A New Year’s Kiss by Delaney Cameron

A New Year’s Kiss by Delaney Cameron
Finding Love: Book 11 of 11
Publisher: Wisteria Press January 4, 2019

REVIEW BY Gwen M. Plano

On the surface, A New Year’s Kiss is a story of love lost and love found. The focus is on two characters whose lives unexpectedly cross. Each of them had a failed love relationship in the years prior. Norah had put aside her studies to return to her hometown to help her grandparents. She despaired this return because she feared seeing the man she once hoped to marry. Lance had also lost the love of his life and subsequently buried himself in his work. Not so unexpectedly, the two meet, and signs of attraction mount.

This book is number eight in Religious Fiction Classics. Reviewers refer to the sweet love story and often mention the two principal characters. But I was drawn to something else. Tucked between the love entanglements were messages that transcended the scene. Below are a few of those messages.

“My grandmother used to say that life isn’t all sunshine and roses. Sometimes it’s torrential rain and poison ivy.”

“Life isn’t static, but it is somewhat consistent. It’s never all good or all bad. There’s just enough of the first to help you get through the second.”

“The best things in life don’t come easy. They’re usually complicated and messy. And sometimes the moments that make the most sense happen when everything else doesn’t.”

“It’s human nature to hold on to memories and give them more significance than perhaps they deserve. In some cases, we use them as an excuse for not moving on. In others, they can become a distraction that blinds us to reality.”

A New Year’s Kiss by Delaney Cameron

This is a story of second chances. The romantic involvements were heartwarming, but, for me, they were the backdrop to a universal human story. Everyone has lost someone and has known grief. And everyone struggles with choices. This deeper human story held my attention, and I would have loved for Cameron to have explored this more.

I selected this book because it appeared to be an uplifting story – and it was. A light read during the busy holiday season suited me well. The characters were well-crafted, and the storyline was gentle on the heart. For all these reasons, I give this book four and a half happy fish.

I purchased the Kindle version of A New Year’s Kiss by Delaney Cameron.