In the Shade of the Jacaranda (Regalo Grande Series #2) (ISBN 0800730496)

A Good Message Wrapped ina Love Story:
Although at first I doubted the probability of this wealthy girl marrying an uneducated stable hand, Arana handles the story in a way that I believed. She documents the difficulties of an immigrant, and the prejudices, with sensitivity. I found myself drawn to the prayer-warrior grandmother, and I liked how Arana portrayed the woman. The husband, Antonio, while uneducated is intelligent, and untainted by American culture, he reveals a strong, child-like faith. The second book in the Regalo Grande series, In the Shade of the Jacaranda delivers a simple message wrapped in a story of love: Believing IN God isn't enough-you have to believe God.

Praise from Chadron MOPS!!!!:
In the Shade of the Jacaranda is a continuation of the story, which began in The Winds of Sonoma. It mirrors the same God-inspired romance and desire to follow His paths. Angelica and Antonio have settled into their first home and are now expecting a baby. Complications which arise during the pregnancy shake Angelica's foundation and faith while causing tension with the in-laws. But it is through these low times that the Lord's love and passion for them is revealed. I was nervous before reading this book because of the concern of pregnancy problems, but it was truly a story that could be read by anyone at any time (pregnant or not) because it beautifully expressed God's love for all people including HIS precious babies. What a superbly written love story that displays triumph in the midst of trepidation! It's an absolute page-turner and will challenge even the strong spirited to rediscover the hidden blessings found in the unnecessarily fears of the world. Be looking for our next review from this series! ~Shaye of Chadron MOPS

Interracial Marriage versus Family Disagreements:
In the Shade of the Jacaranda I love Nikki Arana's books because they are discussing real issues at a depth usually lacking in the typical romance novel. I identified five main topics that form the basis for this novel. There are also many minor topics which link the main topics together. First, this is the story of an interracial marriage with the Angelica's parents opposing her marriage to Antonio, a Mexican immigrant farm worker. Second, society's treatment of people in interracial marriages is explored through the suffering Antonio receives at the hands of other gardeners who resent a Mexican taking work from them. You could easily substitute any ethnic group for "Mexican" and come up with the same prejudices being experienced by the couple. Third, the issue of abortion is discussed. You see it through a foreigner's eyes as well as through the eyes of your typical American family. Antonio comes from a strong Christian background that believes all children are gifts from God. Angelica's parents believe only "perfect" children should be allowed to be born and strongly suggest she aborts when it is learned that her baby will likely have Down's syndrome. Fourth, the importance of knowing Jesus as your personal savior versus just knowing about Jesus is revealed through the various characters. The primary way this topic is covered is by sharing the story of Antonio's grandmother's visit and her simple faith. Eventually, she is able to reach Angelica and help her achieve a real faith in Christ. The grandmother also teaches the importance of being in God's presence before you begin to pray! Fifth, living with chronic disease or physical disability becomes an issue when Angelica's parents are hit by a drunk driver. Her father is left paralyzed - a real blow to this healthy, high pressure heart surgeon. Recommendation You will find it extremely difficult to find a better book covering the above mentioned topics from a Christian versus non-Christian point of view. The author's ability to weave spiritual truths into her story in this depth is seldom reached by other authors. This book is difficult to put down once you have started reading it. You will feel like you are actually living the events instead of just reading about them. However, it isn't an easy book to read because of the many difficult topics covered. There is nothing "romantic" about the difficulties this couple experiences early in their marriage. Their ability to surmount them is directly as a result of Antonio's ability to have enough faith for his wife before she finally comes to a true understanding of having Christ as your savior.

How strong is your faith?:
Angelica has married Antonio, the immigrant worker from Mexico. While there are still many kinks to work out in this unique marriage, there is still great love between the two. Angelica still wants to be fulfill her dream of becoming a public defender but all that changes when she becomes pregnant. Suddenly everything becomes a challenge with worries about the baby's condition to Antonio's grandmother arriving from Mexico. This will test not only their relationship but Angelica's and Antonio's faith as well. I was eager to pick up the story of Angelica and Antonio where the first book ended. I wanted to know how their relationship would survive because of the radical differences between the two. I was not let down. The book describes how they had to accommodate to not feel like they were letting the other down. Their many adventures held both laughter and tears. There were at times however when I felt very frustrated with Antonio and his way of thinking. Because he is not used to the technology and advances of this country, he would rather have everything simple and does not want Angelica to go through the tests regarding their baby. It just felt that throughout the book, Angelica is in the wrong for wanting to use technology instead of just relying on faith alone. Not that there's anything wrong with having a child like faith, I just felt frustrated that it made her look like the bad person for wanting more instead of just trusting. I did enjoy their relationship and the love they had for each other. The language barrier is not so much a problem anymore although there are obvious culture differences. I also liked how Angelica's parents begin to open up to Antonio even though they still have some resistance toward the relationship. The scene with the cradle was very touching for both ends. I also was intrigued with how Antonio tried to start his own business and the prejudice and stereotyping he faced because of his race. He handled the situation with more dignity than most people would. The story is beautifully written however and the characters are realistic with plot that is very relevant with this time period.

Ethnics, money, power, faith and love....:
So many important qualities are followed throughout the life of Angelica and her new husband, Antonio. They are from different worlds. Backgrounds 180 from each other, but love is holding them together. Her parents still do not approved of her choice of husband, but they are thrilled at the prospect of becoming grandparents. Antonio is working so hard to integrate into the American way of life and care for his pregnant wife. In the meantime he learns that not everyone is happy with immigrants and not everyone is to be trusted. The chapters that impacted me the most were those dealing with the possibility of the baby having a serious birth defect, and how this was going to affect the faith of the parents. I loved the character that was Antonio's grandmother, she played a huge role as spiritual leader of their home for a time. It was only after a horrible car accident and the untimely birth of little Manuel that the rich Mr. and Mrs. Amante are faced with what is, and what is not really, really important. I made the mistake of picking up book 2 in this series first, and not being able to put it down...so today, I ran out and purchased books one and three. Decisions, which to read first? Thanks to a relative new author for a different slant to Christian fiction.