Disclosure: I received this book to review. Opinions shared are mine.

The one that got away is a frequent topic for Christian fiction. In the book Someone Like You, author Victoria Bylin takes the theme to another level by introducing a single mom as the female antagonist.

Julia Dare seems to have had a rocky road since her college days, but she’s back on her feet and making the most of her business skills.  The main character, Zeke Monroe, is a likable resort manager who has the embers of Julia’s love still smoldering in the depths of his heart.  The story was interesting enough to hold my interest on a Sunday afternoon!

At first, I really didn’t like Julia. She seemed to have something to prove to Zeke while holding him at arm’s length. While I understood her need to show professionalism, she went overboard.  Additionally, she depended on her mother for so much help with her son, but displayed some control issues when it came to her son’s father, Hunter. Granted, Hunter was immature and used his money to demonstrate love, but he seemed to try to connect with Max in his own way.  It’s possible that my view of Julia was clouded by some experiences I’ve had with people like her.

On the other hand, I adored Zeke.  His manner was that of a gentleman, and he treated his employees with respect.  The resort sounded beautiful!  I wouldn’t mind taking a vacation at Caliente Springs.  The side characters, particularly George, were really sweet.  There’s a goat (Ladybug) thrown in for comic relief, too.

Someone Like You has the romantic feel of a Nicholas Sparks novel.  Flashbacks of old times, coupled with should’ves and could’ves, created drama amidst a beautiful setting.  There were repeated mentions of premarital encounters; these served as evidence that sex outside of marriage can really create heavy baggage.  How does faith enter into the mix?  Do Zeke and Julia have a second chance? Read Someone Like You to find out!

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