For Better or For Worse intertwined my love of chick-lit and romantic comedy fiction with strong Christian values not ordinarily found in this style of novel. For Better or For Worse By Diane Hunt Thomas Nelson January 2008 Finding small prayers and a few select Bible verses woven into a classic love story was a pleasant surprise. Usually, although upbeat and comically entertaining, typical novels these days contain inappropriate language and sexually explicit details that a Christian woman like me would steer away from using out of respect for myself and others. While it is definitely entertaining to indulge in such an drama while reading a book, it was such a refreshing treat to delve into this novel and unexpectedly read my same values in print. In For Better or For Worse, Wendy Hartline, our main character, has taken over the family business of running a wedding chapel and small honeymoon getaway in East Tennessee after losing her beloved husband. She is the mother of a son who is currently living away at college, Colin, and a daughter, Brooke, who is in her mid-twenties and whose husband walks out on her at the start of the story due to stubborn marital conflicts. Wendy’s father Martin, who is notorious for job hopping and for his extremely opinionated ways, calls her right after her daughter moves in to her spare bedroom, saying he is on his way and needs a roof over his head for a while. Wendy gets through her long days full of financial worry and heartache for her late husband and the challenges her family is facing by looking to God for comfort and direction and by knowing life will turn right side up over time. Our secondary character is Marco Amorini. He is known by the ladies in town for being handsome, suave and a great lawyer when it’s time to end a marriage. His daughter Sophia attends the same college as Colin, Wendy’s son. Wendy and Marco’s lives collide when Marco decides to purchase land adjacent to Wendy’s wedding chapel and pond. He builds a lodge with beautiful guest rooms and a restaurant, not to rival Wendy’s business, but it becomes a rival never the less. There are a few surprising twists in the story that just make the climax absolutely exciting! Brooke discovers she is pregnant with her husband’s baby while dealing with residual jealously of the closeness between Colin and their Mom in childhood; Colin and Sophia announce they have fallen in love at college and announce they’re getting married; and Marco hires Martin for help at the lodge and Martin winds up finding a lady love of his own. The whole story is almost bittersweet as Wendy realizes she is healing well and is ready to keep living her life without her late husband. After trying to persuade the two young love birds to change their minds, Wendy and Marco realize how much Colin and Sophia truly love each other and start nurturing their relationship instead of trying to change it. As a result the kids decide to postpone their wedding a year and continue to grow together. Brooke and her husband start speaking again and she realizes her Mom has always loved her just as much as her brother. Martin moves in with his lady friend and continues to make a living working at the lodge and heals things with Wendy as well. Marco finally reveals his love and adoration for Wendy, while offering to sell his lodge to her for a miniscule price so they can combine assets and lives. For Better or For Worse is a heartfelt novel about how important the love and support of family is, how nerve racking but hopeful starting over after being widowed can be, and how healing and comforting it is to have the power of prayer and God in your life.