**Book received for consideration. Post contains affiliate links. All thoughts are 100% my own.
When the fun-loving and spontaneous artist Willow West meets buttoned-up, retired English teacher George Emerson, it's not exactly love at first sight. Though she does find the obsessive-compulsive man intriguing. Making it her mission to get him to loosen up and embrace life, she embarks on what seems like a lost cause--and finds herself falling for him in the process.
A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around--which to him seems like all too often. He's not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them.
But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The question is, will his change of heart be too late for Willow?
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/
I first fell in love with Melody Carlson as a teenager. Her Diary of a Teenage Girl and TrueColors series are perhaps the first books that truly encouraged my love of Christian fiction. They did so by introducing real characters whom were flawed, imperfect and relate-able to me at the time. They incorporated faith without feeling too preachy. They were funny and honest and entertaining. Whether it is in her young adult books or her adult books, this rings true for everything I've read by Melody Carlson. 'Courting Mr. Emerson' was no exception.
The first thing that struck me about this book was that it wasn't your typical love story. Most of those- in my experience anyway- seem to focus more on younger people- ages 30ish or below. This one however features main characters in their 50s. This did take a bit of getting used to- not because it was a bad thing- it just wasn't what I was used to reading. In the end however, it made this story that much more lovely--- proof that love and friendship are important and possible, no matter your age.
I loved getting to know these two quirky stars throughout the story. The characters were well developed and interesting. They butt heads and were complete opposites in many ways, but I believe it made the story all the more entertaining. You could not help but wonder if they would ever figure out where they stood and just get along. Like I said, not your typical love story here! As someone who like George can get a little stuck in my own patterns and not try new things, I really related to him throughout the story. I also enjoyed getting to know the supporting characters throughout who were just as put together and interesting as Willow and George. They truly helped to make the story more dynamic.
In the end, this isn't JUST a book about the budding relationship between George and Willow though. It's also a great story about the budding relationships with God, and His role in it all. It's a great reminder about how He knows just what (or who) we need in our lives even when we don't!
If you're looking for your next great read, 'Courting Mr. Emerson' is certainly worth checking out!
Courting Mr. Emerson is available to purchase now at your favorite Christian book retailers.
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"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24