Review
======

Title: Promise of Spring
Author: Kristen McKendry
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Genre: Fiction
Year Published: 2008
Number of Pages: 197
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-59811-549-9
Price: $14.95

Reviewed by Jaymie Reynolds

"Promise of Spring," by Kristen McKendry, is a romance set in the Texas panhandle. It is an unusual pairing of modern meets times gone by. While most people in the book are content to combine the ranching/farming lifestyle with today's modern conveniences, the heroine is lovely and talented. She is also the quintessential tree-hugger.

Melinda Keith has suffered through a bitter divorce and has crawled away into isolation to lick her wounds. In an effort to avoid her mother's prying, poking and prodding, Melinda has purchased a farm in the Texas panhandle. She is determined to rebuild her own self-worth by living completely off of the land. Although she has spent her entire life as a city girl, Melinda is now producing her own electricity, canning and storing all of her own food, and selling enough of her remaining harvest to upgrade her farm. She is a voracious reader. Through her study and through conversations with her grandfather that she had as a little girl, Melinda manages to successfully convert book learning to farm living in the short space of two years. In addition to building a completely self-sufficient ecosystem, Melinda is growing her own forest...from scratch.

After two years of living in isolation, Melinda's peace is suddenly interrupted by the next door arrival of a very handsome widower named Ryan Delaney and his two-year old son, Tanner. Melinda tumbles instantly into love with little Tanner. Ryan is a computer using, modern-day rancher who is not at all opposed to using whatever conveniences are available. Soon Melinda is taking them home cooked meals and helping out where she can. As Ryan tries to reciprocate by helping her with her farm, she fights to maintain her version of independence. Allowing Ryan to help is a weakness that she does not want to foster. At the same time, she has taken to sharing a bench with Ryan and Tanner at their church. While Melinda sends Ryan mixed signals and struggles with her own mixed emotions, Ryan continues to steadfastly break down her self-imposed barriers.

As Ryan and Melinda are exploring their relationship, vicious acts of vandalism start occurring on their farms and in her fledgling forest. At the same time, Melinda's other neighbor, Jack Peyton, also handsome and single, is trying to purchase Ryan's farm. He is determined to marry Melinda and he feels that since Ryan's house is the largest of the three, it would be the perfect place for them to live after the ceremony. Melinda struggles to convince Jack that she is not interested in him and to convince herself that she is not interested in a lasting relationship with Ryan.

In "Promise of Spring," Kristen McKendry, sets out to write a romance. Although at times this book seems to try a little too hard to reach its goal, overall the author succeeds. "Promise of Spring" is lightweight, easy read. It is perfect for when a woman needs something happy and romantic to fill those rare moments of down time. It is also a good fit for such times because it does not require a great investment of thought to process the storyline. It can be read in short snatches and still make complete sense. This is definitely a book for women. At the same time, most mothers will not mind allowing their teen daughters to read it. It is a clean book with a light romance, upstanding values woven as an integral part of the storyline, and a light dusting of suspense. This book is probably not the right fit for most men.

This book definitely requires a willing suspension of belief. While "Promise of Spring" is a delightful book with which to fill a couple of hours, the reader does need to be willing to believe that a woman with no hands on experience whatsoever, can successfully run a farm that is completely self-sufficient within the first year. As Ryan and Melinda develop their relationship, one must wonder how they will reconcile their different lifestyles and environmental beliefs should they ultimately end up together. Will Melinda give in and use a computer? Will Ryan give in and install solar panels? At the same time, the author's stand on environmental issues is a large part of this book. In future books, it would be nice to see this toned down to a more believable, subtle level. Ultimately, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a clean romance with a happy ending. This is an easy fit for even the busiest schedule.