Audra Pope was not exactly the same girl Mike remembered. Alone since her mother remarried and moved to Hawaii, she blamed God because she had scoliosis and was, therefore, unlovable. Mike’s devotion to God and his church just seemed to magnify her lack of commitment, but mostly, Audra just felt inferior—especially when a single mother of two, Kelli, decided Mike would make a wonderful match for her. Would she manage to take Mike’s attention away from Audra?

Ms. Rose Ross Zediker has done a good job of identifying her main characters with their distinct personalities and, of course, their inability to communicate with each other. Each one had deep memories of the other from high school, even though Mike was three years younger. The supporting cast was so well-defined that it was like I already knew them all and was actually involved in their lives. It was amazing how quickly I lost myself in this novel and, even though I am through reading, its story lingers in my mind.

Although I was unfamiliar with this author, I would definitely seek her out. This story showed the love of God and His people without being preachy or stuffy. I highly recommend this book to anyone who craves sweet, optimistic stories without resorting to sappy tactics. I really enjoyed this story and was sorry for it to end. And the ending—that was definitely a surprise!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Sweet

Reviewer: Brenda Talley
November 29, 2007