Terri Kraus, The Transformation

Terri Kraus, The Transformation: In Shadyside on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, real estate developer Samantha Cohen plans to renovate the historic Blue Church into an in crowd restaurant and nightclub. She hires contractor Oliver Barnett to help her change the religious site. His pious mother is upset as she sees this as blasphemy by her son.

Samantha and Oliver are attracted to one another, but he is a Christian while she is Jew. Not only a believer, he would never hurt his mom by bringing home someone of another faith. Meanwhile his mom encourages his kind likable former girlfriend Paula to go after Oliver who is in love with Samantha.

The latest Project Restoration tale (see THE RENEWAL) is an interesting contemporary religious romance that in some ways is the retelling of the biblical story of Ruth. The lead couple is a delightful pairing as each has religious issues and family tsuris to overcome if they are to forge a loving relationship under God; but who's God. With a strong cast complementing the prime duet, Terri Kraus provides a strong look at love and religion in the modern world.

Harriet Klausner