Fiction Addict

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Summerside Press

Publication Date: March 3, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Paradise, Pennsylvania is a small town nestled in the heart of Amish country. It’s not a huge bustling metropolis but it’s not really what you would call a quaint gorgeous little town. It’s more like…oh wait. I’m supposed to review the book, not the town. See, I grew up in Pennsylvania so I’ve been to Paradise (the town) on more than one occasion. So when I got a copy of this book in the mail from Loree Lough, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. I’ve read Loree’s work before and I’ve visited the town. That’s a perfectly matched partnership for expectations on this book. As is Loree’s expertise with people and the location in this book.

Julia is a beautiful young attorney whose family originally hailed from Paradise. Her life growing up was the furthest thing from ideal that you could imagine. Initially removed from her drug addicted parents and placed in care with her grandparents, Julia loved life in their beautiful home in Paradise. Then the government system stepped in, removed her from her grandparents and placed her in the foster care system.  When her grandparents passed away and left her their home and their land, at first she wasn’t interested. After a lot of wrestling with the decision, she moved back to Paradise and that’s where she met Simon.

Simon is a handsome young widower whose wife died very young. He was left broken hearted and determined never to love another woman again. The first time he meets Julia, those promises go out the window. He can’t stop the attraction he feels, but Julia is broken by her past and believes that she’s somehow tainted, so she keeps Simon at arm’s length.

Their story is rich and beautifully crafted. With good friends in the Amish community, the two characters give us a glimpse of what the ‘simple’ life is like. We learn about forgiveness amidst great tragedy and how a deep and real love can change you to your core. Loree’s writing cuts to the heart of topics that touch everyone. Acceptance, brokenness, inadequacy. She writes them all in such a way that helps clear the mind and lets the reader see some of these issues in a new way.

Loree Lough’s books are a breath of sunshine in a market that has trended toward heavy topics of late. (Not that this is a bad thing. I have several books that I’m looking forward to reading that would definitely be called heavy topics!) I recently told someone that Loree’s books are like mouthwash. They are easy to use and leave you feeling fresh and clean. If you’ve been wrapped in heavy books lately or would like a breath of fresh romance in your reading, give Loree’s books a chance. They’ll not only leave you with that fresh feeling I mentioned earlier, but the characters will wrap around your heart and meet you wherever you are.

Review copy provided by the author.