Love in the Storm by Mandi Blake Review

 Happy Wednesday Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you've taken the time to drop on by The Preppy Book Princess today for another book review.

There's nothing quite as lovely as getting to start out your reading year by diving into a new story by one of your all time favorite authors.

No matter how many times I get to advance read novels by my favorite authors, it still makes me as excited as it did back when I first started book blogging.

While I may have had some ups and downs with my book blogging experience (especially in 2023), I'm truly blessed to get to do what I do, and get to use my little corner of the internet to primarily talk about the books that honor our Lord and Savior.

I'm excited to be starting a brand new series by Mandi Blake, and today I can't wait to tell you guys all about it.

Love in the Storm by Mandi Blake:

Source: Complimentary Copy Provided by the Author in Exchange for an Honest Review

Publication Date: January 17th, 2024

Genre: Christian Fiction/Small Town Romance

Series: Love in Blackwater

Synopsis:

It’s his duty to protect others, but what if he can’t protect his heart?

Lyric has been sober for years now, but nothing about picking herself up from rock bottom has been easy. She’s behind on bills and on the verge of getting evicted. When a snowstorm sneaks up, Lyric gets stranded along with handsome Asa Scott—the same police officer who once arrested her.

Asa isn’t complaining about being stranded with the beautiful Lyric. The kind woman tending his wounds after a wreck in the storm is the first to make him think he could move on after his wife’s death. But he doesn’t recall arresting her ten years ago, and finding out the truth makes him question everything he thought he knew about her.

When Lyric needs his help after they’re rescued, Asa treads carefully. Helping her is fine—letting her into his life and trusting her near his son is another story.

Despite his fears, Asa can’t fight the way he feels about the resilient woman who helped him. But when it looks like Lyric has fallen back into her old ways, will Asa trust the evidence or believe the woman he’s falling for and fight to clear her name?

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

I'm guilty of pretty much stating that every single Mandi Blake book is my favorite by her, but this time I really mean it! I've been looking forward to getting to read Asa's story for what feels like forever, and I couldn't wait to meet the gal that was finally going to capture his heart. I can honestly say that this book was everything I could have ever wanted and then some, and I'm still thinking about it this many days later.

I read a lot of Christian fiction titles, and I continue to love the fact that Mandi Blake chooses to write Christian fiction about "real" characters. Her stories are never about perfect people living perfect lives, but instead are always an amazing illustration of how God never promises us a life of ease, but rather He promises to be with us during the storms. In this case, we follow Asa and Lyric, who seem at first glance to be completely opposite, and not a very likely pairing. He's a devoted police officer, she's a former addict whose past is colored by bad choices including being arrested by Asa himself. When the two end up spontaneously stranded in a cabin waiting out a storm, sparks begin to fly and soon their friendship is blossoming into something much more. However, can they truly trust that God's got the perfect plan, when it seems like so many circumstances are working against them?

With a swoon worthy romance that gives the reader all the feels, two adorable main protagonists that are definitely now one of my new favorite fictional couples, and a wonderful faith based plot that highlights what it truly means to be made new in Christ, Love in the Storm is the absolute perfect Christian romance to start off your New Year with.

I truly adored this one right from the start, and I loved that it speaks truth to those going through hard times that Jesus is never more than a prayer away. I loved the secondary characters, especially Asa's mother Betty, and his son Jacob. They both added another heartwarming element to an already wonderful story, and watching their little family welcome Lyric with open arms was probably one of my favorite parts of the story.

Of course, I can always count on getting to see glimpses of former characters from Mandi's books when I pick up a new title, and I always enjoy that she includes this fun element.

All in all, although it's only the second week in January, I have a feeling this is still going to end up being one of the best books I read this year!

Final Rating: 5/5.

I highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys faith based romances.

Thanks so much to Mandi Blake for allowing me to read and review this title!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)