Title: Make You Feel My Love by Robin Lee Hatcher
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Christian, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
One broken woman. One lost man. And the long-buried secrets tying them together.
After escaping an abusive relationship, Chelsea Spencer flees to Chickadee Creek—the town where her great aunt Rosemary owns a quaint little antique shop. There, Chelsea plans to help with the shop as her aunt heals from an accident—and perhaps find some healing of her own.
Liam Chandler was one film away from a leading role when his brother Jacob was stricken with cancer. After spending the last months of Jacob’s life with him in Boise, Liam heads to the vacation home he built outside of Chickadee Creek to get his life and his faith back on track.
While working to clean out a storage room in the antique shop, Chelsea finds an old violin. Aunt Rosemary says she may have the instrument, but they soon learn it is very valuable and once belonged to Cora Chandler, Liam’s great-great-grandmother.
Drawn together by the old violin and stories from the past, Chelsea and Liam begin to find answers for their present and the future God has in store for them.
Review:
Make You Feel My Love by Robin Lee Hatcher is a faith-based romance with dual timelines.
In the present, Chelsea Spencer recently relocated to Chickadee Creek to help her Great-Aunt Rosemary Townsend while she recuperates from a broken leg. She is also reorganizing Rosemary’s antique shop and preparing the store for re-opening. One of her discoveries while sorting through the treasures in the store is a beautiful violin which Chelsea is excited to learn to play. She is a perceptive young woman but Chelsea is very reluctant to talk about her past.
Liam Chandler is still grieving the death of his younger brother and he finds solace in his secluded cabin. He is also trying to understand his parents recent split and he is a little at odds with both of them. Liam is also at a crossroads professionally as he waits for God to guide him to a decision. He is quite introspective and has discovered putting his thoughts to paper is very beneficial. Liam is charmed by Chelsea and together they research his family’s history in Chickadee Creek.
Chelsea and Liam are grounded in their faith as they look to the future. Chelsea is a likable character but she is harder to get to know. Liam’s journal entries provide insight into his relationship with his brother and his parents. He is outgoing, friendly and more open to acting on his growing feelings. Chelsea’s newfound faith is extremely helpful as she attempts to overcome the emotional wounds from her past.
In 1895, Cora Anderson is the pampered daughter of a nouveau riche couple who expect her to make an advantageous marriage. She has no say in deciding her perspective groom and she is dreading the future that is planned for her. After her engagement, Cora clearly sees what her life will be like after the wedding. Taking her fate in her own hands, Cora leaves behind everything she knows and sets her own course. She eventually meets Preston Chandler who is also starting over as he claims his inheritance in Chickadee Creek.
Make You Feel My Love is beautiful novel that touches on difficult subject matter with sensitivity. Chickadee Creek is an idyllic setting with a welcoming atmosphere. The storyline is interesting and moves at a leisurely pace. The correlation between Chelsea and Cora’s lives are linked by an unexpected discovery in the present. The characters are well-drawn with realistic issues to overcome. With most of the threads neatly woven together, Robin Lee Hatcher brings this sweet novel to a heartwarming conclusion.
