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After five years of being happily married, Christine Rutherford is dissatisfied with her husband Charles. Although she was once captivated by his smile and creamy milk chocolate skin, Charles now seems repulsive to her. When he becomes distant and evasive, Christine immediately suspects there is another woman involved. She begins to nag, which angers Charles and exacerbates their problems. Christine is a preacher's daughter, Charles is a deacon, and the Rutherfords regularly attend church.
Christine's attraction to her widowed minister, Reverend Conrad Baxter, is returned and their relationship adds another complication and obstacle. Secrets and misunderstandings hide the truth and prevent reconciliation until it's almost too late. A surprising subplot near the end of the book poses another challenge for Christine, which she handles gracefully.
To be perfectly honest, I didn't like the main character. Christine appears self-centered and spiteful. Her relationship with Reverend Baxter was a total turnoff for me, causing me to lose respect for him, too. When the true reason for her husband's behavior is revealed, my sympathy turned completely to Charles. The reverend's niece Stacey was a much more appealing character -- caring, compassionate, and feisty. Christine does seem to mature somewhat toward the ending, but the indication that her illicit relationship will turn respectable did not provide a satisfying conclusion for me.
Reviewed by Marie DisBrow
for The Road to Romance
January 4, 2006
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