Monday, January 26, 2015

"the greatest is love" by kitra kaspar

Readers who enjoy inspirational romances set in small towns that are full of quirky characters should check out Kitra Kaspar's The Greatest is Love.

What happens when city doctor Joey Winters meets country lawyer Brad Freeman? Nothing, because Joey is determined to stay unattached. Rural Freeman, Oklahoma is not in her life plan, which means falling for a handsome small-town lawyer is out of the question. Too bad she forgot to tell her heart. However, when Joey’s painful past haunts her, she realizes she will never have a meaningful relationship with any man unless she battles her demons. She knows she needs help but believes God abandoned her long ago. Add in a gorgeous banker named Evan, and the doctor’s life seems to spin out of control. Can Joey trust in God? Does He even care about her?


The Greatest is Love is an enjoyable, quick read, filled with characters that are, for the most part, quite realistic. (More on that later.) I really enjoyed watching Joey's transition to small-town life and her transformation as she opened her heart to Christ. I found myself completely captivated with the story as I read.

Probably because I was so captivated, Joey annoyed me far more than she would have in a novel in which I didn't feel so invested. See, Joey had two men interested in her: Brad and his cousin Evan. It was glaringly obvious, almost from Joey's first interaction with each man, which man was right for her. Her persistence in dating the "wrong" man—and her rationale for it—made me want to throttle her. Joey did have some issues from her past that informed her present decisions, but for a smart doctor, she certainly seemed dense at times! I do have to say, though, Joey did finally redeem herself, so if she drives you crazy while you're reading, just keep going!

The Greatest is Love is deeper and deals with the ugly side of life more than much of what's in the inspirational market today. I would definitely categorize it as edgy Christian fiction—it's not something you'd want your 12-year-old to read, but it's great for older teens and adults who want more than just a simple love story. 4 stars.

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A retired teacher/counselor, Kitra now enjoys retirement and the opportunity to do what she’s always dreamed of doing—write. Kitra and her husband of thirty-two years live on a farm in northwest Oklahoma. They raise cattle, chickens, quail and occasionally, a litter of kittens. Kitra has three grown children and two grandchildren. She is active in her church and several organizations.

An avid reader all her life, Kitra became hooked on romances early on. She knew she would write nothing else. Her first successes came in the way of confession stories. One titled “Face to Face with a Rattlesnake” won the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation Crème de la Crème contest in 2005-the first time for a confession story. However, as her relationship with God grew, Kitra realized she couldn’t write graphic sex, language or violence.

As Kitra read and explored inspirational romances, she felt disappointed—not because of their squeaky clean content, but because they seemed to deal with such superficial conflicts. Kitra decided she had to tackle the tough issues, like sexual abuse, alcoholism, marital infidelity and sexual promiscuity. The Greatest Is Love is Kitra’s first inspirational novel. It introduces the reader to the small Oklahoma town of Freeman. Somewhere between Mayberry and Peyton Place, Freeman has good and not-so-good people struggling with modern-day issues. Her message is one of hope that God can overcome any hurt the world can inflict, and nobody is so deep in sin that he or she can’t find redemption.

An avid observer of people, Kitra likes to use characteristics of her friends and family in her books. However, even a casual passerby with an obvious quirk is not safe from her observant eye. Book two of the Men of Freeman series is titled Lost Sheep and deals with the destructive nature of guilt and the uplifting results of forgiveness.

Connect with Kitra at Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

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