Made to Last

Have you ever read a story so good that you were unable to forget it weeks after you finished it? I have! From the Start is just such a book that struck a chord with me and whose engrossing story and delightful characters drew me in. It is the first book in Walker Family, Melissa Tagg's newest series.

Kate Walker & Colton Greene, the central characters of the story, are each going through a rough patch in their lives. Colton, a former NFL quarterback, has been permanently sidelined by an injury and hides away in Kate's hometown. Kate, a movie screenwriter, is also seeking some respite and heads back home after news of a natural disaster. But, from the start, God had a greater plan for their lives. One that, incidentally, throws them together and forces them to turn their lives around and trust in His will for their lives.

It is my honest opinion that this book is the author's greatest work yet and quite possibly one of the most heartwarming and evocative books that I have ever read. I found myself relating to Kate and, by the end of the book, I had grown so attached to everyone that I did not want to say goodbye. If there was an idea that the author wished you to take away from it, I believe it would go something like this: "When life sidelines you, trust in God to guide you on to the next step in the future that He has planned for you."

Although I have enjoyed every book by the author, there is something inherently different about From the Start that sets it above all the others. It was so subtle that I nearly missed it. It has a depth that I have rarely seen in others of its genre. Even the romance itself was extraordinary and I was so caught up in the emotional journey of Kate & Colton that I forgot that I was reading a book. I laughed, cried, cheered them on, and even enjoyed the football. For me, the most wonderful part was the warm, close-knit family and small hometown community. There is certainly nothing pretentious about the author's writing style. Instead, there is the sense of this unassuming, down-to-earth writer with a personal story to tell. From the Start may well have been the author's hardest story to write, but that is because it came from deep within the heart. It is books like these that are the ones that we cherish and may often become dog-eared because we have read them over and over so many times.

In conclusion, I really must say that I absolutely loved this book and I would definitely recommend it, especially to those who enjoy reading riveting, contemporary Christian romance. While it many not be in the genre that you normally read, it is still a refreshingly good read and would not be a waste of your time. Even I, an avid reader of historical fiction found myself hopelessly hooked.

I received a complimentary copy of From the Start from the author in exchange for an honest review.