Review/Giveaway: Emily's Chance

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: Emily's Chance (The Callahans of Texas series #2)
Author: Sharon Gillenwater
Genre: Christian contemporary romance
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.

Entry deadline: November 25, 2010

Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway.  This is my review copy, so it has been gently read. 

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Publisher:  Revell

Physical Description: 352-page paperback

List Price: $14.99 each
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3354-4
For More Info: http://www.sharongillenwater.com/

Synopsis:

Emily Rose may be in the tiny West Texas town of Callahan Crossing for the moment, but it's just a rung on her ladder to success. Her work at the Callahan Crossing Historical Museum will look good on her ever-growing resume as she attempts to break into the prestigious world of a big city museum curator. Little does she know that cowboy and contractor Chance Callahan has decided that he can convince her to stay--both with the town and with him. As he helps Emily restore the town's history after a devastating fire, can he help her uncover the value of love?

About the Author:

Sharon Gillenwater was born and raised in West Texas and loves to write about her native state. The author of several novels, including Jenna's Cowboy and Emily's Chance, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she's not writing, she and her husband enjoy spending time with their son, daughter-in-law, and two adorable grandchildren. She lives in Washington.

What I Liked:  An easy-to-read romance with a happy ending, this book highlights the reality that God's plan for you may be far better than your own.  It also emphasizes that you can't just choose a course with God's blessings once and be done with it - but need to keep coming back to Him for direction.

Another spiritual lesson to be learned is the danger of reverse snobbery - criticizing people for their rich tastes in life, etc. and feeling justified in so doing.

There are also some interesting historical tidbits interspersed in this contemporary story, which I always enjoy.

While I have read Book #1 of this series as well, both books stand alone just fine.  There are a few references to the previous romance (between Chance's sister Jenna and her new husband), but enough explanation not to leave you hanging.

What I Didn't Like:  To be honest, I had a hard time relating to Emily.  I've been trying to pinpoint exactly why.  Perhaps because my relationship with my parents has been wonderfully different.  Or because I've never been able to afford plastic surgery on my nose.  Or because her romance is just syrupy sweet and her guy is totally committed to her from the very beginning, regardless of what challenges she passes his way. 

I don't think it's the writing style - I did enjoy reading the book - but I felt perhaps the conflict Chance experienced towards the beginning, realizing that his stance on purity needed to be modified, could have been fleshed out and dealt with further in the book as a way to add more realism.  It does pop up again in a way as he deals with old family secrets, but he and Emily never grapple with it together, and in real life, that would probably come back and bite them later.  Maybe if I understood Emily's perspective on it, I could better relate to her.

Thanks to Baker Publishing Group for the review copy of this book.

Posted by Jane from Mozi Esmé