Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

The group buddy read for this month is Close to You by Kara Isaac!

GR Summary -
A disgraced scholar running from her past and an entrepreneur chasing his future find themselves thrown together—and fall in love—on a Tolkien tour of New Zealand.

Allison Shire (yes, like where the Hobbits live) is a disgraced academic who is done with love. Her belief in “happily ever after” ended the day she discovered her husband was still married to a wife she knew nothing about. She finally finds a use for her English degree by guiding tours through the famous sites featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. By living life on the road and traveling New Zealand as a luxury tour guide, Allison manages to outrun the pain of her past she can’t face.

Jackson Gregory was on the cusp of making it big. Then suddenly his girlfriend left him—for his biggest business competitor—and took his most guarded commercial secrets with her. To make matters worse, the Iowa farm that has been in his family for generations is facing foreclosure. Determined to save his parents from financial ruin, he’ll do whatever it takes to convince his wealthy great-uncle to invest in his next scheme, which means accompanying him to the bottom of the world to spend three weeks pretending to be a die-hard Lord of the Rings fan, even though he knows nothing about the stories. The one thing that stands between him and his goal is a know-it-all tour guide who can’t stand him and pegged him as a fake the moment he walked off the plane.

When Allison leads the group through the famous sites of the Tolkien movies, she and Jackson start to see each other differently, and as they keep getting thrown together on the tour, they find themselves drawn to each other. Neither expected to fall in love again, but can they find a way beyond their regrets to take a chance on the one thing they’re not looking for?

I'm excited to finally get to this one! I have really enjoyed the two books of Kara's that I've read, and I'll be glad to get to her debut.

I HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK, BUT THE SUMMARY, I HOPE IT'S OK TO COMMENT ON. WE FIND LOVE AND ROMANCE IN SOME STRANGE PLACES. OPPOSITES DO ATTRACT. IF THEY CAN PUT THEIR PAST BEHIND THEM FOR ONE DAY. THEY JUST MIGHT COME TO SOME COMMON GROUND. ALLISON PAIN MIGHT STILL BE THERE, BUT THE PAIN DOES NOT HAVE TO COME BETWEEN THE NEW RELATIONSHIP.

Nancy wrote: "I HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK, BUT THE SUMMARY, I HOPE IT'S OK TO COMMENT ON. WE FIND LOVE AND ROMANCE IN SOME STRANGE PLACES. OPPOSITES DO ATTRACT. IF THEY CAN PUT THEIR PAST BEHIND THEM FOR ONE DAY. TH..."

I do enjoy stories where the characters seem at odds at first, then come together in a realistic way. Kara has a trend for doing this in her writing, so I'm hopeful with this one as well!

IF THE ENTIRE BOOK IS AS GOOD AS THE SUMMARY, SHE HAS AN HIT. THE SUMMARY REALLY SUMS UP THE BOOK.

I agree....the summary definitely makes it a story I want to read. I'm not sure if I can get my hands on a copy in time to join the buddy read, but I'd like to read it sometime. What about you, Nancy? Will you have a chance to get a copy to read this month?

My local library didn't have a copy so I bought a copy for around $5. it's on my list to read ASAP!

I don't know, i'm going to the book store next week, i'll see.

I read this book last month and gave it 5 stars! I loved it! You guys are in for a fun read. This book had me laughing out loud many times.
Beth- I also enjoy a book that has two characters that dislike each other, and the banter back and forth between these two is spot on!
Enjoy! :)

Angie H wrote: "I read this book last month and gave it 5 stars! I loved it! You guys are in for a fun read. This book had me laughing out loud many times.
Beth- I also enjoy a book that has two characters that d..."

Kara's books are hilarious for sure! She is one of the few authors that I've actually laughed out loud while reading - can't wait to read more of this one!

I just finished this book today. I have tried reading books during the month they have been chosen but this is the first one I have been able to be on time with. It probably helps that I started it in Feb/Mar before I even knew it would be the group buddy read this month. :) I had been trying to read too many books, but have now re-organized myself so I am only concentrating on 3 books at a time.

Anyway, about the book, I really really enjoyed it. I would be like Jackson with my knowledge about Tolkien however. I don't think I have even watched one of the movies all the way through. My husband and sons however, really love the books and movies. I did read the books as a teenager years ago. But my memory is foggy. I really should read them and then give the movies a chance. What I have seen of the movies I can definitely agree that the scenery is amazing and it would be so beautiful to actually go to New Zealand and see the sights.

I liked how the main characters had to overcome some really hard challenges in their lives. And while not all real life situations have happy ever after endings, I really liked how this book ended. It is nice to have happy endings in books, it is so satisfying.

Beth wrote: "Angie H wrote: "I read this book last month and gave it 5 stars! I loved it! You guys are in for a fun read. This book had me laughing out loud many times.
Beth- I also enjoy a book that has two c..."

Good to know, Beth! This is "in process" at my library as an ILL, so hopefully I'll be able to read it this month - it looks good!

I am finally warming up to Jackson - I was not feeling his character at all, but I can tell that his stand-offish exterior is just a means of protection.

Poor Allie's mother is horrid!

I am only familiar with Tolkein from watching the movies many times and also reading The Hobbit. I do like the movies a lot, and I do want to read the books at some point. I've read The Hobbit a couple of times.

I just grrabbed my copy from the Library I'm so on catch up mode with my reading lately!

I'm reading this one - a little over a hundred pages in thus far - and am enjoying it. I'm liking the chemistry between the two leads, and as a Tolkein fan, I find the setting and situations have definitely provided for many smiles and some chuckles. I'm intrigued to see where Allie and Jackson end up, and how their journey will affect them not only as a couple but as individuals.

Also quite curious about Uncle Louis. A great secondary character. Hope there will be opportunity to learn more about him as the story unfolds.

Finished this one last evening, and it was one of those immensely satisfying, can't get that little grin off my face kind of endings. :)

Reading this story was fun, pure and simple. An intriguing setting and situation that I found to be highly entertaining. I laughed and I cried as I followed these characters through their ups and downs together. The leads were strong, but believably flawed with understandable struggles and frustrations associated with overcoming past mistakes. Uncle Louis was a wonderful secondary character, with his faith, regrets, and gusto for making the most of life. I appreciated how Isaac incorporated Christian faith into the story. I found it a realistic portrayal of how God is always there, at work, and ready to accept even the slightest move of a character when he or she was open and reaching out to him. I will definitely be checking out other works by this debut author.

I finished this and absolutely loved it! I loved how the relationship between Jackson and Allie evolved. The humor in this book was so great and had me laughing out loud several times! I'm looking forward to my next book by this author!

I'm trying to make it ya'll! I just started today so hopefully I make it in before the month's over. I really like what I read so far. I love how Kara Isaac boooks are not only cute themselves, and really heartfelt and meaningful but they also get you excited about other books as well.

I'm # determined!!

I totally agree, Chantel!

I thought this book was very well-done. I know I can trust Kara to deliver with a good story. I admit that Jackson took quite some time to grow on me, but he won me over in the end.

Their chemistry was great, the setting seemed real, and the happily-ever-after scene was just sigh-worthy. So glad I finally read this story. :)

Chantel wrote: "I'm trying to make it ya'll! I just started today so hopefully I make it in before the month's over. I really like what I read so far. I love how Kara Isaac boooks are not only cute themselves, and..."

Yay! I'm glad you're getting to it. :)

Michelle wrote: "Finished this one last evening, and it was one of those immensely satisfying, can't get that little grin off my face kind of endings. :)

Reading this story was fun, pure and simple. An intriguing ..."

I also loved Uncle Louis! I highlighted this quote, and I think it was him that said it:
"God always has a way of working things out if we step back and let Him. He’s especially good at the ones that appear impossible, because that’s when we usually give up trying to fix it ourselves."

That really struck a chord with me.

Beth Wrote: "Yay! I'm glad you're getting to it. :)"...

I really am!! I agree with you Beth, Jackson right now, is not my favorite person. he's kind of a jerk. But I realized 27 pages in who Allie and Jackson are! I read "Can't Help Falling" first so they were in that book and I was like "ooooohh!!!" I just loved Allie and Jackson in "CHF" so it's fun seeing how the relationship began. ♥

Side note: I know more about The Chronicles of Narnia than I do about Lord of the Rings. So me and Google have been best friends right now to see what Lord of the Ring characters that they're referring to. ;-)

Chantel wrote: " Beth Wrote: "Yay! I'm glad you're getting to it. :)"...

I really am!! I agree with you Beth, Jackson right now, is not my favorite person. he's kind of a jerk. But I realized 27 pages in who All..."

Yes! I was happy to finally read their story. I *think* that Kat is also in Then There Was You (cousin of the main character), and I believe that Kara is writing Kat's story as well.

Haha! I love the LotR movies, but I have never read the books. So the parts that talked about this character was not in the book and/or movie, I had no clue. :) It was nice that I never really felt lost though because of it.

Really!! I like her!
I'm at the part when Kat gives Jackson his makeup transformation to a Uruk-Hai, lol! When I look up a picture of who it was... Ya'll I was rolling.:-) His uncle was too funny for doing that. This book is definitely funnier than the second, but I love them both. ♥

Beth, I do agree even if you haven't seen or read LOTR Kara explains it well for you get the reference in the current story line. I really needed a laugh this week, this book came right in time.