Like Sweet Potatoe Pie by Jennifer Rogers Spinola

Synopsis :

Witness as Shiloh’s new life in Virginia crumbles around her. The house she inherited from her mother is much more than a place to live—it represents Shiloh’s changed life and what little financial security she has. But her half sister is contesting their mother’s will and the IRS is threatening to take it for back taxes. She’s also discovering God’s ideal when it comes to love and romance. 

When Mr. Right shows up will she recognize God’s hand or let circumstances and prejudices blind her heart to the love of her life?

Like Sweet Potatoe Pie is the second book by Jennifer Rogers Spinola in the Southern Fried Sushi Series.  We first get to know Shiloh in the first book, Southern Fried Sushi.

Nothing much has changed for Shiloh since then but in a way everything has changed for her.  While she is still stuck in the South and still yearns for everything Japan, she is living a very different life now as a believer of Christ.  She is learning of ropes of trusting God in all that she does and have adopted a 'What would Jesus do?' mentality in her approach to life..

However, she is still very much in doubt when it comes to affairs of her heart. Much as she felt the attraction to Adam, she seems to think that he’s rather simple and not someone whom she would look for in Mr Right.  However, she forgot that she is not the Shiloh she once was.

Kyoko came over for a visit and found Shiloh to be very different from who she once was.  Some other unexpected person came over for a visit too and with it, came much temptation for Shiloh that tested her new faith and believe.

I always felt that God will not give us more than what we can bear and in this case, God did not give more trials and temptation to Shiloh unless He knows that she be able to pull through by His grace and by His strength.

I am also much taken by this conversation between Shiloh and Adam :

“You gave up a college scholarship for Rick.” It misted out before I could catch myself.

Adam tossed a small white stone from the garden before answering. “It’s not a big deal. Rick lost his legs, Shiloh. I hardly think putting off college a few years qualifies as major suffering. And he’s. . .well, he’s a great brother. I love him.”

“I know you do. But anytime we give up something for someone else it’s suffering. It’s what Jesus did, in a different way. A choice of the heart,” I said, looking across the garden at Adam in a sudden burst of courage.

It was such a revelation to me. The love one has and the willingness to give up something for someone and not making a big deal out of it.  A choice of the heart – it’s just so wonderful and beautiful.

Like Sweet Potatoe Pie is published by Barbor Publishing. I review this for netGalley.com. 

You will be happy to know that the third book on Shiloh entitled Till Grit Do Us Part will be out in November 2012.  I hope I get to review it too.