The Words Between Us

 

    BOOK REVIEW:   Robin Windsor has spent much of her life under an assumed name to avoid association with her infamous parents. She thought she'd finally found sanctuary running her used bookstore in quiet River City, Michigan. But when she receives an eerily familiar book in the mail on the morning of her father's scheduled execution, Robin is thrown back to the summer she met Peter Flynt, the perfect boy who ruined everything. Why would Peter be making contact now? And why does she have a sinking feeling that she's about to to exposed all over again? 

     With evocative prose that recalls the classic novels we love, Erin Bartels pens a story that shows that words--the ones we say, the ones we read, and the ones we write--have more power than we imagine. 

     MY REVIEW:   This book has depth that a lot of fiction lacks, but for a Christian book, God is pretty scarce. Thus my opinion is, I really enjoyed this book, but I wouldn't recommend it as a deep inspirational story. It is a good fiction story that gives a warm feeling, but if you're looking for a good inspirational story it will disappoint. And I was disappointed in the language. While not profane, it could have been cleaner. 

     The book switches between 14-year-old Robin in a new town trying to adjust to her parent's crimes and avoid recognition, and 33-year-old Robin still trying to avoid recognition while attempting to keep her charming bookstore in business. Not able to trust easily, she only had one friend in school whom she left when she thought he turned on her, and now has only two who try to keep her from being completely hermited away in her little shop. Out of the blue her friend from school begins to send her the old books she had returned to him when she left, books that had forged a bond between them and gave Robin something to live for. Through this and the crazy scheme cooked up to try and save her store, Robin slowly begins to forgive her parents and release the tension in her past and forge a new future for herself. The storyline is different and unique which alone makes it refreshing. 

     I was a little disappointed how the story ended. We basically know what's going to happen, but we still want to read it. I know books can be hard to end, but I think this one could have been better. Restoration was made so we can close it happily, but it's a little open-ended. But all in all a nice story. 

I received a copy of this book from REVELL, and was not required to write a positive review.