Penn Davenport has a tragic past that prevents her from opening her heart to a man she is starting to like and reconnecting with a former best friend who is nothing but nice and warm.
In this Christian romance novel, Mars… with Venus Rising, author Hope Toler Dougherty did away with the usual protagonist-villain characterization. In this story, the protagonist and villain is in one person.
Why is that so?
It’s because conflict did not brew from the outside, it started from within; right inside its main character, Penn, a teacher who is working on passing her exam to become a certified public accountant.
The setting is in the town of Mars, Pennsylvania. Penn (full name Independence Jane Davenport) is part of volunteer committee for the Apple Festival. There she met John Townsend, a daredevil with a zest for life, opposite from Penn’s cautious and reserved character.
It’s easy to get bored of the way courtship is presented in this book. It is slow and calculated, not the fast and spontaneous kind that most people of today are so used to, this writer included. I was silently screaming at this book telling the characters to just drop the drama and tell each other what they feel. But the truth is, there are people who are like Penn, whose past is still very alive in them and is preventing them from enjoying the present and looking forward to the future. Forcing them to commit won’t work; it will only push them away…further.
I am not, however, enamored by the love story. What caught my attention are the characters of Jancie and Winnie, Penn’s aunts, who are the type of aunts you’d like to live in the same house with. They’re fun and caring. Their desserts will make you warm and fuzzy and will remind you of Christmas and bake sales. The author doesn’t leave you salivating because she included recipes of the aunts’ much raved-about desserts.
Take note of the recipes of the desserts at the end of the book. I already copied them and stacked them in my growing collection of recipes from all over the world.
This is a romance novel and it ends with a happy ever after. But what is crucial in the story is the journey taken by both Penn and John to get to their “destination”, a happy relationship that is.
What this novel teaches readers is to take things slow and steady because reaping the rewards later is much more satisfying. It’s worth the wait, so to speak.
I actually thought that there will be an element of fantasy in this novel noting that a flying saucer was mentioned in the synopsis and well, of course, the town is named Mars. I understand that Mars and Venus refers to men and women and in this case of this story, John and Penn. However, I find the title confusing.
Is it John with Penn “rising” together, which means a growing/developing relationship? Or is it Mars, the town, rising (improving? Developing?) with Penn in it because she chose to stay rather than leave.
I also find that the character of David, John’s roommate, was unexplored. He only “appeared” once in the story; the rest of the time he was working. It is just unusual for John not to share conversations with him noting that they live under the same roof.
I did not enjoy this book that much. I expected more storytelling details about the festival and its people. I had high expectations about this book. Unfortunately, I expected too much.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a signed copy of this book from the Litfuse Publicity Group and White Rose Publishing Circle for the purpose of this review. I was not required to write positive reviews. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.
