Official Review: A Man to Love by Maria Pryor Herndon

[Caroline Anne Richmond]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Man to Love" by Maria Pryor Herndon.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Ken Rankin, a middle-aged hydraulic engineer, is a divorced father of two sons. He is also an attractive man, which gains the unwanted attention of many women. The exception to this rule was his ex-wife, who was enticed by Ken’s earning potential instead of marrying for love. A Man to Love by Maria P. Herndon is a fictional story following Ken’s life after his divorce. Now a single, disheartened and homeless man, he sets out to find happiness and finds much more than he ever expected.

Exhausted after his divorce, Ken needs a place to settle and finds a lovely home in Sacramento. Enchanted by the quiet neighborhood and the charming house, surrounded by pleasant gardens, Ken approaches the owner to ask if he can rent the property. The landlady living in the house next door is Carolyn Beason. Carolyn suffered a terrible marriage herself and is a widow. Ken is curious about this shy and intriguing woman and persuades her to let him rent the house. Carolyn is taken with how good looking Ken is and feels a little ashamed about it, as she is some years older than him.

With Ken moving into his new home, there is an immediate and growing spark between the two. With an increasing amount of time spent together, the attraction grows. Carolyn agrees to travel to the Navajo-Hopi Reservation with Ken for a work project. Carolyn spent many years teaching here and is the perfect companion and tour guide for Ken. Feelings and fears mount in both characters, both who have been wounded by previous relationships. Being Christians, they both place trust in God and decide to walk the path he intends.

This novella contains two lead characters that are relatable. Both have been hurt in previous relationships and are exhausted by the emotional burden of pain. Being middle-aged provides a different dynamic to the story, by showing how the characters feel because of their age. As a reader, I wanted nothing more than for both characters to have a happy ending, as the author does a fantastic job of relating how wounded they are from previous life experiences. The power of a second chance of love, that can come to you at any age, is very clear in the narrative.

The build-up of Ken and Carolyn’s relationship is well written. I enjoyed reading the different things they did together, how they laughed, enjoyed themselves and how chemistry built between them. I loved the sentiment that regardless of age, anyone can be reduced to a giddy schoolgirl when falling in love.

The book is a Christian-romance novel, but the religious content is not overpowering. The references to religion are quite minimal, and so I believe anyone of any belief system can enjoy the book. It is fast moving and is quite hard to put down as you await the conclusion of the story. Due to the characters having difficult pasts, you wish for a happy ending and this keeps you turning the pages.

I enjoyed the descriptions of scenery when the characters travel to Arizona to the Indian reservation. Many monuments and different places are mentioned, bringing a great visualization of this area and a great sense of sightseeing and adventure within the characters. The excitement between the characters is exhilarating and again strengthens the statement, that age is just a number.

I found a few errors amongst the text, so I would recommend another round of professional editing. I enjoyed the story and liked the characters very much so I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars, I couldn’t give it full marks because of the errors I found. The book is suitable for adults and young adults who enjoy the romance genre. There is romantic and religious content, but neither are overdone. There is no profanity included, and it is a good wholesome read. If you like second chances, love-stories and interesting characters, this one is for you. 

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A Man to Love
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[Joan642]

I really love romance and I love reading about them, so am sure I would enjoy this one. Thanks for the review.

[Caroline Anne Richmond]

I really love romance and I love reading about them, so am sure I would enjoy this one. Thanks for the review.

The beauty in this book, is the chance of romance and true love when the characters thought it would never happen. It is really heart warming. I hope you enjoy it if you read it. Thank you for your comments.

[Jennifer Aldo]

Love and happily-ever-afters are always top of my list. This book is too. Thanks for the review.

[AnnieOgoo]

I saw this book about a week ago and I really really wanted to read it. My desire to read it has increased after reading this review. Such a lovely book, and a beautiful review.

[Caroline Anne Richmond]

Love and happily-ever-afters are always top of my list. This book is too. Thanks for the review.

Thank you for your comments. I’m sure you will enjoy it

[Caroline Anne Richmond]

I saw this book about a week ago and I really really wanted to read it. My desire to read it has increased after reading this review. Such a lovely book, and a beautiful review.

Thank you for your kind comments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Nqobile Mashinini Tshabalala]

They both sound like lovely people, I'm happy they found happiness. Thanks for reviewing such a heartwarming book.

[Caroline Anne Richmond]

They both sound like lovely people, I'm happy they found happiness. Thanks for reviewing such a heartwarming book.

Thank you for your lovely comments. It was definitely a feel-good story.