Free to Love

by Doris Staton English

Young, bright, and beautiful, Stephanie Hayz is fighting to preserve a childhood home on the New England coast. Amid rumors that entrepreneur Jay Dalton wants to convert it into a gambling casino, Stephanie forms a reluctant partnership with filmmaker Lance Donovan.

Although Lance's vision of transforming her home into Boulder Bay Inn and using it as a movie set shows great promise, Stephanie is unnerved by the powerful emotions he evokes in her. Most of all, she fears she is becoming like her mother, a woman who could not continue living after the man she loved had died.

When Jay Dalton's scheming threatens to claim everything Stephanie and Lance have worked for, decisions must be made. Will Stephanie ever be free or worry, of guilt, of her past? Will she ever be free to love?

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 31, 1993

Reviews

[Laurie D'ghent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story with believable characters, but there are several extreme moments of chauvinism that a reader has to get past. this book was written in the early 90s, and women really didn't work as lawyers, so if you take that into consideration the book is a win.

[Roseanna Veredchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

FREE TO LOVE by Doris Staton English is a romance novel that explores themes of fear, trust, and love. Stephanie, the protagonist, struggles to overcome her fear of heartbreak, which stems from her mother's debilitating grief after losing her husband. Lance, the love interest, offers a solution to save Stephanie's family home from foreclosure, but their relationship is marked by Stephanie's hesitation and Lance's lack of a personal relationship with Jesus.

While the book has some redeeming qualities, I had several issues with it. The emphasis on following one's heart, despite Scripture's warnings about the heart's deceitfulness, was concerning. Additionally, Lance's lack of faith and the unequal yoking in their relationship made me uncomfortable. Overall, the book was just okay, and I wouldn't consider it a favorite. If you're looking for a lighthearted romance, you might enjoy it, but be aware of the aforementioned themes.