A fairytale romance with Christian icing, I'm sure most would give it a five because of how much Jesus is in it but I have some issues with it.
Jesse has just been released from prison and is trying to figure out how to fulfill a promise to a dying man that saved his life. He has no money and he's wearing clothes gifted to him. Falling back on previous behavior he looks for someone he can talk out of money. Instead he is distracted by a poor woman being targeted for theft and he intervenes but doesn't tell her of her narrow escape. Then he helps her again as she's missing her train. He has no ticket and an urchin sits down beside him claiming to be his brother.
Erin, dressed poorly to hide from her father (sin), pays for their tickets in appreciation. Jesse assumes she received an inheritance and is disturbed she would spend it on them. Pete, the orphan, looks to steal from her while she is in the bathroom but Jesse stops him. She comes out dressed like a rich woman. This changes her in Jesse's eyes because she becomes a potential target.
This is where I take issue with the storyline. Jesse thinks about it but he never acts on it. That is called temptation which is not a sin. Even Jesus was tempted. Not only does he not act on it but he repeatedly stops Pete from doing anything wrong and attempts to give him an alternative viewpoint.
Much is made of Erin spending money on them and some others but really it costs her nothing. It's not real sacrifice. She is spending allowance from her rich father that she is defying and angry with for manipulating her not to do charity work.
Erin is presented as a perfect Christian witness that makes him ponder and fall in love. But he is fearful that if she knew all about him, she would reject him. So he stays silent most of the time.
Erin does show kindness and sacrifices her time caring for people which touches Jesse who never experienced that. She is also one of those people that jumps into peoples business. He repeatedly tells her that he's no good and she doesn't know him.
Jesse again sacrifices himself searching for Pete in a subzero snowstorm. He shares how he blames himself for the death of his little brother while he was living on the streets. She now knows he grew up hard, hungry, homeless, not like her.
Over and over Jesse makes the better choice and makes sacrifices but sees himself as unworthy. Erin has no issues other than insecurity being a woman. She never questions if she is good enough for him. As a rich woman she doesn't know how to cook or clean. She does note that her brother does the cooking in his marriage (his wife self-centered IMO in previous book).
Jesse does tell her about his past and how he thought of her a target. She rejects as him as expected. No self examination on her part or review of the selfless things he did including how he behaved when he did have money.
Nine months later, Jesse is a Christian and going back East to find his estranged mother and Erin shows up at the train station. She asks what is different about him, he shares his new belief. Their love continues.
I guess my objection is that it ignores that we are saved by grace and by not works. All fall short, there are no good guys and bad guys. Everyone is bad, including the Erin characters. The author wrote Jesse too well and Erin was just a one dimensional character.
