Category Archives: Legacy of Faith Series

July 12, 2020 · 11:57 pm

Review: How Sweet It Is by Robin Lee Hatcher

Title: How Sweet It Is by Robin Lee Hatcher
Legacy of Faith Series Book Three
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

He lost his brother. She lost her dream. Together, they might find what they’re really looking for.

Holly Stanford is doing the best she can with the restaurant she inherited from her late uncle. But after her fiancé abandons her and the business, Holly regrets having given up her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Now a few bad financial decisions might cost her everything, including her hope for the future.

Jed Henning has done well with his new company despite his prodigal brother’s behavior. When Jed‘s father, the controlling member of the board of directors, temporarily suspends operations until his sons work out their differences, Jed resentfully chases his brother, Chris, to Boise. There Jed rents a basement apartment from Holly and hopes to convince Chris to get his act together before their company collapses.

Unaware that Holly is the one person who can help him get through to Chris, Jed starts the tough work of reconciliation armed with little more than a few family photographs, a stack of old letters, and a Bible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. And as romance blossoms between Holly and Jed, the story of Jed’s great-grandfather highlights the power of God across the generations and the legacy of a family’s courageous faith.

Review:

How Sweet It Is by Robin Lee Hatcher is a heartwarming novel of love, healing and faith. Although this latest release is the third novel in the Legacy of Faith series, it can be read as a standalone. However I recommend the previous two novels for important back story.

Jed Henning  is fuming over his brother Chris’s disappearance. Jed is the owner of a gaming company but Chris is the man who creates the games. With their father pressuring him to bring Chris home, Jed discovers his brother is currently in Boise, ID. The Henning family used to live in the area and many members of Jed’s extended family still reside close by. During a visit with his cousin Ben,  Jed is surprised when Ben passes their  great-great grandfather Andrew’s Bible to him.  While going through old family letters and photos, he finds the address of his great-great grandparents first apartment in Boise.  Jed is delighted the house is still there and after meeting the current owner, Holly Stanford, he  rents the basement apartment. Will Jed find a reason to stay in Boise when he is unexpectedly drawn to his temporary landlady?

A year after her engagement ended, Holly is still struggling with trust issues. She is also exhausted as she tries to keep the restaurant her ex-fiancé talked her into opening afloat. Although the business is continuing to grow, she is finding hiring and keeping staff while running the business exhausting. Holly is also frustrated that does not have time to devote to her true love: baking.  Despite her lack of time, she teaches women from a local shelter to cook. And Holly also makes attending church a priority.

While reading through Andrew’s bible, Jed realizes that more than his relationship with Chris has suffered since opening his business. Working long hours, Jed does not make time for church or studying scripture. He enjoys getting to know his great-great grandfather through the notes he writes by Bible passages. But more importantly, Jed recommits to his faith and attends church with Ben.

In between reconnecting to his faith and family, Jed continues reaching out to Chris, but his brother remains elusive. He also gets to know Holly better and the more time they spend together, Jed is surprised by how comfortable he is with her.  Holly enjoys Jed’s company, but she is skittish and afraid to trust her own judgment. As they begin to fall for one another, will Holly be able to leave her doubts behind and take a chance on love?

With a gentle undercurrent of faith, How Sweet It Is is a hopeful journey of self discovery, family and love.  Jed and Holly are wonderfully drawn characters whose struggles are realistically depicted.  Their romance blossoms quickly but their feelings for one another ring true.  Flashbacks to Andrew and his wife Helen take place in the late-sixties and detail their poignant stage in their life’s journey. Old and new fans of  Robin Lee Hatcher’s Legacy of Faith series  are sure to enjoy this final installment of this superb series.

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Filed under Christian, Contemporary, How Sweet It Is, Legacy of Faith Series, Rated B, Review, Robin Lee Hatcher, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing

June 26, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher

Title: Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher
A Legacy of Faith Series Book Two
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

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.

Review:

Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher is an endearing Christian romance. This second installment in the Legacy of Faith series can easily be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend book one, Who I Am with You, as well.

Ben Hennings is a recovering alcoholic whose experiences with equine therapy have inspired him to turn his great-great-grandfather’s farm into a non-profit equine therapy center. He is relying on donations and leases to provide the horses he needs to open Harmony Barn and he is happily surprised by how many people are eager to help him. Ben’s deep faith sustains him as he maintains his sobriety and works to bring his dream to fruition.  He is quite close to his grandpa Grant, but Ben’s relationship with his mother Wendy is strained.  He continues to work through the steps in his recovery but his efforts to make amends to his childhood friend, Craig Foster, are rebuffed time and again.  After meeting Ashley Showalter, Ben enjoys their quiet friendship, but will he be able to resist his growing feelings for her?

Ashley has turned her small farm into a horse rescue but she cannot rehabilitate as many horses as she would like. She works full-time at a local store but she is hopeful she will one day be able to expand her horse rescue. Ashley is thrilled to donate two of her rehabilitated horses to Ben and she is surprised by how much she enjoys spending time with him. She is close to her mom but their reactions to her brother, Dylan’s addiction problems, are completely opposite. Ashley considers tough love to be the best approach, but her mom continues to enable him. Due to her experiences with Dylan and her former boyfriend, Ashley distances herself from romantic entanglements. But when she realizes she is beginning to fall for Ben, will Ashley take a chance on love?

Chapters from Ben’s great-great-grandfather Andrew Hennings are sprinkled amongst present day events.  Andrew and his wife Helen have survived the Great Depression, but now their lives are threatened by the looming threat of Hitler and World War II. Andrew’s faith never wavers as his oldest son Ben joins The United States Army Air Forces as a combat pilot.  His comments and observations on various passages of scripture are powerful messages to Ben who is now in possession of Andrew’s bible.

With an exquisite undercurrent of faith, a realistic storyline and genuine characters,  Cross My Heart is a marvelous Christian romance. Ashley’s reaction when she learns about Ben’s alcoholism is understandable and she finds unexpected comfort through her growing relationship with God. Ben is an incredibly likable character whose deep faith sustains him on his life’s journey.  Andrew’s story continues to reverberate throughout the generations as his Bible makes its way to his descendants who need it most.  Robin Lee Hatcher easily engages readers with her realistic storylines and thought-provoking incorporation of Scripture into everyday life. This latest addition to the  Legacy of Faith series is a wonderful story of grace, love and redemption. Highly recommend to fans of Christian fiction.

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Filed under Christian, Contemporary, Cross My Heart, Legacy of Faith Series, Rated B+, Review, Robin Lee Hatcher, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing

December 9, 2018 · 11:57 pm

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.

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Filed under Christian, Contemporary, Legacy of Faith Series, Rated B+, Review, Robin Lee Hatcher, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing, Who I Am with You