I just started this book, but it is good so far. Josie left sweet Water Gap a long time ago. She did not say why yet, but it's got to be good. And when she comes back to take the place of her sister because she cant work on the farm because she is pregnant with twins. No one expected her to come even for this because she wouldnt come when her father was suffering from a stoke or even for her dads funeral. So when she got there Grady (the helper and owner of half the property) is bascilly taking Josies dads spot. And behind all of that Josie likes Gradys Good muscular figure. Also Grady dosnt want Josie there because he thinks Josie wants to convince Laurel into perminatley selling the ranch. But instead she just wants Laurel to sell it to Grady Because Nate And Laurel cant afford to lose another crop. This book was a quick read. The plot was a parallel to Christian theology of sacrifice, with the heroine struggling with feelings of guilt after a childhood friend gives his life to save hers. She feels unworthy, and spends her life running away from truth, family, and love. When she finds out she has a disease that will kill her if it goes untreated, she decides this is God's judgement for the mistake she made resulting in her friend's death and refuses to take the medicine that will save her. Going home to help her sister and family with the harvest of apples, she meets Grady, who falls in love with her. His love mirrors the love of Christ's and she learns what grace is, accepting it and allowing her disease to be treated. The concept of this book is a moving parallel to the main idea of Christianity, that even though we didn't deserve it, Christ loved us anyway and died for our salvation. However, the entire time I read the book I was frustrated with Josie, the heroine, for what she was doing to herself and her family. I understand she felt guilty, but I just couldn't get past her selfishness, lying to her family, killing herself slowly and painfully as she allowed the disease to ravage her body, and not thinking twice about what her decisions would do to her family after her death. She thought only of escaping her own guilt, and I couldn't sympathize with that. The hero, however, is quite likable. He has the requisite rugged good looks for this genre, and, after his initial hesitancy with Josie's character (he compared her to his ex-wife, who lied and had multiple affairs) came to care for her and protect her tenderly. He offered her the message of salvation, which was sweet and timely. For the most part the dialogue was realistic, especially in the scenes when the two sisters are dishing about Josie's relationship with Grady, dissecting details about their first kiss, etc. There were a several times when the phrasing seemed too down-home country to be realistic, such as the repeated use of phrases like "Heaven's to Betsy," and "Mercy, but he smelled good." The romantic scenes were sweet and simple, with a bit of tension and nothing overtly sexual. All in all, I think it was a decent, easy read, and I enjoyed it. It had a positive message and left me feeling hopeful and energized.
What do You think about De Appelboomgaard (2012)?
Did not realize it was a Women of Faith Fiction. Enjoyable, likable characters. Easy read.
—taylor
I don't have much comment on this novel. I don't love it but I don't hate it eiher.
—dooblydoo
Yet again, Denise Hunter writes a comical romance that had me hooked from page one!
—Sal
Good storyline but not the best written book. Worth the read though...
—jude
Cute and clean. A little bit too much past baggage, but good.
—rose
