Sad but with a warm ending.

This is the sixth book I've read by Susan Phillips and the first one that is not a comedy. I gave 5 stars to the first five books. I am giving 4 stars to this one because there is a lot of sadness including grieving for dead loved ones and being treated badly by others. I generally prefer uplifting and funny stories, but this one had me in tears too much. Gabe had a hard time being alive after his wife and son were killed by a drunk driver. Rachel was married to an unethical tv evangelist. He convinced good people to give him money that he only used to enrich himself. He died in a plane crash and the public hated Rachel, thinking she was his partner, but she too had been taken advantage of. She lives in poverty, with her 5 yr old son.

(view spoiler)[CAUTION SPOILER:
People shun Rachel and vandalism occurs due to hatred of her. Gabe helps her out and a warm relationship grows between them, but he doesn't like her son. Even though not 5 stars, I still recommend this book. Good things end up happening and there is a feel good quality at the end. I loved Rachel's smartness, witty comments and actions in the face of poverty and ill treatment by others. In most romance novels, after falling for each other, the couple has a conflict which causes a separation. Too many times I have been disappointed with how the author causes the separation. But in this book, I strongly agreed with Rachel leaving Gabe. She was doing the right thing for her son. I was impressed with the author. I was also impressed with the author's reasons why Rachel initially had come back to the town. (hide spoiler)]

DATA:
Sexual content: mild. Genre: contemporary romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Susan Elizabeth Phillips books, see my 5 star review of “Glitter Baby.”