Three women, each lost in her own way, are united by letters written more than 100 years prior in Victoria Bylin's When He Found Me.
Once a strong Christian, third baseman Shane Riley lost his faith the night he injured his knee in a freak car accident. Determined to return to professional baseball and to find the sister he treated badly, Shane retreats to Refuge, Wyoming. There he meets Melissa June “MJ” Townsend, a single mom battling the virus that causes cervical cancer.
MJ wants nothing to do with the handsome athlete—no doubt a womanizer considering the stories in the news. But when a mistake results in Shane renting her garage apartment, they become friends. That friendship blossoms into something deep and pure, leaving MJ with a painful secret to tell. Even more complicated, she discovers an unexpected tie to Shane’s missing sister—a wounded woman who wants nothing to do with the perfect brother who scorned her.
When I picked up When He Found Me, I thought I was going to be reading a light, fun, and possibly funny romance. (This is because I obviously paid more attention to the whimsical cover than to the book's description 🤣.) What I found, though, was a surprisingly deep and heartwarming story about love, forgiveness, and faith. It also made me do the ugly cry at one point, so there's that ...
The story is told in alternating points of view between MJ, Shane, MJ's mother Olivia, and Shane's sister Daisy. Each of these characters has a compelling story, though I must admit being partial to MJ's story. She's dealing with weighty issues, including HPV, a strained relationship with her mother, and single parenting. Throw in a burgeoning relationship with former baseball player Shane, and she has a lot to handle!
My favorite aspect of the novel revolved around letters MJ found in the house she inherited. Written to "Little Miss," they're letters from a father to his prodigal daughter. MJ, Olivia, and Daisy all read them, and they serve as a catalyst for change in each woman's life. Also, Little Miss's story is a great one in its own right.
When He Found Me deals with some serious issues, like STI's, abusive relationships, rape, and abortion. There are also some frank discussions about sex and desire. But everything is handled tastefully, and the novel comes from a clearly biblical perspective. I'd say it's not for young girls, but it's perfectly appropriate for women. I loved every second I spent reading When He Found Me, and I can't wait for the next book in Bylin's Road to Refuge series! 5 stars.
Buy the book. (It's free to read on Kindle Unlimited!)
Read my reviews of Bylin's Someone Like You (4-1/2 stars) and The Two of Us (4 stars).
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from JustRead Publicity Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. 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."
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