A book that quotes Ramona Quimby? Yes please!

"You can't help who you fall in love with but you can help who you spend all your time with"

Is that not a great quote? I think this quote, from Leaving Liberty, is a perfect description of this love story. When I began Leaving Liberty I wasn't sure exactly what to expect from this unknown author. What I discovered is a fantastic Christian romance that weaves together forgiveness, making the choice to be happy, and taking a chance on love. I am a Christian but I don't really read a lot of Christian romance. I feel that in this genre, it is a fine line between telling a beautiful story that includes faith and high morals and telling a story that is perceived as preachy and uneventful. You will find this story is not in the least bit preachy, but infuses the characters faith in a flawless way. In Leaving Liberty the characters are people of faith and are real people with real problems. Lane is a small town cop who is confident in his faith, but not as confident about giving his heart away. Daisy is a former resident of Liberty who has come back for a funeral to the town she dislikes because of bad memories. Lane wants her to come to term with her past and find forgiveness and Daisy isn't sure she's capable of the kind of forgiveness that will allow her heart to heal. Together they find more than either of them were looking for. Check out the blurb:

At eighteen, Daisy McConnell left Liberty, Colorado and never looked back. The only bright spot in a childhood of neglect and loneliness was the town librarian, Marie. Now settled as a teacher in sunny Fresno, Daisy does her best to forget everything about Liberty including her drunk father, her MIA mother, and the town she hated with every beat of her heart.

Lane Bennett’s life as a small town cop is pretty close to perfect. He’s got his dog, a pretty date when he needs one, and plenty of time to fish on the weekends. No other place can compare to his hometown and he’s happy to devote his life to keeping the folks of Liberty safe. When Marie passes away, Lane knows one of the best parts about living in Liberty is gone, along with the old Carnegie library. It needs repairs the city can’t afford and the city managers won’t pay the new flood insurance. It’s too bad, but safety comes first.

When Daisy comes home for Marie’s funeral and hears the only safe place she knew as a child is going to close, she refuses to let it happen. She hatches a plan to save the old library, run the summer reading program, and keep Marie’s legacy alive.

She once vowed never to come home and he’s vowed never to leave. Daisy and Lane discover together that true love happens when you least expect it and you should never say never in Liberty.

I think the first hint that this was going to be a great story is when Daisy made reference to an old Beverly Clearly book about Ramona Quimby. " The sidewalk seemed to stretch forever. A scene from one of her favorite childhood books popped into her head. Ramona Quimby being carried out of the muddy field by Henry Huggins, proving once more she was, indeed, a big pest. She hadn't thought of that book in years and she had to smile a little. She wished she had bright red rain boots, like Ramona, instead of the funeral-shoes-turned-rude-party-trick. And Mr. Hero Complex could be Henry Huggins." I devoured those Ramona books as a child and smiled at the reference. The longer I read this book, the better the story became. Even though the steam is light, the romance is strong and real. The author builds the relationship between Lane and Daisy slowly and steadily and allows the reader to really feel these characters emotions. The pace of the story is fantastic and the story never felt rushed. I highly recommend you taking the time to read Leaving Liberty. The only complaint I would have about this book is the cover. To me, the cover is something that would hint at YA/NA and this book is neither. While young, the couple are past college age and established in careers. The story is light hearted, but handles some serious issues without high intensity and drama. You will not find ridiculous angst or immature characters. This is a great read for when you need a happy and uplifting story to brighten your day.

I want to leave you with one last quote, "That's the thing about happy endings. You just never know until you reach the very end."