Last Temptation

Online minister Stimpson (Boaz Brown) harps on the conflict between marital interdependence and a woman's desire to stand on her own in this frustrating novel. Patricia "Peaches" Miller, a single Christian mother trying to live righteously, thinks everything is finally going according to God's plan. Then her fiancé, Quinn, gets a promotion that would require them to move away from her stable job; her son, Eric, is diagnosed with a learning disability; and her ex, Raphael, steps back into Eric's life. Despite urging from her loved ones, Peaches refuses to follow Quinn because she doesn't want to rely on a man for support or risk "looking stupid" in a brand-new city if the marriage fails. Some readers may identify with her trust issues, but most will roll their eyes and tell her to get over it. (Nov.)