A Billion Reasons Why By Kristin Billerbeck
Copyright 2011
Thomas Nelson - Christian Chick Lit/Romance
320 pages
I'm going to make this review a quickie because it sounds like the end of the world is happening outside my window, here (big storm -- no lightning or I'd be unplugged).
Katie McKenna is about to get engaged to her boyfriend, Dexter. Dexter is reliable and he wants the same things Katie wants. At least, that's what she thinks until her old boyfriend, multi-millionaire Luc DeForges, walks back into her life. 8 years ago, Luc humiliated Katie in public, back in their hometown, New Orleans. Since then, she's become a special ed teacher in Northern California. Katie's put the past behind her and she's perfectly happy. But, Luc wants her to sing and dance at his brother's wedding. Really, he's trying to lure her to New Orleans but I won't go into the details apart from the fact that she needs her grandmother's ring to get engaged and Luc has it.
Katie has a fascination with the 1940s and she finds herself just a little bit excited at the idea of returning to her old passions, even briefly. But, there are a billion reasons why she shouldn't have anything to do with Luc, again. So, why is she suddenly spotting all of Dexter's flaws and finding herself so magnetically drawn to Luc? What if God wants her to stop hiding her talents and avoiding her passion for the 1940s? Could it be that Luc offers what she's really wanted all along?
Well . . . obviously, this is a romance so you know going into the book just how it's going to end and who the heroine will choose. I've wanted to read a book by Kristin Billerbeck for quite some time because I've read a lot of raves about her Christian chick lit (that's definitely how I'd classify it, although the Christian element is, again, not very prevalent).
Unfortunately, there were a lot of things I didn't like about A Billion Reasons Why. I thought the writing was weak, in general. Conversations that should have been brief and to the point dragged on for pages and were a bit stilted. And, I thought the idea of being "about to be engaged" made no sense, whatsoever. A ring does not a commitment make. A woman's engaged the moment he asks and she says "yes", in my mind.
In spite of all those dislikes, I did like the characters and I loved Katie's obsession with the 1940s. During the first half of the book, it seemed like it was taking forever for the author to explain the past -- what Luc did to humiliate Katie, what happened to her father, why Luc had her grandmother's ring. But, once those answers were revealed, I did like how it came together.
Also, I've always found myself drawn to the 1940s, its movies and clothing, the way people spoke -- and especially the strength of people dealing with WWII. Nice suits and hats!! Why can't we bring back hats on every head?! Okay, yes, they mush your hair.
I did think the whole New Orleans thing was forced--meaning, it seemed like the author went out of her way to try to make it sound like she knew New Orleans when, in fact, I was almost immediately convinced she just thought it was a cool setting. I looked up the author's bio and found out she's a 4th-generation Californian. I guess that means I've been in the Deep South long enough to recognize someone trying to "write Southern," as opposed to writing by a genuine Southerner.
Anyway, I liked A Billion Reasons Why enough to read to the end because sometimes it's just nice to read something a little light and predictable. but, I won't go out of my way to read more books by Billerbeck because I didn't like the lengthy, repetitive dialogue. However, the fact that the book is dialogue-heavy did make it a quick read and it was definitely good timing for a breezy read. I've been a tiny bit slumpy in recent weeks.
Recommended for romance lovers, in particular. A clean, sweet romance.
You can read a free chapter of A Billion Reasons Why here.
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I am not sure that I would read this one, but I am glad to hear that you mostly liked it. I tend to avoid books that lean to heavily on Christian themes, despite the fact that I am a rather religious person. I just don't like to feel like messages are beating me about the head. Whenever I find a Christian fiction book that doesn't utilize this technique, I get really excited!
ReplyDeleteZibilee,
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot to like, but it was just an average read for me. I'm the same way about Christian books, although there are times I read (particularly nonfiction) books for the sense of direction they give me. But, fiction is tricky. If it gets too preachy, it scares most people away and I'm one who completely avoided it for many years because I don't like hammer-over-your-head theology, especially in escapist reading. I think the genre, in general, has gotten dramatically better in recent years -- clean fiction but more varied and less of a sense that the Christianity is a heavy theme rather than simply a part of who the characters are.
Wow..it feels like forever since I've stopped by...shame on me. On the the review...seems the characters were a plus but the writing a minus....a bit out of balance but still sounds like it was worth the read. Funny how you can spot those writing Southern as opposed to BEING Southern...good eye. Thanks for sharing...and happy reading! ^_^
ReplyDeleteGMR,
ReplyDeleteOh, that's okay. I've been pretty bad about visiting fellow bloggers, this year. That's a good way to describe the book: "A bit out of balance". It was fun, in spite of imperfect writing, though, and a lot of people aren't as picky as I am so I'm sure plenty will enjoy it.
LOL on the "good eye". I'm not an original Mississippian but I've been here most of my adult life, so I think I'm finally getting it! But, I would never try to write like a Southerner, myself. I'd get it all wrong. It's kind of like being able to read French but not speak it, you know?
I have not had time to start this one yet. I loved her What a Girl Wants series but did not like the Spa Girl series. I am about half and half I think on her works. I like most Christian Chick lit. lol :)
ReplyDeleteBrittanie,
ReplyDeleteWell, that's good! I think I might have a copy of What a Girl Wants, unless my memory is failing me (and there have been signs). I like some Christian chick lit but I think it's something I need to only read on rare occasions. It's definitely not my favorite, these days.