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Bonnie Callaway has been widowed for two years. She’s raising two sons, Ben and Josh, in the small town. They live in a supportive community, except for one nosey, lonely old lady, who stirs up more trouble than a kicked hornet nest. Bonnie is not looking for love but she finds the widowed Pastor very appealing.
Pastor Jeff Wells lost his wife and is not looking for love. But, he finds Bonnie Callaway appealing. In fact, he’s drawn to her as he hasn’t been since he met his wife. When Bonnie and Jeff are caught at the local coffee house together, nosey neighbor Clara starts spreading gossip. (We learn later she has selfish motives). Jeff asks Bonnie out on a ‘real’ date.
In the meantime an old flame of Bonnie’s – Preston Hardy shows up and begins tinkering with affections….
When the night of the real date is upon them, Jeff receives a phone call that one of his parishioners has died and he must tend to the family. Bonnie is momentarily upset but understanding. Probably his actions have something to do with her fond feelings.
Circumstance and situations are building blocks of walls of distrust and misunderstandings, and soon, Bonnie and Jeff, the would-be couple is on the outs. It’s obvious to everyone else these two belong together, but the wall won’t come down on its own.
A little surprise at the end sheds light on other characters actions.
Besides some POV issues, To Forgive, Divine is a good story. Forgiveness, grace, love, and courage are highlighted as these two souls seek to find a way together and then apart. It is a story of love and forgiveness. Not just the human kind between people, but also accepting and practicing God’s love and forgiveness.
I don’t know any widowed Pastors but I do have inside knowledge of a Pastor’s life. It is very open, scrutinized, and apparently interesting. People, including church members, can be the icing on the cake, or the sour pickle. This author’s rendition was pretty right on. I enjoyed, To Forgive, Divine, the characters are well rounded and the plot interesting, although a little predictable.
Reviewed by Linda Mae Baldwin
for The Road to Romance
November 18, 2004
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