Books & Spoons Review: THE HERO'S SWEETHEART by Cheryl Wyatt

16/1/2016

His Perfect Match

Military commander Jack Sullenberger is used to saving the day. But when his father has a stroke in his beloved small-town diner, it's waitress and EMT student Olivia Abbott coming to the rescue.

Jack rushes home to tend to his father and take over the business—running right into Olivia's very strong opinions. The steely military man and the waitress can't agree on what's best for the restaurant.

When Jack sees something that shakes his growing trust in Olivia, their undeniable connection is put to the test. But if Jack's open to the truth, they'll have a chance at finding a future together.

When trust, compassion, and kindness is put to test, and you have to rely on God, to keep you going.
The little diner lives through a whirlwind, when the owner suffers a stroke, and his son comes home from Afghanistan, to take care of dad, and the diner, that seems to be falling apart.
Everything that you can think about being wrong in a restaurant, is wrong at the landmark diner. Not only is the owner in a hospital, the roof leaking, the grill not working, the dishwasher not showing up to work, and when he does, he is high and late, the schedule all wrong, but it also seems that someone is stealing from the diner, since the books don't match.
Jack is weary of the war, tired from the travel home, worried about his father, and now the mess with the diner, and the last thing he needs, is Olivia is stubborn about every change in the restaurant he is trying to make, to save the place from going under. Jack is taking charge military type person, but not very patient, and says things, when tested, that are completely out of order. Rude, and uncalled for. But he has a good heart, he is doing great things for the employees, but he is afraid to lose control, and trying to keep an emotional distance.
Olivia is an EMT student, works at the diner, she has couple different learning disabilities, and comes from a challenged childhood. She is trying so hard to make a better life, to fulfill her dreams, but it all just comes to be too much, and she falls ill under the pressure, and germs. She is stubborn, inflexible, but loyal, and willing to go the extra mile or two, if you let her.
Olivia and Jack are the opposite of each other, at least when it comes to their looks. They are also often on the opposite sides of the argument. Even though they have the same goal, they seem to be working against each other, most of the time. The story tells a chaotic tale of the daily life at the diner, with the troubles of the establishment, and the worries and failures of the employees. Jack is trying to save the place, but is seems like a sinking ship. Most of the story is focused on everything else happening on the lives of the many characters, and the romance is more of an afterthought, and lot of details and development are told in a passing comment, as something else is happening. I wish there would have been more focus on the developing relationship, then it would have been more believable.
The characters were relayed on God, His guidance, to survive through the struggles. I liked how that was put out there, front and center many times.
An engaging and fascinating tale around the small town diner, the hospital, and how the town pulls together to save the establishment, a story filled with lots of everyday tragedies
~ Three Spoons