Small-Town
Billionaire (Love Inspired)
Author: Renee Andrews
Number of Pages:
212
Publisher:
Love Inspired Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-373-87909-0
Release Date:
September 2014
Market:
Christian, Romance
Genre:
Inspirational
My Rating: 4
of 5 Stars
Description (from the back
cover): As the CEO of Brooks International, Ryan Brooks
has money, power and a sought-after family name. But here on his sister’s ranch
in Claremont, Alabama, the billionaire only wants to be loved for who he really
is. So when small-town shop owner Maribeth Walton ignores him and his valuable
business advice, he’s determined to figure out why. Problem is Maribeth knows
he’s not sticking around and she won’t let him get close. Or could it be she’s
keeping a secret, one that may hold the key to why she’s so reluctant to admit
she’s falling for the billionaire?
How and Why I Acquired this Book
I
entered a contest online, and I won this book!
It actually came in a pack of 10 free books. Does it get any better than that?
My Expectations
Renee
Andrews was a new author to me. However,
I recently finished a Love Inspired book, so I had expectations of reading a
sweet story. At the beginning, I was
guessing or hoping that Maribeth didn’t want to expand her business because she
was perhaps a billionaire herself.
Were My Expectations Met
This
book had a great storyline. It was
well-written, and there were some really interesting plot twists. Was Maribeth a billionaire? You’ll have to read it to find out. I don’t like to give away the ending.
Prose and Dialogue
I
finished this book in a day. It was
difficult to put down, and I enjoyed every page of the book. The dialogue was natural and believable. The descriptions in the book make me want to
visit a dude ranch in Alabama.
Characters and Viewpoints
It’s
nice to see the viewpoints of both Maribeth and Ryan. They each have baggage from past
relationships, and that baggage influences their actions and holds them
back. I really appreciated that we saw how
Ryan thought through the big issues in his head. It seemed very likely that a business man
would think like Ryan did. It also
showed some spiritual maturity, or maybe that was spiritual newness. Maribeth, as is often characteristic of women
(sorry!), was highly emotional, and wasn’t ready to think the issues through
until Ryan showed up at her apartment to help her see truth. In both cases, we see imperfect people who
are loved and forgiven by an awesome God.
Story Structure and Pace
This
story had some very interesting twists!
I didn’t want to put it down, which should be obvious because I finished
it in one day.
Conflict and Tension
The
book had a good amount of tension from the beginning. Ryan, as CEO of a Fortune 500 company, is
used to getting what he wants, so he pushes for what he sees as a smart
business move. Maribeth resists, and we
don’t exactly know why…until the big conflict that spans the last few chapters.
Spiritual Aspect
I
love the scripture quoted before the story starts. It’s from Luke 12:2, and it says, “There is
nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made
known.” In other words, you can run, but
you can’t hide from your past. Although
this is true, the story also shows that “As far as the east is from the west, so
far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12).”
Questions I Have
Because
I received the book free, I didn’t look it up to see if it was in a
series. As I was writing this review, I
noticed that it is part of the Claremont series. Hopefully the books can be read
independently. I wonder how much
information about each of the characters in this book has been revealed in a
past book. Hmmm….
Audience Appropriateness and
Appeal
This
book is totally appropriate for anyone who enjoys romantic, Christian fiction. This will appeal to anyone who lives with
secrets from his/her past or has a hard time forgiving him/herself for past
actions. It’s therapeutic.
Conclusion
This
is definitely a good read.
Pros:
§ I
enjoyed the conflict.
§ The
message is appropriate for our culture and times.
§ Great
writing!
Cons:
§ Nothing.
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