There's also talk of drug use, premarital sex, and abortion.

I should caution, though, that there are a handful of mild swear words in the novel, as well as fairly extensive drinking. I imagine I felt how someone who has no Christian background would feel if they picked up some of my favorite books! The morals portrayed in this book-fidelity, saving sex for marriage, and a value for unborn life-are God-honoring, and I don't think the Catholic nature of this novel should keep any protestant from reading it. Note: This is a Catholic romance, and, as someone who grew up evangelical, I did not understand a lot of the terms used in regard to the practice of faith. I say this because I know some people like to save their Christmas reading for the season, and you should know that you could easily read this book at any time of the year! 3-1/2 stars. The cover absolutely screams Christmas, and the book does begin and end during the Christmas season, but the vast majority of the book does not center around the holiday in any way. I definitely would not classify this as a Christmas romance. But there's also a lot of heart and emotion in the pages of this book, and I really enjoyed reading it. Sometimes Dan's and Emily's reactions in certain situations don't ring true. There's a lot of drama here, and some of it does stretch credulity. What ensues is a two-year roller-coaster of 'will they or won't they?' (Of course, we know that ultimately they will get together.) I found this to be at turns enjoyable and frustrating. However, when Dan becomes friends with Emily's brother, the two find themselves thrown together often, and attraction flares. It's definitely not love at first sight, though Emily does feel 'something' when she shakes Dan's hand. When Dan and Emily meet, he's recovering from a horrible breakup, and she's feeling restless and wondering if she'll ever find love. It spans two years as Dan and Emily go from meeting to begrudging friendship to love. Ornamental Graces is a compelling, character-driven romance. But he’s made a mess of his life and ruined his chances for earning the love and trust of a woman like her.Ĭould Dan be the man Emily’s been waiting for? How could he be when every time they get close he pulls away? And will he ever be free from his shady past and the ex-girlfriend who refuses to stay there?

Just when his life seems to be back on track, he meets Emily Kowalski, younger sister of his new best friend.Įmily’s the kind of girl he’d always dreamed of-sweet, smart, and sincere. After his duplicitous girlfriend left, Dan Malone spent six months in a tailspin of despair and destruction: emotional, physical, and spiritual.

All in Good Time by Carolyn Astfalk