Paperback, 224 pages
Published April 2nd 2018 by Covenant Communications, Inc
Source: I received a copy, which did not affect my opinion in any way
Lucy Kappal can't figure out why she doesn't want to marry her sometimes-boyfriend, Charles. After all, he's perfect on paper: a returned missionary, elders quorum president, a professor at BYU. Instead of giving Charles an answer to his unexpected marriage proposal, she boards the next flight to London only to fall at the feet of the handsome pilot. The encounter leaves her heart pounding in a way it never has with Charles, and she becomes even more smitten when she sees the pilot again at her hotel.
Emerson James is in London to deposit the last of his mother's ashes in Kensington Gardens. And after a fifteen-year absence, he is attempting to return to the Church as a way to find peace with his mother's death. But the Church's culture feels foreign, and he's about to give up on ever becoming a "good Mormon" when he meets Lucy in the hotel lobby.
Lucy and Emerson's new friendship opens their worlds to new possibilities and leaves them wanting more. But Lucy is torn over her feelings for Charles, and Emerson isn't sure how committed he can be to the Church, even knowing how important it is to Lucy. Inevitably, the realities of life force them apart. If given a second chance, will they have the courage to risk everything for a once-in-a-lifetime love?
Emerson James is in London to deposit the last of his mother's ashes in Kensington Gardens. And after a fifteen-year absence, he is attempting to return to the Church as a way to find peace with his mother's death. But the Church's culture feels foreign, and he's about to give up on ever becoming a "good Mormon" when he meets Lucy in the hotel lobby.
Lucy and Emerson's new friendship opens their worlds to new possibilities and leaves them wanting more. But Lucy is torn over her feelings for Charles, and Emerson isn't sure how committed he can be to the Church, even knowing how important it is to Lucy. Inevitably, the realities of life force them apart. If given a second chance, will they have the courage to risk everything for a once-in-a-lifetime love?
My Review: 5 Stars
I have to admit that sometimes I'm a little hesitant in reading these types of books because they can come off as preachy, but I loved the way that Sarah Alva incorporates the quirks of being an "older" LDS single into this delightful book. Everyone has a story and a past and she addresses the judgy attitudes in a way that is light, yet real, and oh, so adorable.
It was kind of hilarious that I started this book just as I was boarding a Delta flight home from a vacation and I wanted to take a peak at my pilot to see if he was anything like Emerson, who is a pilot. I fell head-over-heels with these characters and loved the way things kept lining up in serendipitous ways. I really should have been sleeping, but I could not put it down. As with most romances, the outcomes can be a bit predictable, but the road to get there never is and I had to know how things were going to turn out. I was shocked when I looked down and saw that I only had 7% of the book left to read.
Lucy has my dream job--she works with ice cream, discovering new flavors. The descriptions are amazing and made my mouth water.
I'm not kidding when I say the characters are fantastic. There are some to love, some to hate, some to roll your eyes at, and everything in between, but they are written in a life-like way that made them jump right off of the pages. The romance had me fanning the butterflies in my stomach. So, so cute!
Honestly, I'm surprised this is a debut novel and I've got my eye on this author. I can't wait for more!
Content: mild, swoony romance; mild innuendo
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thanks for your review.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteVera Wilson said,
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read.
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