What happens when you meet a guy? THE guy? But he’s not the man you could ever consider taking home to meet mom and dad? Becky Friessen finds out when she meets Dr. Tom Campbell, the emergency room doctor responsible for stitching up her finger after a cooking accident. Becky is nineteen, a new college student trying to play catch-up with the rest of her class, when she finds herself in a possibly self-destructive relationship with a man who clearly wants her only for sex. She knows what she’s doing is wrong. Or is it? As Becky struggles with her inner conscience, the battle to be the wholesome daughter in a tightly woven family makes her come to terms with priorities in life’s decisions.

In The Moment: The Friessens Book 8 by Lorhainne Eckhart is the latest installment in a series that exhibits strong family values while at the same time unearthing serious material for debate. While the main character openly recognizes the controversy of sexual promiscuity, she relents to the forces of an overly demanding partner. This is not a message I find appropriate in the battle for female equality, yet I realize the allure for fans of Christian Gray. The dialogue is consistent with the story’s theme, the plot's circumstances are balanced and concise, and the detail is sound. In the Moment is clearly appropriate for the mature reader. I believe that Eckhart’s story line fits well with today’s easy-read appeal in women’s fiction.

In the Moment by Lorhainne Eckhart is the eighth book in The Friessens series. Becky is bored with the same life in the same boring place. Her parents, Brad and Emily, are probably the most loving and caring people on earth. Their love for each other has survived many adversities and is still blossoming. Even amidst this much love and care, Becky does not feel a connection with the life that she has been living. Her heart craves excitement, thrills, and adventure. She assumes that getting into a college that's far away from her home town might draw her out of the predictable life that she has been living so far. The only problem is that she is not sure about what course she wishes to pursue and what direction she wants to follow. However, destiny brings the excitement that she so dearly prays for in the form of Dr. Tom Campbell. The moment he meets Becky, he is mesmerized by her spark, naivety, and stubbornness. As he does not believe in dating, he proposes something so outrageous to Becky that any other girl would have stormed off. Nevertheless, Becky actually finds herself considering his offer, all the while knowing that the consequences of accepting such a disrespectful proposal would not sit well with her family.

When I started reading In the Moment by Lorhainne Eckhart, I was quite taken by the beautiful description of a big and loving family. The time that the author spent in giving life to the supporting characters -- Becky's parents and brother, Jack -- is definitely refreshing. I enjoyed the protective side of her dad, Brad, a lot. The author has really extracted the essence of fatherhood and poured it all into his character. His dialogues and reactions are supremely well written. Becky's character is a complex one. She is sometimes very confident and sure of herself, but the next moment behaves like a silly girl. I found her annoying in certain instances. However, only when a reader develops certain feelings (good or bad) towards the characters of a book, the reading becomes truly enjoyable. This is what the incredible writing of this author delivered.

The plot moved at a very graceful pace and the development was very smooth. The complex involvement of Becky and Tom was so unpredictable that I couldn't make up my mind about their relationship until almost the end. The only thing that bothered me for a few chapters was the resemblance of the plot to 50 Shades of Grey. The similarity was so close that for a while I wondered whether it was going to be an exact replica of that story. Thankfully, my suspicions did not turn out to be true and the author changed the course of the plot very elegantly and tactfully. The element of family love kept the book from becoming mere erotica. In fact, the family drama mostly took the forefront and a few sexual scenes remained in the background. The author's storytelling skills are definitely worth applause. The attraction between Tom and Becky is so intense that it will leave readers craving to experience such a magnetic pull towards someone themselves. In the Moment would appeal to readers who love an intense romantic tale with a family angle.