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Pinecrest
Love Walked In
Getting close to new neighbor Clay Reynolds was not a consideration for Beth Carlson. The single mom had her hands full with her troubled teen and had no time for romance, especially since Clay's stay in Pinecrest was only temporary. Besides, she'd learned long ago that love didn't last. Sure, Clay was good to her son—and to her. He encouraged her to reconcile with her parents and helped her with her faith issues. But she could never give her heart to a motorcycle-riding man again. Or could she?
256 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Merrillee Whren
41 books289 followersMerrillee Whren is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author who writes Christian romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award. She is married and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Cincinnati, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida. She now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she plots her novels. Please visit her Web site at http://www.merrilleewhren.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 20, 2022
This didn’t interest me .. I ended up “skip” reading it.
Angsty. I liked the first two chapters then lost interest.
Angsty. I liked the first two chapters then lost interest.
August 1, 2008
Loved this author. What a lovely surprise this book was. I actually laughed out loud many time. Couldn't wait for her next book.
July 3, 2018
I found myself frustrated with the repetitive inner dialogues of the characters. The male love interest was overbearing as well.
December 6, 2024
Two and a half stars.
The story is well written, the dialogue clear, and the description good. That bought it two stars.
HOWEVER... (I feel a little like John the Revelator)... 'nevertheless I have this against thee':
We have a heroine who works as a teacher's aide by day, takes classes by night (and WEEKENDS!), AND... as a result is neglecting the heck out of her son. No wonder he ends up drinking and partying. She's. NOT. there. for him.
We have a 'matchmaking' friend who is basically throwing Clay at Beth, regardless of whether Beth is okay with it or not. It's ridiculous. Worse is the fact that her friends have children - smaller children! - and are NEVER with them. They're having a BBQ, they're working a fair, they're doing a missions thing, they're having a co-ed baby shower, they're having a farewell party, they're off camping (and even if the kids were along, dad's out fishin' with the guys while the mom's are on kitchen duty)... NOBODY watches the kids. And this is par for churchianity's course. BTDT... for *decades*.
What's hilarious is then they're all like, "Yeah, we have an adults-only retreat next week, and BOY do we need it!!" This is one of *THE* biggest peeves I have with church people. They pretend to be all about family, but are NEVER actually parenting.
In the book, Beth cuts off Clay's long ponytail with "one swift click" of a scissors. Have you ever tried to cut thru a ponytail?!??! What the farts is this?!?!?! One snip. You're JOKING, right?
Now for the DEEPER complaints: Merrillee says that Max won't go to church because some woman said nasty things about him being illegitimate. It's *SO FAR FETCHED* to write this in here... because nobody knows Beth wasn't married, before. It's stupid, stupid, stupid. Even her friends think her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident. Nobody was treating Max like a bastard, hello. And in 2011? That's not even a THING, anyhow. Not even here in uber-chrischun, rural west Michigan. My second cousins are the ex-kids of 'Children's Bible Hour' and have illegitimate kids coming OUT their EARS. It's seriously NOT a thing, anymore.
Then there's the non-stop, constant, NEVER-ending "I like him, but he's leaving." "I like her, but she's not a believer." "I like him, but he's LEAVING." "I like her, but she's NOT a believer." And this is hammered at us over. And over. And OVER again. ((((We get it. Honest.)))))
The other major thing (that REALLY took a star) was the 'faith' of these idiots. Page 186: "Lord, You know how I feel about Beth, Help me to do and say the right things that will turn her heart to you." <<< Like God *NEEDS* Clay to convert Beth? It's the Holy Spirit that convicts a person, NEVER another human. That's Clay (and every other chrishun out there), inserting themselves where they may not even factor, hello. I despise this. They aren't asking for the Spirit to intercede, or for the Lord's will to be done. They want THEIR place in a conversion story. ((gag))
More than that, I despised how Whren *DOESN'T* have Beth come to a saving knowledge/acceptance of Ha'Mosiach Yeshua. Her idea of a 'sinner's prayer' is 'Thank you Gawd for reminding me that you love me, even though I don't deserve it. Help me to be a good mom. I need you.' AND THAT'S A SALVATION PRAYER?!?!?!?! Are. You. *KIDDING* me?!?!
Immediately after that, Kim is bellowing to the townsfolk that Beth 'made a decision for Christ'. CHRIST WASN'T EVEN MENTIONED!! There was no 'take my sins, I give you my heart, my life, my will'... N.O.T.H.I.N.G. Nooo, we get 'help me to be a good mom'. Might as well throw in, 'Dear God, I'd like a pony and a plastic rocket'. !!!!!
I. Can't. EVEN. with churchianity.
I really can't.
The story is well written, the dialogue clear, and the description good. That bought it two stars.
HOWEVER... (I feel a little like John the Revelator)... 'nevertheless I have this against thee':
We have a heroine who works as a teacher's aide by day, takes classes by night (and WEEKENDS!), AND... as a result is neglecting the heck out of her son. No wonder he ends up drinking and partying. She's. NOT. there. for him.
We have a 'matchmaking' friend who is basically throwing Clay at Beth, regardless of whether Beth is okay with it or not. It's ridiculous. Worse is the fact that her friends have children - smaller children! - and are NEVER with them. They're having a BBQ, they're working a fair, they're doing a missions thing, they're having a co-ed baby shower, they're having a farewell party, they're off camping (and even if the kids were along, dad's out fishin' with the guys while the mom's are on kitchen duty)... NOBODY watches the kids. And this is par for churchianity's course. BTDT... for *decades*.
What's hilarious is then they're all like, "Yeah, we have an adults-only retreat next week, and BOY do we need it!!" This is one of *THE* biggest peeves I have with church people. They pretend to be all about family, but are NEVER actually parenting.
In the book, Beth cuts off Clay's long ponytail with "one swift click" of a scissors. Have you ever tried to cut thru a ponytail?!??! What the farts is this?!?!?! One snip. You're JOKING, right?
Now for the DEEPER complaints: Merrillee says that Max won't go to church because some woman said nasty things about him being illegitimate. It's *SO FAR FETCHED* to write this in here... because nobody knows Beth wasn't married, before. It's stupid, stupid, stupid. Even her friends think her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident. Nobody was treating Max like a bastard, hello. And in 2011? That's not even a THING, anyhow. Not even here in uber-chrischun, rural west Michigan. My second cousins are the ex-kids of 'Children's Bible Hour' and have illegitimate kids coming OUT their EARS. It's seriously NOT a thing, anymore.
Then there's the non-stop, constant, NEVER-ending "I like him, but he's leaving." "I like her, but she's not a believer." "I like him, but he's LEAVING." "I like her, but she's NOT a believer." And this is hammered at us over. And over. And OVER again. ((((We get it. Honest.)))))
The other major thing (that REALLY took a star) was the 'faith' of these idiots. Page 186: "Lord, You know how I feel about Beth, Help me to do and say the right things that will turn her heart to you." <<< Like God *NEEDS* Clay to convert Beth? It's the Holy Spirit that convicts a person, NEVER another human. That's Clay (and every other chrishun out there), inserting themselves where they may not even factor, hello. I despise this. They aren't asking for the Spirit to intercede, or for the Lord's will to be done. They want THEIR place in a conversion story. ((gag))
More than that, I despised how Whren *DOESN'T* have Beth come to a saving knowledge/acceptance of Ha'Mosiach Yeshua. Her idea of a 'sinner's prayer' is 'Thank you Gawd for reminding me that you love me, even though I don't deserve it. Help me to be a good mom. I need you.' AND THAT'S A SALVATION PRAYER?!?!?!?! Are. You. *KIDDING* me?!?!
Immediately after that, Kim is bellowing to the townsfolk that Beth 'made a decision for Christ'. CHRIST WASN'T EVEN MENTIONED!! There was no 'take my sins, I give you my heart, my life, my will'... N.O.T.H.I.N.G. Nooo, we get 'help me to be a good mom'. Might as well throw in, 'Dear God, I'd like a pony and a plastic rocket'. !!!!!
I. Can't. EVEN. with churchianity.
I really can't.
February 11, 2018
This was a book I got at the library on one of their Monday sales. It was o.k. about a single mom & her troubled teenage son. Things changed when a new neighbor moved in and you can figure our the rest.
May 3, 2020
another sad unlikable book. Beth went through some really hard times no doubt but the resulting anger and bitterness made her a very unpleasant person. Her son Max is rebelling and is also obnoxious. Only Max is likable and he deserves better than these 2
December 1, 2019
This was a very believable real life situation. A quick easy read and so true to "Love Inspired" Christian books... it was heartwarming and could make a great Hallmark movie.
December 5, 2019
I wish that the ending didn't go so fast. Other than that I loved it.
December 7, 2021
3 ½ Stars ~ This is a sweet heartwarming story of a young single mother who has to learn to forgive herself for the mistakes she's made in the past. As a rebellious teen, Beth fell for a boy who claimed to love her. When she tells him that she's pregnant, he tells her that he lied when he said he loved her and that he'd only taken up with her to earn bragging rights for sleeping with the preacher's daughter. Beth's father sent her to live with his aunt with the intentions that when the baby was born it would be put up for adoption. When Beth refused to give up her baby, her parents rejected her. Beth, her son and her great-aunt made their own family, one without hypocritical Christian judgement.
Clay is a lawyer working for a non-profit foundation for a few months and he's living in an apartment upstairs to Beth. From the moment he met her, he felt a powerful push to help her and her teenage son, Max. He sees a lot of the teenager he once was in Max and encourages him to make better decisions than he had. Max is receptive to spiritual guidance, Beth not so much. She's filled with pain and inadequacy, and fears being judged all over again.
This is the first book I've read from Ms. Whren. I hope to read more about the community of Pinecrest.
Clay is a lawyer working for a non-profit foundation for a few months and he's living in an apartment upstairs to Beth. From the moment he met her, he felt a powerful push to help her and her teenage son, Max. He sees a lot of the teenager he once was in Max and encourages him to make better decisions than he had. Max is receptive to spiritual guidance, Beth not so much. She's filled with pain and inadequacy, and fears being judged all over again.
This is the first book I've read from Ms. Whren. I hope to read more about the community of Pinecrest.
July 11, 2016
Picked up the titled book by the wrong author (LOL !). Was wondering why this was so highly rated and even published.
This was a quick/easy read, very predictable. A romantic Christian read between a 30+ year old single mom Beth Carlson, her sophomore high schooler and their new neighbor, a lawyer Clay Reynolds who loves the church.
This was a quick/easy read, very predictable. A romantic Christian read between a 30+ year old single mom Beth Carlson, her sophomore high schooler and their new neighbor, a lawyer Clay Reynolds who loves the church.
December 8, 2009
This book reminded me of a Jack Weyland book, but the author is Christian and writes about a women finding forgiveness and faith again in her life. It was a book I read with the Mayo Spouses Book Club.
January 7, 2009
Never got to the second chapter. :)
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January 12, 2009YAI-Whr
August 6, 2009
This was a quick/easy read. It was predictable. A romantic Christian read. This was NOT the book that I had ordered!!!
November 30, 2009
I didn't like this book. it was boring to me, but my aunts liked it.
August 6, 2010
I adored this book and didn't want it to end. Sadly, I don't think the sequel was as good.
September 20, 2010
This just wasn't my style. It was a fast read, but I never got "hooked" into the story! : (
April 29, 2016
I loved this book. It was about a real situation and shows that with prayer a lot can happen.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews