Review of Run for Chapel Hill
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Janet Kimetto
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Review of Run for Chapel Hill
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Run for Chapel Hill" by S.M. Sros Panchapor.]
Run for Chapel Hill by S.M. Sros Panchapor is a romance novel featuring a divorced father of three and a twice-heartbroken woman who'd rather not go through the process of dating again.
Etta Kem hates rejection, be it being rejected or having to reject someone. It's why she is hesitant—that—and because she thinks the dating scene is exhausting. Samuel Angk, on the other hand, doesn't think he and the kids need a woman in their lives. He has been raising his kids alone for six years, after all, and they're doing just fine. Besides, he has his older sister, Vida, and his best friend, Tomi, helping out with the kids.
A chance encounter brings Etta and Sam together, and it's 'attraction at first sight' (at least for Etta). With childhood ties that none of them are aware of yet, one would almost say they are meant to be together, except for the obstacles standing in their way. Love for them is not as easy as choosing to be together; will true love win regardless?
The story happens in both Chicago, where Etta works and lives, and Chapel Hill, where Sam works and lives. I liked the fact that it encompasses many aspects of the characters' lives, their pasts, careers, families, and friends. I was so engaged in the story by the end that I kept on reading through the first chapter of the next book, included at the end, and would have loved more. I also couldn't get enough of Etta's friends; I enjoyed their close friendship and their protectiveness.
The story is told in the third person from both Sam and Etta's points of view, but while Etta's thoughts are included from time to time, making her exact feelings known, it's not the same with Sam. This aspect and his dislike for small talk make it hard to know exactly how he feels. This could be a little frustrating for the reader.
The other issue I found with the book is its editing. I noticed more than ten errors. Also, sometimes Etta's thoughts were in italics to distinguish them from the rest of the text, and sometimes they were not. And while I appreciated how the time passage was marked with the date shown before every chapter, there was a little confusion at one point. Sam's older brother, Vincent, had a wedding on August 18, 2018, and on August 22, 2018, Vida, while speaking with Sam, mentioned that it had been twenty-two days since the wedding. Elsewhere, it had been four days. I personally prefer the longer timeline because of the things that happened and the resulting emotions. A longer timeline would have the most impact and make the most sense.
The story ends on a cliffhanger, so readers will have to read the next book to know how the rest of Sam and Etta's story goes. There's plenty to look forward to in the second book, with storylines carrying over. Still, I feel like some things could have been resolved in this book, especially since there was time—a three-month jump between the last chapter and the one before it. Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to fans of romance stories.
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Run for Chapel Hill
View: on Bookshelves
Run for Chapel Hill by S.M. Sros Panchapor is a romance novel featuring a divorced father of three and a twice-heartbroken woman who'd rather not go through the process of dating again.
Etta Kem hates rejection, be it being rejected or having to reject someone. It's why she is hesitant—that—and because she thinks the dating scene is exhausting. Samuel Angk, on the other hand, doesn't think he and the kids need a woman in their lives. He has been raising his kids alone for six years, after all, and they're doing just fine. Besides, he has his older sister, Vida, and his best friend, Tomi, helping out with the kids.
A chance encounter brings Etta and Sam together, and it's 'attraction at first sight' (at least for Etta). With childhood ties that none of them are aware of yet, one would almost say they are meant to be together, except for the obstacles standing in their way. Love for them is not as easy as choosing to be together; will true love win regardless?
The story happens in both Chicago, where Etta works and lives, and Chapel Hill, where Sam works and lives. I liked the fact that it encompasses many aspects of the characters' lives, their pasts, careers, families, and friends. I was so engaged in the story by the end that I kept on reading through the first chapter of the next book, included at the end, and would have loved more. I also couldn't get enough of Etta's friends; I enjoyed their close friendship and their protectiveness.
The story is told in the third person from both Sam and Etta's points of view, but while Etta's thoughts are included from time to time, making her exact feelings known, it's not the same with Sam. This aspect and his dislike for small talk make it hard to know exactly how he feels. This could be a little frustrating for the reader.
The other issue I found with the book is its editing. I noticed more than ten errors. Also, sometimes Etta's thoughts were in italics to distinguish them from the rest of the text, and sometimes they were not. And while I appreciated how the time passage was marked with the date shown before every chapter, there was a little confusion at one point. Sam's older brother, Vincent, had a wedding on August 18, 2018, and on August 22, 2018, Vida, while speaking with Sam, mentioned that it had been twenty-two days since the wedding. Elsewhere, it had been four days. I personally prefer the longer timeline because of the things that happened and the resulting emotions. A longer timeline would have the most impact and make the most sense.
The story ends on a cliffhanger, so readers will have to read the next book to know how the rest of Sam and Etta's story goes. There's plenty to look forward to in the second book, with storylines carrying over. Still, I feel like some things could have been resolved in this book, especially since there was time—a three-month jump between the last chapter and the one before it. Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to fans of romance stories.
******
Run for Chapel Hill
View: on Bookshelves
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Nati Jiniya
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Thank you for this beautiful review! The book sounds interesting and unique, I'd love to give it a try. I don't have much experince with this genre, so it would be adventurous.
Latest Review: Alpha Buddies Land by Donna Marie Rink
