Score: 4 1/2
Book 3: Shades of Style.
I continue to really love this Inspirational series. One more (Turquoise) left to go. While part of a series and most fullfilling to read in order, this book, like the others, could be read as a stand-alone title with no problem.
This time, the Garments of Praise girl to focus on is Jean. Jean, of Spanish descent, is the oldest of the Garments of Praise ladies.. in her fifties. She has been keeping a secret from the other ladies... she is actually married and had deserted her husband,Nigel, 15 years ago while he was still in prison for a crime that he did not commit. At the time, her 15 year old daughter was getting into trouble and she felt like she had to choose between the two of them. Now her granddaughter is approaching her 15th birthday.
Nigel was finally freed when another inmate confessed to the crime that Nigel was sent to prison for. He has been unsuccessful in trying to track his wife and child down, and has tried to just move on. Only now Garments of Praise .. specifically JEAN, has been asked to design a new sportswear line for Reebok and Reebok is sending one of their design men to work with Jean on the project. None other than Nigel. Once they both get over their shock, the balance of the book explores the evolving relationship between them and their children. Like the other books in this series, some serious topics are faced by characters in the story such as gang violence, the difficulties of Vets returning from war dealing with their experiences and moving on with their lives, and terminal cancer.
I don't generally like to read books with heavy themes and gritty reality, but these books are fabulous. The characters jump off the pages to you and the diverse multi-cultural nature of the friends from Garments of Praise continues to be well explored. Faith and growing relationships with God are important, critical themes woven through the fabric of these novels, providing more than a few moments when the reader is able to have deep truths applied to his/her own life. A positive and hopeful conclusion leaves a happy sigh.
Harlequin Imprint: 10 Other Publishers: 9
Crystal
100,000 Books Blog: crystalrclass
