phyllish
Written on May 8, 2019
"Naomi's Aunt Ivy had collected a mix of pets from the animal shelter, including a parrot who had *somehow* learned the phrase ""Naomi should marry Mateo!"" However, having seen her mother making poor choices, she determined to never rely on a man, That was simply out of the question. Wasn't it?
Mateo was a kind man who had loved Naomi almost as long as he had known her. Driven by his scars, both seen and unseen, to prove his worth to those around him, he was constantly serving and was well loved in the small town. He was also noble in giving up a higher rank in the big city police force and a higher salary when he moved home to care for his aging grandfather. I really liked his dedication and servant heart.
Naomi not only had to learn that it is okay to rely on those around but also that God desires us to rely on Him. Moreover, Mateo needed to learn to surrender the survivor guilt he lived with every day.
The books in this multi-author series intertwine, as the main characters from each are best friends. This did make for an unusual reading as they take place concurrently. An incident where a search party was sent out ended up feeling incomplete due to the reference to the search and no details other than the result. I know this was addressed in another book yet it seemed awkward.
One thing in the book that bugged me, though, having grown up with a parrot I know that they imitate and don't understand what they are saying. It was when Aunt Ivy's parrot changed from saying 'Naomi should marry Mateo"" to ""Nai should marry Mateo"" because Naomi began going by that nickname. That isn't something a parrot would figure out. I didn't take away any stars for this but felt compelled to mention it!
Readers who enjoy small town romances, especially those with older couples getting their second chances will want to pick up a copy of this lovely book.
Read my full review at at Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own."