Stepping to a New Day

June 20, 2016
A vivid sense of caring connections shines in Jenkins's seventh Christian contemporary romance (after For Your Love), set in the idyllic small town of Henry Adams, Kans. Retired big rig driver and widower Terrence "T.C." Barbour relocates to Henry Adams to assist his adult nephew and family. Former mayor and ne'er-do-well Riley Curry and his prized hog, Cletus, return to Henry Adams in a stolen vehicle, with a trail of minor crimes in their wake. Riley's ex, teacher Genevieve Gibbs, is rediscovering herself in her sixth decade, a development her current beau, Clay Dobbs, finds unsettling. T.C. and Genevieve's immediate attraction deepens at a slow burn under the watchful eyes of Gen's neighbors, including rich landowner Bernadine Brown and shotgun-wielding matriarch Tamar July. Their romance is interspersed with tales of continued developmentsâlargely positive in a community that functions on the value of "kindness over rightness"âin the lives of the townsfolk.

May 1, 2016
Every generation in a small town has its own drama, and everyone has his or her own way of getting through it. It's time to catch up with the good people of Henry Adams, Kansas. In the seventh Blessings installment, Jenkins (Forbidden, 2016, etc.) focuses on TC and Genevieve, who are reinventing themselves in their 60s. Our romantic leads both strive toward new goals: TC to start fresh in a new town and to improve his reading, and Genevieve to become a stronger, truer person, to herself and to others. Their determination is fortified by their adorable day-to-day interactions, whether it is shared silence on a drive or one building up the courage to ask the other to lunch. This little Utopia isn't without its problems, of course, including lifelong grudges and con artists. And while there is a romance at the center, there are all kinds of relationships here. Nineteen-year-old Eli, having expressed the loss of his mother in the worst ways, works to reconcile with his father. Pastor and child psychologist Paula has to face her own demons after learning that her grandfather, who raised her, has died. And Genevieve's best friend, Marie, has to figure out how to fix their relationship after a self-inflicted isolation. Other names and faces pop in and out, giving us glimpses of past and future stories. Some are deliberately left open, but we know Jenkins will return to tell new ones about the people of Henry Adams. Her style is familiar and cozy, and Jenkins knows how to distinguish her characters' voices so as not to confuse readers by the whirlwind changes in perspective. She's also good at weaving in back story so new readers will find themselves at home. It's easy to lose hours at a time caught up in this book. An achingly sweet feel-good story of love and redemption of all kinds.

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June 15, 2016

Divorced and reclaiming her life, Genevieve Gibbs is not about to go back to being the submissive doormat she once was--or get involved with another man. Then widowered TC Barbour comes to town to spend time with his nephew and his two teenage daughters, and before long Genevieve is rethinking her decision. A town full of quirky, mostly lovable characters adds depth and interest to a touching story that blends humor and realism--and a pinch of the macabre--with exceptional skill. Once again, tiny Henry Adams, KS, springs to life in Jenkins's masterful hands. VERDICT The author continues to build this engaging community in a sweet, wholesome, gentle read that offers a message of strength and redemption and will be welcomed by women's fiction and romance fans. Jenkins (Forbidden) lives in southeastern Michigan.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.