Grace Haven is descending into formula 'Love, Inspired'-dom, and it's ugly.
In this book, (like the last book), the man has two small children, a boy and a girl. Like in the last book, one of them is challenged (speech impediment that's inconsistent in the book, and forgotten half the time). Like in the last book, there's insta-attraction, BUT. There's always a 'But'. It's formula. It's tedious and mind-numbing. It's what I wish 'Love Inspired'
wasn't
, but often is. It smacks of a story-for-a-deadline more than a story-wanting-to-be-told.
Cruz was raised by a woman who absolutely loves him but verbally and emotionally abused the heck out of him as a child, kicked him out, but LUVVVVV. ?!?!?! At least he was smart enough to get gone and not look back. That his dad didn't leave with him and keep him from that shows how little his father truly loved him, frankly. But we're told his father was *SO INCREDIBLE!!!* Actions speak louder than author's typed words.
Rory is the preschool teacher for the two kids, who are illegals from Mexico, and who were discovered living with Cruz's mom who is acting as guardian to them. It's... convoluted, but basically this is all about keeping small children from being deported by calling in a Manhattan-rich uncle (Cruz) to co-represent the kids' case with Rory (because why write a social worker in when you can use an uncertified non-gov't barely teacher). You *KNOW* that ain't how it works. CPS would be all over this. But not in 'Love, Inspired'. We suspend reality.
It also didn't make sense that Rory - who we're not even sure if she's certified to teach children - is hellbent on opening an early start preschool OUTSIDE of the HeadStart and public school early enrollment programs offered by the state - because 'disadvantaged kids'. Who... are totally allowed in both HS and PSEEPs. But *HERS* is better, for undisclosed reasonzzz.
Cruz's mom ran an event center/vineyard, which somehow got into total and utter disrepair, but we don't know how/why, because all of the local employees were what kept it going, so... why didn't they keep it going within the well-oiled machine of the business, again...? One woman getting older doesn't constitute the demise of a large, well-managed business/farm. Again, it's because the author says so.
And naturally the ENTIRE TOWN comes out to garden, weed, paint the house, plant flowers, feed the workers... and Allllz for FREEE!!!! Cuz 'Love, Inspired!'.
The whole Sue/Millicent side arc has absolutely NO bearing on the story, and really just made the heroine less likeable. It was cliched (rich kids iz snobs, while poor kids overdose), and trite. It was as if the author felt she had to add dimension to the story, but really she did it in the most shallow and lacking of ways.
Rory's dad has been battling a brain tumor/cancer for the past TWO books, and suddenly he's out cutting and wrapping grapevines in the hot summer heat all day? Really. You're serious?! More, he had an experimental surgery with only a 40% chance of working, with a high expectancy of brain damage/motor function, but because 'Love, Inspired', he walks away with nary a side effect and absolutely no lasting impediments. ((((((sigh.))))))
Of course Cruz stays, marries Rory and they adopt his niece/nephew and live HEA at the now-thriving vineyard-slash... PRESCHOOL. ?!?!?! For disadvantaged kids. Who can't afford to schlep out to a vineyard for special preschool.
I. Can't. Even.
Overall, I wish this had been less of a 'cheater' book. Let's hope the next one is better...? Because two three-stars and a two-star isn't a great track record...