Reviewed by: Alyssa Roat, a professional writing major at Taylor University.

Introduction

Title:  Just Let Go

Author: Courtney Walsh

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: 2018

Format: Print book

Length: 379 pages

OVERVIEW

Quinn Collins thinks her dreams are coming true. She has finally bought the flower shop in a little Michigan town that once belonged to her mother before she left twenty years ago and never returned. Now she just needs to win a prestigious flower competition to prove herself to her mother, the judge. But with all she needs to do, she’s in way over her head.

Meanwhile, notorious Olympic skier Grady Benson has been running for years, trying to make up for a childhood tragedy. But his career is spiraling downward, and his fast life is catching up to him. He was just planning to pass through Quinn’s small town, but when a fight ends in property damage, he’s sentenced to community service—with uptight Quinn, whom he quickly realizes he can’t stand, and only one chance to qualify for the Olympics.

Much to both of their dismay, they must work together to achieve their goals. As Grady resigns himself to five weeks in a nowhere town, he begins to find some things that make it bearable, including a young teen with skiing promise. Quinn begins to realize how much she needs Grady’s help to make it to the flower competition, and his idea sparks her best design yet. Perhaps Grady was missing something in his life—and perhaps so was overly-cautious Quinn.

When current tragedy and painful pasts collide, Quinn and Grady must come to terms with their pasts, their families, and, hopefully, each other, before Grady leaves forever.

Though the story starts out in a cliché small town, as the characters develop, they become endearing. The love story is of course predictable, but satisfying. Readers who like Hallmark movies will love this book.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

4 stars

Suggested Audience

This book would appeal to women of all ages who enjoy romance.

Christian Impact

The characters struggle with forgiveness, family, and faith. Grady must grapple with his disillusionment, forgiving himself, and searching for meaning, while Quinn must learn to move on, forgive, cast aside her judgment, and trust God. Christian themes are woven into the story very well as characters naturally struggle with God and grow deeper in their faith.

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