Melody Carlson usually writes with a huge dollop of sweetness, but this book was written with sass and curmudgeonly behavior.

Mr Emerson (George) teaches English at the local high school but because of budget cuts, he's been pushed into retirement. It's not the most advantageous situation for Mr Emerson, but he's decided to make the best of it and try to carry on.

Mr Emerson is driven by his routines and this hiccup in his routine has really sent him for a loop. His next door neighbor really wants to engage him and he's really resistant to her advances. But there is another lady who is trying to make a way into his life as well...one he went to high school with. And he's resistant, but not as steadfast as with the next door neighbor.

George has a house that once belonged to his grandparents and the house is filled with antiques and assorted clutter. He hires his former classmate Willow West to clean it out and sort it out. She takes his offer to the next level and sells most of the furnishings in the house and then hires renovators to come in and give the house a fresh new look.

Much of George's and Willow's relationship involves apologies on a fairly regular basis. They both find ways to push the other's buttons, get offended, walk away, then come back with some kind of apology.

I didn't find this to be one of Melody's better books. The characters were certainly believable, but they weren't all that likable. The book is intriguing enough to keep the reader involved, but just barely. This is a three to four star book.

My thanks to Revell Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

Everyone needs a little Willow in their lives. Yes, Willow is a little pushy but she has a heart of gold when it comes to helping people. Mr. Emerson is quite the opposite of Willow but of course they say opposites do attract. I felt for Mr Emerson, retiring and feeling so unsettled. I found Josie annoying but it was interesting the way Mr Emerson could divert her attention away from situations. I really enjoyed Collin who was such a sweet character. The importance of knowing God and believing in him resonated throughout this novel. Highly recommended!

I enjoyed this book! It was an easy read. I liked the characters so much that I hope there is a sequel, as I hate leaving things with Mr. Emerson the way they are currently. (Not that it wasn’t a nice ending- I just wanted more!) The opening of the book had me wondering what era it took place, but that was quickly resolved once he arrived at school. Mr. Emerson was just an old fashioned kind of guy in a modern world.

I thought the conflict between Willow and her daughter was realistic, and the processes Willow went through to sort out how to deal with her also realistic. I do wish Willow was more vocal in her faith, and perhaps she just has some growing of her own to do as well. If this becomes a series, I will look forward to seeing how she develops spiritually.

Collin is also another great character. Though I feel the setup of him having his own apartment as a teenager is odd, and probably not realistic, even in their small town, it didn’t make me want to put the book down. It actually wasn’t a big part of the plot at all, which makes me curious as to why the author chose to add it.

I love Melody Carlson’s style. Her characters are real, and she doesn’t use worn out or ridiculous metaphors. I don’t think I rolled my eyes even once while reading this book. While I do wish there had been more spiritual content in the first half of the book, I can see where the author is going with Mr. Emerson’s journey. I look forward to hopefully reading more about them!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book just was slow for me. It was hard to connect with the characters and embrace the story. It was well written but it was just not for me.

Melody Carlson always creates a refreshing read that is light-hearted, yet leaves you thinking about the big picture long after the last page! In this book, we have main characters that include a retiring teacher, his young pupil, the boy's grandmother, and the boy's long-lost mother...who is truly lost. There are other minor characters who weave in and out of the story, giving the impression that it could end differently than you originally thought, but each has a reason for being there. All of the characters undergo life events, some more traumatic than others, that lead to a change of heart and spirit. Each helps, and each receives help, and it works out beautifully. Though her books are short and sweet, the author always leaves us pondering questions about our own lives...

This is one of the best executions of opposites attract I’ve read in a long time. The tension of push and pull had me torn between groaning out loud and giggling out loud. The chemistry between Willow and George is instant but the story is a slow burn, peppered with many real-life obstacles. Willow’s free spirit and creative energy is just what structured, straight-laced, borderline OCD, George needs to break out of his self-imposed box. Add in the healing power of the Holy Spirit and you end up with a thoroughly enjoyable, redeeming love story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

George Emerson has only one week left before he takes an early retirement from his teaching career as a high school English teacher. George has always been the eligible bachelor in town but at fifty-five, he still sees himself as independent and tries very hard to push away any advances by single women. Willow West grew up as a “wild child”, first in a commune, but still a free spirit as shown by her Bohemian (style) dress and lifestyle. Willow’s grandson is in George’s English class and she meets George when she requests his help with college entrance. George and Willow have a pattern of meeting and fumbling through their friendship in a sweet and heartwarming story. This Christian fiction book had me glued to the pages all the way to the end. I loved the characters, the prim and proper George to the mellow Willow and the supporting family and friends. There is a strong Christian theme that develops in the last half of the book. The endearing story makes this one of the best novels I’ve read this year.

This book will be available March 5, 2019 from Revell. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

I have always enjoyed Melody Carlson's stories of Christmas and I thought this one would be quite good from reading the synopsis. But things are not always what they seem. George Emerson is retiring from teaching English after 29 years. George has always been sort of a stick in the mud, doggedly sticking to his routines, day in and day out, leaving no room for anything but said routine.

Willow West is a free spirit, an art studio owner and artist herself who has practically raised her grandson all by herself. That grandson, Collin, is a senior in Mr. Emerson's English class. Willow meets George when she goes over to talk about Collin's college applications.

This book just did not work for me. I enjoyed Willow's character. She believes in God, but is not completely sold on Christianity, from what I could gather. And George Emerson says he is an atheist. Not that either of those have to do with why I didn't care for this book. The character of George Emerson is just so wooden. I doubt there would have been anything to bring him to life at all. I won't stop reading Carlson's Christmas books, but this one was a dud for me.

*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book. This was a slower paced romance, and probably more about life in general than about love. It was interesting and detailed however it did take a while before the characters interacted more with each other. I can see how over the course of years you can get used to being alone like Mr. Emerson, however I'm glad he found someone like Willow to come and pull him out of his slump.

COURTING. MR. EMERSON. Melody Carlson
George looking out his window and knew that Lorna was hoping to get a few minutes with him before he went to work. He was a teacher at the high school and walked there every morning. Invite for that evening, but he had other plans. She rented the bungalow next door, from him, and was always making something for him, She seemed determined to befriend him. He soon would be retired at fifty five with thirty years of teaching. She is an artist, spontaneous, loving life. While he is a stick in the mud, and not wanting change. She wants him to loosen up and enjoy life. She irritates him, and yet he is intrigue with her. The happiness and enjoyment she shows, could he let down his barriers and change. Delightful story that the author is so good at writing about, second chances, and seeing life in a new way.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by
Net Galley and Revell.