Midway to Heaven - Book Review

Let me just start out by saying that I LOVED Dean Hughes's Children of Promise series. I've read them several times. I've made Utah Dad read them and my parents. They're really really good.

So, I had high hopes for Midway to Heaven, my neighborhood book club pick for May. After all, they made it into a movie.

I read the first chapter while I waited for Neal to get his bottom braces on at the orthodontist's office last week. And then I put it aside and read Slaughterhouse-Five instead. I really didn't think I would ever pick it up again. But my friend wanted to borrow it and I figured I should give it one more chance before I passed it on to her.

Ned is still grieving his wife's early death, when his daughter brings home a "friend" for the Thanksgiving holiday. It is quickly apparent that David is more than a friend. Ned is immediately wary of David. He's too cute. Too smart. Too good at everything. Too good to be true. And definitely not good enough for Ned's daughter Liz.

I had to skim through this book. It was a cute story but it just didn't deserve this much and the conversations Ned carries on with his dead wife are too weird and repetitive--we get it, Ned' wife thinks he should marry again and she likes David. I ended up skipping them completely. I realize dads go through some of these emotions when their daughters are getting married (some more than others) but this dad is just too kooky. The conversations and relationships are unbelievable and forced.

True to form, this book is squeaky clean and it will probably make you feel warm and fuzzy.