It is refreshing to see that a romance can actually be written without the crutch of sexual escapades and innuendo. Inspirational romance is thought provoking and just as involving for the reader as the other sub-genres under the umbrella of romance. I truly enjoy this type of reading and hope that Rachel Hauck continues to write such books. She is off to an exceptional start with her first offering, This Time.

Belle Jamison is having a hard time dealing with Burke Benning returning to Haskell for their fifteen-year class reunion. After he left her at the altar with no explanation, she is still dealing with the hurt that he left her with as he went on to pursue a successful career in pro-football. Belle spent the years helping her father run their ranch and avoiding any kind of relationship with men. How is she supposed to avoid Burke as he is acting as the Master of Ceremonies and she is organizing the event?

The simple answer is that she can't. Old feelings surface and the tension builds as Burke announced his retirement from pro-ball and his intention to return to Haskell permanently. Burke has felt the pull of Haskell and the call of God as he lived an empty life of fame and fortune. He knows that God has something better for him and that something is in Haskell.

Through a series of situations, Rachel Hauck slowly brings these two back together as they both learn to trust in God to guide their lives. This Time has a strong inspirational plot and the characters, major and minor, are all well developed. The only flaw that caught my attention is that once it is established that God had gotten His call through to Burke, the fact was repeated too many times.

I look forward to seeing where Rachel will go from here and will be looking for her next book and the next.

Reviewed by MargeAnna Conrad
© December 2004