Picket Fence Promises: Pritchett Series #2 (Life, Faith & Getting It Right #23)

Pritchett #2

by Kathryn Springer

Twenty years and several pounds ago…

I was Bernice Strum, hairstylist to the stars. Until I fell for—and got pregnant by—Alex Scott, a handsome actor with a career on the rise. But I gave my baby up for adoption and moved across the country to settle in Prichett, Wisconsin. I made friends, started a faith journey, and then one day I got a call from my now-adult daughter that turned my world upside down… and brought Alex back into my life. Now he's here (living in my dream house!) and he wants to pick up where we left off—but how can I trust his picket-fence promises when he's not a believer in anything but himself?

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Christian, Christian Fiction

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

Kathryn Springer grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, where her parents published a weekly newspaper. As a child, she spent many hours sitting at her mother’s typewriter, plunking out stories, and credits her parents for instilling in her a love of books – which eventually turned into a desire to tell stories of her own.

After a number of busy years, when she married her college sweetheart and became a stay-at-home mom, Kathryn rediscovered her love for writing. An unexpected snow day from school became the inspiration for a short story, which she submitted to Brio magazine. She went on to publish over a dozen more short stories for Brio, but it wasn’t until her youngest child started school that she decided to pursue her dream to write a book. In August 2004, her Love Inspired® debut novel, Tested by Fire, was published.

Fast forward to today and Kathryn has written over thirty novels. She lives on a lake in northern Wisconsin where she enjoys long walks in the woods and the change of seasons (although sometimes she wishes the "change" between winter and spring didn't last quite so long!) When she isn’t at the computer, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, paging through cooking magazines or sitting in the sun. A really, really good day includes all three! If you want to know more, follow her blog Table Grace. . .thoughts and musings on living a life with nothing artificial added.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is cute, and a fast read.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book of a series about a small town in the midwest. There is a closeknit group of friends who support each other in their daily lives.

This book is about Bernice and the relationship she had 20 years ago with a movie star and gave his child up after she was born. In the first book, Front Porch Princess, she met her daughter Heather. Now, Alex has trackd her down and she has to figure out how to tell him about Heather.

This is a really good book, a must read!

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about rekindling love with an old flame.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

After loving "Front Porch Princess," I sought this book out for another relaxing, spring read. I was not disappointed. Springer's writing is down-to-earth, witty and flows, making this an easy, if not terribly challenging, read.

I'll be honest -- I don't typically like inspirational books... and I'm definitely not a fan of romance novels (except at Christmas time... we all have to break our rules some time). Although this book falls into both categories, it does so forgivably because Springer writes authentically about the struggles of Christians (particularly new Christians) trying to figure out how to do this "blessed" life... the love story is just a bonus.

The only thing disappointing about this book is the somewhat sugar-coated ending. I won't spoil it anymore than to say that life doesn't always wrap itself up as nicely (and all at once!) like it does in this book... but if you're looking for a good beach read or something to read on a comfy chair on your back deck, get away from it all with Kathryn Springer's "life, faith and getting it right" series.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I have been having this book in my personal library for over close to a decade and I finally got the chance to read it. I always wanted to read it due to how the cover looked like. It was an interesting read, but definitely predictable. I feel like the ending would have been more meaningful if an alternate ending would have happened rather than the one that was brought to make it more realistic. I feel like the book went smoothly most of the time and it was awesome to see the thoughts of Bernice with some being even relatable. I didn’t know it was a Christian book, but for those who didn’t know and don’t believe/follow Christianity I could see how some points could seem not as flowly, while other parts that did have Bible verses definitely were more relevant or didn’t seem so detracted and fitted in appropriately. I don’t know if I’m interested in picking up the other books in the series to read (maybe the one about Heather). It gave me Gilmore girls vibes in a way with the town and how everyone interacted and even Bernice reminded me of Lorelai in some ways.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not super compelling reading but this was a fun and uplifting story. I wish the author would have revealed to Alex and Heather that they were father/daughter much earlier in the story and then expanded on that for the rest of the book, instead of waiting until almost the end and then wrapping it up too quickly and unrealistically. Same with Alex becoming a Christian. Seems less convincing the way it happened. I liked Bernice and her friends a lot. I liked the author's first book, Front Porch Princess, much better, but I read that so long ago, maybe I wouldn't have the same feelings today.

[Della Tingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this so much more than the first one in the series! Was it totally believable? Nah, probably not! Yet, it was such fun to read, and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next!

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good read that inspired me in my walk with God. I really enjoyed the things that Bernice would discover and then tell herself with her new found relationship with God. I also liked the "grace graffiti" idea. Plus, I am a Cary Grant fan and liked the movie references. Highly recommend!

[Blogsdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book for middle-aged women. Easy read and very enjoyable thus far.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

That God's timing is perfect and we can pain ourselves waiting.

[Shellie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Christian based book that I liked. A little fluffy, but I am going to read the next book.

[Darla Grieco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed. Great characters. Realistic and true to Scriptures.