a way that set my heart pitter-pattering, and I was able to give a sigh of satisfaction at the end.