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A review by xakyr
Chance of Loving You by Susan May Warren, Terri Blackstock, Candace Calvert
3.0
This is a small anthology of three stories by leading Inspirational Authors. I feel it will be easier to review each story individually, than try to review the book as a whole. All things considered, the Candace Calvert story clearly carried the other two entries into a 3 star rating.
For Love of Money by Terri Blackstock
This story reminded me very heavily of the movie It Could Happen To You, and not in a good way. Blake seemed very reckless with his newfound winnings and Julie was a complete shrew about the whole thing. The falling in love declarations were not believable in the slightest, and the faith aspect felt awkward and unwieldy. The whole book had a “trying too hard” vibe to it, making it feel very fake and a bit rushed. It was mildly entertaining, so I’m rating it 2.5 stars.
The Recipe by Candace Calvert
I didn’t realize it at the time, but this book fits right into the Crisis Team Series, which was a pleasant surprise! The story was very nicely done, I started really beginning to care for the characters and wanting to see more of what happened to them! Aimee was very realistic as a character, and I liked how the author didn’t go into a lot of detail about Lucas’ job, as her expertise in a hospital setting shines through very clearly in this story. The supporting characters felt just as important as the main ones, and lent authenticity to the story. All in all, a very enjoyable story I will re-read when reading the series! (4 Stars)
Hook, Line & Sinker by Susan May Warren
This story is part of the author’s Deep Haven series, apparently midway through the series, but I wasn't lost at all. There wasn't much world building done, but the series also wasn't referenced heavily, making this story a good introduction to the author's writing style. However, the characters really weren't realistic to me. What couple wouldn't sit down and communicate with each other when one of them has been grieving? Why did this couple drift apart after the death of Scotty? It made no sense for me. The ministry part of the story seemed contrived and overly competitive, when it really shouldn't have been. I found my interest flagging quite a bit on this story, so thankfully it was short. I think I might check the author's other works out from the safety of the library and not spend my money on something so uncertain. (2 Stars)
For Love of Money by Terri Blackstock
This story reminded me very heavily of the movie It Could Happen To You, and not in a good way. Blake seemed very reckless with his newfound winnings and Julie was a complete shrew about the whole thing. The falling in love declarations were not believable in the slightest, and the faith aspect felt awkward and unwieldy. The whole book had a “trying too hard” vibe to it, making it feel very fake and a bit rushed. It was mildly entertaining, so I’m rating it 2.5 stars.
The Recipe by Candace Calvert
I didn’t realize it at the time, but this book fits right into the Crisis Team Series, which was a pleasant surprise! The story was very nicely done, I started really beginning to care for the characters and wanting to see more of what happened to them! Aimee was very realistic as a character, and I liked how the author didn’t go into a lot of detail about Lucas’ job, as her expertise in a hospital setting shines through very clearly in this story. The supporting characters felt just as important as the main ones, and lent authenticity to the story. All in all, a very enjoyable story I will re-read when reading the series! (4 Stars)
Hook, Line & Sinker by Susan May Warren
This story is part of the author’s Deep Haven series, apparently midway through the series, but I wasn't lost at all. There wasn't much world building done, but the series also wasn't referenced heavily, making this story a good introduction to the author's writing style. However, the characters really weren't realistic to me. What couple wouldn't sit down and communicate with each other when one of them has been grieving? Why did this couple drift apart after the death of Scotty? It made no sense for me. The ministry part of the story seemed contrived and overly competitive, when it really shouldn't have been. I found my interest flagging quite a bit on this story, so thankfully it was short. I think I might check the author's other works out from the safety of the library and not spend my money on something so uncertain. (2 Stars)