Cecelia

by Patricia Strefling

Chicago entrepenuer Cecelia Grace Giatano is rich, beautiful, and successful. She steps into a boardroom and handles business affairs with faultless finesse, but when it comes to personal relationships, she's clueless. Running from the insecurities of her childhood----she will stop at nothing to achieve her dreams. When opportunities of a lifetime land in her lap, Cecelia feels she's sitting at the top of the world: until she attends her younger sister, Edwina's, wedding in Edinburgh. Suddenly her existence doesn't look as exciting...or fulfilling. When her perfect life begins to crumble, Spencer Hallman, her faithful business associate, is there to pick up the pieces. However, Cecelia's walls are too thick and too high. She can't see the love he offers. Will she make another bad decision and lose it all.

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

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2009

Reviews

[Leah Banicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

So different from her easy-going sister Cecelia is a go getter. Her story is full to the brim of all her intentions and we watch her go from success to success but in the love department she has more than a few hangups. I loved this story and watching her learn to love was sweet and exciting. A definite page-turner. The characters were endearing and getting to visit her sister Edwina from the first book again was beyond charming.

[IUHoosier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little to like about the main character. Editing was atrocious, and the story too full of preaching.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The struggle went on and on. The conflict resolution was way too short for my liking

[Janejellyroll · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every now and then I read a book that is so odd it makes me wonder what kind of reader the author had in mind while writing it.

This book is obviously Christian fiction, unfortunately of the saccharine kind that creates a Christian environment by simply pretending things like premarital sex or other sins simply don't exist within the realms inhabited by the characters (as opposed to Christian fiction that has characters acknowledging the non-Christian world and sometimes even grappling with the temptation to sin themselves). The entire world could have been created by a 12-year-old for all the complexity and nuance.

The dialogue is odd, with characters often referring to each other by their full names for no apparent reason. The main character is a frosty, elegant woman who we know will get her eventual comeuppance because she's very concerned with business and that is inappropriate for women in simplistic Christian fiction. Her Dior heels (or "Dior's") click on surfaces, unlike her homemaking sister, who patiently chides her for her desire to earn a living and wear designer clothing. She says, in all seriousness, things like "The help knows their place" and "I absolutely abhor computers." Will she find love and learn how to be a true woman?

[UniqueBookJunkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Reads { First Reads Win } I was so excitied to win this book I found out it is a second in the series and I had to go get the first one.. Edwina it was a GREAT book.. The second one though I had trouble getting through I guess just because I was still stuck on the first book.. The sisters are much different from one another.. and of course each book is broken down to the sisters individual story.. It is a light entertaining read..

[Cheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't read the first book in this series, but I think since it is about Edwina's sister Cecelia, I was able to go on with her story.
I liked the book for the most part, although it got a little preachy at the end. I have read quite a bit of religious fiction and this one was just okay. I got it for free on my Kindle.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like involved books, this one is a bit of a long haul, but has an interesting intertwining of Cecilia's entire family, friends, and business associates. I wish this were titled differently, as the dinning of the story is about Cecilia's sister, and you're left wondering mwhen Cecilia will become a primary part of the narrative. Recommended.

[Lillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several times as I read, I wanted to direct Cecilia to some common sense and respect for others. For someone as smart and successful as she was, she made a lot of bad decisions. Fortunately Spencer--and God--had ultimate patience waiting for her to wise up. There were a number of grammar and usage errors.

[Pamelarowell Rowell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish it. That hardly ever happens to me. I found it very unorganized with details not matching from scene to scene. There must have been more going on in the story than she even eluded to in the book, as things did not match up at all. Very disappointing read.

[Michelle [Helen Geek]]

Free on Amazon 08/08/2012.

[Kbee]

Christian all the way.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me just say that the ONLY reason I read this book was because it was free on my Kindle and I was bored that day.

[Patty Gammons]

Another sweet tale -- keep them coming!!! Aye, they are romantically delicious and I love them all!!!