Welcome! I've been a fan of this author for a long time and have been looking
forward to reading this one. Read my thoughts and enter the tour giveaway below...
forward to reading this one. Read my thoughts and enter the tour giveaway below...
(Legacy of Faith #2)
By Robin Lee Hatcher
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 320 Pages
June 25th 2019by Thomas Nelson
Summary
Can two broken paths lead toward God’s redemption?
When Ashley Showalter and Ben Henning meet on Ashley’s horse rescue farm, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Both were raised by single moms. Both want to help where they see a need. And both work with horses in the Boise valley. Ben needs Ashley’s help and expertise after starting an equine therapy barn on his great-great-grandfather’s farm—and the more time they spend together, both Ashley and Ben have the feeling that there could be something more between them.
They also carry the burden of past experiences that may drive them apart if the truth is ever revealed. Ben is a recovering alcoholic with five years of sobriety behind him, while Ashley’s brother is an opioid addict residing in court-ordered rehab. Holding fast to the belief that addicts can never be cured, Ashley has promised herself she will never walk knowingly into the chaos created by addiction. Ben knows that with God, all things are possible—but will Ashley find it within herself to give love a chance? Or will her brother’s mistakes and the pain of her past jeopardize her future with Ben?
Cross My Heart threads together a contemporary love story with the heartwarming tale of Ben’s great-great-grandfather, Andrew Henning—reminding us that God’s Word is timeless and that His promises are new every morning.
My Review
CROSS MY HEART is a story of past mistakes, struggles and hurts, and how those are met with faith in a loving God and the love of others. It's also about those who sacrifice and care for abused and neglected horses, and one man's dream to build an equine therapy barn. Weaved through is another story set during WWII of the hero's ancestors who lived on the same farm he has inherited. It's a gentle romance full of heart.
It took me a bit to get into this story. Not that it wasn't interesting or that I didn't like the characters, because I did. More that I didn't feel it completely engage me. It slips from present day back to 1939 to 1945 during WWII and I didn't always feel a connection between the two besides that they were family. I felt like that connection needed to be stronger. Maybe if it was from Ben's perspective who present-day Ben was named after or something? I'm not sure exactly what would have helped. I would start to get more into the present day story and then it would switch and vice versa. They needed to be more intertwined.
I really liked these characters! They were complex, with their own weaknesses and strengths, and their own emotions. Nothing felt over-dramatic or unrealistic. I really enjoyed the romance. It was slow, patient, and sweet. I also really enjoyed the horse rescuing and the equine therapy. I also didn't feel like the inspirational element was overdone. It was powerful in places and soft in others, but it always felt genuine and not forced. Towards the end of the book, the stories (both present and past) really tugged on my heart and even got me choked up a bit. Then that ending... it was perfect, with lots of sweetness and a little swooning.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I wanted to connect more with the first half of this story, but I did enjoy it. By the end, I loved the characters, the romance, and these two stories. Full of friendship, heartache, and love. Recommended to Christian romance fans.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.
Other Books in the Series
About the Author
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 75 novels and novellas with over five million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Robin is an ACFW Carol Award winner and an eight-time finalist and has won two RITA Awards and been a finalist eleven times. Her numerous other awards include the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. She is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. A mother and grandmother, Robin and her husband make their home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.
More from Robin
MY WRITING DESK
ROBIN LEE HATCHER
I have a wonderful home office with a large screen iMac and the perfect place to keep important papers and reminders right in front of me for easy access. There is also a bed for my dog, Boo, because no office is complete without a bed to welcome the dog. Right?
I also do a lot of writing while seated in a big easy chair in the living room. It all depends upon my mood and how many reference books I might need at the time.
My office usually looks neat when I begin a book. By the time I’m writing the end, the room has become a disaster—stacks of papers demanding my attention and a layer of dust are the most obvious issues.
My office also serves as my art studio (where I do decorative planning and Bible art journaling), so every inch that isn’t taken up by writing related items is filled with art related ones—paints, washi tape, stickers, pens galore, etc.
An early riser naturally, I consider sleeping in to be anything after 6 AM. On a normal writing day, I try to get in half an hour on the treadmill first thing in the morning (and often return to it for ten minutes segments a couple other times during the day). Then I sit at my desk or in my easy chair to do my Bible study. And finally I begin writing.
I can usually create new words for about four hours or so a day. The rest of the work day is filled with editing, revising, research, and correspondence with publisher, agent, readers, and other writers. I have an active online presence which needs attention daily, as well.
I am also a late-in-life part time college student, taking my classes online, so at least a couple of days a week, you’ll find me doing assignments and taking quizzes. For some reason, I rarely use my office for that. The kitchen table seems to suit me better. Probably because it is a large table and I can really spread out.
I feel very blessed to be able to work at home. I had a full time job when I wrote my first book. In fact, I wrote nine novels over the course of nine years while still working full time. The month my ninth book released, I quit my job in order to write full time. Seventy books and almost 28 years later, I’m still at it. As I said, I am blessed.
Tour Schedule
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 27
The Christian Fiction Girl, July 27
The Power of Words, July 27
Carla Johnson-Hicks, July 28
Christian Bookaholic , July 28
Through the Fire Blogs, July 29
A Baker’s Perspective, July 29
Back Porch Reads, July 30
Cultivating Us, July 30
Godly Book Reviews, July 31
For Him and My Family, July 31
God’s Little Bookworm, August 1
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 1
Daysong Reflections, August 2
EmpowerMoms, August 2
Southern Gal Loves to Read, August 2
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, August 3
Moments, August 3
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 4
Remembrancy, August 4
Pause for Tales , August 5
For The Love of Books, August 5
All-of-a-kind Mom, August 6
Hallie Reads, August 6
Living Life Free in Christ, August 7
To Everything A Season, August 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 7
Wishful Endings, August 8
Texas Book-aholic, August 8
janicesbookreviews, August 8
A Reader’s Brain, August 9
Inklings and notions, August 9
Simple Harvest Reads, August 9
Tour-Wide Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away a grand prize of a copy of her book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Have you read this one yet or the first book in this series? Will you be reading it?
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