Love’s True Calling by Lori DeJong

This book is all about redemption, especially God’s redemption, but personal redemption as well. It’s not often I want to get finished with the book just so I can write the review, but this book is so good and so important in today’s world, that I couldn’t wait to get to this review.

The book is Christian Romance. And yes, it has the usual romance elements, but it’s also about God’s calling to ministry. The book was especially touching to me because I spent eleven years working in youth ministry. And that’s the underlying theme of this book, helping teenagers through this troubled world we live in.

Harper Townsend is the female lead. She comes from a well-to-do family. Her parents have their own counseling clinic. Harper was one of those teenagers who on the outside had it all. She was popular, a cheerleader, and part of the in-crowd. Her best friend as a youngster was Wyatt McCowan, an intelligent young boy who is more a nerd in high school. The two of them drift apart due to the different social circles they hang with in high school.

This is a second chance romance, so yes, these two meet later in life. Ten years later. That’s enough plot summary. What is most important about this book is the way Ms. DeJong deals with teenage social circles. Wyatt’s passion is to help fringe students. Those on the outside, like him. Harper comes along and develops a passion for helping not only those students, but also students in the seemingly in-crowd. The message the author elegantly plays out in this story is that there are teenagers in all social circles that need help, that are lonely, that are lost, that are hiding the real challenges they are facing. We cannot assume because of their looks, their accomplishments, or the people they hang out with that they have it all together.

It’s this clash of philosophies between Harper and Wyatt that drives the conflict in the book. Everyone needs the love that Jesus provides. And just because someone looks like they have it all together, that doesn’t mean he or she isn’t struggling. But we can get stuck in tunnel vision based on our own experiences and live with our assumptions. It may take a wake-up call from God to break us out of that rut. That’s my sermon for the day.

If you’re a parent of teenagers, or if you’re a teenager that isn’t sure you have it all together, you need to read this book. And if you’re a teenager that thinks you do have it all together, you really need to read this book. And of course, anyone that loves a good, clean romance should read it.

Being it’s a Christian romance, it’s clean. No profanity. No sex. Some kissing. No violence.

This book easily claims the number one spot for me so far this year. And unless I read another Charles Martin book, it will probably stay there.

1. Love’s True Calling by Lori DeJong
2. Through Thorny Ways by Jennifer Q. Hunt
3. The Seven Day Resurrection by Chevron Ross
4. Justice by Jeff Hill
5. Already in the Kudzu by Hannah Hood Lucero
6. The Misadventures of Itchy Izzy by N.Y. Dunlap
7. Ranch Showdown by Tina Wheeler
8. The Shocking Truth by Steve Rush
9. Daughter of Darkness by Ed Gorman
10. Left to Die by Lisa Jackson

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