"You'll Think of Me" by Robin Lee Hatcher

Robin Lee Hatcher's latest novel, You'll Think of Me, is another charming small-town romance.

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Her mother abandoned her, her father disowned her, and her husband left her. Can Brooklyn be convinced that it is possible to forgive the greatest of betrayals?

Brooklyn Myers escaped her broken home and her embittered, unloving father by eloping to Reno at the age of 17. But when she was pregnant with their first child, her husband abandoned her as well. Not welcome back home in Thunder Creek, Brooklyn stayed in Reno and raised her daughter Alycia on her own, doing her best to make sure Alycia never knew the heartache and rejection Brooklyn herself had known.

When her estranged husband Chad Hallston dies, he leaves the family home in Thunder Creek to his daughter. Believing it is the best way to give her daughter a stable home, Brooklyn does what she thought she would never do. She goes home to the orchard and wine country of Southwest Idaho. There, she encounters Chad’s best friend, Derek Johnson, a part time sheriff's deputy who also owns an organic produce farm next door. Derek was never a fan of former bad girl Brooklyn Myers, but he made a promise to his dying friend that he would be the father to Alycia that Chad had never been.

Although Derek and Brooklyn get off to a bumpy start, he and Alycia quickly form a bond. And soon, Derek realizes that he wants Brooklyn to trust him too . . .  even knowing that her trust won’t come easily. And then he realizes he wants even more than her trust. He wants to win her love.

While Brooklyn may be tempted to give her heart to Derek, risking her daughter’s happiness is another story. Will Brooklyn hold onto her self-reliance for dear life, or will she come to understand that the greatest gift she can give her daughter is showing her how to love and trust others?

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I love how Robin Lee Hatcher weaves sweet small-town romances. Though this is set in a different small Idaho town than her Kings Meadow series, it has the same feel as those books—sweet, romantic, and satisfying. Hatcher deftly deals with serious issues like parental abandonment and abuse, and these topics add to the richness of the story. However, these issues mostly stay in the background, as the majority of the novel is about Brooklyn and Derek learning to trust each other and falling in love.

I really enjoyed the characters, especially Brooklyn's daughter Alycia and Derek's grandmother Ruth. Alycia's relationship with Derek was especially sweet—it was very touching to watch the fatherless girl blossom under Derek's attention.

I finished the book earlier today, and as I read the epilogue, I was surprised to find myself crying. It's such a touching end to the novel and really brings Brooklyn's story full circle. While I enjoyed the whole novel, the story didn't touch me emotionally until the end, and then it packed a punch!

You'll Think of Me is a sweet romance that delves into deeper topics without becoming depressing. While it's not a "can't put it down" kind of read, it is exceedingly pleasant. I hope Hatcher returns to Thunder Creek, as I'd love to check in on the characters again! 4 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Hatcher's Kings Meadow books A Promise Kept (5 stars--not "officially" a Kings Meadow novel, but set there), Love Without End (4-1/2 stars), I Hope You Dance (3-1/2 stars), and Whenever You Come Around (4-1/2 stars); Beloved (4-1/2 stars); and The Heart's Pursuit (4 stars).

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Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heart-warming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, two RT Career Achievement Awards, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over sixty novels.

Connect with Robin: website, Twitter, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."