Review: I'll Be Seeing You by Robin Lee Hatcher

Genre: Dual-Timeline
Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
Released: June 7, 2022
397 pages

About the Book:

Generations of secrets unfold as a young college student learns the truth about her great-grandmother’s World War II heartbreak and love. For fans of Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury.

Brianna Hastings’s life seems dull and full of disappointment until a handsome young man visits her church. She’s instantly smitten by the charming Greg, who leads an exciting, independent life—the kind of life she longs for. But when a college history assignment forces Brianna to interview her great-grandmother about life during World War II, she can’t believe it when Daisy presses her with questions about Greg’s character. “What sort of man is he? Who is he at his core?”

What could her great-grandmother possibly know about love at first sight?

The questions take both women back to Boise, Idaho, in the early 1940s, when war emphasized how fragile life could be. Daisy and her older sister pine for the same handsome bomber pilot—until one night of terrible judgment reveals their true characters and drives them apart. Trying to protect the people she loves the most, Daisy condemns herself to live a lie.

In the years that follow, as Daisy grapples with the consequences, she receives unexpected grace from a man she’s known her whole life but never looked at twice. Could what she learned about love save Brianna from heartache three generations later? 

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was so invested in these characters and the story that I did not want to put the book down and when I did, I kept thinking about it. It's is a dual-time set in the early 1940s and 2022. Main characters are Brianna and her great-grandmother, Daisy. Faith plays an integral role in the story. Brianna learns to follow God's leading, and Daisy comes to realize that there are no limits to God's forgiveness. I especially enjoyed following the historical timeline and seeing true love develop for Daisy. The characters felt human and raw. I was sucked in from the beginning and the ending wrapped everything up nicely.

Favourite Quote: 

“We must both know His Word and be attuned to His Spirit. Only then can we know what He's calling us to do.”

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other books from this author that I have reviewed:   

   

Like the Wind 

Who I Am With You - Legacy of Faith #1
You're Gonna Love Me  

Review: Like the Wind by Robin Lee Hatcher

Releases: November 29, 2022 

Genre: Dual-Timeline, Women's Fiction 
Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
Releases: Nov. 29, 2022
336 pages

About the Book:

A life in pieces. A hundred-year-old journal. And a chance for love to be reborn.

Olivia Ward arrived in Bethlehem Springs alone—with no job, no home, and no money—after her manipulative ex-husband used his power and wealth to destroy everything. Six years later, the peaceful life she rebuilt is once again turned upside down when she learns that her fifteen-year-old daughter, Emma, will be coming to live with her. The reunion should be a dream come true, but years of deception have driven a wedge between them. And Emma seems more interested in an old diary she discovered than reconciliation with her mother.

Tyler Murphy knows what it’s like to lose everything. Propelled by his history in the foster-care system, he’s determined to root out dishonesty and protect the most vulnerable through his work as an investigator. When he’s hired to investigate Olivia Ward, though, he finds himself longing to believe she’s exactly who she appears to be, and he soon realizes that his desire to learn more about her has nothing to do with his job. But how can he pursue a relationship that began with a lie?  

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Upon starting the story, it did not take me very long to feel for Olivia. She has been through so much hardship due to her ex-husband. He was able to use his wealth and power to keep her daughter, Emma, away from her out of spite. When her daughter, Emma, moves in with Olivia 6 years later they are basically strangers to each another. The tension between them felt real and relatable. The way their relationship developed over the course of time felt natural. We saw Emma transform from a bitter, mad teen to someone who found something they enjoy and make friends. We see Olivia learn to lean on God and open herself up to those around her. I liked the character of Tyler, he truly was a nice guy and was sensitive towards Olivia’s feelings. I do wish he would have shared his secret with Olivia much earlier than he did, but I understand why he held back.  I really enjoyed that the historical portion of the story was told completely through diary entries. These were interesting to read and I found myself learning more about what some experienced during the depression years. The diary writer did question God at times but also shared how they saw Him at work in their lives. I could easily understand how Emma was captivated by the diary entries. Her experiences are quite different from the writer, but she was experiencing some of the same feelings. This was a sweet family relationship story with a budding romance between Olivia and Tyler. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between mother and daughter improve. I found the faith message to be inspiring and overall I enjoyed spending time in this story. 

Favourite Quote: 

“She hadn't always understood God or what He was doing but she'd believe in Him and had trusted Him even when she was hurting.”

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other books from this author that I have reviewed:   

   

Who I Am With You - Legacy of Faith #1
You're Gonna Love Me 

Jane Reviews: Who I Am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher

Series: Legacy of Faith #1
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: Dec. 11, 2018
320 pages

About the Book: 

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.

Goodreads / Amazon / Christianbook

Robin Lee Hatcher's Website

My Rating & Thoughts:  🌟 🌟 🌟   (3 stars)   

While I liked the characters I struggled with various parts of the story. One being I could not figure out how the dual-timeline connected and I got frustrated with the jumping between the two. The connection does come out near the very end of the book, but by that point I was done trying to figure out the connection. The second thing that bothered me with this story was that Jessica seemed to deal with her struggles really quickly and easily, it did not feel realistic. I enjoyed the interaction between her and Ridley but the relationship felt like it moved too fast for me, considering what Jessica was dealing with.

I enjoyed Andrew Henning’s story the best. I liked how he faced his challenges head on and took his marriage vows seriously. The way that he was determined to stick with his wife and work through their difficulties was inspiring.

This story is about love and commitment, learning to forgive and moving forward. There is a lot of emotion in this story, dealing with the loss of people, loss of jobs and heartache. I enjoyed seeing the characters turn to God and lean on him rather than others. The friendships and commitment are what kept me reading, I really wanted to know what happened in Andrew’s marriage, were they able to work things out? I was pleased with the way his story wrapped and my questions were answered.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley.
Opinions expressed in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

First Line Friday - Week 32

Happy Friday!!!

Welcome to First Line Friday's hosted by Hoarding Books.

 

Today's book is: You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher

First line is:

"Samantha Winters parked her car in the Caldwell hospital parking lot. Before opening the door, she pressed her forehead against the steering wheel and drew in a couple of deep breaths."

Today we are celebrating the release of this book (came out Tuesday). I had the privledge of reading an advance reader copy (arc) and highly recommend this one. This was the first book I have read by Robin Lee Hatcher and I can tell you it will not be the last. My review can be found here.

Now it's your turn!

Let me know your first line in the comments and then head over
to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating!
 

You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Releases: Dec. 12, 2017
320 pages

About the Book:

Who knew fate could twist a tragedy into a second chance at love?

Samantha Winters lives her life the way a good accountant should—measured, deliberate, and safe. After watching her father die in a tragic skiing accident, she decided never to allow risk into her life again. But she didn’t count on falling for Nick Chastain, who embodies everything she doesn’t want in her safely constructed world.

Against Samantha’s warnings, Nick plans a dangerous kayaking trip over spring break. Furious that he’s so careless with his life, she ends their fledgling relationship with harsh words.

Two years later, Samantha is desperately in need of a change. When she learns her grandmother has had an accident and is in need of a caretaker, Samantha quickly packs her bags and heads to Thunder Creek, Idaho. But nothing could prepare her for the surprise awaiting her in her grandmother’s hospital room . . . Nick.

With the charming backdrop of small-town friends, beloved cousins, and a whole church congregation rooting for them, can they set aside the disastrous ending of their first try at love? Has Nick changed enough to meet Samantha in the middle—and can she realize that a risk in love might be worth taking?

 

Goodreads / Amazon / Christainbook 
Robin Lee Hatcher's Website

My Rating & Thoughts:    🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟   (4 stars)

“Life is full of chaos, no matter how hard you try to keep it in order.
You have to live it the best you can.”

This is the first book I’ve ever read by Ms. Hatcher and it will not be the last. I really enjoyed her writing style. I was easily immersed into the setting and quickly connected with the characters. The story focuses on second-chances, facing fears, finding happiness and contentment.

Sam comes to Thunder Creek to look after her grandmother as she recovers from a fall and unexpectedly runs into her ex-boyfriend who lives here now. Nick is a changed person from who he was 2 years ago, since coming to Thunder Creek he has begun to find peace and the fresh start he was looking for. But when Sam arrives in town he realizes how much more he wants, he fights his feelings of wanting to be with her or staying away because he doesn’t deserve her. Their previous relationship ended abruptly and neither was expecting to cross paths again, but now that they have they realize they still care for one another. Can they overcome what tore them apart in the first place?

I enjoyed the flashbacks to memories of their previous relationship, it allowed me to really understand the hurt, the fear and the attraction they once experienced and what brought them to where they are now and why they acting they way they were. With the influence of their friends and family, Nick & Sam learn to trust God. Nick once was self-centered but now God and others are his focus. The change in him may be obvious to readers, but can he get Sam to see he has changed, is it worth trying?

Each character had their own presence and personality; no two characters felt the same. I found myself easily connecting with Sam, as I could see myself in many of her feelings and actions. I enjoyed the secondary characters just as much as the two mains. There were just a couple things that irked me about the story, one was just when they had agreed to go slow they take a huge leap and second the epilogue story felt like it came out of nowhere.

This story will have you encouraging Sam to embrace change and to overcome her fears, along with cheering for Nick to embrace the second chance he has been given. I was left with my heart feeling happy. I look forward to reading more by Ms. Hatcher.

 “Not trying is worse than trying and failing.” 

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley;

opinions expressed in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

 

Other Books by Robin Lee Hatcher:

   

Goodreads / Amazon / Christianbook