Monterey Memories (Romancing America: California)

Gail Gaymer Martin
Barbour Publishing (2009)
ISBN 9781602605824
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (02/10)

This is a wonderful collection of three stories that are set in California. Each of the stories bring to readers lives of those who are so caught up in the business world they don’t see the true beauty of living life to the fullest.

In our first story, rancher Chad Garrison has made it a policy never to get involved with, or too close to, his workers. However, one day one of his workers is going into labor in the field. Chad questions her about her plans and tells her he will try to help her. What he doesn’t realize is he has now stepped into another world and feelings he has been trying to avoid. Both Chad and Felissa, the immigrant worker, live through their faith but in different ways.  Find out what happens when Chad takes Felissa and her new baby boy to live in his house.

“Garlic and Roses” involve a woman name Juli who works in her family business, but wishes she were able to do other things.  On a weekly basis she works at a soup kitchen as a volunteer and has been asked to train a new volunteer, Alan. Juli has a wonderful way with all the individuals who come to the soup kitchen and Alan is impressed. He finally gets up courage to ask her out, but since Juli hasn’t dated a lot in her life, she is leery to do so.  Both Juli and Alan have secrets they are not willing to share. Only through discussion about life and faith do they decide to share those secrets. Find out what happens when we decide to get rid of past burdens and live life with faith in God.

The last story, “Butterfly Trees,” finds us at the bed and breakfast with Alissa. Enter one Ross Cahill who tries to please his mother by taking her to the bed and breakfast so she can see the butterflies.  Ross has great difficulty relaxing without worrying how his ranches are going. He has no patience and is often short with his mother. When his mother gets excited about seeing the butterflies and falls, he is in a dilemma as to what to do with her. Alissa volunteers to have his mother stay with her and she will care for her. Ross finds that he spends less and less time with his businesses and begins to relax.  As Alissa and Ross begin to get to know each other they realize they have many things in common- one being their faith.

I found the author of “Monterey Memories,” Gail Gaymer Martin, to be very down-to-earth, providing readers with people we might encounter daily. Her ability to bring in faith and God is subtle yet poignant. There are many times many of us have turned to our faith to help us made decisions.  Even though we may not realize it, we do turn to some faith or higher power to help us through difficult times.

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