3.5 stars--note: rating seen may depend on whether the site allows half stars to be recorded.

For me, this book got going in the last half or so where the two main characters (Jaycee and Derek) finally admit their feelings for each other and start working on their personal problems that have kpt them from romantic commitments in all their previous relationships. I liked the interaction between Mrs. P and Jaycee moreso than the ones between Pastor Steve and Derek because I felt like the female interactions flowed more naturally than the talks the men had. There were a couple times that both heard Pastor Steve preach a sermon--I have to admit that most of the time when that comes up in a book I tend to start skimming the text rather than reading the full sermon.

I think the readers that gave up on this book missed some good things that came at the end--but I can't really fault them for not finishing the book either because there were times I wondered if I was going to myself. The plot point of characters loving each other but neither being willing to admit it to the other is so over-done in romantic fiction these days. I'd so much rather read about couples that know they love each other but need to work through what life throws at them and come out the other side stronger for it.

This is billed as a Christian romance but the Christian part was hard to see in the early pages. I guess both believed in God but neither was really walking the Christian walk. That is another part that didn't really come to light until they settled in Jaycee's hometown of Ridgemont.

Kate/Katie was a bit of an annoying thorn in the side. I liked the boys (Luke's and Sage's as well as the pastor's boys) and how they helped out in the town after the hurricane. I liked that the town was building the boys's self worth by praising them and by being willing to let them help out and teach them skills. I was also glad to see that Derek made Mrs. P feel useful and made it seem like it was a trade for them to work on her house in exchange for her helping to feed the crew. ( )