Passing through Perfect: A Wyattsville Novel, Book 3

Bette Lee Crosby

Jan 2015 · The Wyattsville Series Book 3 · Bent Pine Publishing

About this eBook

Benjamin Church came to the grange hall expecting to meet someone else, but then the girl in a red dress looked across the dance floor and smiled…

Passing through Perfect is a heart-wrenching, Southern family saga that starts on the night Benjamin fell madly and completely in love with Delia. Once he tasted the sweetness of her kiss, he envisioned them spending the rest of their life together.

He didn’t stop to consider her daddy was a learned Pastor and her mama a woman with a college degree; he only knew she set his heart to racing. When he touched his mouth to hers, he forgot the hardships of being a sharecropper, forgot what it was like to work from dawn ‘til dark and forgot that nothing in Grinder’s Corner ever really changed.

Benjamin’s only thoughts were about lying together every night, sitting side by side on the front porch, and raising a family.  Yes, he knew there’d be heartaches.  Every couple had their share of heartaches, it was to be expected; but he never imagined such a tragedy would befall their family.

Winner of the 2016 RONE Award for Inspirational Fiction and the 2016 Readers Favorite Gold Medal.

Ratings and reviews

I just finished Passing through Perfect by Bette Lee Crosby. It the third book in The Wyattsville Series. It is 1946 and Benjamin Church has just returned to Twin Pines from the war. He has returned to his father’s (Otis Church) farm (they are sharecroppers) to help him out. Since they live in Alabama, Benjamin believes he can have money producing crops all year round. While at a local dance, Benjamin meets Delia Finch. She is the pastor’s daughter. They immediately fall in love and wish to marry. Pastor Finch does not approve of Benjamin for his daughter. Pastor Finch is a college graduate and has made sure that his daughter had a private school education despite her color. Delia has had a good life and has been sheltered from the harshness of being a non-white in Alabama. When Delia turns up pregnant, her father calls her a bad name and throws her out of the house. Delia and Benjamin marry the next day. Delia sacrifices her family for her love. Life will not be easy for Delia, Benjamin, and Otis. When the worst happens, Benjamin will have to make a choice. A choice that will change life for Benjamin. Passing through Perfect is just a lovely novel to read. Passing through Perfect is well written and the novel flows beautifully. I liked the characters (except Delia’s father). It is interesting to see life from a different perspective and I was glad for the epilogue that wrapped up the novel nicely. I give Passing through Perfect 4.25 out of 5 stars. The only thing I did not enjoy was the periodic chapters told from the first person perspective of various characters. I did not always feel that the enhanced the story. While Passing through Perfect is the third book in the series, it can easily be read alone (though you will want to go back and read the other two novels). I received a complimentary copy of Passing through Perfect from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I have read several of Bette's books and loved them all - but this one captivated and moved me so profoundly I am out of words. Beautiful characters, but still the presence of the horrible bigotry and segregation of the times and place. This is my all time Bette favorite and everyone should read it immediately if not before! I guarantee it will make you reflect and look at your own values and habits. A beautiful, beautiful story!

Passing Through Perfect is a wonderful book - a real page turner! Find the time to read it. It helps to understand race relationships in the forties and fifties of the south.