Callie Duflay just isn't like the rest of her family. While they've built white collar lives, she prefers getting her hands dirty by working with children and local California causes. When Callie learns that a beloved piece of untouched property in her town of Otter Bay may soon be developed, she confronts the architect assigned to the project.Gage Mitchell may be an easygoing, eco-friendly professional, but he's not about to back off this job no matter how cute Callie or her pet pooch, Moondoggy, may be. His reasons and hers are noble-both have a heart for protecting God's creation, and the truth is these two would be perfect for each other outside of this face-off. But will they ever figure that out?

From the start, the reader will be transported to the tiny town of Otter Bay. Callie and Gage show a love for God’s creations, which grows into a sweet romance. There is a lot of depth in this romance. Callie is known as the justice seeker for the community, working behind the scenes on many different causes. When a beloved property is to be developed, she springs into action attempting to stop the architect, Gage Mitchell, and the company who hired him. As Callie and Gage continue their showdown they realize how much they have in common. But will the cause keep them apart? - Reviewed By: Angie Howatt, Romantic Times Book Reviews

The story of environmental activist, Callie Duflay, and eco-friendly architect, Gage Mitchell, in Julie Carobini’s novel, A Shore Thing is a testament to the fact that if opposites attract then similar people are bound to repel. When Callie learns that her beloved Otter Bay shore is in danger of becoming a large development, her headstrong personality makes her a leading figure in the Save our Shores (S.O.S.) cause. Although she is a seasoned activist, this time she may have met her match in every sense of the word. Her opponent, the struggling architect, Gage, has his own equally valid reasons for supporting sustainable architecture amidst God’s creation.

The book is written in first person, alternating between the perspectives of Callie and Gage. Both characters have specific qualities that define who they are and what they stand for. As an independent, 30-year-old assistant camp director, Callie is accustomed to breaking the social norms of society and even her own family. With a stray dog as her only companion, she will stop at nothing to protect the land she loves. On the other hand, Gage is an even-tempered, diligent worker trying to do his job to the best of his ability so he can fulfill his lifelong dream of opening an eco-conscious firm.

Despite their differences, both Callie and Gage are interested in preserving nature and utilizing the environment -- as God instructed mankind to do in Genesis. The theme of A Shore Thing is well summarized by Genesis 1:26: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let him rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth , and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”

Although they have very different opinions about how to rule over God’s creation, Callie and Gage share many of the same beliefs and ideals. One similarity that continually ties these two characters together is their faith in God and their love for His creation. Throughout the book, Carobini emphasizes the power of prayer, the necessity of trusting God, and the helpful reminder that first impressions are not always correct.

Overall, the characters are well-developed and the plotline is convincing. However, as someone who is not typically involved in environmental issues, I had a hard time staying interested in the story and relating to the characters’ motives. Therefore, I would recommend this book to Christian women who enjoy romance novels from an eco-friendly perspective. – Kara Hackett, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

http://www.christianbook.com/a-shore-thing-otter-bay/julie-carobini/9780805448757/pd/448757

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Author: Julie Carobini
Located in: California Central Coast
Submitted: July 29, 2010

    Tell us a little about yourself.  Sure! I write seaside novels filled with faith, flip flops and waves of grace, and I live with my family on California’s central coast. To date, I’ve written five novels plus hundreds of articles for all kinds of publications. In addition to mothering and writing, I enjoy jogging on the beach with our dog, Charlie (when my bum knee cooperates).

    What was your motivation behind this project?  I’m fascinated by my brother, Daniel Navarro’s, career as a certified green architect. He’s not ‘fringe’ in any way, and I started to think about how his work honors God. I became equally fascinated thinking about how a person in his position could be in direct conflict with someone of the same mind, but who approaches their beliefs in a different way. Enter Callie, an eco-friendly gal who loves God, children, and the open land of Otter Bay. I kept wondering how these two could find ‘common ground’ and that was the seed for the story.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  First, I hope readers are entertained. I hope they get lost in the setting…that they draw in the scent of pine mixed with the ocean breeze, and sense the brisk wind licking their cheeks. But I also hope that readers perceive the bigger picture that God has in store for those who love and follow him. For our hero and heroine, Gage and Callie, giving up is hard to do. I hope A Shore Thing demonstrates that no matter what our particular will in a situation is, the only way to be truly wise is to build our lives on the rock (see Matthew 7:24).

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  Even as recently as today I’ve been reminded that, even though the Lord has given me a specific call, He’s still in charge. I can either surrender to him or walk in the wilderness for awhile until I get that straight. Callie has had to learn that too.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  I still love Jan Karon’s Mitford series. I also read just about everything from authors Rene Gutteridge, Kristin Billerbeck, Jane Austen, and I appreciated Ray Bradbury in high school enough that I often think back on his writings now. On the tear-jerking side, Kathryn Cushman is a friend whose writing always makes me pause and ponder.

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:  Just that God took all the lows and highs in my life and created something new with them. Believe me when I tell you that I had no plans of my own to write beach-themed novels one day. I just kept praying and writing and seeking until an idea popped into my head. I followed that idea, and now find myself writing my fifth novel filled with ‘waves of grace’, as I’ve come to think of these stories. Hope that offers encouragement to someone, somewhere!

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