5 STARS
Are you looking for a laugh-out-loud contemporary Christian romance? Well, look no further. This is such a hilarious story about a marriage of convenience, well more like an engagement of convenience. Lucy is in need of funding for her girls home and Alex, former hunky football quarterback turned wannabe governor, needs a "fiancé" to help him win the upcoming election. These two strike a deal where he'll help with the funding of her girls home if she'll pretend to be his fake fiancé'. This was such a great story I'm not sure even where to begin to say the things I liked about it. My favorite thing about this story was the dialogue between Alex and Lucy; it is sarcastic, funny, quick-witted and snippy. Lucy can barely speak without something sarcastic coming out of her mouth and she is convinced Alex is still a playboy and she is always poking at him about his past. The banter between these two will have you laughing out loud. There were times though that the banter got a bit old and I wanted to just yell at them both and say "shut up already and admit your feelings".
The characters are all lovable and genuine! Lucy is not a size 2 Barbie girl but she is a size 10 normal beauty with a huge heart which makes her very relatable. Alex is my favorite character; he has been changed by tragedy and wants to be a more Godly man and make a difference in the world.
The secondary characters were all great and added a bit more humor to this already hilarious story. At first I did not care for Julian and Clare but then I really got to enjoy those personalities. I really loved Chuck, the youth pastor, and the tidbits that were in the story from his sermons!
I did feel that the story line was a bit predictable and familiar to me! Save the Date reminded me of a story I recently read about a "fake marriage" called the "Convenient Groom" but I enjoyed both of these stories differently. I knew right from the beginning of this story how it was going to end but I still couldn't put the book down, I had to continue reading this delightful story!
This is story about so much more than romance! There are so much spiritual threads than I expected but it was very enjoyable! Save the Date was about the baggage we all carry around that God is asking us to give to Him to carry, our guilt that we need to let go and forgiveness we need to seek and hand out! I loved this story and I plan on reading more by Jones!
I was graciously provided a digital copy of this book by Thomas Nelson through the NetGalley program. All opinions expressed were my own and I was not obligated to write a positive review.
Book Blurb:
When Alex and Lucy pick out wedding invitations, they wonder if they can be printed in vanishing ink.
Former NFL star Alex Sinclair is a man who has it all--except the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancee in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn't quite what he seems, Lucy will find her heart on the line--and maybe even her life. When God asks Alex and Lucy to scrap their playbook and follow his rules, will they finally say, "I do"?
About the Author:
Four-time Carol Award winner Jenny B. Jones writes Christian Fiction romance with equal parts wit, sass, and untamed hilarity. Since writing for both women and teens leaves her with very little free time, she believes in spending her spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits, such as watching E!, going to the movies and inhaling large buckets of popcorn, and writing her name in the dust on her furniture. She is the author of romantic comedies for women such as Save the Date as well as books for teens, like A Charmed Life series and fall 2011 release There You'll Find Me.Buy the book at Amazon:
I didn't think I would like this book because the characters were so young, but I loved it! I totally agree with your review :) Snappy dialogue was a big factor, and the spiritual elements sewed it up tight for me.
ReplyDeleteI bought this book a couple weeks ago on sale and it was added to the bottom of my too read pile. After reading your review I knew I had to read it sooner. I had a really rough morning yesterday and decided I needed a funny read during prep. I could not put this book down. I only have about 40 pages left, but I know already this is going to be one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the review!