"Small Town Girl" Review

Kate Merritt has been in love with Pastor Mike since she was fifteen – or so she thought. With her sister actually being the one to marry Pastor Mike and with a charming best man in the form of Jay Tanner showing up to the wedding, Kate doesn’t know what to think anymore.

Jay Tanner has spent his life mostly on his own. Being raised by an unloving aunt and uncle after the death of his mother has caused Jay to feel that the only person he can trust is himself. But meeting Kate changes everything, and Jay is drawn to the town of Rosey Corner and the people there in a way he has never experienced before.

The United States is on the brink of entering the Second World War, and no one in the country will remain unaffected. Will Jay and Kate be able to learn to trust, or will the war in the land – and in their own hearts – keep them apart?

Small Town Girl is the second book in the Rosey Corner series by Ann H. Gabhart.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series – Angel Sister – so when I found out there was to be another book about Kate and her family, I was so excited. As I began the book, I delighted in returning to Rosey Corner and reconnecting with all of the characters from the first book.

After I was reacquainted with the characters and the story, however, I thought the plot moved rather slowly. I appreciated that the author was giving Kate and Jay time to get to know each other – quick romances are definitely a pet peeve of mine – but the whole story just moved very slowly, especially in the middle. Since the bombing of Pearl Harbor and other crucial events didn’t take place until at least ¾ of the way through the novel, there didn’t seem to be enough to keep the plot moving before that. It was mostly just inner monologues from Kate and Jay.

Even though these inner monologues were somewhat repetitive, they did help to develop the main characters very well.  I really felt as if I knew them, and I thought Jay’s growth throughout the novel was excellent. The character of Lorena is just a delight, and I absolutely loved how Kate and her family embraced Jay and showed him how a relationship with God completely changes your life.

I have to say, though, that the advice Kate received from almost everyone in her life confused me a bit. Again, I loved how they took Jay in and showed him how a family loves and showed him that God loves him, too. I also really liked the open and honest relationship that Kate had with her mother. But her mother’s advice to “follow her heart” when she was unsure of Jay’s relationship with Christ seemed contradictory. Kate and the other members of her family seemed to seek God through prayer and through the Bible constantly, so this advice from several members of the family didn’t seem to fit. This contradiction just bothered me throughout the novel, even as I was enjoying the rest of the story.

Although I didn’t find it as captivating as Angel Sister, I did enjoy Small Town Girl. The last quarter of the book was very intense and moving – so much so that I am really hoping that there is another book in this series. I want to know what happens in the lives of Kate and her sisters in the future.

I will give Small Town Girl … 3 BookWorms.

 




Small Town Girl
by Ann. H. Gabhart
Book #2 in the "Rosey Corner" series
Revell Publishers
Publication date: July 1, 2013




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."