Not Exactly Eden

by Linda Windsor

When debutante Jenna Marsten breaks off her engagement a week before her wedding, she's sure life can't get any worse. But among the gifts to be returned is a strange statue...one that came anonymously. Further investigation reveals the statue is from a remote tribe of the Amazon rain forest- and that it came from Jenna's supposedly deceased father! Soon Jenna finds herself in Peru, seeking the love of the father who abandoned her and meaning for her fractured future. And Dr. Adam DeSanto-a handsome, bitter widower who helps her father run a jungle hospital, and who happens to loathe "women like Jenna"-is only complicating matters. Then Jenna's life is put at risk. Helpless to save her, Adam cries out to the God he rejected at his wife's death. God hears and answers in ways neither Adam nor Jenna could imagine, finally resolving their pain and renewing their faith in Himself, the future-and each other.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Fiction, Christian Romance, Contemporary

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2000

About the author

Linda Windsor is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than thirty novels, with more than a million books in print. Her most recent work includes Healer and Thief, the first two volumes in the Brides of Alba series, and the early Irish Celtic Fires of Gleannmara trilogy.

Reviews

[Lovely Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️

A woman receives a gift from the father she thought had abandoned her, so she calls off her wedding and travels out to the jungle where her father works as a doctor.

This story was pretty expected, as far as romance novels go. There is Christian content, but it didn’t go deep enough for my liking.

The male main character has a bit of a brutish way with the female main character that is never really addressed or confronted.

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars ~ Not Exactly Eden, a standalone novel, was published in 2000. It’s set deep within the Amazon basin (think African Queen) and I felt it held up well over time. This was a fun reread for me.

Jenna’s fiance’ accepts an engineering position overseas rather than go through with their upcoming nuptials. After dealing with the fallout, Jenna decides to head into the Amazon jungle where she has just discovered her father, a doctor, has lived and worked all her life - a man Jenna always believed was dead.

I could appreciate Jenna’s dilemma with her fiancé deserting her and her curiosity about a father she didn’t know and his situation in the Amazon. I liked the story & characters. I appreciated the humor, the light tone and the various jungle scenes kept my attention. I enjoy books set in unique, challenging places so NEE was a fun read for me. This is an Inspirational Romance novel so Biblical values and content is woven through the story. Recommended to readers who enjoy:
> Clean content
> Inspirational fiction
> Humor, light tone
> Unique Settings
> Contemporary Romance
> Cross Cultural relationships
> Opposites Attract, Cancelled Wedding & ‘Once Bitten Twice Shy’ tropes
> Easy, light fiction, palate cleansers

READER CAUTIONS ~ This is a Clean novel.
PROFANITY - None.
VIOLENCE - None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None. Simply hugs and a few kisses.

MY RATING GUIDE: 4.5 Stars. I liked this.
1=DNF/What was that?; 2=Not for me; 3=Ok; 3.5=I enjoyed this; 4=I really liked this; 5=I loved this! (5 is rare for me).

[Margaretha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute and funny romance. I have read the book many times over the years and I still find myself laughing. Windsor has a really good way of writing awkward that is refreshing to read and not mortifying. As I come from a third world country, dominated by uncultivated jungle, I am really impressed at how accurate her portrayal of that world is. She must have visited or done her research really well. Admittedly, I often skip the Epilogue. This is a keeper in my library.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, entertaining journey into the Amazon rainforest!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent character development.
It was fun to learn about the Amazon through this story.
Multnomah Press so definite Christian
viewpoint.

[Sarah Savoca · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter how many times I read this book it never gets old. This has to be one of my top favorite books..I love the setting and all of the characters.

[growing_faith.reads]

Set in South America around 2000, this is a fun, easy read. It had some faith but was a little too spicy for my taste. MMC is a widower and medical doctor.

[Carman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the plot in this book: Jenna is going into the jungle to reunite with her long-lost father, and in the process she meets her one true love. Like a fairy tale, only with a steamier prince. Sigh. Adam is just about my dream guy. Tall, dark, handsome, and great with kids. He has once-burned-twice-shy syndrome and won’t allow himself to fall for Jenna, who, at first glance, seems a lot like his first wife. But, as they spend more time together he starts to see that they aren’t alike at all where it counts. I loved the feel of this book and would definitely recommend it.

[Brooke Barenfanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Exactly Eden is a charming story about a woman named Jenna going into the wilds of the Amazon to meet the father she never knew she had and to discover what she wants to do with her life. Along the way, she falls in love with a handsome physician, Adam. Linda Windsor is an excellent novelist. I have always enjoyed her books. Not Exactly Eden is funny and sweet. It boarders on fluffy but since Adam deals with the pain inflicted on him by his deceased wife, Windsor carefully avoids superficiality.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!!! She does a superb job with the characters and storyline! I read it probably at least 3 or 4 times a year if not more, it is one of my favorites. A great story of redemption and second chances set in an adventurous amazon!

[Dianne Christner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite all time book!