"deep character driven tale"
Known throughout the South Carolina Low Country as being
benevolent, William "Big Max" cut off his beloved only
child Amanda when she eloped with loser Danny O'Leary.
Several years later, Danny is dead and Amanda raises three
youngsters while trying to pay off her late husband's
massive debt; she and Big Max remain estranged. Preacher Caleb Webb arranged for a house to be built for
Amanda and her children with supplies contributed from a
friend's construction company, labor mostly volunteered by
his congregation, and property secretly given by Max (see
FLIRTING WITH DISASTER). Caleb loves Amanda while her
children think of him as their father. However, he knows
that he deceived her by hiding his close relationship with
her dad and as she learns more of what he concealed, the
angrier she gets. Caleb sacrifices his dreams to marry
Amanda in order to reconcile the ailing Big Max, an
Alzheimer's victim, and Amanda before it is too late for
her children to know their grandfather. This terrific relationship drama stars likable
protagonists who allow pride bias their decisions before
learning that is no replacement for the love of family.
Amanda is a courageous individual struggling with her
feelings for the Preacher who has made life better for her
and her children; the kids love him as if he is their
father. Max wants so badly to ask his daughter to forgive
him, but is unable to swallow the devastation of her
possibly rejecting him as he feels he deserves so he works
in secret. Caleb is pulled in two directions as he wants
to shout to everyone he loves Amanda though that is
obvious to all, but also wants to reconcile father and
daughter. Sherryl Woods provides a deep character driven
tale. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 24, 2006
SummaryIT'S TOO LATE TO BACK OUT NOW
It's not as if Amanda O'Leary set out to fall for the most
gorgeous (and unattainable) man this side of South Carolina
Low Country. It's just that he organized building a cozy
home for her and her children at a time when the future
looked darker than blackstrap molasses. Not even her own
father, the arrogant and wealthy Big Max, would have done as
much for her. But that's a whole other kettle of fish.
Caleb can count on fingers and toes why his attraction to
widowed Amanda is plain wrong. How can he objectively
counsel this chin-up spitfire without letting his
emotions—and imagination—run wild? And now that
Big Max has burdened him with not one secret, but two, he
knows his priorities should be mending fences between father
and daughter—but he can't help trying to build a place
for himself in her heart first...
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