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This is the first book in a series set in the small town of Oak Hill. The book is a wonderful stand-alone romance, but I found some of the other town residents charming and hope their stories will be following in coming months. The focus here is on Cara Martin, world-class chef and her estranged husband, Sam, who was a famous surgeon, but now is the resident family doctor for Oak Hill. Cara experiences a harrowing event that has her in need of a safe haven. Her best friend calls Sam and he opens his heart and his home for Cara. Cara doesn’t know what to think about this. She needs the safety of the small town and his home, but has Sam really changed? I don't generally like stories of estranged husbands and wives reconnecting, especially when the break was due to unfaithfulness. This book, however, had me captured from the word go. Both Cara and Sam had shattering events in their lives that have affected them tremendously. Trying to deal with those events fractured, and now may finally shatter their marriage. It was so very beautiful to see how hard Sam was willing to work and stretch outside his comfort zone to try to repair the damage that his actions had caused with their marriage. We were allowed to see inside his mind to the confusion, feelings of discouragement and inadequacy and deep love that he still had for Cara. We were also able to see Cara's love, and we could understand why she was frightened to trust the changes she seemed to see in Sam, based on all the past pain she had experienced.The frightening ordeal that sent her back into Sam's care added to her vulnerability. But she is no weak flower! We are allowed to see her strength of commitment in her past efforts at her marriage, and her commanding expertise at her career as chef. She is a character I would love to have as a friend, as is Sam. I really liked how Hannon weaved the Sunday sermons and remembered verses into the story. The way their message affected Cara and Sam felt natural and it was inspiring to see the clarity and comfort that God’s Word brought to the characters. The next two books in this series are already out. A Dream to Share tells the story of the Gazette owner, Abby, and Where Love Abides, a May 2008 release, has the hunky sheriff, Dale, as the focus. Reviewed by Crystal |
Heartland
Homecoming Book 1: From This Day Forward
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