The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Publication: October 23, 2012

By: Simon & Schuster

2 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this e-galley.

Molly Allen lives alone in Portland, but her heart is back in Franklin, Tennessee, where five years ago she walked away from a man she cannot forget, a rare sort of love she hasn't found since.

Ryan Kelly lives in Franklin and spends plenty of time at The Bridge-the oldest bookstore in historic downtown Franklin-remembering the long hours he and Kelly once spent there.

Now, Ryan and Molly's favorite bookstore is in trouble. For thirty years, Charlie and Donna Barton have run The Bridge, providing the people of middle Tennessee with coffee, conversation, and shelves of good books-even through dismal book sales and the rise of eBooks. Then in May a flood tore through Franklin and destroyed nearly every book in the store. By Christmastime, the bank threatens to pull the lease on The Bridge and is about to take the Bartons' house as well. Despondent, Charlie considers ending his life. And in the face of tragedy, miracles begin to unfold

This is a quick read and one that Karen Kingsbury fans will no doubt love. I had trouble getting through the dedication pages without sobbing my eyes out and held high hopes for this story but unfortunately, they fell flat. It seemed too predictable and left me wanting more.

The alternating POV's was nice but the romance did not feel realistic especially after what Ryan and Molly go through. Yes, I believe in God and yes, I believe all things are possible with Him (grace, forgiveness and peace) but there would be residual feelings to deal with. I think my biggest issue was how the author attempted to tie everything up in a pretty bow at the end and life isn't like that. Don't get me wrong, I love a happy ending but I want one that's believable and this one just didn't do it for me.