A well-written story that is both fluffy and serious. Most startlingly, the protagonist's utterly devout Christianity is a major part of the story without being preachy. (Rather than being for proselytizing with plot-relevance being secondary, it is first a plot point and any evangelism is by sheer accident.)

The characters are rendered carefully and believably—they're real people, not plot puppets.

The prose and plot aren't staggering and won't be showing up on any literary-nomination lists, but it tells a compelling story and is thoroughly enjoyable.