The Widow of Saunders Creek - Tracy Bateman

I usually don't read Christian Romance books. Mostly because they're so predictable. They all seem to have the same storyline - young newlywed woman loses the love of her life, the grieving widow meets a handsome, single gentleman who has a troubled past and won't let himself fall in love with her, she feels guilty because she starts to have feelings for him, by the end of the story one of them has a near death accident and they realize they both love each other. Of course I do like to read a good love story but I prefer it to have a little more depth in it.

Description from the publisher:

Corrie Saunders grew up in a life of privilege. But she gave it all up for Jarrod, her Army husband, a man she knew was a hero when she vowed to spend her life with him. She just didn’t expect her hero to sacrifice his life taking on an Iraqi suicide bomber.

Six months after Jarrod’s death, Corrie retreats to the family home her husband inherited deep in the Missouri Ozarks. She doesn’t know how to live without Jarrod—she doesn’t want to. By moving to Saunders Creek and living in a house beloved by him, she hopes that somehow her Jarrod will come back to her.

Something about the house suggests maybe he has. Corrie begins to wonder if she can feel Jarrod’s presence.

Jarrod’s cousin Eli is helping Corrie with the house’s restoration and he knows that his dead cousin is not what Corrie senses. Eli, as a believing man and at odds with his mystically-oriented family members, thinks friendly visits from beyond are hogwash. But he takes spirits with dark intentions seriously. Can he convince Corrie that letting go of Jarrod will lead to finding her footing again— and to the One she can truly put her faith into?

I received The Widow of Saunders Creek as an ARC from Waterbrook Multnomah and honestly, I wasn't expecting much. After I started reading it though, I didn't want to stop. It was a cute story even though it was predictable and everything happened perfectly. I loved the old fashioned town and the close-knit family atmosphere. I liked Eli, but I mean, who wouldn't like a guy like him? The spirit world element of of the story was interesting but I thought it seemed a little overboard and unrealistic some of the time.

In short, this story was predictable and lacked some depth but it was a pleasant and enjoyable read.