Smitten

One story.  Four friends.  One goal--to save their small town of Smitten, Vermont when news breaks that the mill, the primary industry in the town, is closing.  Smitten is the perfect place to raise a family but has little to offer tourists. Just the mention of the town's name makes everyone think of love so the four friends devise a plan that will capitalize on that fact.  Each woman, with talents of their own determine to use those talents to help save their beloved town.  When they share their plan with the town, everyone joins in the excitement.  Well, almost everyone.

Each character's story is written by a different well-known Christian author--Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter.  The book begins with Collen Coble telling the story of Natalie, owner of the local coffee shop, who is raising her niece and wishes to adopt her and give her the stable life she never had.  Where Ms. Coble leaves off, Ms. Billerbeck picks up, telling the story of Julie, the friend who moved home to Smitten after working at a spa in Manhattan.   Ms. Hunt then picks up the story from the point of view of Shelby who wishes to use her sewing skills to help save Smitten.  Ms. Hunter then brings the story to a close, focusing on Reese who has always wanted to open an outdoor store in the beautiful area.  Each of the friends were strong women but still have the insecurities and longing for love that most women do which make them so easy for the ready to identify with.

The writing style of the four authors is so similar and the way that they wove the stories of the four friends into one was well done.  Each "story", as it unfolds, is fairly predictable but aren't all romances?   The book includes questions for book clubs, an interview with the four authors which gives the reader insight into their lives and how the story was so well and intricately woven together, and recipes and tips from the book characters.  Smitten is to be followed by Secretly Smitten in December 2012.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.  Pick up your copy today.  I think you'll be "smitten" with characters and storyline.