BLOG TOUR: Sandwich with a Side of Romance by Krista Phillips

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when you're ready to start your week off with a bookish infusion.

Today, we are playing host to a blog tour from Pump Up Your Book featuring a new-to-me author whose work caught my attention despite being outside my usual reads.  How so?  You'll see.  Without further ado, please welcome today's blog tour guest and book of choice...

Sandwich with a Side of Romance

by

Krista Phillips

From Pump Up Your Book...

She moved to Sandwich, IL in search of a new life, but ended up in a giant pickle.

Sandwich represents hope for twenty-year-old Maddie Buckner and Kyle, the eleven-year-old brother Maddie wants to spring out of foster care. Then she loses her new job after less than a day on the clock. It’s all Reuben-the-Jerk’s fault, and she’s determined to make him right the wrong.

He does so, reluctantly, by giving her a job at his restaurant, The Sandwich Shop. Then crazy things start happening at the restaurant, and Kyle’s foster parents apply to adopt him. To stop it all, Maddie must learn the art of humbling herself and accepting the help God has arranged, risking her heart to Reuben in the process.

And she’d rather eat a million corned-beef on rye sandwiches than do that.

Okay, first things first...this book was out of my reading box in two ways when you look at the genre. Officially it's considered a Christian Fiction Romance...the first one I've dabbled in but not often, the third one I usually avoid. However...after seeing the cover (cute and a bit sassy all at once!) and reading the synopsis (love the puns and the overall storyline), I simply couldn't resist. So, I stepped out of the box and took a chance on this one with interesting results. Let's take a look at the story....

I really liked the way the general storyline played out from start to finish. We take a young girl with a harsh past looking to make a brighter future not simply for herself but for the brother she loves and simply wants the best for. Every move Maddie makes is to meet the happy ending of her getting custody of him and putting their broken but still good (sorry....borrowed that line from Stitch) family back together again. It's incredible the things she's survived and nothing I would ever wish on my worst enemies and for her to pull through with any semblance of normalcy was a miracle in and of itself. Speaking of miracles...

Though she is one tough little cookie, her strength didn't magically appear but was bolstered into existence by her new found faith. She's found God and made a promise to live a good Christian life in exchange for a clean slate as it were...more power to her. I don't knock faith in any of its forms and the morals that are employed throughout the story are A-OKAY in my book; heck, they border on the saintly! The only drawback it caused for me was at times, it got a wee bit preachy. Grant it, I understand, it fits the genre and the current happenings in the story; however, that is one reason I don't dabble in this genre more often. Nuff said....moving on to the characters...

Maddie, as I might have already mentioned, was a wonderful character. I appreciated her matter-of-factness combined with a sweet smile and a little snark...as did Reuben. *wink*wink* Now, now; don't get any ideas.....as I said, this book is majorly chaste but it doesn't stop them from having a little flirty bantor, and light blush worthy moments. They're cluelessness about each other will make you smile, and at times shake your head (really Reuben, how could you think SHE did that?!), but it provides the heart of the romance for which the book is labeled. Now the Callahan's are not simply made of Reuben alone....no siree. His sister, his mother and father, and so one all make their appearances and each is more huggable than the last. They really and truly believe in helping those in need in any way they can and expect nothing in return; merely anticipating the rewards their heavenly father will bring. There are however a few people I could do with a little less of....namely Livy, Maddie's Dad, and a few others from Maddie's past that will make a quick appearance, but they do go a ways in making her who she is. Just wish she hadn't had to live through those horrific times to get to this place, you know? *hugs Maddie* Anywho...

In conclusion, a charming story that will leave you smiling and change the way you look at a sandwich for some time after. You'll laugh, you'll tear a time or two, you may even talk back to the characters in regards to things they are assuming (because we all know what ASSUME means...)...but in my mind, those are all things that simply show it's a great book. If you like a little sweet romance with a storyline from the heart and characters that while aiming for grace sometimes fall short, this book is for you. A bit preachy at times, yes....but well worth the lessons shared.

Review copy received courtesy of Dorothy at Pump Up Your Book Blog Tour. (THANKS!) For more information on this tour as well as those forthcoming, feel free to visit their official website, like them on Facebook, add them to your circle on Google+, or follow along on Twitter! To find out more about author Krista Phillips, be sure to stop by her blog. This book is available now from Abingdon Press so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near. you.

Until next time....happy reading!