The Outer Edge of Heaven

Outer Edge of Heaven is a thoroughly wonderful book. I could not put it down - I laughed out loud a lot and my heart melted in all the right spots. It was a clean, enjoyable and a fun read. The author deals with so many tough issues that families face today and she handle them quite beautifully. If I had any complaints it would be that I wanted more. Either give me an epilogue to tie up lose ends or turn this into a series so we can see what happens to Fo, Richard, Chase, Tuck, and the rest. I would definitely recommend this book.

4 STARS I liked the plot of this story. The humor was funny. The characters were likeable and still had faults and good points. Charlie goes with her best friend Fo to work at his family ranch in Montana instead of going home after she graduates from collage and standing up for what she wants against her parents. Fo's relatives are surprised when his best friend since he was young is actually a girl. Charlie wants to be a teacher someday. She is smart, talented, strong except when facing her parents. They want her to be a lawyer and have picked out her future husband Elroy. She is single and does not plan to marry a divorce lawyer her parents have chosen for her. Luke is running his family ranch helping his father. He is surprised to find Charlie is a girl. He has to figure out where he can put her. He really says they need help with the children. Luke is engaged to be married. Jamie is 2 years old and cute sounding little boy. Evie and Elsa are four and five years old Tuckett is 14 years old Chase is the oldest. He works out a lot and chases the girls. He does as little as he can. Chase and Luke's mother died. Tuckett's mother left his father when he was only 6. Richard's third marriage is not happy. Charlie is strong and makes a difference with everyone. Stepping into help with the little ones. Just like Luke asked for help. If only she can stand up to her parents. These characters have real problems that a lot of people are facing. Dealing with moral problems, stalkers, teens smoking, unwed pregnancy. I like reading Jaclyn M. Hawkes books and will continue reading them.

I love this author's books. This is my 2nd one of hers, and it didn't disappoint. Fo (Forest) and Chuck (Charlene)are best friends, and such fun characters to follow through this story. Fo convinces Charlie to work at his Uncle Richard's Montana ranch during the summer instead of face her controlling parents who are trying to marry her to a divorce attorney and send her off to law school. In Montana, she meets Luke, who is engaged to marry pregnant Lindie, Chase, his older brother (who can't keep his hands to himself), and Tyree (a creepy ranch hand that becomes obsessed with her). They all contribute to an interesting and adventurous summer that changes Charlie forever. I loved the drama, character growth and setting in this book.

I give it a medium rating. It is pleasant to read, but don't expect fabulous. The phrasing of the sentences is sometimes awkward. The characters don't feel totally realistic, but the story is reasonably entertaining. I am writing this because I would like reviewers to rate books on a scale from bad to great, so I know which ones are worth buying.

I appreciated a clean romance but would have liked to know it is LDS in the book description. It was suprising to realize only after reading about mission trips and using the president and prophet as examples..not my cup of tea.