"All I can do is bring together men and women who seem compatible and let God do the rest."

Great lines like this fill the pages of Destiny's Dream, the first of the Solomon's Gate Series from White Rose Publishing. First off, what a tremendous idea for a book series: Position a keenly intelligent, full-of-heart heroine at the helm of a Christian Dating agency called Solomon's Gate. Add in the caring and tender CEO of an investment firm, and you've got a sure-fire recipe for success. Secondly, Destiny's Dream is full of great lines like this: `She was silent for a long time, while Clay discovered the meaning of someone holding his heart in their hands' Lines that bring home the beauty of the characters you meet, and place them straight in your heart.

Destiny May, of Castle Creek California, is the creator and owner of Solomon's Gate. She put her life's energy into caring for her ailing mother, until Mom passed away, leaving Destiny in search of her own life and goals. Into the funeral service walks Clay Gallagher, CEO of Gallagher Investments. After a rocky, but very humorous start to their relationship, twists and turns abound, as does the mysterious but welcome touch of a heavenly angel, the beautiful power of lifting people in prayer through anointing oil. Oh, and did I mention? There's a thread of ominous danger lurking as well.

Latham's plot could have easily been overwhelmed by such a mix, but her skill as a storyteller simply shines, and each element of Destiny's Dream weaves itself into the next with perfection. I highly recommend Destiny's Dream, and pray you will enjoy it, and be blessed by its message of love's true power and might. I know I was. Tell you what else. If I didn't already have my own happily ever after, I'd be hunting up Destiny May, and Solomon's Gate in a heartbeat!

DESTINY'S DREAM by Delia Latham has it all. There's romance, mystery and action - all very skillfully woven together into a well told and satisfying story. Add to that a solid presentation of the gospel using real and believable characters, and you have a recipe for a great Christian romance novel. These elements on their own are enough to make this book worth reading, but Latham has taken her story telling to another whole level. There were so many unique things about this book that I'm not sure where to begin. First of all, the set up where the two main characters meet is pretty unusual. Destiny May and Clay Gallagher meet at her mother's funeral. Yeah, that's right - a funeral! Hardly the makings for a `happy beginning', yet Latham manages to make this scene quite humorous without becoming irreverent. Also, Destiny's profession is atypical, to say the least. She runs a dating service for Christians and sees it as a ministry that God has called her to. Rather than coming across as shallow, Latham manages to present both the heroine and her aspirations in such a way that it seems totally plausible - even inspiring. In fact, one of the things that impressed me most was the matter of fact way Destiny's deep spirituality was dealt with in the book. There were plenty of references to the gospel message, redemption, prayer, and even some topics that other authors might shy away from such as angelic visitations, the use of anointing oil, and prophetic messages from God. Yet, Latham weaves all of these elements into the story in such a skillful and unobtrusive way that never once does the reader feel like they are being preached at or `taught'. This is good story telling at its finest. There are lots of solid Biblical principles, well rounded and sympathetic characters, and enough plot twists and turns to keep you on your toes - all put together so that in the end all you are left with is the satisfaction of a story well told.

Destiny longs to start a Christian based dating service and does so despite the objections and interfreance of others. But some interferance can feel like betrayal, and some can be a threat. With God's help, Destiny protects herself and those she loves, and in turn is protected by love.

Author Delia Latham has a great start to a sweet series. I really enjoyed this book, especially the reference to angels.

Delia Latham serves up another sweet romantic winner in book one of the Solomon's Gate series. From the first time Destiny May meets her hero you won't want to set this story down. Destiny gives up career and social life to care for her dying mother. At age 31 she finds herself orphaned and single and jobless, except for an independent business idea and the extremely lukewarm support of her brother and sister and community.

Destiny meets her...destiny at her mother's funeral. When investment broker Clay Gallagher crashes the service, he doesn't realize he's in the wrong place until he's made several disparaging remarks. Destiny has had enough mourning and uses Clay as her means of escape to a much-needed cup of coffee and conversation. From then on it's a giggle fest in all the wrong places. How Clay and his handsome brother have managed to escape marriage in a small town is a wonder, even after you get to know their delightfully kooky mother.

Destiny's dream? Oh, just your average run-of-the-mill Christian dating service, named Solomon's Gate. The customers? You'll have to read the book to meet them. There's danger, romance and general mayhem throughout this charming book. Just how much trouble could there be in a small town Christian dating service, anyway? Thank heavens for angels, laughter, and good fun. The next two books in the series are already scheduled for release. The line starts behind me.

I received a copy of this book from the author for review.

I wondered what kind of story I was getting myself into when I needed a box of tissues so quickly. However, that didn't last long. Soon I was chuckling over the funeral scene where the hero of this story, Clay, realizes he's at the wrong funeral. Needless to say, Ms. Latham has a way of writing that draws upon the reader's emotions.

I enjoyed the freshness of the plot... this is no "cookie cutter" romance. In fact, Solomon's Gate, the dating service in which Destiny establishes was based on a Bible Verses her mother gave to her about angels watching over her.

If you're looking for a light, imaginative story, you've come to the right book.

Delia Latham is a delightful writer who can take you from tears to giggles with the flip of a page. The prologue broke my heart when Destiny May, the heroine, said goodbye to her dying mother, yet a few pages later, Delia had me in a fit of giggles--at a funeral, of all places. It was one of those rare laugh-out-loud moments, and she did it without offending me in the slightest.

It was here, at Destiny's mother's funeral, that we met our hero, Clay Gallagher. Poor guy. This successful, charming, businessman finds him in a very uncomfortable, and somewhat confusing position.

First, he comes late. Then, he sits beside Destiny, who is trying not to fall apart as the pastor attempts to turn the funeral into a celebration of heaven. Finally, he makes a complete, offensive fool of himself when he proceeds to make one rude comment after another.

It's enough to send redheaded Destiny into a fit of rage! She is floored, and prepared to give this oaf a piece of her mind, until she catches the mortification on the man's face. It's obvious-the man has walked into the wrong funeral! She loses it and bursts out laughing, adding to the poor man's confusion. (Who appears, upon further reader-understanding, not to be the total jerk we may have thought him to be.)

Before he has a chance to process what's going on, Destiny whisks him off to the coffee shop for an impromptu date. Not what you'd expect from a grieving daughter. But then again, Destiny May is anything but predictable. Cute, caring, fun, a bit giggly...but not predictable. And Clay doesn't quite no how to take her.

The more he gets to know her, the more he loves her, until a lovers quarrel breaks them up, and Clay's younger brother comes in for the kill.

Will Destiny and Clay be able to work out their differences or will this love triangle drive a wedge between them all?

Delia is a fun writer who was able to elicit quite a few giggles from me as I read. Her characters are unique and playful. How she managed to turn a death scene into one of the most comical events I've ever read, I'll never know. But I enjoyed every moment of it! I look forward to the rest of the books in this series.