Advance Reading Copy Disclosure:
Thanks to Booklookbloggers and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I have not read anything else by Lucado before but what drew my attention to this book the most was the cover and title. This does not affect my opinion of the content or the book in my review.
“Dear God (if this really is you), I hate the church. I hate religion and everything about it. It seems so obvious that religion causes more problems than it solves. It manipulates and separates people with fear. The church is nothing more than a place for people to pose as someone they’re not. How can you defend all this hypocrisy?” Chelsea chuckled. “That’s from someone named Spencer, if I remember correctly.” “You’re good,” Tony said.
The book starts out great and the author describes exactly what caught my interest for the book. Chelsea Chambers leaves her NFL, famous, good looking husband who cheated on her. She decides now to open a café – The Higher Grounds Café”. Instantly I loved how Lucado describes the taste, smell and texture of the coffee and pastries. I literally made myself a cup of coffee, curled myself up on the couch and started reading this book in one sitting. (183 pages which is done by me in a couple of hours!) Chelsea tries to gain control again of her life and her family (she has two kids with her husband and her son’s name is Hancock) Like instantly, “WHY would you name your kid HANCOCK?”
It is a nice little story about forgiving and love which grabbed my interest. When they introduce the “God blog” at the café the author lost me however. It is supposed to be a hotline to God. God answers questions that customers come up with and her business starts to go up the roof. I do not want to give away spoilers so I leave it at that. You read the quote above? This was God’s answer:
“Dear Spencer, I don’t even try to defend hypocrisy. Now I have a question for you. Do you really think I started that? Don’t you think I’ve had my fill of worship charades, religious games, and fearmongering, as you and your friends say? You think I want this? No thank you. Yet, Spencer, I haven’t seen much compassion out of you, have I? You pride yourself in authenticity, yet behave like everyone in your own circle. You make irreligion a religion. Leave the hypocrites up to me. And from time to time, look up. Focus on me. I think you might be surprised by what you’ll find. Love, God.”
I would say that the plot was good and what made me turn the pages were the characters. If you love coffee, pastries, cafés, spiritualism, belief and angels this is your book.
Thank you for reading and enjoy the book if you decide to read it.
