✨💗 All In Good Time 💗 ✨ (2019) - Book Review
MY REVIEW
Publisher: Multa
Verba Publishing (October 22, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0997971835
ISBN-13: 978-0997971835
“With
three rambunctious, young children, Melanie Lombardi can't see beyond the
day-to-day struggle to maintain her home and her sanity since her husband's
sudden death. A second chance at romance isn't on her radar.
Brian
Perella is done with dating, resigned to being the fun uncle and never the dad.
Until he meets Melanie and her brood of lively kids on the sidelines of a
Little League game.
Nut when
Brian uncovers a co-worker's secret, it re-ignites a temptation that Melanie
can't know about. It's his secret to keep until an unexpected diagnosis brings
everything to the surface, jeopardizing his future with Melanie and her
children, who, when threatened by an unknown stalker, may need him now more
than ever.”
Thank you in advance to JustRead Publicity Tours, Multa Verba publishers, and the author Carolyn Astfalk for providing a review copy. A positive review was not required, all words and thoughts are my own.
Told from dual POVs
(Melanie and Brian), “All in Good Time” is a Christian Romance/Christian
Fiction book about recently widowed mom, Melanie Lombardi. With her three
rambunctious children, she struggles with the simple and mundane day-to-day
tasks. Romance is definitely not on the horizon or radar. She is still wearing
the wedding ring from her marriage to David Lombardi.
That is until she and
Brian Perella meet on the sidelines of a little league game. For a while he had
resigned himself to being an uncle, never a dad. He is resigned to be the coach
for the kids and interact that way.
Not only does her shy
young daughter take to Brian, but Melanie is stunned that he sticks around her
willingly, knowing about her children. He even starts coming over for dinner,
fixing things around the house, and taking them on excursions.
All that changes when Brian
receives an unexpected medical diagnosis. He turns to temptation after dumping
Melanie. But, it isn’t his temptation that causes the break-up; he doesn’t want
to burden her with his health.
Yet, he knows Melanie and
the kids are in danger from a stalker.
The tag lines and summary
for this story grabbed me right away. At first it was a bit of a slow starter
for me. Then it took off and I couldn’t stop reading it. The first night I left
off on chapter 31(52 total + epilogue) and only stopped to go to bed. It was
that engaging and interesting.
While deemed fiction and
romance, this also had a slight element of suspense to it which I believe added
more interest (for me) to it. In reading it, up until the conclusion, I honestly
had the wrong idea about who the stalker was. It did make sense as to who it
was and the “why”. The stalker issue could’ve gone with either story/plot line.
This isn’t a “normal”
Christian read as it had some sex talk. I say that not because I have a problem
with it, but there are some readers who might have issues with it. Also, most
of the “clean” Christian reads I’ve reviewed shy away from that talk as well.
In addition, Astfalk
tackles another tricky subject – pornography. Again, not in line with other
Christian books I’ve read. Even more so they don’t have one of the main characters
“consuming” it. Yet, Astfalk tackles this with a candid reality.
Readers will have to pay
close attention to this plot device as it weaves its way through the story to
an unexpected conclusion.
I found the story to be
an easy read with short-medium length chapters. For an eBook, it is rather
long, but the story flowed quite quickly.
This is a beautiful story
with themes of tested faith, second chances, forgiveness, and redemption. It
might be more geared to those of the Catholic faith as those are the stronger
themes in it, however I am sure it would appeal to those who enjoy Christian
based reads as well.
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carolyn Astfalk is a wife, mother,
and author of contemporary Catholic romances Stay With Me, Ornamental
Graces, and Rightfully Ours. She formerly worked as a
communications director and now works just to keep her head above water. Find
her books on Amazon and her other words scattered around the blogosphere and
social media.
She can be found on the following social media
accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolynMAstfalk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmastfalk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CMAstfalk
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, Marie! So glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteYou're SO very welcome. It was my pleasure :)
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