by Lois Richer
Northern Lights series, Book 1
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Available September 2013
Harlequin Love Inspired
224 pages
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About the Book
Back home to heal, army veteran Kyle Loness can't wait to leave the
town that holds such sad memories. He never expects beautiful newcomer
Sara Kane to enlist his help with the town's new youth center. What does
he know about helping kids? But the more time he spends with the
troubled teens—and Sara—the more the jaded soldier feels his defenses
crumbling. It might take Sara—and the kids—to open his guarded heart to
love again.
My Thoughts
The story sounded promising
with Sara's past as a foster child who suffered abuse at the hands of
her foster parents and Kyle's recent injury serving in Afghanistan. The
setting of a quaint little town in Manitoba, Canada was so amazing that
I've added that part of Canada to my "must see" travel list! And while I
certainly liked Kyle and Sara and the surrounding the Lives Under
Construction group home, I found that the problems with the book
prevented me from getting lost in the story.
Sara's characterization was both inconsistent and unbelievable. She alternated from being so naive that she came across as stupid (at times) to showing great wisdom and confidence. Sometimes this happened between chapters, sometimes between paragraphs. There were also things about character that were altogether unbelievable. Regardless of the circumstances of her childhood, I find it hard to believe that a 22-year-old woman doesn't know how to use a computer. Surely at some point during the five-year gap between leaving foster care, going to cooking school, and arriving in Churchill, Manitoba, she had the opportunity to use a computer, right?! Additionally, the budding romance between Kyle and Sara had a few missteps as well. In one scene, the two went from having a serious moment, to fighting, to going back home. Then at home, it was as though the fight never happened. This happened multiple times. Issues were so quickly resolved in the last few pages, that I was frustrated by the need for more ... a lot more.
I alternated between wanting to like this story and being frustrated by the pitfalls. In the end, though, the pitfalls stacked up too quickly and affected my overall enjoyment of the book. [2.5 stars]
I received a temporary e-copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for my fair and honest review, which I have given.
Sara's characterization was both inconsistent and unbelievable. She alternated from being so naive that she came across as stupid (at times) to showing great wisdom and confidence. Sometimes this happened between chapters, sometimes between paragraphs. There were also things about character that were altogether unbelievable. Regardless of the circumstances of her childhood, I find it hard to believe that a 22-year-old woman doesn't know how to use a computer. Surely at some point during the five-year gap between leaving foster care, going to cooking school, and arriving in Churchill, Manitoba, she had the opportunity to use a computer, right?! Additionally, the budding romance between Kyle and Sara had a few missteps as well. In one scene, the two went from having a serious moment, to fighting, to going back home. Then at home, it was as though the fight never happened. This happened multiple times. Issues were so quickly resolved in the last few pages, that I was frustrated by the need for more ... a lot more.
I alternated between wanting to like this story and being frustrated by the pitfalls. In the end, though, the pitfalls stacked up too quickly and affected my overall enjoyment of the book. [2.5 stars]
I received a temporary e-copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for my fair and honest review, which I have given.
About the Author
Lois Richer likes variety. From being a human resources manager to
working at a salon to being an entrepreneur, she's found life has held
plenty of surprises.
"Having given up on fairy tales, I was happily involved in building a
restaurant when a handsome prince walked into my life and upset all my
career plans with a wedding ring. Motherhood quickly followed. I guess
the seeds of my storytelling took root because of two small boys who
kept demanding, 'Then what, Mom?'"
The miracle of God's love for His children, the blessing of true
love, the joy of sharing Him with others—that is a story that can be
told a thousand ways and still be brand-new. Lois Richer intends to go
right on telling it.
Lois Richer Online
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