Review: Who I Am with You by Robin Lee Hatcher

Title: Who I Am with You by Robin Lee Hatcher
Legacy of Faith Series Book One
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 319 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

For these two broken hearts, the first step toward love will be a huge leap of faith.

Jessica Mason isn’t looking for love when she meets Ridley Chesterfield. Instead she is still reeling from the tragic, unexpected loss of her husband and daughter—and awaiting the arrival of her unborn child. Harboring the secret of her husband’s betrayal, her pain is deeper than anyone knows.

Ridley Chesterfield is hiding out in Hope Springs, Idaho, avoiding a political scandal and the barrage of false media headlines that have tarnished his good name. The last thing Ridley wants is a relationship—but when fate leads Ridley to form a friendship with his reclusive and pregnant neighbor, he wonders if this small-town hideout might be more of a long-term destination.

When Jessica begins to read her great-grandfather’s Bible, she finds a connection with a man she never knew. Somehow the verses he marked and the words he wrote in the margins open her heart to healing. And as Ridley and Jessica help each other forgive the people who have wronged them, they must decide if the past will define them or if they will choose to love again.

Who I Am With You weaves together a modern-day romance with Jessica’s great-grandfather’s story from the 1930s, reminding us that some truths can cross generations and that faith has the power to transform families forever.

Review:

The first novel in the Legacy of Faith series, Who I Am with You by Robin Lee Hatcher is a heartfelt and deeply affecting Christian romance.

Jessica Mason is withdrawn and grieving the deaths of her husband, Joe and their six year old daughter, Angela. She is also pregnant with her second child and while happy with the impending birth, she is a little leery of becoming a single mother. Although it has been several months since her tragic loss, Jessica is still attempting to come to terms with Joe’s shocking revelations just before his death.  While she has not lost her faith, Jessica has stopped going to church as she tries to make sense of the death of her beloved daughter and her husband’s betrayal.  She is close to her mother and after her mom gifts her with her great-grandfather Andrew Henning’s bible, will Jessica open her heart to God’s healing?

Ridley Chesterfield needs time out of the public eye after he is blamed for leaking sensitive information about the candidate he works for. His parents vacation home in Hope Springs, ID is the perfect place for him to decide his future while performing some odd jobs around the house. After meeting Jessica, Ridley finds himself drawn to her but he also realizes she still needs to mourn her loss. Their tender friendship gradually gives way to love, but are either of them ready for a relationship?

Interspersed with Jessica’s and Ridley’s lives in the present are passages which detail Andrew Henning’s marriage to Helen Greyson. Their married life is just beginning just as the Great Depression begins and their plans for the future are forever altered when Andrew loses his job.  Forced to move in with Helen’s parents, the couple suffer setbacks and hardships over the next few years. Andrew relies heavily on his faith to get him through many difficulties and although their lives take a completely direction than they envisioned, God’s hand always guides them on their path.

Robin Lee Hatcher’s Legacy of Faith series is off to a marvelous beginning with this thought-provoking and uplifting romance. Featuring dual storylines, a gentle undercurrent of faith and the healing power of love, Who I Am with You is a captivating novel of forgiveness and new beginnings. Ridley and Jessica are well-rounded characters whose struggles will resonate with readers. Andrew’s strong faith and relationship with God are inspiring as he and Helen face many difficulties as they build their life together. I truly enjoyed and highly recommend this wonderful novel to fans of the genre.