Groom in Training [Large Print]

Groom in Training is full of humor and fun and of course romance, with a good inspirational story line included for free. Steph's dog Fred keeps getting out -into the neighbor's yard to visit the neighbor dog, a pedigreed female with a grouchy owner. Through the dogs, Steph meets Nick, the neighbor's brother. Neither is looking for love & romance, but they find it anyway through all the fun happenings and long dog walks. Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Hope you will too.

Steph Wright is no stranger to pain. Still dealing with the painful death of her husband, she has sought comfort in her doggie day care business and in her Border Collie, Fred. When she meets her new neighbor's brother, Nick, Steph begins to feel alive again. But Nick is dealing with a painful past as well. As Nick and Steph embark on a friendship, they both find their feelings for each other growing beyond friendship. Nick is concerned though because Steph is not a Christian and his faith is very important to him. Readers will enjoy watching this tender new friendship blossom into true love. Groom in Training by Gail Gaymer Martin has three very strong elements going for it. First of all, it is a very cute story, although it is more than just a love story. It is a story about healing. Both Nick and Steph have dealt with a lot of pain and sadness in their lives and have never really dealt with their pain. With each other's help, and God's help, they are able to move on and able to love again. The dogs add an extra layer of happiness and cuteness to the story. The second strong point this book has is the Christian message. I was amazed by the author's skill with blending practical Biblical lessons into the story. Readers can learn a lot about healing, forgiveness, and God's unconditional love for us. Letting go of pain can be so difficult and by using Nick and Steph, the author shows us how we can heal by trusting God. The third element of this story that stood out was the author's talent for creating a beautiful setting. I was struck by the lovely settings of this story from Steph's yard with all her flowers, to the park where Nick and Steph has their picnic. This is a good time of year for this book to come out because it is so cold outside and this story takes place in the spring and summer. I could actually feel the warmth and see the beauty of summer on the pages of this book. Overall, Groom in Training is a wonderful book. It has everything going for it and readers will be delighted with each and every page. I know I was. This book warmed by heart and lifted my spirit.

Steph is a widow, Nick has had a broken engagement. Her Border Collie, Fred, is enchanted with her neighbor's pedigreed Bouvier. Trying to calm Fred down and get him away from the chain link fence separating their two yards, Steph meets Nick. Their attraction is instant but neither of them admits it to anyone. She has no intention of dating, neither has Nick; they're both wary after the outcome of their past relationships. Steph asks Nick to be her "date" for a wedding she must attend and he agrees. Each of them hide their emotions for one another. This is a delightful story of two bruised hearts discovering where they belong. Martin's characters come across as real people in the real world. The story is believable and well told.

This book is excellent. Steph and Nick both have several issues they struggle with, one of which is their relationships with their brothers. They both have brothers that take advantage of them, so as they grow closer they also help each other conquer their problems. The dogs are a fun inclusion in the story. Steph is not a Christian at the beginning of the book and Nick and his mother help bring her to God without being overly preachy. The characters were very realistic as were their problems. I highly reccommend this book.