Rating: 
Summary: A compelling love story!
Review: 7th Heaven is another one of Catherine Anderson's emotionally charged love stories set in authentic, real world circumstances. The main characters of this book, Joe Lakota and Marilee Nelson, reminded me of Ace Keegan and Caitlin O'Shannessy, the main characters in Anderson's historical novel, Keegan's Lady. Joe, like Ace, is the epitome of the alpha male: strong, dominating, quick-tempered, and protective of his dependents. Marilee, like Caitlin, struggles with the trauma of her past. Two very human individuals with imperfections that make their story all the more believable. High school sweethearts ten years before, Joe, a famous professional football player, and Marilee, an agoraphobic children's book writer/author, struggle to find their way back together. After a bitter divorce, he's returned to his small hometown of Laurel Creek, Oregon, with his son Zachary, who needs care for his PTSD. Circumstances develop that lead Joe and Marilee into a marriage of convenience to save Zachary from being returned to the custody of Joe's abusive ex-wife. Joe immediately sees a similar behavior pattern in his son and new wife, Marilee -- both use psychological barriers to keep the world away. Patiently Joe nurtures them. When Joe is arrested for murdering one of the men who raped Marilee ten years before, she must conquer her phobia to prove his innocent. Catherine Anderson weaves together secrets, mystery, and real world issues with tender romance and justice in an unfair world through compelling characters that draw you into their world. As you read 7th Heaven, you'll experience a roller coaster ride of emotions and a deep sense of rightness at the healing power of love. A touching love story that will stay with you long after the final page.
Rating:
Summary: Well done, exciting book.
Review: After a bitter divorce and custody battle, pro football player Joe Lakota returned home to the small town of Laurel Creek, Oregon, to start over. The woman he loved all those years, Marilee Nelson, was there waiting for him, but her past caught up with her when Joe proposed marriage. This emotionally charged and poignant book is quite human, with the imperfections making the story and characters all the more real. Marilee copes with an anxiety disorder while Joe does his best to be a single father. Catherine Anderson takes us on a real roller coaster ride, with a thrilling, beautiful result.
Rating: 
Summary: Seventh Heaven
Review: As a fan of Catherine Anderson I was eager to read her newest novel released. I was not disappointed! Seventh Heaven is joy to read. This story holds mystery, romance, secrets untold, and a justice to a sometimes unfair world. The family ties were a favorite ingredient of mine. The story of Joe and Marilee is captivating, I couldn't put it down. I will recommend this one to all my friends.
Rating:
Summary: A lovely story but slow paced.
Review: Catherine Anderson always pens the absolute in leading men. Her romance heros are consistently tall, physically attractive, self-disciplined, and nine times out of ten unbelievably wealthy. In other words, the ideal romance hero. Anderson's leading ladies are usually cute, generally patterned after the girl next door, and nine times out of ten have a history of torment. In other words, the girl needs his help. In "Seventh Heaven", Catherine Anderson sticks to her recipe and prepares another romance delicacy. Joe Lakota, an award winning high school and collegiate quarterback, was destined for the big times. This all-star athlete had the world by a string, including the sweetness girl in town. Marilee Nelson lived in a sheltered world. Her family protected her with love and Joe Lakota idolized her. Unfortunately, all too soon, her world came crashing down. Brutally, she was persuaded to sacrifice Joe Lakota. Instead Marilee Nelson chose to protect him by ending their lifelong friendship and love. Ten years have slipped away and Joe Lakota has returned to the small Oregon town, of his boyhood; where he will raise his small, vulnerable son -- the small Oregon town Marilee Nelson still calls home. Joe Lakota may have returned home but not to the once naive Marilee Nelson. In this story, Catherine Anderson has created a lovely page turner, but it is, at times, slow going. Marilee has some grave hangups and periodically the author delivers the healing with a painful pace. Nevertheless, this is a good book, but "Annie's Song" is better, if you have not read that Anderson classic, do run out and get a copy. Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
Rating:
Summary: A lovely story but slow paced.
Review: Catherine Anderson always pens the absolute in leading men. Her romance heros are consistently tall, physically attractive, self-disciplined, and nine times out of ten unbelievably wealthy. In other words, the ideal romance hero. Anderson's leading ladies are usually cute, generally patterned after the girl next door, and nine times out of ten have a history of torment. In other words, the girl needs his help. In "Seventh Heaven", Catherine Anderson sticks to her recipe and prepares another romance delicacy. Joe Lakota, an award winning high school and collegiate quarterback, was destined for the big times. This all-star athlete had the world by a string, including the sweetness girl in town. Marilee Nelson lived in a sheltered world. Her family protected her with love and Joe Lakota idolized her. Unfortunately, all too soon, her world came crashing down. Brutally, she was persuaded to sacrifice Joe Lakota. Instead Marilee Nelson chose to protect him by ending their lifelong friendship and love. Ten years have slipped away and Joe Lakota has returned to the small Oregon town, of his boyhood; where he will raise his small, vulnerable son -- the small Oregon town Marilee Nelson still calls home. Joe Lakota may have returned home but not to the once naive Marilee Nelson. In this story, Catherine Anderson has created a lovely page turner, but it is, at times, slow going. Marilee has some grave hangups and periodically the author delivers the healing with a painful pace. Nevertheless, this is a good book, but "Annie's Song" is better, if you have not read that Anderson classic, do run out and get a copy. Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
Rating:
Summary: Heaven Can't Wait
Review: Catherine Anderson creates another powerful story of true love and the things people sometimes go through to finally end up together. This is the story of young love that ends suddenly and without explanation ten years earlier. We meet Joe Lakota, a professional athlete, who has returned home with his six year old son Zachary after a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife. He returns to find his childhood sweetheart, Marilee Nelson, coping with severe emotional problems of her own. Joe and Marilee try to find their way back to each other through his son Zachary, who needs care. I got into this story immediately. It was a swift read because the action was non-stop. Sometimes in the earlier chapters I felt frustrated because Marilee didn't communicate, but once the mystery unfolds, I didn't mind so much because the behavior would have been expected, given the circumstances. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to Ms. Anderson's next release.
Rating:
Summary: Familiar ground for Catherine Anderson
Review: Catherine Anderson writes emotionally charged contemporary and historical romances where the heroines are frequently wounded young ladies and the heros are extremely masculine rescuers who are also exceptionally sensitive. "Seveth Heaven" certainly fits this mold. It is the story of Marilee Nelson, a nice Catholic girl from a small Oregon town who abruptly broke off her engagement to her football star fiancee, Joe Lakota. A decade later, Joe returns to town with his fragile young son and quickly realizes that there were tragic circumstances that caused Marilee to break up with him years ago. He proceeds to gently but persistently tear down her emotional barriers and try to recapture the romance of their youth. Anderson is an extremely sympathetic writer, and she handles the backlash of physical and emotional trama very well. Her characters are appealing, and the sensual tension is well-paced. Unfortunately, this is ground that Anderson has traveled before, and more adeptly, in "Forever After." If you've enjoyed Anderson's previous work, you will like "Seventh Heaven", but don't expect to see something new from this talented writer.
Rating: 
Summary: Seventh Heaven
Review: I am a big fan of Catherine Anderson's but I was very disappointed in this book. I did like the characters, however the story line was slow, with the author repeating the same thoughts and problems over and over. Also, the characters reactions didn't always fit the situation which was a little confusing. I haven't given up on Catherine Anderson. Hopefully her next book was be better than this one was.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable but some elements implausible
Review: I enjoyed the other works of Catherine Anderson that I've read and this was no exception. Joe was a mostly believable character with a truly human flaw of temper. Mari's response to her assault was painful but unfortunately accurate. My only complaint is that the solutions to both Mari and Joe's problems were too rushed and too easy. An individual does not overcome the traumas and effects of PTSD in the space of a few weeks. Overall however, I enjoyed the book and loved the interaction between the two lead characters and between Joe and his son. I would recommend this book as long as you can embrace with some credulity, the character's situation.
Rating:
Summary: Good characters, good idea, slow execution
Review: I have enjoyed all of Catherine Andersen's books up until this one. Even though the characters had conflict within themselves, they had none with each other. This made for a slow - and oftentimes boring - book. I suppose I had a difficult time accepting the heroine's retreat from the world for so long even though she had been profoundly hurt in her past. I think this book could have moved a little faster. All that aside, as always Andersen's characters were inherently good, sweet people learning to triumph over life's difficulties and setbacks. This story just did not click for me like her others.
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