Happy Monday Guys!
I hope you all had an awesome weekend. :)
Neil and I had a really good weekend actually, and enjoyed getting to catch up around the house, spend some downtime reading and playing board games, and I was happy to have had some time to do some baking that I've been wanting to do for awhile.
I also was lucky enough to have found the spare time to finish one of the arcs that I currently have from Netgalley, and that is My Hope Next Door by Tammy L Gray.
I really loved how this novel portrayed an extrememly realistic look at the two main Christian characters, and since I can't wait to share all my feelings about it with all you guys, let's go ahead and get started with the review!
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Waterfall Press
Synopsis:
Former bad girl Katie Stone can feel the weight of her reputation settle over her as she drives home for the first time in years. Feeling deeply guilty about her past mistakes, Katie wants to do the right thing for once. But the small town where she grew up is not nearly as forgiving as she'd hoped. Despite it all, she's determined to help her parent's cope with her mother's recent illness, and Katie finds a surprise ally in the man next door.
Asher Powell never minded being the son of a small-town pastor until a recent breakup leaves him wounded by lifelong members of his church. He remembers his new neighbor as a mean-spirited high school troublemaker, but he senses that her newfound faith and desire for forgiveness are sincere.
Through an unexpected friendship, two people from different worlds find peace, hope, and a second chance they never dreamed was possible.
Review:
My initial thoughts after finishing this book was that it was a touching story that left me satisfied, but also that it really got me thinking about situations that a lot of other inspirational novels I've read haven't really touched on.
My Hope Next Door is a detailed look into the life of a new believer who needs to learn that she can't truly move into a future, until she finally faces the troubled past that she left behind so many years ago. Katie's determined to live by her new faith, but learns the hard way that having the "fight or flight" mentality about her past isn't leading her to the closure that she truly needs.
Her past has included a dysfunctional childhood that's left her on not so great terms with her family, an emotional abusive relationship that's left her unable to trust anyone, and substance abuse that's wrecked more havoc on her life than she can really truly bear.
Unexpectedly, Katie bonds with her new neighbor, Asher, the son of the small town's pastor, and feels an immediate connection with this fellow soul in need of rescuing. Asher's scars come from the hypocrisy and judgement he's forced to face by the church he's grown up in, and has left a man aching inside for forgiveness and acceptance.
I really loved how this novel was a truly realistic portrayal into faith and trusting God, and how Tammy L Gray didn't sugarcoat anything. Asher and Katie have both been dealt some pretty harsh life circumstances, but both also needed to realize that they played a part in it being done so.
As well, I thought the angle of forgiveness and repentance was handled beautifully, and I definitely related to Katie's feelings that she would never be good enough for Asher, as she felt that someone with her past couldn't possibly ever live up to his expectations of perfection.
Asher and Katie's story was a whirlwind from start to finish, but I really loved the growth the reader sees the characters go through, and also the relationship that develops between them that first starts out as a strong friendship.
I feel like I've been discovering so many great inspirational novels lately, and this one definitely did not disappoint.
I gave it four out of five stars, and I only wish the beginning hadn't lagged so much in my opinion. Overall, I loved this realistic, and encouraging tale of two people who need to learn what forgiveness truly is, and how to rely on God's help in order to receive it, and I definitely recommend this to anyone who's a fan of Karen Kingsbury, as the writing style really reminded me of hers.
Thanks so much for reading guys! I can't wait to be back soon with another post.
I was provided a copy of this novel from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are one hundred percent my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
I hope you all had an awesome weekend. :)
Neil and I had a really good weekend actually, and enjoyed getting to catch up around the house, spend some downtime reading and playing board games, and I was happy to have had some time to do some baking that I've been wanting to do for awhile.
I also was lucky enough to have found the spare time to finish one of the arcs that I currently have from Netgalley, and that is My Hope Next Door by Tammy L Gray.
I really loved how this novel portrayed an extrememly realistic look at the two main Christian characters, and since I can't wait to share all my feelings about it with all you guys, let's go ahead and get started with the review!
Publisher: Waterfall Press
Synopsis:
Former bad girl Katie Stone can feel the weight of her reputation settle over her as she drives home for the first time in years. Feeling deeply guilty about her past mistakes, Katie wants to do the right thing for once. But the small town where she grew up is not nearly as forgiving as she'd hoped. Despite it all, she's determined to help her parent's cope with her mother's recent illness, and Katie finds a surprise ally in the man next door.
Asher Powell never minded being the son of a small-town pastor until a recent breakup leaves him wounded by lifelong members of his church. He remembers his new neighbor as a mean-spirited high school troublemaker, but he senses that her newfound faith and desire for forgiveness are sincere.
Through an unexpected friendship, two people from different worlds find peace, hope, and a second chance they never dreamed was possible.
Review:
My initial thoughts after finishing this book was that it was a touching story that left me satisfied, but also that it really got me thinking about situations that a lot of other inspirational novels I've read haven't really touched on.
My Hope Next Door is a detailed look into the life of a new believer who needs to learn that she can't truly move into a future, until she finally faces the troubled past that she left behind so many years ago. Katie's determined to live by her new faith, but learns the hard way that having the "fight or flight" mentality about her past isn't leading her to the closure that she truly needs.
Her past has included a dysfunctional childhood that's left her on not so great terms with her family, an emotional abusive relationship that's left her unable to trust anyone, and substance abuse that's wrecked more havoc on her life than she can really truly bear.
Unexpectedly, Katie bonds with her new neighbor, Asher, the son of the small town's pastor, and feels an immediate connection with this fellow soul in need of rescuing. Asher's scars come from the hypocrisy and judgement he's forced to face by the church he's grown up in, and has left a man aching inside for forgiveness and acceptance.
I really loved how this novel was a truly realistic portrayal into faith and trusting God, and how Tammy L Gray didn't sugarcoat anything. Asher and Katie have both been dealt some pretty harsh life circumstances, but both also needed to realize that they played a part in it being done so.
As well, I thought the angle of forgiveness and repentance was handled beautifully, and I definitely related to Katie's feelings that she would never be good enough for Asher, as she felt that someone with her past couldn't possibly ever live up to his expectations of perfection.
Asher and Katie's story was a whirlwind from start to finish, but I really loved the growth the reader sees the characters go through, and also the relationship that develops between them that first starts out as a strong friendship.
I feel like I've been discovering so many great inspirational novels lately, and this one definitely did not disappoint.
I gave it four out of five stars, and I only wish the beginning hadn't lagged so much in my opinion. Overall, I loved this realistic, and encouraging tale of two people who need to learn what forgiveness truly is, and how to rely on God's help in order to receive it, and I definitely recommend this to anyone who's a fan of Karen Kingsbury, as the writing style really reminded me of hers.
Thanks so much for reading guys! I can't wait to be back soon with another post.
I was provided a copy of this novel from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are one hundred percent my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
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