Touching
Another winner by this author. Loosely based on the prodigal son story, it tells of Levi Grant, a man who has recently served time in prison for killing a man while prize fighting. He is now a believer and wants to make a fresh start in a new town, working as a blacksmith. He meets the town librarian, Eden Spencer, who has turned her back on romance when the man she was engaged to, turned out not to be what she believed him to be. Levi also has a lisp, and cleverly self-edits his speech as he goes, to avoid words with an s sound. He ends up speaking haltingly or using strange phrases. Eden at first believes he is dim-witted, but later learns to admire his ability to do this. I found the love story very sweet, as Levi sets out to court Eden. The local sherriff gives him grief and the show-down near the end is heartbreaking. The lessons about judging people prematurely, and forgiving the past are presented in a story that was a pleasure to read.
