About the book:
Hawaii was the last place Grace Christiansen ever imagined she'd vacation, much less fall in love. But when her family surprises her with a cooking retreat in paradise, she is pulled-or maybe yanked-away from her predictable, safe life and thrown headfirst into the adventure of a lifetime.
Max Sharpe may make his living on the ice as a pro hockey player, but he feels most at home in the kitchen. Which is why he lives for the three-week culinary vacation he takes each year in Hawaii. Upon being paired with Grace for a cooking competition, Max finds himself drawn to her passion, confidence, and perseverance. But just when Grace dares to dream of a future beyond her hometown, Max pulls away.
Wrestling with personal demons, Max fights against opening his heart to a love he knows he should never hope for. And as his secrets unfold, Grace is torn between the safe path in front of her and what her heart truly desires. If love means sacrificing her ideal happily ever after, Grace's faith will face its toughest test yet.
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My Review:
I am a big fan of cooking; absolutely love it. I always wanted to be a chef so this book was gold! The one thing I absolutely love about the books in this series is how real they are. Grace and Max's story played out exactly how many love stories do. There is struggle and fears and so many emotions that they you feel everything they are going through.
Max Sharpe has a secret that he battles with everyday. He lives in the right now and refuses to look or plan for the future. On his off season from hockey he goes to Hawaii for a culinary vacation. His friend and old teammate Jace "makes" him help out Grace whom her family has sent on the same trip. Grace is a homebody who is afraid to do anything out of her comfort zone. She wants to stay in Deep Haven forever and go to have her own catering business. Unfortunately she doesn't hear back from culinary school and begins to doubt herself. When her family presents her with a culinary vacation in Hawaii, her automatic response is to run. As she is flying to Hawaii she gets seated next to an attractive man who helps her through her fears. He of course turns out to be Max. Neither of them expected to find such friendship and enjoyment together but as they work through this trip and spend every minute together; they find there is more that awaits them then they ever could have imagined. Only problem is if they trust in God enough to allow His will to be done instead of their fears to take rule.
Along with Grace and Max's story, we have Casper and Raina. They don't get the happily ever after in this book. We are left with wondering and wanting to know what happens next in the book to come but their relationship is something so common. Casper is a Christian struggling with finding his place in life and family. Raina has been run over by tragedy and just has had a horrible life. She doesn't believe in God and struggles in this new town where everyone seems to be devout Christians. Owen (one of the Christiansen boys) hurts her right away which scars her and transforms her world a little more. When they meet they automatically hit it off but Raina keeps him and everyone at a distance and sure enough when she lets her guard down, things blow up and her life turns in a direction she never could have imagined. Casper is left broken and lost which KILLED ME!! I just wanted to hug him and make him feel better.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love dual points-of-view?! This book is every character's point of view and it makes it so lovely! You see the real struggle and battle that each character is going through. It makes the book feel so alive and so raw. Each of us has our own struggle especially going into a relationship. Nothing is ever completely easy. We have all been through something that we bring into a relationship with someone or something that keeps us from that person. It all comes down to will we surrender to God and allow Him to take control of our situation.I love the way Jesus was tied into this book. It wasn't corny or trying to shove it in your face. It was genuine and showed the wonders of God and how important it is to just let go even if you fall and allow Jesus to be in complete control.
About the author:
Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award-winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women's events about God's amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors.
Find Susan online: website, My Book Therapy, Twitter, Facebook
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