My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed getting to know both Elinor and Katie Bennett in this installment. They have had small appearances in the preceding two books, but this one really focuses on both of them. They are about as opposite of each other as you can get, with Elinor being very job focused and practical, compared with her whimsical sister that wears her heart on her sleeve and is always expecting Mr. Right to be right around the corner. When they both get a surprise from their grandmother to attend a special weekend at a resort accompanied by a crime solving event, they jump at the chance for a little fun.

At this event Elinor meets the man of her dreams, Ethan, but after they have a deeply connected weekend getting to know one another, Ethan manages to lose his phone and spends the rest of the book navigating how to get back into contact with her. This results in a lot of confusing emotions for Elinor as she has no idea why he has disappeared and assumes he just really wasn’t that into her. But this is so far from the truth. However, with other forces at work Ethan’s family manipulates a situation where a woman that is very interested in Ethan announces their engagement. This just adds to the confusion and pain for Elinor.

What was so powerful about this story was it’s deep emphasis on the Christian faith and how Elinor and Ethan both lean into this with prayer and positive thoughts as they try to figure things out. This author always does a heart-warming job at incorporating these elements to ensure the reader is supported in their faith and reminded that we must trust in His plan for us. We are not in control and the sooner we relinquish those thoughts, the more clearly we can see his work.

In addition to Elinor’s story, Katie’s character went through a lot of growth as well. She believes every man is the man for her and starts dating someone she met at the event. But after a few weeks he completely ghosts her, as Elinor expected him to do, and Katie is devastated. Both sister’s quickly learn that they just have to have faith in what He has planned for them. Even if they want things to happen differently.

A wonderful story about the importance of family, faith, and the happily ever after that comes from Him and Him alone.