WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME by Pepper Basham, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

This is the second book in the Pleasant Gap Romance series.

I loved returning to Pleasant Gap and the Jenkins family. This book revolves around Julia Jenkins, survivor of an attack and Henry Wright a friend of Wes, the fiance of julia’s sister Eisley. 

What a first meeting of Julia and Henry! A sweet cupcake disaster! Well- I laughed, I cried ( good tears) and I swooned! Pepper Basham sure knows how to write pantry/closet kisses. And the birthing scene was so realistic!

I loved the musical references that ran through the whole book. Like getting inside the head of a composer or music lover.

The sense of family permeates this book. The spiritual growth of the family members are the underpinning of the story. The Jenkins family is full of fun and wisdom. They are loyal but know when to back away and let one of the members test their wings.

Julia and Henry discover a mystery from WWII in the things her Aunt Millie left behind. The letters were fascinating and full of spiritual truths and steadfast love. They spoke to Julia and they will speak to readers of this book: “ Cradle time with a careful hand. We are only given a small number of hours and days with those we treasure. Life is hard and terrifying at times, but as the scriptures say, love is the greatest of all.” from a letter to Julia from Aunt Millie.

Julia has a lot to overcome. Will she be able to work through her past with the help of a friendship with a shy, introverted composer from England? Pick up this book and find out!

If you want to read a thoroughly interesting book that takes you through the gamut of emotions, try this series on for size! It was realistic, well written and a lot of fun. 

*I received this book as a gift from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

BackCover Blurb:
An unexpected mother-to-be
A romance-leery composer
And a forgotten melody from the past that holds the keys to their futures

When Julia Jenkins' great aunt dies and leaves her a Victorian mansion with decades of secrets, Julia never expects to unearth a World War 2 espionage mystery. Struggling with her own past since an assault left her pregnant, her future as a solo parent leaves her dreams uncertain. The inheritance from her great aunt gives Julia the ability to take a step back into her future, but also sends her into the discovery of a love story she’d never anticipated. As she goes through her aunt's treasured possessions, Julia uncovers some oddly written piano music with a musical code she can’t decipher on her own. Not to worry, introverted Englishman and composer, Henry Wright, is thrust on the scene by a pair of homespun matchmakers who know the ‘right’ man for Julia’s wounded heart.

Henry arrives in Pleasant Gap with the task of composing the soundtrack for his best mate’s newest film. The Jenkins’ family’s southern welcome and gregarious personalities set his reticent nature on edge, but he’s inexplicably drawn to his gentle and music-loving hostess, Julia. Uncertain how to build a friendship with the wounded woman, and rather hopeless in communicating well through words, the bond of music becomes a bridge between her uncertainty and his awkwardness.

But her broken past and his families’ expectations build a wall much greater than the cultures that separate them. As they work together to solve a musical mystery from the grave, will an unlikely romance from the past inspire their hearts to trust in a God who’s written the perfect melody for their lives?

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