Right Where I belong
By Krista McGee
Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko
Book Description
Natalia’s about to discover her place in the world . . . and it’s not following in her father’s footsteps.
After watching her father jump from one marriage to the next, Natalia has completely written off love. And when her father divorces his third wife—the only one who has been a mother to her—Natalia is ready to write him off too.
Needing a change of scenery, Natalia leaves her home in Spain and relocates with her stepmother to sun-soaked Florida. But she didn’t realize just how far a new school, a new culture, and a new lifestyle would push her out of her comfort zone.
One of her biggest surprises comes from Brian, a pastor’s son with an adorable smile, who loves God with a sincerity that astounds Natalia. She doesn’t want to fall for him, but she can’t seem to avoid him long enough to get him out of her mind.
Love is the last thing Natalia wants. Even so, God has her right where she belongs
My Review:
Natalia has seen the pain in love, first hand. She witnesses the several women that her father has used, and tossed aside without a second thought. She truly does not want that for herself. When she decides to go to the United States to be with her stepmother, she never dreams all she will experience there.
This was a YA novel, but written in a way that adults would find interesting. The format is simplistic, yet has some deeper messages. Natalia is alone in her faith, grown by the encouragement of her stepmother, yet the tables are turned and Natalia has to encourage her when the end of the marriage happens.
Brian, the pastor’s son was hard for me to figure out. He seemed like a great guy, but was hard to read. Was he shallow? Was he real? Did he just joke around because of insecurity?
The new friends that Natalia makes in Florida, are more interested in the same things that she is, and they work on encouraging her in her faith. She even has a hand in bringing Spencer, Brian’s nemesis to faith in Jesus on a mission trip to Costa Rica.
I was uncertain as to the fact that the church sent people on a mission trip that were not committed to the Lord. That sort of made me wonder if that is true often!
Overall, this book could have had a little more depth to it for me, but I understand that it was more a YA novel and I think it would speak to that age group well for that purpose. There is not really a romantic slant to the book, even though the couple is drawn to each other, the story is more focused on Natalia’s journey to believing God can give true love and that He had a plan for her, even if her parents did not understand.
This book was given to me for review by Book Sneeze, but the thoughts and review is my own.
– Martha
