Lisa AR
This was a quick read, and I enjoyed the setting and the general small town vibe. There was an awful lot of telling about everything rather than showing, though. Some characters were very one-dimensional and cookie-cutter, which definitely brought the overall quality of the read down quite a bit for me. I see from reviews that Penny's books get better, but I'm in no rush to see if I agree with that.
For those who have walked her path in any way, her voice is a beautiful beacon; for those who need to learn, she is a magnificent teacher.
There were parts of this that I liked and appreciated very much...and then there were parts that seemed highly implausible. Not sure whether the author was choosing to embellish to try make his points or engage his readers, but whatever the case, it affected his credibility for me. Still–good nuggets to think (and pray!) on. (Oh, and...for the record...this is neither a simple guide, nor does the author–with his incredible life experiences–come across as a “normal” person.)