Finding Hope

It's been a while since I read an inspirational romance. I am a spiritual and religious person, but these qualities are so personal for everyone, even people who don't consider themselves to be spiritual or religious. It must be challenging to write a story that doesn't sound preachy.

The inspirational romances I read several years ago had much the same theme: one person (often a woman) converts another (often a man). This is one reason I stopped reading inspirationals; in many of them the settings changed, but several other aspects seemed similar. Perhaps I chose the wrong books.

I finished Brenda Coulter's Finding Hope. It was interesting and very readable, but the heroine was almost too perfect: 3 out of 5.

Hope is a 22-year-old woman with strong faith in God. She runs into Charles's car--literally--on the way to the hospital. She's going to visit a man who has been like a grandfather to her. Charles is a trauma doctor at the hospital, and he was having a difficult day even before Hope hit his car.

Charles sees himself as unfeeling and cynical. He and Hope begin to spend time together, and he finds himself enjoying her company and attending Bible study classes. But he doesn't believe that he can love anyone.

I like Hope at times, but she often seems too perfect. She has a wonderful background. Her family is devout; in fact, her parents are missionaries in Africa. Hope herself is bubbly, persistant, and endlessly optimistic. She also speaks five languages. This makes her an interesting character to read about, but not one I really relate to.

The section I most enjoyed is one where Charles goes to Pastor Bill to talk about his spiritual struggle. Their conversation is moving, but I would like to have seen more of Charles's thoughts to make his conversion more believable. His decision to marry Hope happens very quickly, too.

In any case, Finding Hope was interesting but not much different from others I've read. The next time I read an inspirational, I'll look for one with a different plot. I'd love to find a story about someone regaining faith, for example. Any suggestions?

Alyssa