BOOK REVIEW- BELIEVE

Springen O'Flaherty has the ability to see auras. As a child she lived in a Popsicle world where the kids were swathed in brilliant colors and the grown-ups were a fuzzy pastel. Later, her psychic powers multiplied and resulted in a life of secrets and half-truths–of otherworldly sights and experiences. Spring was resigned to the status quo until she met Jed Collinsworth. Now she wants that two-kids and a minivan life, but to accomplish her goal she has to be honest with the man she loves. But first she has to come to terms with her unique abilities.   The sudden loss of her dad plays havoc with Spring's well-laid plans. Ready or not, Jed is about to be introduced to the O'Flaherty clan of western Virginia with all their eccentricities and quirks–tent revival preachers, gospel musicians, healers, heroes, and pot growers. When faced with the truth will Jed help Spring discover the elusive sense of peace and acceptance that she's always wanted? And will she finally make peace with her God?   AMAZON

Wow, what can I say about this book?  Not sure what I was expecting exactly but it was really different.  To be honest in the beginning of the book, I wasn't sure I was even going to like it.  So much of Spring's childhood experiences were in the book, but as time went on I could see why.  It was an important part of the full story.   Reading about Spring and her sister's Maeve and Fiona's relationship was fun especially as they worked together towards the end of the book.  They got in trouble of course but they did prevail.  The whole family was a hoot.  Not only her mother and father, her twin brothers but also some of the other family members.  Unique but also incredibly loving, that includes their extended family and those they have unofficially adopted.
Spring was holding back part of her life (secrets) from Jed and he knows it.  He just doesn't know what it is.  Yet.  Spring has had some scary experiences linked with her "gift".  She's not so sure its such a great gift, feeling it might be more like a curse.  She's afraid to let strangers hug or touch her because that hasn't always worked out well for her.   She doesn' understand it, doesn't know what to do with it.  To top everything off, she can't ask God because she's still mad at him and hasn't talked to him in awhile.   While from my standpoint of faith, I don't agree with some of the things expressed in the book, I still have to say that it was well written.   Putting that aside, there was family loyalty, mysteries to be solved, bad guys to be caught and there was a  love story or two.  I really liked Spring and Jed together and  I'm counting Spring's mom and dad as one of those romances.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.