A chaste Christian romance that tells the story of a traumatized veteran from Afghanistan and his physical therapist - a beautiful and introspective widow - learning to love again in a small town. This interesting little novel has elements of comedy, romance and serious drama. The town of Butternut Creek receives a new Christian minister, Adam, who is nervous and has just matriculated from the seminary. He has never led a congregation before and is hoping he doesn't disgrace himself. Upon arrival he is immediately taken under the wing of the Widows of Butternut Creek: Birdie and Mercedes. They take it upon themselves the spruce him up and get him a wife. They begin by attempting a total makeover, attempting to change Adam's hair and clothes, and then invite him to parties and dances around town while Birdie comes up with a carefully curated list of girls who would be suitable as a minister's wife: good Christian girls who have been raised right and yet are also extroverted, sociable, and sympathetic, as they'll be ministering to the town as much as their husband will.
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Meanwhile, the town is home to a surly and deeply traumatized Afghanistan war veteran named Sam, who nurses old wounds and refuses to socialize with anybody except his physical therapist. His physical therapist, Willow, is an attractive woman whose husband nevertheless left her for a younger woman, and now Willow has to fend for herself and her two children. Sam becomes a substitute father figure for the boys, but cannot overcome his depression enough to express his feelings for Willow properly, burying them under the more emotionally distant feeling of lust. Willow is meanwhile attracted to what the kind of man like Sam represents: a strong, protective figure who cares for her and her children, and yet she cannot act on her feelings since she is afraid of overstepping the bounds between a physical therapist and a patient. She is also too afraid to trust again, though Sam expresses the desire to protect and provide for her.
The minister Adam intervenes gently, and in his conversations with Sam helps him get through some of his residual trauma from the war, and understand his feelings for Willow better. Adam's idealistic attitude helps Willow and Sam overcome their personal obstacles, and eventually they confess their love for each other and become engaged.
Best part of story, including ending:
I thought the novel had some cute vignettes in it about small town life that were charming, like the milk bottles being deposited on the doorstep.
Best scene in story:
The moment when Willow's sons walk in on Sam and Willow kissing, and innocently ask what they were doing. Willow is too embarrassed to reply, but Sam tells them matter-of-factly. It was a cute scene.
Opinion about the main character:
Sam is really the main protagonist and I like his dark sense of humor.