Fiction Addict

Genre: Romance, Religious

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

When Maura Sullivan left the small town of Granger, Ohio, she didn’t plan to ever return. You see when Maura left town, she also left her husband, Nick. As sad as this is, we all know that this happens often in today’s society. What makes Maura’s story different is that Nick is also a beloved pastor in this small town. Throw in a well intentioned woman who leaves both Nick and Maura some very special things in her will and you have a very sticky situation with some interesting ramifications.

Everything in Maura’s life has gone south since leaving Granger and she is anxious to do what she needs to do and leave the town and its people behind once again. The last person she wants to see is Nick, so imagine her feelings when she ends up sharing an elevator with him at the attorney’s office building. Things get even worse when she discovers that in order to receive the bequest from the will, she’s going to need to live with Nick in the parsonage for six months. Really?!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book. This subject could easily be overbearing and preachy and I admit that I feared the worst. Imagine my delight when I opened this book and found myself so deeply involved in it that I carried the book everywhere with me. This story completely entranced me. It drew me in with a compassion and interest that made me feel like these were people I know.  The writing shows a keen insight and understanding of what people go through as they live their Christian walk every day. AlLee addresses the hurt that comes from separation and divorce without ever preaching or judging. She moves deftly and with great beauty through the thought process of characters confronting sins of their past and mistakes of the present as they stretch through a sometimes painful maturing process.

The storyline could easily feel trite and contrived, but AlLee diffuses this by having Maura voice the same feelings herself. The disbelief, questions and concerns that a reader might have, all get addressed through the storyline and plot, helping to make the story more believable and real.

Many Christian books, especially stories about divorce or contemporary life, have a tendency to be heavy handed and preachy. The characters can sometimes speak some sort of Christian-ese language that doesn’t flow well with what believers live and speak daily. This book not only does not suffer from that problem, it flows with realism and understanding. The struggles are relatable. The language is honest. The writing is simple and beautiful. Several times as I was reading, I wanted to find Maura or Nick and give them a hug. This was a simple, beautiful story of love interrupted, found, and built again. This book would be a wonderful gift for a pastor’s wife, a newlywed, a seasoned wife… You know actually, just forget the list. This book is a beautiful read no matter who you are.