Overview: God’s perfect plan is sometimes so hard to determine. Gwendolyn, Cecelia, and the youngest, Bonnie, make a pact never to break their father’s heart like their big sister did. Then their determination is sorely tried when suitors show up, and he gets so pigheaded with his rules. Will Henry survive his daughters coming of age? Will they endure and keep their promises to each other?
From one man asking to court her—who Daddy sends packing—Gwen goes to three! How can she ever decide? Cecelia knows exactly who she wants, but she’s still a year away from Daddy’s acceptable courting age. What if her beau doesn’t know or won’t wait? And Bonnie hates being the baby and wants to be grown-up more than just about anything…except her man. She is for sure and for certain in love.
In his life, Henry Buckmeyer has never been so beside himself. His little girls are so young, just babies, too young. He hates the whole idea of men coming to take them away and is inclined to shoot every one of them, but praise God for a level-headed, loving wife and step-mother! She helps keep him sane amidst the female chaos. Packed with fun, romance, deception, action, heartbreak and tears, this delightful Christian novel keeps the twists and turns coming. Will the Buckmeyer home ever be settled and peaceful again? Will any of his daughters find true love…a man he'll approve and to whom he can give his blessing?
My Review: I wanted so badly to like this book, but it just wasn't for me. After reading the description of this book, I thought I was going to love it. The plot didn't hold my attention. It was choppy and lacked in focus. There were some good points to the book. I loved how the family functioned as a whole. I loved Henry's love for his daughters and his wife and his protectiveness of all of them. The sibling rivalry was entertaining. Other than that, I didn't feel any real connection to any of the characters. There was no depth or growth. There were also a couple parts towards the end of the book that shocked me to even be mentioned in a Christian novel. Overall, as much as I wanted to enjoy this book, it fell short of my expectations.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.*
About the Author: Caryl, praying her story gives God glory, loves writing for Christian genres--historical and contemporary romance, Biblical fiction, and mid-grade especially. In 2014, Simon and Schuster debuted VOW UNBROKEN, a historical Christian romance set in 1832 Texas, and Caryl followed with three additional novels. In April, LADY LUCK'S A LOSER (contemporary, mature, inspirational romance) September's debut, HEARTS STOLEN (set in 1839-1844), book two of her historical Christian Texas Romances--a #1 Amazon Best-seller, and in November, A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS, volume one of her new Biblical fiction series, The Generations--also an Amazon #1 Best-seller.
For every good blessing - including ten children (four by birth, six by marriage) and sixteen grandsugars - she gives God the glory. Caryl lives a country-life with Ron, her high school sweetheart husband of forty-seven years and two grandsons, in the woods a few miles south of Clarksville, Red River County seat, located in far Northeast Texas with two grandsons Christian (16) and Benjamen (13).
