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The professional fixing of a church steeple has parallels in rebuilding a life after tragedy strikes. I could identify with the main character who feels as if she doesn't deserve God's cleansing or God's love because of "what she'd done". It's a path I've walked recently. ( )

There were two statement made by the author that made me appreciate this story even more. One was why she writes for Steeple Hill's love Inspired line; and that is because she gets to combine her faith in God with her love of romance. She does a good job of both. The other comment made was in the author's note to the reader at the back of the book. She stated how this story was based on the death of her sister, Glenda, who died because of a drunk driver. The struggles the family in this story went through were some of the same struggles this author had to deal with also. I appreciated the healing process that took place for everyone.

Rosemary Brinson's life fell apart the night her fiancee, Eric, ran her mother's car off the road and she died instantly. The fact that Eric was drinking and the fact that Rosemary's father never really wanted her to marry Eric, pushed her father over the edge and Rosemary finds herself living with a father who is bitter and unforgiving to his daughter.

Skip ahead a year and Rosemary has hired Kirk Lawrence to restore the historic town church. This handsome steeplejack has a tender side and soon both Rosemary and Kirk find themselves being drawn to each other. But Kirk will be moving on when the project is done and Rosemary can't leave until she has her father's blessing and forgiveness. There is a deep emotional struggle for both characters, but I liked the advice Kirk got from his Mom, "Once you put your heart to something, you get so much more back But you find pain in the giving, and in the getting. And that's something you've avoided in your carefree, free-spirited gypsy life". There was a lot of forgiveness that needed to take place in this story and a lot of giving your struggles to the Lord and letting Him work things out for everyone's good. ( )

This was a really good read about how Kirk and Rosemary came together. There were plenty of steamy scenes, and I enjoyed every one of them! It's a good story. Rosemary's father has not forgiven her for her mother's fateful death. She lives in a tortured, angrished relationship with her father. Enter Irishman, Kirk who sweeps Rosemary off her feet, gives her hope again, and stirs up all sorts of conflict with Rosemary and her family. Kirk soon realizes he wants Rosemary, and is willing to change for her.

**SPOILER**

I must say that Kirk really made me mad...I almost threw the book across the room when he 'told' Rosemary that he can't stay - she has to come with him. I thought that was awfully creepy and insensitive of him. He must understand that family is important, and asking Rosemary to live in a trailer on the back of his truck and travel around the world is very selfish!!! With that said, I don't think Rosemary should have agreed to marry Kirk unless he was willing to compromise with her. In the end, he was willing to stay, BUT that still doesn't erase the fact that instead of easing her worries and agreeing to settle there while she tries to work out her differences with her family, he expects her to just...give up everything and throw caution into the wind...Sorry, but like Rosemary may never forgive Eric for killing her mother, I may never forgive Kirk for being such a jerk in this case!!!

But I did like the fact that her father went to stop him, and Kirk was going to turn the truck around and go into the church and drag her out...So, even though I'm left upset with Kirk for being a jerk, it's still a pretty good read...

The Wedding quilt part seemed a bit weak too. Would Rosemary really want the quilt that was made for her and Eric's wedding - the very quilt her mother died for? Wouldn't there be all sorts of bitterness and pain in that quilt? Was that REALLY an appropriate wedding gift for Rosemary and Kirk?

On Eric and Rosemary's friend: I see a sequel in that story. Their romance could be a story, and we can get a follow up of just what happened with Rosemary and her family. Did she and Kirk settle down or travel in his trailer? Did her father remarry? Was Eric finally able to come to terms with what he did and find happiness with _____? I SO wish we could have had a sequel to this story and read Eric's story (sigh) Oh well... ( )