AUTHOR: Valerie Comer
DATE: 2015
STARS: *****
Green Acres newcomer Chelsea Riehl is annoyed she’s assigned to farm work alongside the only other single, a faith-filled hippie with a missionary vision. She'd hoped to organize events and keep her heart safe, not pit plums with annoying Keanan Welsh.
Discouraged by Chelsea's lack of spiritual depth, Keanan is confused when she offers to arrange meals for the church Alpha program he is co-hosting. Maybe he misjudged her, after all.
When fake it ’til you make it gives way to stepping out in faith, both Chelsea and Keanan have some soul-searching to do. And while getting on the same page spiritually is a good start, other barriers may keep their budding romance from flipping right-side up.
As a latecomer to the community named Green Acres Farm, Chelsea feels like an outside, even though her sister has been involved since the beginning. Adding to her discomfort is a through-back to the Jesus People of decades ago, Keanan. Prissy Chelsea and hippie look-alike Keanan are in agreement on one thing: they don’t like being pushed together by the happily married other occupants of the communal farm.
I enjoyed this story and the contrasts between the two lead characters. The farm was somewhat familiar, as I’d read the first book of the series some time ago. So we settled in like old friends, and I took a ring-side seat to watch their up and down relationship.
The faith message in this story is gentle but important, and Ms. Comer’s research brings locations and other details to life.
Plum Upside Down is a fast read, but the story and characters linger in my memory. It earns five stars.