SPLITTING HARRIET - Tamara Leigh
Multnomah Books
ISBN: 978-1-59052-928-7
November 2007
Inspirational Romance

Franklin, Tennessee - Present Day

About the only vice Harriet, called Harri, has these days is her jelly belly habit, which she tries to keep under control. But once Harri was a rebel, complete with spiked hair, language that would make a truck driver blush, a pack-a-day habit, clothing that only a street person could love, and head banging music. Let’s not forget the nose piercing or the tattoos, and one more thing -- Harri is a preacher’s kid. After some serious bad judgment, Harri has seen the error of her ways and has returned to the fold. The church that has been so important in Harri’s life is now undergoing its own major changes. It is losing its congregation, and the board wants it to become more contemporary. Can the church survive this without splitting the congregation? Can Harri survive the changes about to happen? What about the new consultant, Maddox McCray, whom the board has brought in?

Harri is the women’s ministry director at First Grace Church, and she also works at Gloria’s Morning Care Café. Some people may think she is wasting her time working as a waitress, but Harri has a goal. Her goal is to save enough money to buy the café, and to never fall back to her old ways. It seems that Harri has a lot on her plate. When Harri learns of the upcoming changes, she is upset. When she meets the consultant who has been hired to help “modernize” the church, Harri knows she is in trouble.

Maddox McCray is so hot -- six feet tall, a body that is lean, muscular, with dark curly hair, and beautiful eyes -- he takes Harri’s breath away. But she is not going to be led into temptation by him. Maddox feels the attraction to Harri, and he is not put off by her rebuff; Maddox has every intention of teaching Harri that even Christians have fun.

SPLITTING HARRIET is a delight to read. Harri is selfless; her drive to redeem herself after eight years borders on obsessive. As much as she cares about everyone, she does not want to share her feelings, and she is still wracked with feeling of guilt. Maddox sees this in Harri; the chemistry between these two is electric, and as they sort through the events that transpire, it will keep readers turning the pages. The secondary characters are a delight. The mobile home park where Harri lives is full of eccentric elderly people who have a thing or two to say.

SPLITTING HARRIET is not only about change, but also about forgiveness. In order for First Grace Church to survive, there must be change. The vision is to bring in more contemporary music, with services held at different times and the goal to reach the unsaved. Is Harriet right, are they selling God or entertainment?

The author has done a superb job; the characters in the story could be members of your own church. Harri’s past is touched upon enough for the reader to grasp why she holds on to her guilt for her past recklessness, and the change she has achieved. But, most important, it brings to mind that when one asks God for forgiveness, “By Grace I am forgiven.”

I enjoyed this book, and you will too.

Deborah C. Jackson