"'Isn't that just like God,' the old woman had said with a rusty chuckle, 'to take a nasty-looking green worm and turn it into something so beautiful, giving it flight to soar closer to Him on the wings of the wind?'" - Miss Lilly
Description:
She's bent on fun.
He's bent on faith.
'Til true love bridges the gap.
Cat O'Bryen is the prodigal daughter unhappy with God. First, the father with whom she reconciled dies of cancer and now her twin sister and best friend marries, leaving Cat at home with a newlywed mother, her new husband, and a little brother. But when Cat moves in with a roommate of questionable morals, her family is worried, certain she’s on a path that could damage her faith forever.
Reluctant to get involved with a woman like the one who destroyed his life, ex-Navy SEAL Pastor Chase Griffin steers clear of the attraction he feels for Cat O’Bryen. Until her family begs him to take her under his wing, hoping he can draw her back into the fold. But when the draw she has on him proves too strong to resist, he must rely on the strength of God to offer a friendship as steady and strong as the God whose love is wooing her home.
Reluctant to get involved with a woman like the one who destroyed his life, ex-Navy SEAL Pastor Chase Griffin steers clear of the attraction he feels for Cat O’Bryen. Until her family begs him to take her under his wing, hoping he can draw her back into the fold. But when the draw she has on him proves too strong to resist, he must rely on the strength of God to offer a friendship as steady and strong as the God whose love is wooing her home.
About the Author:
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston series, the Winders of Change series, and The Heart of San Francisco series. The recipient of seventeen Romance Writers of America and other awards, Lessman was chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 and 2012 Readers' Choice Awards. She resides in Missouri with her family. Learn more at www.julielessman.com.
My Review: 5 stars
I know I say this a lot, but I just loved this book! I’ve been anxiously awaiting Cat’s book since reading “Isle Of Hope” the first time and then after reading “Love Everlasting” and learning it would be Cat and Chase’s story just made me all the more ready to find out how the last O’Bryen would finally meet her match. And oh-my-goodness! It was SO worth the wait! I devoured this book, groaning loudly any time I had to put it down, and picking it up again at the first opportunity. Julie Lessman already held a place on my list of favorite authors and she definitely outdid herself on this one! It “may” be my favorite of hers yet . . . . I’ll probably have to read them all again, before I can make such a decision.
As always, I adored Ms. Lessman’s writing style! When she first said she was going to write a contemporary novel, I confess to being a bit unsure how that would work. I loved her historical books, of course, but just couldn’t imagine her style as a contemporary story. But, happily, I was wrong! Her contemporary stories are excellent as well and I love how she kept her style the same, just changed the setting. She drew me in from the very first line and held my attention throughout, keeping me wondering what was coming next for these characters I’d fallen in love with. I love how honest her writing is, drawing me into the characters’ lives and emotions, and the unique way she has of describing things. I also love how her books always revolve around a big family and have dual story lines going at the same time, keeping me up to date with the characters from the last book, while I’m getting to know the new ones.
Catherine “Cat” O’Bryen is definitely a unique heroine and one I immediately connected with. She’s been known to be a “bit” of a drama queen and she never shies away from a challenge. She’s a daredevil with a cautious streak and she wants to experience more of life, but also isn’t willing to break a promise she made to her siblings. I confess that there were a couple times I wanted to shake her for the decisions she was making, but at the same time, I understood where she was coming from. I appreciated how Ms. Lessman chose to write her struggle with faith, as it was something else I connected with. Her questions and doubts echoed some that I’ve also faced and that made her all the more realistic to me.
And Chase Griffin. Am I allowed to sigh over fictional characters that are already spoken for? As an ex-Navy SEAL-turned-pastor, he is definitely more than a little swoony. Add an addiction to Coldstone and the heroine and I might need a fan or two for this one. I liked Chase from the two previous books and he is definitely a guy I’d turn to for advice, but I just fell in love with him here. His dedication, his friendships with Jack and Sam, his muscles, his determination, his care for Cat. He has his own struggles too, of course, and to be honest, they made him even more lovable. He is a bit of a wounded soul and I confess to a tear or two, when I finally learned his story.
Despite all of the things mentioned above, I have to say that my very favorite part of Ms. Lessman’s books is always the spiritual depth I find in them. She doesn’t sugar-coat things or try to make excuses, but she uses difficult situations as teaching moments or opportunities to encourage both the characters and this reader. I find her books challenge me. They cause me to stop and think, and sometimes reevaluate how I view things. They might bring me to tears, or point out things in my life I’d prefer to ignore, but they also point me to the Truth. Some may find them “preachy,” but I love it!
My final comment is that as much as I dreaded the ending of this book and also this series, it was SO good! Definitely worth a couple sighs and soggy smiles, courtesy of the O’Bryens.
As always, thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you'll check out this fantastic book (and it's predecessors) and maybe give it a go!
Have a complaint-free day! (something I'm working on)
