|
At what price do we forsake young love? Sam Tibbits, worn out pastor, turns his face to a childhood memory and discovers he’s paid a high price. Sam and his family traveled to the coast each summer, and there he met Aubrey. Fearless, adventurous, fun-loving Aubrey. A friendship was born, and Sam felt it would survive forever. When he made the most important decision in his life, he raced to share the news with the one he loved.
Aubrey lived in the shadow of her older brother. Her spirited personality was built largely because she wanted her father to notice her as well. Meeting Sam and forging a relationship changed her perceptions for a while. But she still had her doubts and insecurities.
Sam returns to Piddock Beach with his troubled nephew in tow looking for a measure of happiness. What he finds amazes him. Aubrey has returned also. Sam’s desire to rekindle their relationship grows. Can he find happiness with Aubrey? Will he return to his pastorate and the call on his life? What draws these two to the lonely beach? Will their faith be enough to keep them on the right course?
Deborah Bedford’s novel paints a picture for the reader of a bittersweet time in two young people’s lives. She draws upon deep emotions of insecurity and disappointment to weave her magical tale. This is a very good read.
Reviewed by Eileen Key
for The Road to Romance
June 27, 2005
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This women's fiction novel is contemporary with flashbacks to the 60's.
Sam Tibbetts is a single pastor who may be suffering from burnout. He's not getting the cooperation he seeks from his church board. He returns to Piddock Beach when he is forced to take a sabbatical.
Aubrey McCart is the girl he knew back in the 60s, the only one he ever loved. She also returns to Piddock Beach, but she carries baggage that she isn't ready to share with anyone, especially the man she once loved.
When they reconnect, their relationship is complicated by the presence of Sam's nephew, who didn't want to come with his uncle.
This is an interesting book about how life can lead you down differing paths. It shows the reality of the humanness of people in ministry--how their needs mirror those of parishioners.
The characters in this book are well-developed and very believable. It did seem to take a long time to start the meat of the story, and the flashbacks were sometimes a little awkward, but the story is worth the read. Deborah Bedford is a master at creating a setting that the reader sees, hears, smells, and feels.
Reviewed by Lena Nelson Dooley
for The Road to Romance
October 15, 2005
|
