THE GIFT OF LOVE by Eris Field illustrates a heartwarming story about the love given to orphans by family, strangers, and Father Baker. I give it 3 stars.
In the novel, Dr. Andrew Young is a psychiatrist who divides his time between his paying clients and his pro bono work in a nearby town in which his grandfather grew up. He's asked to fill in at the last minute for a friend at a conference in Puerto Rico. Random events transpire which leave Andrew to care for his orphaned half-nephew, whom he has never met, alone at the conference.
Laurel Christiansen, who was adopted, is a nurse working several jobs to keep a roof over her and her stepsister's heads. Unfortunately, her efforts are not enough to prevent the city from foreclosing. Laurel's stepsister is a hoarder, and the state of the house prevents Laurel from selling it. After much encouragement from her best friend, Laurel flies to attend an OCD conference in Puerto Rico, where random events put her directly in Andrew's path and keep her there. The weary travelers end up forming a bond which changes their lives for the better.
I enjoyed THE GIFT OF LOVE for the most part. The characters were sympathetic, and their difficulties distressing. While at times the events bringing them together may seem far-fetched or contrived, the end result is a mostly believable romance. The romance is clean and sweet, but moves a bit fast for me (hence the "mostly"). I won't give more details on this point because it would spoil the ending.
The plot moves at a comfortable pace, and aside for a few issues, the editing was fairly well-done. Overall, the book was uplifting and a testament to the kindness of the human spirit, showing us that we can all have the gift of love by choosing to give it to others.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10780.
