"Restoring Love" by Jennifer Slattery

If you like to read books about people who seem like they could be your neighbors, the Restoring Love is the book for you!

"breaking free" by jennifer slattery

When her husband's alcohol and gambling addictions spiral out of control, one woman must decide if staying or leaving is best for her family.

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Sometimes it takes losing everything to grab hold of what really matters. Women's ministry leader and Seattle housewife Alice Goddard and her successful graphic-designer husband Trent appear to have it all together. Then their credit and debit cards are denied, launching Alice into an investigation that only leads to the discovery of secrets. Meanwhile, her husband is trapped in a downward spiral of lies, shame, and self-destruction. Can they break free from their deception and turn to the only One who can save them? And will it be in time to save their marriage? 

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Breaking Free is a gripping look at a marriage on the rocks. It's not easy to read—Trent is incredibly unlikable for 90% of the novel, and sometimes Alice isn't much better—but it provides what seems to be an accurate depiction of addiction. (I say "seems to be" because, only by the grace of God, I don't have first-hand knowledge of addiction. But what is portrayed on the pages of this novel certainly feels realistic.)

Breaking Free is written both from both Alice's and Trent's perspectives. I appreciated this because I found myself easily identifying with Alice (even though her actions were sometimes maddening), so a novel written solely from her perspective would have had me 100% in her camp, cheering for her to wash her hands of Trent. Viewing events from Trent's perspective allowed me to have a better understanding of his desperation, even when I wasn't sympathizing with him. I don't want to give anything away, but Trent's journey became much more compelling as the novel neared its conclusion.

I ached for Alice as she lost everything, and I rejoiced with her when she found the beginnings of a new life. I hated that she didn't feel able to share her struggles with anyone, though it wasn't surprising—so often we feel the need to put on a "perfect" Christian front, and that's the trap that Alice fell into. While I did think that things wrapped up a little too neatly at the end and didn't stay consistent with what we knew of Alice throughout the novel, overall, Breaking Free was a gripping, thought-provoking novel, dealing with weighty issues that are too often swept under the rug. 4 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Slattery's Intertwined (3 stars) and When Dawn Breaks (4 stars).

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Jennifer Slattery writes missional romance novels for New Hope Publishers. Her debut, Beyond I Do, released in August 2014. She also writes Christian Living articles for Crosswalk.com and devotions for her personal blog, JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud; Internet Cafe Devotions; and Takin' it to the Streets', a ministry serving Omaha Metro's working poor and homeless.

When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, hanging out at the mall with her teenage daughter, enjoying her real-life hero husband, or serving in her church or community.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate 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."

"intertwined" by jennifer slattery

Intertwined deals with a topic that I haven't much encountered in Christian fiction: two divorced leads dealing with custody issues. I think it's a welcome addition to the genre, as so many people face similar problems.

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Abandoned by her husband for another woman, Tammy Kuhn, an organ procurement coordinator often finds herself in tense and bitter moments. After an altercation with a doctor, she is fighting to keep her job and her sanity when one late night she encounters her old flame Nick. She walks right into his moment of facing an unthinkable tragedy. Because they both have learned to find eternal purposes in every event and encounter, it doesn’t take long to discover that their lives are intertwined but the ICU is no place for romance….or is it? Could this be where life begins again?

Intertwined, part of New Hope Publisher’s contemporary fiction line, is a great reminder of how God can turn our greatest tragedies and failures into beautiful acts of love and grace. Readers will fall in love with the realistic characters and enjoy the combination of depth, heart-felt emotion and humor that makes Jennifer’s novels so appealing. Readers will be inspired to find God in every moment and encounter in their own lives!

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I have conflicting feelings when it comes to Intertwined. First of all, I'm glad it was written, as I'm sure many women who read the book (or men, though this book is clearly geared toward women) will be able to identify with Tammy's feelings of abandonment and the bitterness that creeps in or with Nick's desperation to do what's best for his son despite an ex who is poisoning his son against him.

My favorite parts of the novel involved the mystery behind Nick's father and Tammy's search for childcare, which resolved in an unexpected (yet very realistic) way. Notice that I didn't mention the romance? That's because it's not really there. Much is said about Tammy's and Nick's feelings for one another, but no relationship materializes until very late in the book. Had they had undeniable chemistry, I think the wait would have been fine, but as it was, I cared much more about Tammy and Nick individually than I did about them as a couple.

That said, Intertwined is a good read, as long as you don't go into it with high romance expectations (which I had because of the cover). If you look at it as a story about two people trying to rebuild their lives after divorce and unthinkable tragedy who just happen to wind up together, it's a pretty good book. 3 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my review of Slattery's When Dawn Breaks (4 stars).

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Jennifer Slattery writes missional romance novels for New Hope Publishers. Her debut, Beyond I Do, released in August 2014. She also writes Christian Living articles for Crosswalk.com and devotions for her personal blog, JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud; Internet Cafe Devotions; and Takin' it to the Streets', a ministry serving Omaha Metro's working poor and homeless.

When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, hanging out at the mall with her teenage daughter, enjoying her real-life hero husband, or serving in her church or community.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the author and publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate 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."

"when dawn breaks" by jennifer slattery

A 50-something woman with a life of regrets finds new purpose when she's displaced by a hurricane.

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As the hurricane forces Jacqueline to evacuate, her need for purpose and restitution forces her to head north to her estranged and embittered daughter and into the arms of a handsome new friend. Dealing with his own issues, Jacqueline isn’t sure if he will be the one she can lean on during the difficult days ahead. And then there are the three orphans to consider, especially Gavin. Must she relinquish her chance at having love again in order to be restored?

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When Dawn Breaks turned out to be, well, nothing like I thought it would be ... and I mean that in the best way! If I had to choose one word to describe this book, it would be "real." Life isn't all sunshine, rainbows, and puppies for the characters in this novel, but their trials aren't over the top dramatic, either.

I liked many things about this novel. Jacqueline is a very sympathetic main character, and I cheered for her throughout the novel. She grows tremendously in her walk with Christ from the beginning of the novel to the end, and that transformation was fun to read about.

I also loved, loved, loved Gavin's journey. He was such a good kid who had some really hard things dealt to him. Slattery certainly didn't pull any punches when describing life in a group home—it made me want to become Gavin's foster mom!

I also really liked the fact that romance wasn't the be all and end all for these characters. Yes, I did enjoy the romance between Jacqueline and Jonathan, the handsome railroader, but her happiness and the trajectory of her life most certainly did not depend on whether or not Jonathan wanted to be with her. She was most concerned with following God's lead. I found that refreshing.

Of the three main characters (Jacqueline, Gavin, and Jonathan), I felt that Jonathan's story was the weakest ... possibly because I didn't quite understand his job. However, that minor criticism won't keep me from wholeheartedly recommending this novel. While it's marketed as romance, the romance is light enough that I think even those who don't enjoy romance will like this novel, and I look forward to reading more of Slattery's writing in the future. 4 stars.

Buy the book.

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Jennifer Slattery writes missional romance novels for New Hope Publishers. Her debut, Beyond I Do, released in August 2014. She also writes Christian Living articles for Crosswalk.com and devotions for her personal blog, JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud; Internet Cafe Devotions; and Takin' it to the Streets', a ministry serving Omaha Metro's working poor and homeless.

When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, hanging out at the mall with her teenage daughter, enjoying her real-life hero husband, or serving in her church or community.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the author and publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate 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."