Small Town Girl

May 13, 2013
Gabhart continues the story of the Merritt family, first introduced in Angel Sister. Kate’s the middle sister—the sensible one, the fixer of other people’s problems. She encounters her own problems when older sister Evie marries their pastor, and his childhood friend, Jay Tanner, comes to Kentucky to stand as best man . On the surface, Jay and Kate have nothing in common. She’s a third generation Rosey Corner resident; he’s a drifter. Kate stands strong in tense situations; Jay is prone to pack up and leave when things get tough. She’s a woman of faith; he’s not sure what he believes. Still, the attraction is immediate. While the ending is predictable, Gabhart plants enough roadblocks to make the story interesting. In dealing with Jay’s spirituality, she raises legitimate issues of faith and shows understanding of those who do not easily accept a Christian religious message. And while Kate is the undisputed protagonist, young Lorena Birdsong, an abandoned child unofficially adopted by the Merritts, certainly has her share of scene-stealing moments. Agent: Wendy Lawton, Books and Such Literary Agency.

July 1, 2013
Kate Merritt is in love with the groom, Mike Champion. Unfortunately, the bride is Evie, her sister. But when best man Jay Tanner shows an interest in Kate, she gets over her crush on Mike and begins to have feelings for Jay. Since they were kids, Carl Noland has assumed Kate would marry him, and the townspeople of Rosey Corner accept this as a done deal. But now, when Kate tells Carl once and for all that they are not a couple, Carl reacts by enlisting in the navy. How is she to know that WWII is about to start, and the people of Rosey Corner will blame her for Carl being in harm's way? Gabhart (The Gifted, 2012) has captured the essence of small-town America on the verge of war, and fans of inspirational fiction will appreciate this novel's overtly faith-based message.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)