Recipes and Redemption
[d-w5619]

5 of 5 Stars In Recipes and Redemption, we get better acquainted with Erin, Jason's sister and Beth's housemate. (Jason and Beth are the couple in the previous book.) At 23, a widowed mom and a caterer, Erin is both more mature than average for her years and filled with youthful self-doubt. Even so, she's been on her own for a bit over a year as the story starts. Rusty, Jason's good friend and history professor at the local college, admires Erin from the get-go. But he's a nice guy and hasn't wanted to even hint at romance while she's still grieving her husband. However, he loves her cooking and as such sees her on a fairly regular basis. Erin's innocence and naivete start to get her into a bit of trouble. Fortunately, because of a joke about Rusty's easy-t0-remember phone number, she does exactly that and remembers how to contact him--and let him rescue her--when a dangerous mishap means she's left without her phone. Since this is a faith-based romance, you can see the hand of God in Erin's mishaps and the decisions that lead her into dangerous areas. These all allow Rusty to be her hero and rescue her. With each rescue, her heart softens toward the man and she starts thinking of life beyond being a widowed mom. It doesn't hurt that Rusty adores her little boy. In turn, Erin's strong faith begins to rescue Rusty in its own way. His past is colored by a traumatic loss that has cut him off from his family. The reconciliation at the end had me in happy tears. Karen Malley crafted a solid sequel with strong characters in their own rights. I hope we get to see more of Jason and Erin's new-found sister in the next one!