Helpful Score: 2
What happens when you take two womenone a perfectionist, workaholic mother and career woman; and the other an overwhelmed, burned-out wife and motherand place them and their teenaged children in an almost Amish setting for the summer? Both women accept this reality TV challenge for different reasons. Susan hopes it will be the start of a television career for her with her very own cooking show, and she convinces her friend and sister-in-law Julie to come along and help her out. Julie hopes to escape from the chaos and confusion that her life has become and slow down and enjoy her children more. Julie is so frustrated with trying to do everything that everyone wants and expects from her especially since she feels inadequate so much of the time. Susan always requires perfection not only from herself but everyone else as well. Their children are not thrilled to spend the summer without their friends, computers and cell phones but they all set off to try to enjoy the adventure. As you would guess, nothing is remotely like they expect and that is where it gets interesting
I was not sure what to expect from this novel but it was still very different from what I had imagined. I expected it to be a story about the Amish as well as these two modern women but it was not. I found that it did not matter as the story was very good just the way it was. The twists and turns of all the interaction between the family members as well as with the crew members of the television show were very well thought out and held my interest from the get-go. I have never liked reality TV and this book proved my point on that score. It did make for an interesting backdrop for the story to unfold. If you are expecting a typical Christian fiction love story you will be surprised, but I do not think you will be disappointed. This story has depth of character and imparts a lesson that is worth learning. I highly recommend it.
I received this complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers for this review. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed here are my own.
I was not sure what to expect from this novel but it was still very different from what I had imagined. I expected it to be a story about the Amish as well as these two modern women but it was not. I found that it did not matter as the story was very good just the way it was. The twists and turns of all the interaction between the family members as well as with the crew members of the television show were very well thought out and held my interest from the get-go. I have never liked reality TV and this book proved my point on that score. It did make for an interesting backdrop for the story to unfold. If you are expecting a typical Christian fiction love story you will be surprised, but I do not think you will be disappointed. This story has depth of character and imparts a lesson that is worth learning. I highly recommend it.
I received this complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers for this review. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed here are my own.
Helpful Score: 1
A contemporary novel about contemporary families, this was not what I expected. I think I didn't read the cover information well. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, as did the families involved in the summer adventure. The lessons learned about slowing down in order to use your gifts well were worth the price of admission and then some.