If Not For You Book Review

I picked this up from my library reserve shelf and was I excited to get to reading it.   If Not for You: A Novel by Debbie Macomber had a long list and took awhile to come out and even longer for me to move to the top of the list.  Again, knowing nothing about it, I wasn't sure what to expect and didn't even know that it was part of a series or not.  I figured that if it was part of a series that I might have read the others so I should be good to go with this new release.  I was exhausted. 

If not for her loving but controlling parents, Beth Prudhomme might never have taken charge of her life and moved from her native Chicago to Portland, Oregon, where she’s reconnected with her spirited Aunt Sunshine and found a job as a high school music teacher. If not for her friend Nichole, Beth would never have met Sam Carney, although first impressions have left Beth with serious doubts. Sam is everything Beth is not—and her parents’ worst nightmare: a tattooed auto mechanic who’s rough around the edges. Reserved and smart as a whip, Beth isn’t exactly Sam’s usual beer-drinking, pool-playing type of woman, either.

But if not for an awkward setup one evening, Beth might never have left early and been involved in a car crash. And if not for Sam—who witnessed the terrifying ordeal, rushed to her aid, and stayed with her until help arrived—Beth might have been all alone, or worse. Yet as events play out, Sam feels compelled to check on Beth almost daily at the hospital—even bringing his guitar to play songs to lift her spirits. Soon their unlikely friendship evolves into an intense attraction that surprises them both.

Before long, Beth’s strong-willed mother, Ellie, blows into town spouting harsh opinions, especially about Sam, and reopening old wounds with Sunshine. When shocking secrets from Sam’s past are revealed, Beth struggles to reconcile her feelings. But when Beth goes a step too far, she risks losing the man and the life she’s come to love.

It was a great book that I couldn't stop reading.  I started in the morning and was done before dinnertime.  I thought that it was a great story and even though there were some tough points that had me in tears, it was a great and uplifting story with great characters.  Beth is trying to start her life over in this small Oregon town where her aunt lives.  She gets involved in the school where she is teaching and starts meeting some friends.  She goes on a blind date with Sam who she is not interested in until there is a life changing accident right after dinner.  Beth's life charges forever and you have to pick up the book to find out how much.  I hope that there are other books that might follow because there were some great characters and wonderful writing that I would love to have more of.  I hope that you check out this book and see for yourself.  I know that you will enjoy it as much as I have.