Book Review: Simplicity by Valia Lind

Simplicity
Author: Valia Lind
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Christian Fiction
Released: February18th 2010
Review Source: Author
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) Driven, beautiful Alexis Sinclair lives her life to the fullest, following her dreams of running a big company. But when her world is torn apart by a storm, everything she has ever known disappears. Now, marooned on an island with a group of men, Alexis must learn to live in a world made up of simple things. Letting go of every known convenience, she realizes how insignificant her life has become. Filled with unrequited love for her rescuer she must battle the demons buried deep inside and she must look within herself and to her faith to find the strength needed to survive. Strong and influential, Jacob Peterson, has done all he can to survive. When the fate turned its tables on him, he learned to cope with the inevitable. Plagued by his past and secrets buried there, Jacob exerts a rigid control, refusing to succumb to the joys, and torturous pain, of strong emotions. Without considering love a gift he may never receive, he believes--he chooses to live by strict set of rules. But when a strange beautiful woman washes up on his beach, the walls that he has put up long ago begin to crumble. Is she a punishment sent from God to torment his weary soul? Or is she a gift, sent from above, there to teach him how to trust? Who is this woman? And how will he stop himself from losing his heart?
Will he learn to forgive the past in order to save the woman he loves?

Simplicity is a contemporary Christian romance. It is the story of a very successful young woman (Alexis Sinclair) thriving in corporate America. She's just been given her dream job that comes with an immediate trip abroad in the company jet. Mid-flight her airplane is caught in a storm and crashes. Alexis is the sole survivor and is washed up on an island with the aircraft debris.

The island is already inhabited by 15 men that coincidentally survived another crash 5 years prior and have been marooned since. Alexis is saved by and is quickly drawn to Jacob. He is also immediately taken with her but on the surface only offers friendship. But as Alexis struggles with the Simplicity of her new life where physical work is mandatory for each person on the island, Jake struggles with demons from his past that affect his ability to show Alexis any feelings beyond friendship.

Religion and spirituality play a strong role in both Alexis and Jacobs thoughts and choices. As the book comes to a close you wonder if there will be a happily ever after for these seemingly star crossed lovers. The end of the story does not wrap up nice and neat with a rescue but leaves you in the real world where eventually faith and love are rewarded.

I thought that Valia Lind did a good job of weaving in the strong spiritual beliefs of her hero and heroine. There were aspects of this story that were spell-binding and parts, that for me, got a little hokey. I enjoyed her descriptions of the original storm that hits Lexi's airplane. The out of control airplane crash was a page turner for me. I know this was a love story...but the back and forth between Lexi and Jake went on a little to long in my opinion. Once I was done reading the book I had no problem separating myself from these characters. For me, the lingering thoughts and slight separation anxiety of leaving a good book is how I rate a story. That said, it was still a fast and enjoyable read.