Contemporary Romance – Page 13

When Hope Blossoms + Giveaway

Amy Knackstedt moves with her children to Weaverly, Kansas, to escape the speculation surrounding her husband’s untimely death. She hopes the new location will provide a fresh start for them all. But her neighbor, Tim Roper, is not pleased to have a Mennonite family living next to his apple orchard. When the children try to befriend him, he resists. Tim left the Mennonite faith years ago and doesn’t want any reminders of his former life. Yet Amy and Tim find their paths colliding far more than either could have foreseen. Will this tentative relationship blossom into something more?

My Review:

published in 2012

Sweet, sweet, SWEET! Brilliantly crafted, Sawyer delivers a story that brings hope from despair — a theme that aptly matches the title. Amazingly tight plotting blends three life experiences into one incredibly moving conclusion. Sawyer is a gifted storyteller.

Told from three POVs — Amy’s, Tim’s and Beckah’s (Amy’s 13-year-old daughter) — their diverse take on life and circumstances propel the story along at the perfect pace. I’m still marveling at how various story strands meshed together, building to one of the best feel-good endings I’ve ever read. Just LOVED this book so much.

And yes it is a Mennonite story — but it’s so much more as well with themes that will attract and satisfy even non-Amish/non-Mennonite fans. Themes like searching for a fresh start, finding ones faith, staying true to that faith no matter what, coping with grief, and learning to accept help from others in times of need. When Hope Blossoms is a wonderful celebration of the hope Christ can bring into every life.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of When Hope Blossoms, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 24 2024.

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor

Random Retro Read

When Heather Toulson returns to her parents cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder.

Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.

Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She’s mourning her father’s passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family’s belongings left behind in the cottage. As Heather digs, she finds a mysterious journal that belonged to a woman she never knew and it contains clues that lead to the truth about a mysterious drowning decades ago. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s history.

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways. Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

My Review:

published in 2015

I’m feeling a bit pensive and sad after finishing this novel. It’s an amazing story but not everyone gets a happily ever after. Three generations of women in the same family, all repeating the same mistakes and it just hurt to see how easily history can repeat itself.

It starts with Heather in present day and then flashes back in time, first to Maggie and then to Libby. Melanie Dobson is a genius at connecting the separate stories in a dual timeline novel, slowly giving her readers tiny pieces of the puzzle but not nearly enough to prevent a few earth shattering “aha” moments.

So, I was captivated and compelled to non-stop listen to ‘Shadows of Ladenbrooke’ (great narration by Nancy Peterson. Highly recommend the audio book.) Family history and mystery, a second chance romance and the very real, raw, messiness of broken people doing their best. I definitely need to follow this read up with a rom/com to lighten my spirits!

The Christmas Inn

Explore this delightfully cozy and joyful novel of second chances at the most wonderful time of the year, from USA Today bestselling author Pamela Kelley.

A feel-good novel as delightful and comforting as a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night, The Christmas Inn is bestselling author Pamela Kelley’s most heartwarming and magical book yet

Riley Sanders didn’t plan on losing her job as a content marketing manager right before Christmas. When she calls her sister Amy to vent, she learns that their mother has broken her leg and could really use some help at the inn. Riley decides to head home to the inn, nestled along the shores of Cape Cod, in time for the Christmas rush. She is happy to help and needs something to distract her as mistletoe is hung and snowflakes begin to fall.

When she gets there, she not only finds delicious cookies and a crackling fire to lift her spirits, but also the sense of family she’s been missing all along. There’s Franny, a woman who has just lost her sister and has four unopened letters from her that she plans to use to open her up to new experiences on the Cape. And there’s Aidan, her high school sweetheart, now a widower, who is staying at the inn with his nine year-old son, Luke. What begins as a quick stay over the holidays to help her mom turns into something that means much more—a second chance at romance, a deeper sense of found family, and all the joy and wonder that comes with Christmastime on Cape Cod.

My Review:

Reads like a Hallmark movie in book form. A heartwarming exploration of three women’s fresh starts at a pivotal time in their lives.

An unexplained job loss has Riley heading home just weeks before Christmas to help her convalescing mom run her inn. The perfect time to rethink life’s choices, especially when she comes face to face with her teenage sweetheart.

Beth (Riley’s mom) is barely coping with a broken leg while running her inn. Her daughter’s visit home breathes fresh life into the business and provides the catalyst for Beth making the acquaintance of a dashing carpenter.

Widowed Franny has just buried her sister and is spending the Christmas season at the inn before returning home until an unexpected reunion with an old flame has her second guessing what comes next.

Three second chance love stories (though lighter on the romance with more of a focus on the journey to get there) at the most magical time of the year. I enjoyed the three perspectives of women of different ages and stages in life. And the inn makes a perfect setting for these holiday romances.

Stephanie Nemeth-Parker’s audio book narration made for a pleasant listening interlude. A lovely match for these characters and their stories.

My thanks to MacMillan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

Plotting Summer + Giveaway

The book is always better than the movie. But occasionally, life is better than the book.

Ten years ago I made a mortifying, life-altering mistake. Now, this once seemingly insignificant choice is threatening to wreck my entire existence. And possibly throw Tristan Palmer—my next-door-neighbor and the guy I’ve had a secret crush on for the entirety of my life—into the fray unaware.

The mistake?

I am Sunny Palmer. As in the anonymous, best-selling author of over a dozen beloved romances and renowned thief of Tristan’s last name. Okay, not renowned yet, thank the high heavens! But that news will spread like wildfire if people discover that this introverted book nerd is the woman behind the pen name. And the fact that my first book, Secret Crush, is Tristan’s and my fictionalized love story leaves zero room for calling it anything but what it is—a travesty of greatest proportions.

That’s why NO ONE can know! Ever!

So it’s wretched luck that when I finally visit Sunset Harbor, the small-town island where I grew up, I run into the still heart-stopping, book-boyfriend-worthy man himself. And shockingly, Tristan seems intent on reminding me what the island has to offer. Because that’s what friends do.

Logic demands I resist his charm and guard my secret at all costs, which is why it’s vastly unfortunate that Tristan Palmer was and always will be … my greatest weakness.

My Review:

I am in a stupefied state of post-reading euphoria, so excuse me if this review doesn’t make any sense but I think my mind might have imploded from all the romanticalness (so I might have made the word up, but it fits) that is ‘Plotting Summer.’

Working on corralling a lucid thought or two so that I can make sense and do justice to this book. In the meantime — ssssqqqquuuueeeeaaaallllll – new-to-me author alert! How did I not know about Jess Heileman? And she writes Regencies too! Her books are now on all my online wishlists and in my ‘Author Catch-up’ goal list because I need to read everything by this author. Now.

Because she writes with such heart! Capri and Tristan’s romance is so emotionally fraught with all the delicious nuances I enjoy in a romance. And Heileman exactly captures all the feels that go with the yearning for that first crush you never got over.

And, oh my, but Capri has never gotten over her high school days with Tristan. Not that he ever noticed her as anything but a friend. Capri’s imagination, however, took their ‘relationship’ to a whole other level. And she turned that into a best selling novel, published under a pseudonym that has all kinds of significance if Tristan took any time to think about it. So now she’s a popular romance author with a posse of book boyfriends who are all Tristan in some form or other. Only she can’t tell anyone that she’s Sunny Palmer because a) that name (!) and b) that first book might have been somewhat autobiographical. 🙂

I can’t gush enough about the way their love story plays out. Impeccable pacing where the laugh out loud comedic scenes are perfectly balanced by deeper emotional ones. These characters are vulnerable and hurting but careful about each other’s feelings. I love the way the romance builds — so many toe-curling almost kisses! And the playful banter! Kept me giggling my way into a swoon over and over again.

And the central theme of Capri’s story — ‘you’re worth being seen’ — and the way Tristan becomes ‘the man who always sees her.’ The way the author develops that throughout the story is…just…powerful…and meaningful…and so, so, beautiful. Sniffle. I kinda cried at the end. Happily ever after tears, which are the best kind. 🙂

I listened to the audio book narrated by Ellen Quay and she was a perfect match for these characters and their story. Her performance made for an immersive ‘reading’ experience — and made me love ‘Plotting Summer’ even more.

My thanks to the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Plotting Summer, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 10 2024.

Summer Tease

Falling for Beau Palmer would be the ultimate crime

Wild horses couldn’t drag me back to the small island where I grew up, but you know what can? Making sure the Palmer family—aka the worst neighbors ever—show appropriate respect to the newest resident of their retirement center: my grandma.

But as soon as Grams moves in, her shenanigans put her at risk of being kicked out. Since she’s set on staying in Sunset Harbor until her last breath and there’s no way I’m staying on this nightmare island to take care of her, that’s not an option.

Enter Beau Palmer, the infuriatingly charming local cop who’s got the connections to keep Grams right where she needs to be and help me get out of Dodge sooner. But he’s got a price, and it requires putting the Sawyer/Palmer drama firmly in the past.

But the drama isn’t behind us. In fact, it’s right in front of me, wearing a police badge and a smirk that’s really started disturbing my peace.

My Review:

A breezy enemies to more summer romance that both delighted and irked me.

Delighted because…Beau. Dedicated to serving the island and his family, he’s quintessential hero material. Infinitely patient with some of the more…unique…Sunset Harbor citizens and more than fair at times when I just would have thrown the book at the culprit (I’m looking at you, Grams!)

Irked because Gemma was so combative and unwilling to compromise. She did not make a good first impression on me, though Beau took her ire in stride. Their families have a feuding history, so they’ve kind of grown up with the idea that Palmers and Sawyers don’t mix but Gemma took it to a whole other level, expecting the worse from Beau and his family even though they prove themselves time and time again. She does soften as the story progresses (this is a romance, after all) but, in the beginning, I couldn’t understand what Beau saw in her. He definitely has a kinder, more compassionate heart than I do.

Then there’s Grams — oy, spunky and ornery and her outrageous antics were sometimes hilariously funny and others times just plain annoying. I had a love/hate relationship with Grams. 🙂

So, not the ideal mix for a summertime romance, but Keyes makes it work, largely because of good natured Beau and his gentle pursuit of Gemma — at first just to lighten her load as she deals with moving her Grams into the retirement home and fixing up her cottage to sell (see, totally nice guy vibes all the way.) But his reasons soon morph into something much more personal, and honestly, Gemma didn’t stand a chance…I sure capitulated waaaayyyyyy faster than she did.

Like when he introduced his police partner, Xena the fluffy K-5 (because she only completed half the K-9 training and her easy going, love ’em and lick ’em into submission temperament wasn’t exactly K-9 material. Bwahahaha! ) I was a goner in chapter two.

And to be fair to Gemma, she’s been spoon-fed Palmer hostility from childhood and Grams keeps it up once she’s back on the island so it isn’t really any wonder that she struggles with her feelings for Beau. Until island history unravels their families’ dispute and causes Gemma to take an honest look at her past…and her future.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘Summer Tease’. Narrator, Ariel Royce made the listening easy — and I loved the way she delivered Grams’ mercurial temperament with such panache!

My thanks to Paradigm Press, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

But He’s My Grumpy Neighbor + Giveaway

It’s not stalking if he’s your hot neighbor… right?

At least, that’s what I tell myself when Adrian Carter moves in next door.

His scowl should make me want to run in the other direction, but when I catch him smothering a smile around me, it makes me want to get to know him more.

And when Adrian starts to open up, I find myself falling in love with the cinnamon roll center hidden beneath his gruff exterior.

But between my emotional baggage and his aversion to relationships, it’s looking like we’ll never be more than neighborly.

But He’s My Grumpy Neighbor is a cozy grumpy/sunshine romcom for lovers of small-town romantic comedies. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any explicit scenes. Check out the first book of the But He’s A Carter Brother Series, a series based around four strong, protective brothers finding love.

My Review:

I’m a tad shy of giddy over this ‘new-to-me author’ discovery. I’ve been hearing ‘Annah Conwell this, and Annah Conwell that’ all over book tube and Bookstagram lately and I finally decided to see what all the fuss was about. And, oh my, now I understand!!!!

5 bazillion stars into infinity AND, be still my heart(!) because this is the first book in the Carter Brothers series and having met Adrian’s brothers I absolutely need more!!!!!!

And I do so love a good grumpy/sunshine trope and this one is fantastically wonderful! Adrian is all ‘nothing to see here, move along now I have no intention of being neighbourly…ever’ and Juliette is an over the top best neighbour ever (if you’re in the mood to have the bubbly, cheerful, klutzy kind living next door.) Adrian isn’t…at least that’s what he thinks. Priceless!!!!!! And so much FUN!!!

The small town setting with the majority of it’s population at 60+ adds to the humour (and explains why Juliette is so over the moon excited to have a new neighbour moving in next door who is most decidedly under 60!)

Clear off your fainting couch and practise your swoon dives because this deliciously slow-burn romance captures all the feels. Toe curling kisses included. Humour and angst blend perfectly to create a fulfilling read. And while this is a rom/com, the author brings added depth to the story by touching on a few more serious topics – issues our hero and heroine need to work through before they can reach their happily ever after. It never gets too heavy, Conwell approaches sensitive material with grace and hope…and yes, even humour. Just makes the story that much more emotionally satisfying.

And did I mention the Carter brothers? Some of the best scenes in the book include brotherly banter and camaraderie. I’m left with a real sense of who these guys are, each one with their own hint of mystery that makes me desperate to read their stories sooner than later.

An emotional romance that sizzles and sparks — without the spice. Sweet perfection!

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Leanne Woodward and Evan Sibley. They did a fantastic job bringing Adrian and Juliette (and all the characters) to life. A great narrator/author match which I really appreciate. Love when the narration enhances an already amazing story to new levels and that was definitely the case here.

My thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the But He’s My Grumpy Neighbor, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 3 2024.

Summer Ever After

Falling in love is easy. Finding the right guy to spend happily ever after with… that’s the hard part.

But I have a foolproof plan. I’m taking the tropes that work in romance books and applying them to my love life.

Only one bed? Never fails.

Caring for someone when they’re sick? A classic.

“Who did this to you?” Seals the deal every single time.

So long, loneliness. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

But the more I try to force romance, the more feelings naturally progress with the one man who’s off limits: Walker Collins, the guy I’ve had a secret crush on since 7th grade, not to mention my best friend’s older brother.

Dating Walker crosses BFF lines I swore I’d never cross. Plus, he hates Sunset Harbor, and his pro golf career will take him off the island as fast as he came, sending me back to the land of singlehood, loneliness, and broken hearts.

At the end of the day, I don’t want to be the fool in my foolproof plan.

My Review:

Bwahahahaha! Just….insert lots of snort laughing. And what a brilliant concept for a rom/com — featuring every trope imaginable (and a few micro-tropes I’d never thought of!) in a desperate bid to find a happily ever after with somebody somehow and most definitely by the end of the summer. Oh Jane!

Think a series of worst first dates only themed. So many laugh-out-loud scenes as Jane tries to force sparks upon the unsuspecting single men of Sunset Harbor. Only, of course, those dreamy romantic tropes that play out so wonderfully in fiction don’t quite translate the same way in real life.

Unless it happens to be with the only man not on her list — Walker Collins. And the way that Keisel works Walker into the chaos that is Jane’s summer campaign is so well done! And oh my! The man is flirty and outrageous and knows how to rile Jane up without even trying. 🙂

And while ‘Summer Ever After’ is a lighthearted rom/com, it also has some deeper emotional layers that make the read even more satisfying. Oh — and that ending? — Wowza — silver screen worthy and toe-curling good!

I listened to the audio edition brilliantly narrated by Amanda Friday and Andy Harrington. They delivered the teasing banter to perfection and really captured the charm and eccentricities of these characters — especially Jane’s Pollyanna-on-steroids persona. Such an easy and captivating listen. Highly recommend.

My thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

You Make it Feel Like Christmas + Giveaway

Merry Christmas in July Retro Read!
What better way to beat the heat?!

Starr Lewis reluctantly returns home for the holidays jobless, single, and not at all prepared to be dragged into her sister’s wedding activities–or to witness her sister’s marriage to Starr’s ex-boyfriend on Christmas Eve. But when her brother’s charming best friend, Waylon Emmerson, attends their family Thanksgiving, Starr begins to believe that maybe coming home isn’t so bad.

As Starr endures wedding preparations, she takes comfort in Waylon’s presence and finds the perfect distraction in helping him keep his late mother’s Christmas shop afloat. As the spark between them grows, Starr must decide what she wants out of life–to go back to New York City or to stay and pursue a new dream.

My Review:

published in 2023

The perfect holiday read! The kind you can devour in one sitting but the story still packs an emotional punch and leaves a reader aglow with the warmth of a yuletide happily ever after. Plus it’s fun and flirty, with enough swoonable moments to keep a romantic like me more than content. My heart’s still humming and I can’t wipe the silly grin off my face. 🙂

And there’s a wonderful faith thread about the importance of prayer. Both Starr and Waylon are wrestling with some major life changes and I really appreciate the raw honesty the author brings to their dilemmas. They are both Christians and invoke the power of prayer in their lives but that doesn’t always mean decisions are easy, or that they even feel divinely guided all the time. Sooooo relatable. And refreshing to read about.

The Lewis family is…interesting. Five siblings, a Christmas obsessed mama (she gave all her children Christmas names, after all) and a kind, but somewhat distant father. Interesting dynamics within the family as well, which strikes a realistic chord. And I’m looking forward to getting to know more about these characters…and their happily-ever-afters…in future books.

While I did have a paperback copy of ‘You Make It Feel Like Christmas’ on hand, I couldn’t resist diving into the audible edition because of it’s wonderful narration. Jasmin Walker’s portrayal of these characters is pitch perfect and made me enjoy the story all the more.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of You Make It Feel Like Christmas , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 27 2024.

Sycamore Circle

There’s a lot going on in Joy Howard’s life. She’s got an ex-husband who starts acting like he doesn’t want to be an ex anymore, a sixteen-year-old daughter in need of a guiding hand and a lot of rides to dance practice, more orders for paintings than she has time to paint, and a roster of tutoring clients who sometimes need far more than she can give.

What she doesn’t have is time for a new relationship.

Samuel Bo Beauman is a lot of things. He’s a counselor for transitioning ex-cons, a good friend to many, a construction worker, a brother and son, and even a part-time model for a high-end sportswear catalog. He’s also a man searching for redemption.

One thing he isn’t is a man in need of a girlfriend.

But none of that seems to matter when Bo hears Joy’s kind voice in a crowded coffee shop. He instantly knows she’s someone he wants to know better. The two of them hit it off–much to the dismay of practically everyone they know–but Bo doesn’t care what other people think. He feels at peace whenever he’s with Joy, and he won’t let her go without a fight.

When Joy starts getting mysterious texts and phone calls from unknown numbers, she tries to ignore it. But instead of going away, the messages escalate and Joy realizes she can’t handle it alone. But she is juggling a jealous ex-husband, a handful of students with little to lose, and a brand-new boyfriend who spent several years behind bars. Who can she trust?

My Review:

I’m not sure how I feel about the series (Rumors n Ross County.) It’s definitely not the sweet romance I’ve come to expect from Shelley Shepard Gray. It’s like a whole different genre. Still great storytelling, but edgier and the books feel more like general market fiction. I definitely feel that the first book, Edgewater Road, had way more questionable content than this one did. Sycamore Circle is very much ‘toned down’ and I appreciate that but…

Bo is all alpha male with a side of Southern charm that both compliments and contradicts. An ex-con who serves other ex-cons by helping them acclimate to life on the outside. He’s definitely rough around the edges and there were a couple of scenes that made me uncomfortable. Plus there’s a bit of crude language which is par for the course, given the men and their backgrounds, I guess.

Joy is his exact opposite. A straight-laced, by-the-books single mom (with a sixteen year old daughter) who is the older woman who steals Bo’s heart. We’re not told how much older she is — she’s thirty-six. It felt like a lot of their relationship was based on physical attraction and, Bo in particular, was pretty forward in his pursuit of the, understandably, more hesitant Joy which sometimes crossed barriers for me as he relentlessly (albeit politely) pursued her. He never crossed any lines, but sometimes it just felt off for me.

Aside from their romance, there’s a bit of a stalker suspense thread featuring Joy as the victim. There’s also drama with her ex-husband — so lots for Bo to get all alpha male protective over and I enjoyed the rising tension that hits midway through the story until the frantic climax.

There’s also a secondary plot featuring Joy’s daughter and an Amish boy who is thinking about leaving his community which added an interesting twist to the overall story.

There was one major subplot that remained unresolved by the end of the book — not sure if it will be picked up in book three, but it doesn’t seem likely since the epilogue for Sycamore Circle is set a year later and the unresolved issues were time sensitive and would have played out by then so….I’m left with way too many questions, like why that thread was added to the story towards the very end and then just fizzled out?

For all my misgivings, I did find Sycamore Circle a compelling read. I never considered putting it down, but it did leave me feeling a bit unsettled after I finished. And, having said that, I am intrigued enough by another ex-con character who is also ex-Amish that I am really hoping there’s a third Rumors in Ross County and it will feature Seth’s story.

Matters of the Heart + Giveaway

He’s the community’s jokester auctioneer. She’s the serious caregiver for her siblings who also works at the local plant nursery. What future could they have together?

Declan Miller has always had feelings for Bethel King. Back when they were in school, she was the smartest girl in the class and, in his opinion, by far the prettiest. Now the two of them are in their twenties and while the attraction is still there, Declan is as hesitant as ever to let Bethel know how he feels. His corny jokes and wisecracks cover a heart that’s afraid of rejection.

Bethel can’t deny Declan is nice, funny, hardworking, and pleasing to the eye–a perfect match if you asked any Plain girl in the area. But marrying Bethel would also mean marrying into her family. Two of her younger brothers have a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and her sister Claire is now showing signs of having it as well. Fiercely loyal and nurturing, Bethel has promised herself her siblings will always come first. With a good chance that she carries the gene and could pass it on to her children, Bethel has tried to convince herself marriage and family just aren’t in the cards for her.

When a devastating diagnosis of his own turns Declan’s world upside down, he looks to Bethel for understanding, compassion, and a realistic outlook. As they share their dreams and fears and grow together in faith, a bond begins to develop between them. Perhaps their combination of optimistic extrovert and thoughtful introvert really isn’t such a bad thing–perhaps it’s actually a part of God’s beautiful design.

My Review:

I love finding a unique approach to an Amish novel and this one is phenomenal! So much heart and angst and real life (and faith) struggles for both Bethel and Declan which kept me riveted.

Kelly Irvin gently explores hereditary conditions specific to the Amish with compassion and understanding. Bethel’s family carries a gene that can result in a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Three out of her six siblings are living with the condition and Bethel is dedicated to supporting their every need. She’s so wrapped up with daily logistics and worrying that she’s letting the chance at her own future pass her by.

She is, in fact, resigned to the fact that her life’s role is to be the carer for her siblings. Notice I said ‘the’ not ‘a’ because Bethel has fallen into the trap of thinking she’s the only one who can. She harbours a kind of false pride out of her need to be there for her family. She hasn’t forgotten that the Amish are all about community and sharing life’s difficulties, she just thinks that isn’t needed as long as she can do it all. And isn’t that so relatable no matter what kind of community we live in?!

By contrast, fun loving Declan seems to have it all. A family run business he loves and the freedom from responsibility that Bethel can only dream of. These two are exact opposites. He’s the extrovert to her introvert. The jokester to her serious demeanour. And yet, there’s every indication that there could be so much more if only Bethel could let go of some of her responsibilities and a whole lot of her worries.

But then Declan faces a health challenge of his own and — whoa — this story, their romance, spun in a completely different direction. Heartbreaking and tender but ultimately hopeful though there’s a lot of overcoming to be done before the last page. I appreciate the way the author portrayed their unique challenges through their faith journey. She explores the age old question of why God allows suffering as Bethel and Declan wrestle with untenable circumstances.

A beautifully crafted story that shines grace into the darkest corners of our lives.

I enjoyed listening to the audio book narrated by Lauren Berst. She did a wonderful job with these characters — especially Declan with his evolving situation. Her performance helped me feel my way through the story, rather than just listen to it.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

ebook copy available to anyone with a US Kindle account (.com)

Canadians will have a choice of receiving an Amazon.ca gift card towards the purchase of an ebook OR an audible copy. Winner’s Choice.

If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of Finding You, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 20 2024.