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Review: The Love Penalty - Northwest Ice #2

The Love Penalty book cover on blue background

My goal was to complete The Love Penalty by Carolyn Miller by the time the Edmonton Oilers were finished playing in the playoffs, so it worked out that they were able to play a few extra games so that I could catch up 😄

Content to be aware of: as this book does delve into the worldview of an unbeliever, there is content that is aligned to this mindset; triggers are also present, although I would recommend doing some research on Goodreads if this may concern you.

Book Synopsis

Sometimes there's a heavy price to pay when two opposites attract...

With her fondness for tattoos and spider jewelry Sylvie Miles is used to being pre-judged and misunderstood. She has friends and connections but she still feels alone, and works several jobs while daydreaming about finding a guy who sees further than skin deep and won’t shy away from her battered heart. So when a hot pro hockey player with a smile as vast as his skills takes a shine to her what’s a poor girl to do but fall in love?

Ryan Guillemette sure wasn’t looking for romance in a bookstore in his hometown but quickly becomes intrigued by the sassy Goth-like assistant with a snarky way with words. When an accidental kiss proves dangerously addictive she soon becomes embedded in his heart, but even as the romance heats up he’s torn as she’s not following God. Can these two opposites make a match or should he call a permanent time out?

These two are about to learn that those who play with fire get burned, and there’s a hefty price to pay for forbidden attraction.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

Ever since I got to meet Sylvie in The Breakup Project, I have wondered about her story, so I'm thankful that another reader suggested this to the author! Sylvie is one of those characters that you don't normally see in Christian fiction, so it felt a lot more realistic to hear her side of things. This book is definitely grittier and may be beyond a few readers' comfort levels; however, it demonstrates that the power of God's redemption in a fallen world is not beyond anybody. I admit that there were some difficult scenes, but it was so worth it to see how everything played out. If you're wanting to see beauty come from ashes, this is one of those books where wading through messiness brings you to God's cleansing love.

The Love Penalty excels in sharing how God's grace covers over a multitude of sins, allowing us to always come back to Him; if you think about the title, it does extend beyond hockey. I recommend this book to those who want to see how Jesus can bring about complete transformation and new life in His followers. Sylvie and Ryan's journey isn't easy, and there are a lot of lessons to be learnt, making this both a compelling and convicting read. At the same time, their story is likely reflective of a lot of people who have struggles in their relationships, including Christians.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📖
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍
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