Homecoming Blessings

Merrillee Whren
Inspirational Romance
Steeple Hill Love Inspired - April, 2009

Author Merrilee Whren lives with her successful businessman husband on an island off Florida’s east coast. That’s where they finally settled, but their 30-plus-year relationship took them all around the United States. That provided her with lots of picturesque settings. Now their lovely island gives her the opportunity to stroll a sandy beach to think about the plotting. How could she not have become a romance writer? Where do I sign?

Homecoming Blessings is a contemporary Love Inspired Steeple Hill effort that, as expected, easily weaves a story of faith into its character-driven (beach inspired?) plot. In this case the beach turned in a gentle plot in which the action drifts like a lazy sea gull on the wind.

The action revolves around the different values held by the fresh-from-the-field missionary, Ashley Hiatt, and big-city businessman, Peter Dalton. Ashley’s dad, Peter’s boss, has paired the two on a project that ultimately changes them both. Homecoming Blessings is about that change, and it asks both characters to stretch.

Peter is a worldly guy who doesn’t want to settle down and Ashley is a godly gal for whom settling down is all but logical. Psychologically, Peter judges his worth by how much money he makes. Ashley judges her worth, not by money, but on serving people who need to be ministered to. She also always puts others first and is comfortable doing that. Peter and Ashley make quite a diverse pair, however, they make it work and adjust to reality. And, end up feeling good about themselves.

Merrillee Whren won the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. We always look forward to Merrillee's books and know that we'll get a nice flowing book that will keep us calm as we read.