When Rough around the Edges Meets Refined showed up on my radar, after reading the blurb, I knew I had to scoop this freebie up. I’m glad I did. This was a sweet romance with lots of meat to chew on later. Here’s what enticed me then we’ll chat.
books
Excited about Reading: Loving Kate by Lara Van Hulzen
Wow, Lara Van Hulzen’s writing just keeps getting better and better! Have you checked out her books? I thoroughly enjoyed her Men of Honor series, but Loving Kate, the second book in the Silver Bay series, is definitely my favorite book of hers so far. And don’t you just adore that cover? 🙂 Continue reading
Excited about Reading: Just a Kiss by Denise Hunter
Y’all know I’m a huge Denise Hunter fan, right? Did you see the Hallmark movie made from her book, The Convenient Groom? I didn’t enjoy the movie nearly as much as the book. So, fair warning, read the book. lol. Enough of the commercial. Back to Just a Kiss…
Riley’s just come home from serving in the Marines, minus half of one leg and suffering from PTSD. His best and dearest friend, Paige, can’t wait to help him adjust to life back in the States. Riley’s loved her since high school, but Paige was a little slower to realize her feelings…and his.
I confess I struggled to write this review. Not because the book was bad. Hardly! As with all other Hunter books, I gobbled snatches whenever I could. But I. Did. Not. Like…
Riley.
Gasp! How bad is that? Riley’s the hero, the brave man who served his country, the friend who chose not to reveal his true feelings solely to preserve their lifelong friendship.
At times, I wanted to reach into the book and sit Riley down over a cup of coffee. To warn him that unless he stopped with the surly attitude directed at Paige, he would lose her for good. How could she love this guy?
Maybe Riley would kindly explain that depression does that to a person. That it was like being tossed into a deep, dark prison where pain and sleepless nights are the norm. No wonder Riley acted that way. Paige chose to love him for the hero she knew him to be, and the walls of bitterness and resentment had to crumble eventually. Good thing he finally came around. And so did I. 🙂
The real goodie in this book wasn’t the romance. For me, it was the meaty nuggets to chew on later.
To Ponder
- How I consider myself lacking because of certain physical limitations
- How stubbornness and pride keep me from achieving my full potential
- How I need family and other connections
- How I sometimes fixate so much on what’s wrong, it’s difficult to be grateful for what’s right
- How seasons in my life come around for a reason, a purpose, and I shouldn’t fight them, but learn, grow, evolve.
This might not have been my favorite of Hunter’s books, but I’m so glad I chose to spend a few hours hanging out with Riley and Paige. And I would do it all over again.
Weaving a Legacy of Grace 