I recently had the chance to read “Her Best Catch,” a Christian romance by Lindi Peterson and published by Bell Bridge Books. I enjoyed the story quite a bit.
Our main character is Allison Doll, a woman who’s not quite thirty and has all but given up on romance. She’s an auditor by profession, a devoted Christian, and she lives with her mother and grandmother, seeking to support and comfort them after the tragic death of her father. Each of these women is seeking comfort in a different way, and Allison finds her greatest strength in her religious beliefs.
When retired relief pitcher Ashton Boyd starts attending her Sunday School class and takes an interest in her, Allison struggles to keep her head on straight, but she is determined not to get swept off her feet too easily, even when it would be so easy to let her morals slide. He’s a really, really good kisser, but she values her convictions more. In the end, will she have to choose one over the other?
I felt this book had a lot of good principles that apply to marriage and especially preparation for marriage. Allison knew what she wanted—she wanted a man who would worship alongside her and not ask her to compromise her beliefs. She stuck to her guns, even though it was painful.
This was a good example to me of ways in which we can all honor ourselves by knowing what we want and not settling for less. Of course, I’m not talking about deciding we’re only going to marry millionaires, and giving up a chance at true happiness because the guy we fall for only makes minimum wage. I’m talking about the things that are the most deeply important to us, like religious beliefs or personal convictions of any sort.
Just from what I’ve observed, when a man and woman compromise too much in their relationships, they end up unhappy. You can compromise over things like where to live and where to work and where to shop, but when it comes to eternal issues, you shouldn’t feel as though you have to give up who you are for your spouse. Your spouse should love you for those eternal issues.
In a nutshell, I enjoyed the character’s voice very much and liked her quirky sense of humor. I liked watching her live her life in the most honest way she knew how, even though she did have faults. Most of all, I liked how this book encouraged me to evaluate my own standards as they relate to religion and to my marriage. I am very happily married to a man who shares my convictions, and we support each other in them. It truly makes for a real-life romance.
Related Blogs:
Virginity Pledges and Marriage
Discuss Values and Beliefs Before Marriage