Image from Amazon.comSweetwater Gap by Denise Hunter
December 2008
320 pages
From Publishers Weekly:
A good kiss goes a long way, especially in a Christian romance novel that is surely free of much physical entanglement beyond the perfect smooch. Bestselling romance novelist Hunter, in her newest, offers the requisite great kiss and loads of tension between Josephine Mitchell, who returns to her family's Blue Ridge Orchard when her sister's pregnancy becomes a crisis, and Grady MacKenzie, the orchard manager, who doesn't trust Josie for a minute. There are secrets to be kept, guilt to overcome, past heartbreak to repair—all fodder for a good romance. The author adds more weight than usual as Josie's guilt over an accident in her past threatens her very life, but like all good romances, everything is tied up at the end. And even though the tale becomes overwrought as Hunter plumbs the depths of Josie and Grady's thoughts and introduces a plethora of side plots (Aunt Lola's pie; Alzheimer's suffered by the father of Josie's childhood friend; Josie's father) this Women of Faith Fiction title is sure to grab readers by the heart. (Dec.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Amazon.com
My Review
Josie receives a call from her brother in-law Nate, who wants Josie to come and help out with the family orchard as Josies’ sister Laurel is pregnant. Josie struggles with this decision – knowing her fears from her past. Josie quits her job and lets her apartment go and heads for the orchard.
Arriving home, she finds that her sister is pregnant with twins, not one baby, but two!
Josie also finds herself face-to-face with the orchard manager Grady – who is not happy with the prospect of having to work with her at all.
Josie wants to prove herself to Grady and works very hard trying to keep up with him and the other workers. But, the family notices some things about Josie – lack of energy, then vomiting and the family and Grady assumes she is pregnant. However, Josie is trying to hide the illness – not wanting the family to know and especially Laurel who is having some complications with her pregnancy.
Between her illness and past fears, Josie had many obstacles to face. In the end, Grady is there to offer a helping hand and more.
This was a wonderful read. I found it hard to put down. The characters were very well developed. I found myself getting irritated with Miss. Josie at times. It was easy to fall into the character.
Loved the tension and struggles between Josie and Grady throughout the book. And Grady, was he a man to love or what! He became so patient and caring.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
Blessings,
