A Great Catch

Title: A GREAT CATCH
Author: Lorna Seilstad
Publisher: Revell
May 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3446-6
Genre: Inspirational/historical

Emily Graham’s meddlesome aunts and grandmother are at Lake Manawa resort in Iowa. But they aren’t there exactly on vacation. Emily’s aunts want to find someone to marry Emily off to. That’s all well and good, except Emily doesn’t want to get married. She is actively involved in the women’s right movement and doesn’t want to even consider answering to a man for any reason.

Carter Stockton grew up with Emily, and lost out to her at the student newspaper at their school. But still, when they run into each other (literally) at the skating rink, he can’t help the flair of attraction to his old school mate. He is involved in the Manawa Owls baseball team as a pitcher and to fully enjoy every moment of the summer before he’s forced into the straitlaced business world.

If they fall in love, one or both will be forced to give up their dreams. Or—will they strike out?

A GREAT CATCH is the second book in Ms. Seilstad’s Lake Manawa Summers series, but it easily stands alone. I didn’t find this book quite as compelling as the first book, but I couldn’t help but fall in love with Carter. While he just wanted to have fun, he also was a charming heroine, going out of his way to check in on Emily—despite her lack of welcome—and even making himself invaluable to her elderly aunts and grandmother.

Emily had a bit of growing up to do in her attitudes. While women’s rights was a worth-while pursuit (without it where would we women be today) she put it first above everything and even above love and family. I hoped that she would come to put things in the right order and see Carter for the treasure he is. $14.99. 380 pages.