My Review - Love is Patient

5 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed LOVE IS PATIENT. I especially enjoyed the gritty writing with which the story is told.

Melanie Brooks has sold her body for years, but now has the chance to start over. When she arrives at her ranch in Sterling Canyon, she is astounded at the gift that has been left to her. Feeling unworthy, she can’t help but think she has to work to receive what already belongs to her.  Pappy Henderson, the ranch foreman is patient and kind with Melanie. He is well aware of her past, but reminds her over and over again that nothing she’s done in life will disqualify her from the love of God.

Nicholas Henderson, Pappy’s nephew, is immediately intrigued by Melanie. She is strong and determined, and never shies away from hard work. Her womanly curves do not go unnoticed either. But, when Nicholas learns of her previous vocation, his feelings change. He will never see her as anything more than a tainted woman.

Pappy is heartbroken that his own nephew is unwilling to see past Melanie’s previous hardships. Nicholas’ treatment of Melanie only serves to reinforce her feelings of inadequacy and that she does not deserve what God wants to freely give her. But all that changes when Melanie’s past comes back to haunt her. She will do whatever is necessary to protect her new family from the unseemly people who are determined to destroy her.

A really enjoyed LOVE IS PATIENT. I appreciate and applaud any Christian author that writes a story with realism instead of sanitizing the story which only serves to insult the audience. There were a few threads in the story I felt should’ve been handled differently.  I don’t think−under any circumstance−Melanie would’ve allowed Charlotte to remain in the squalor of her past. Melanie had the means to rescue Charlotte and I don’t think she would’ve allowed herself to live in such opulence knowing what filth Charlotte was subjected to night after night. I was also waiting for Pappy to use all the imagery of what Melanie had inherited as an illustration of what God has prepared for us. We can’t work for it, we will never earn it. It is a gift−all we have to do is accept it. Other than that, I truly enjoyed LOVE IS PATIENT and would recommend it to anyone who loves the old west.