Third Time's a Charm by Virginia Smith - REVIEWED

My Thoughts:

“…we have to forgive people who hurt us. Otherwise, our pain holds us back.” (p. 70)

Tori Sanderson has a lot of pain holding her back. Only she doesn’t know it. Personally, I think it is what is driving her forward, but in a direction that is totally wrong for her. She doesn’t know that either.

Virginia Smith has written an amazing finale to her Sister-to-Sister series. Third Time’s a Charm is a poignant picture of a determined young woman out to prove her worth in the field of marketing, and she’s very good! However, when you insert the well-intentioned match making skills of her two older sisters, watch out! Things are about to get very, very interesting!

Tori knows Ryan Adams from her family’s meetings at a small local church in her hometown. He’s good-looking, and hard-working, but much too small-town-country-boy for the future Tori has planned for herself. Joan and Allie think that Tori works too hard, and she needs a pleasant distraction. It isn’t long before these two older sisters are coaching Ryan from the side lines as he sets up his first date with Tori. The results? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out!

I really enjoyed this story, and Tori’s character wound up being a very wounded soul indeed. I loved the way Ryan gently stayed by her side as they sorted through the very things that served both to drive Tori forward and bind her spirit. I laughed out loud at some of the scenes (especially the ones on the farm!) and I cried with Tori as she slowly made her way back to the one relationship that matters most. The faith message is realistic and touching, and I think it will remind each of us to re-examine our own motives and make sure our focus is properly fixed.

Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you this….I am SO GLAD I didn’t have two nosey, bossy, interfering older sisters in my life!! I love Joan and Allie, but if they had messed around in my business like they did in Tori’s - - oooooo-weeee!!! I’d have run the other way! I’m glad Tori didn’t though, and you will be too!! This is a wonderful finale to an unforgettable series!

My review of the other books in the series: Stuck In the Middle and Age Before Beauty