Sweetwater Gap

October 13, 2008
A good kiss goes a long way, especially in a Christian romance novel that is surely free of much physical entanglement beyond the perfect smooch. Bestselling romance novelist Hunter, in her newest, offers the requisite great kiss and loads of tension between Josephine Mitchell, who returns to her family's Blue Ridge Orchard when her sister's pregnancy becomes a crisis, and Grady MacKenzie, the orchard manager, who doesn't trust Josie for a minute. There are secrets to be kept, guilt to overcome, past heartbreak to repair—all fodder for a good romance. The author adds more weight than usual as Josie's guilt over an accident in her past threatens her very life, but like all good romances, everything is tied up at the end. And even though the tale becomes overwrought as Hunter plumbs the depths of Josie and Grady's thoughts and introduces a plethora of side plots (Aunt Lola's pie; Alzheimer's suffered by the father of Josie's childhood friend; Josie's father) this Women of Faith Fiction title is sure to grab readers by the heart.

November 1, 2008
Josie, a photographer, is less than thrilled when she is called to return home to Shelbyville, NC, and her family's Blue Ridge Orchard, but she decides to try to convince the family to sell the apple orchard. She immediately clashes with orchard manager Grady MacKenzie, but she eventually develops an appreciation for his quiet strength and lifestyle. Hunter's latest offering (after "Surrender Bay") is a predictable love story with the usual stock plot elements of a big city girl who returns to her roots only to discover the important things in life. Still, it is a good tale that will appeal to female readers. Recommended for CF and for women's fiction collections.

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