Member Reviews
Who I Am With You is the first book in the Legacy of Faith series. It is a dual-timeline story of forgiveness, love and faith. Both main characters in the contemporary storyline find themselves in predicaments that need to be resolved. Together they work to overcome heartache and scars left by others. The 1930's timeline follows a great grandfathers story through a Bible that has been passed down. This would be a great book club read that opens the door for many discussions.
Classic Robin Lee Hatcher. It's a sweet story with a bit of a time slip. Readers will appreciate the layers of hurt, forgiveness, and new beginnings.
She is a masterful writer of romance and has become a go-to author for me when I'm in the mood for a contemporary romance. Who I am With You is the first in a brand new series set in Idaho. From the first page you will feel transported into the characters' lives and be rooting for them to find hope and healing...and just maybe restoration and love. A great read!
Having been in a busy-life reading slump, I was glad to pick up a familiar author. I've loved every Robin Lee Hatcher book I've read so she was the author I chose. Who I Am with You is the first book in the Legacy of Faith series and after reading it, I can't wait for the next book.
Jessica's loss immediately drew me into the story. Her journey through the pain of adjusting to a new life held my attention; but, surprisingly, there was more to this book than just her story. Ridley entered the picture and my first reaction was not favorable. He seemed too convenient, but his personality was quickly revealed and I liked him. He too had a past to overcome. Although Jessica and Ridley mourned different things, they both wanted a fresh start and tried to rebuild their lives.
The faith content of this book is what I love about Christian Fiction. Focus on God and His Word always warms my heart to a book. I appreciate Robin Lee Hatcher's ability to share spiritual truth within the pages of a wonderful story.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley, for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Heart strings were for sure pulled. A wonderful and beautiful tale of love, the loss of love and the pain of moving on.
Who I Am with You by Robin Lee Hatcher is the sweet tale of an unexpected love. Jessica is dealing with unbelievable grief after losing her husband and daughter only months before. Ridley is hiding out in the house next door, trying to get away from false political accusations. Neither expected to find each other. Ms Hatcher has written an emotionally poignant novel and I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
Title: Who I am with you
Author: Robin Lee Hatcher
Pg: 320
Series: Legacy of Faith book 1
Genre: Christian fiction
Rating: 3 stars
Who I am with you by Robin Lee Hatcher is the first book in a new series. The Legacy of Faith series. I love that many of her newer titles are also the same as song titles. Which may bring in a new audience.
Jessica Mason doesn’t want to find love. She’s dealing with the loss of her daughter and husband in a car crash as well as a Pregnancy she wasn’t expecting. Ridley Chesterfield is looking for a place to hide from mistakes that were made.
These two won’t planning on falling in love least of all with each other.
This was a fairly quick sweet read. But then I do tend to enjoy Robin’s books this one wasn’t my favorite but it was still good. I look forward to the next one in this series. As well as any new books by Robin.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
This is a sweet novel. Jessica Mason finds herself pregnant with her husband's baby after the tragic loss of her husband and daughter in a car accident. To complicate matters, Jessica's husband admitted cheating on her right before leaving the house. Now she doesn't know whom to trust especially men or even if she believes in love.
Ridley Chesterfield wants some where to hide out until fallout from a political scandal involving him blows over. He's been falsely accused of leaking information involving his boss. His girlfriend ended things saying hurtful things and insisting their relationship is over; however, now, she is stalking him wanting to mend things but for Ridley it is truly over. He just wants to start over completely.
Jessica and Ridley find themselves neighbors and at first try to ignore each other; but slowly things happen to bring them together and they find solace and healing with each other. Can true love grow out of their broken pieces? Add an abandoned dog and you have a page turner. 5 Star read. Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to read this ebook through Netgalley.
Who I am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher is an amazing spin of current day events and flashbacks to love long ago. I really enjoyed that the author did this with the story and looked forward to the jumping back and forth. This story has love and loss and hurt and healing and restoration and the sweetest neighbor dog. I love the element of hope for the future that is set out by God. It inspired me to want to get my paints out and create an awesome masterpiece. I thought this was a great read!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
***Also posted on CBD, B&N
I enjoyed this sweet novel that follows two plotlines. The modern story involves Jessica, who is learning to cope with the death of an unfaithful husband and her young daughter while facing single motherhood and Ridley, who is seeking solace after an unfair media scandal. Can these two learn to forgive those that have hurt them in the past and find love again? The historic plotline is set during the Great Depression and tells the story of Jessica's ancestors Andrew Henning and his family. We learn how Andrew depends on God to lead him through financial struggles and deep heartache. In the modern day, Jessica gleans wisdom from her great great grandfather's Andrew's Bible. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Step into Who I Am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher. This dual time novel weaves a modern-day romance with Jessica’s great-grandfather’s story from the 1930s.
I'm slowly starting to become a fan of dual time novels. What I particularly liked about this one was Jessica's great-grandfather's Bible. As Jessica was struggling with a horrific tragedy, the unexpected loss of her husband and daughter, she began to read her great-grandfather's Bible. As she read the notes in the margins of the Bible and the verses he marked, she began to open up to healing.
Jessica ends up becoming neighbors with Ridley who is hiding out in Hope Springs as he tries to avoid problems of his own. He is in the middle of a political scandal. Neither Ridley nor Jessica are looking for a relationship, but as they keep bumping into each other, a relationship begins to form.
Who I am with You was a nice start in Robin's new Legacy of Faith series. I enjoyed the role Jessica's great-grandfather's Bible played in the story and the “legacy of faith” concept in this book. It made for a unique and touching story.
Reviewed for Hope By the Book. Unable to share full review. Please visit Hope By The Book website for full review.
I enjoy split-time novels, and this latest read by Robin Lee Hatcher did not disappoint. Who I am with you is a gentle, sweet story that deals with significant loss, the healing power of faith in God, and the hope for new beginnings strewn through the power of forgiveness.
Jessica Mason is a young, pregnant, newly bereaved widow. The story begins with her having just attended the funeral for her much loved Grandmother, Frannie. And this on the heels of burying her husband and young daughter a few months earlier. After the service, her Mom presents her with her Great Grandfather`s bible that Frannie wanted her to have and tells her that she hopes what it says will bless and comfort her.
Jessica`s Great Grandfather Andrew lived through the depression years as a young newly married man whose own life took a dramatic, utterly unexpected turn. Although he didn't have a lot of wealth to pass onto his descendants, what he did leave for them was his legacy of faith, and in particular, his well used and marked up Bible.
Ridley has escaped Boise for the charming, mountain town of Hope Springs after political scandal has his face on the television and net everytime he takes a look. He works on improvements to his parents' vacation home there while thinking about his future. Walking his dog, Ridley encounters his neighbor Jessica, and slowly a romance develops between the two.
All three of these characters face betrayal, and as the story unfolds, each chooses how to respond and whether or not to extend forgiveness. The storylines of these three reminded me of the Scripture from Proverbs 16:1 `We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in the Lord`s hands.`` These characters go through situations, losses and hardships they never would have chosen or could have foreseen, but the Lord knows best, and the life he has for them at the end is better than any they could have wished for themselves.
One criticism to note: the story begins mere months after Jessica's tremendous loss of her family and the knowledge of her husband's betrayal, yet she can move on so quickly. It doesn't seem realistic.
That said, this novel is worth reading, and I look forward to more from this author. I received an ARC from Netgalley for my honest review.
Who I Am with You
by Robin Lee Hatcher
Thomas Nelson--FICTION
Thomas Nelson
Christian , Romance
Pub Date 11 Dec 2018
I am reviewing a copy of Who I Am With You through Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley:
When Jessica Mason meets Ridley Chesterfield love is the last thing she is looking for, because she is reeling from the unexpected loss of her husband and daughter and also waiting to give birth to the child she is carrying. Her pain is deeper than anyone knows as she is also harboring the secret of her husbands betrayal.
Ridley Chesterfield is hiding out in Hope Springs, Idaho doing his best to avoid the political scandal and the barrage of false media accusations that have muddied his good name. A relationship is the last thing Ridley wants but fate lends him to develop a friendship with his reclusive pregnant neighbor making him wonder if what he thought as a temporary small town hideout may end up being a long term solution.
Reading her great grandfathers Bible helps Jessica to find a connection with the Great Grandfather she never knew. The verses he wrote and the words he wrote in the Margins open her heart to healing.
Ridley and Jessica help each other forgive the people who have done them wrong, they must now decide if they will let the past define them or they will choose to love again.
I give Who I Am With You five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
First of all, I was so surprised to see that this book didn't receive anything less than five stars from reviewers. I absolutely loved this story! Always a fan of Robin Lee Hatcher and this one didn't disappoint.
Jessica is grieving the death of her husband and six year old daughter, while also trying to work through the betrayal, which her husband confessed just prior to their deaths. Slso, there is guilt due to an argument between she and her husband which proceeded the accident which took their deaths. And...she is pregnant with the child conceived just before her husband's confession, news that he's leaving her and the death of her family in more ways than one.
Then, there's Ridley, a most likeable character, who has came to his parents 'one day' retirement home in Hope Springs to get away from the media following a scandal. He was an IT specialist for a political campaign when damaging information was leaked to the opposing party. And...his neighbor is none other than Jessica!
They both have trust issues and have wandered from God. Jessica was giving a Bible by her mother that had been passed down through the years. The story flows back and forth from her great grandfather's days in the Great Depression to Jessica's world. I was amazed how at the ease in which the two worlds flowed.
A very beautiful story in which I could easily feel empathy for Jessica and her situation. The author has the ability to make the characters come alive to the reader.
I highly recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Jessica is pregnant and mourning the loss of her husband and daughter. Her cheating husband left her with a parting gift when he asked her for a divorce. Now she is faced with raising her baby alone. Ridley is hiding from media attention at the house closest to Jessica's. Neither one of them is looking for love. As their friendship grows they learn how to forgive those who have wronged them. They can either hold on to the pain of the past or live the future they deserve. Good Read.
Legacy of Faith is the perfect name for this series.
In this dual time period novel, characters in both the contemporary thread and that of the 1930s depression are filled with faith in Christ and perseverance for a better life. Lemonade can come from lemons.
I enjoyed both story lines but was compelled by the current day account of Jessica and Ridley just a bit more. My favorite in the novel though was Andrew, a young man in the 1930s who was such a wonderful example of sacrificing for those we love.
This was a beautiful beginning to a new series.
What an exquisite delivery of a delicate subject!
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Read with Audra, NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
This is only my second Robin Lee Hatcher book, but she is quickly becoming a favorite. Her writing style is laid-back yet vulnerable. Her author voice is sweet and soothing. Yet it's the depth of this tale that struck my heart and has me wanting more. How long must I wait to return to Hope Springs in book two?!
Infidelity is a tough topic that is often awkward to discuss. Mrs. Hatcher dove right in and brought us a story that shows not only the cruelty of this sin but also the scope of its consequences – which touch many more lives than the people most intimately involved. What was perhaps the most amazing thing about this novel was the way in which the author brought out the raw emotions while using a gentleness that nearly seems contrary to the abrasive, unjust actions of certain characters (the details, thankfully, were kept off the page – no bedroom scenes, thank you!). I just adored the way that forgiveness, hope, and fresh beginnings were interwoven to create a beautiful display of God's love in the midst of bone-deep heartache.
True healing – and reconciliation! – is worth the battle, folks.
I love how the author takes readers on a journey traveling from the depression era to the present. It flows so easily and I had a hard time wanting to leave each time period. I would get so engrossed in the story, I didn't want to travel to the other time period. I did wonder how I would be able to read quickly enough to get back to the other couple. The author sure had me hooked on the characters.
Jessica is trying to deal with a big loss in her life while pregnant. She had a great marriage until her husband shocked her with words she never expected to hear from him. Have you ever had an argument and then the person walked away? That is just what happened to Jessica, only tragedy struck and she finds herself grieving the loss of two very special people. Can she learn to trust again?
Ridley has moved next to Jessica for the summer to get away from the medial. He is hurt and trying to grasp the lies that have been told about him. What would you do if someone was spreading lies about you? Ridley is a very caring person and I liked how he reached out to Jessica with no expectations. Two lonely people dealing with forgiveness and trust will take readers on a journey that touch your heart.
I can't forget to mention Andrew and Helen. We meet them slipping back in time to the depression era. I loved how the author described the time period and how hard it was during that time for people to find work and food. Andrew will be faced with a hard truth that will find him asking for God's help. Andrew was my favorite character in the book because he has such a compassionate heart and forgives easily. He reminds me so much of my grandfather and it made me smile to have that memory of such a great man.
The story is strong in faith and scriptures that helped pull the story together in a beautiful and seamless way. The author writes with eloquence and her characters are very easy to relate to. Its a strong lesson in faith, trust and forgiveness. Everything happens for a reason, and in this story that statement is very true. Four people looking for guidance, forgiveness and happiness. This is one story that you will need to have tissues handy. I loved every minute of the story and hope you will too. Come take a journey and find out if these people will trust God. The title is perfect for this story because it made me think of who I am with my husband. With him beside me I am content, secure and know I am loved unconditionally. He is a great example of being Christ-like.
I received a copy of this book from Read with Audra Blogging Program. The review is my own opinion.
One of the coolest ideas in this novel is the notion of leaving a Bible legacy. I am a BIG annotator. My Bible is covered in highlights, notes, ideas, and random in-the-moment prayers. I believe with my whole heart that God wants a real relationship with me, so He meets me where I am through His Word. I meet Him back through my prayers and annotations. Opening my Bible to be present in the Lord is as close as I can get on this earth to Yeshua. For me, it’s a very real experience. But I have to admit that I have never considered what my Bible could do for my progeny. After I die, will anyone open my Bible and read through God’s Word and my notes? Will something I have penned in the margins help a future great-granddaughter or son? Could I be a seed planter even after my death? It’s a truly remarkable thought that my study and relationship with God today could reach into the future and spark change and/or encouragement. I very much enjoyed watching as Jessica comes to some really good understanding of God and life as she goes through her great-grandfather’s much loved, highly annotated Bible. This idea has definitely left me putting a little more thought and effort into my Bible study annotations and prayers.
In Who I Am with You Jessica and Ridley are a little more mature than the average Christian fiction hero and heroine as they are in their early-mid 30s. Both Jessica and Ridley have experienced a great deal of life at the start of this novel, and their faith has been tested. When something seriously bad happens to Jessica, she temporarily closes herself from God and her community. To me, Jessica’s reactions are completely realistic and understandable. After a reasonable amount of time, Jessica starts to open back up to both God and her friends. She is able to do this because she has a mature foundation in God. Jessica knows that to get back to herself she needs to get back to God. In Ridley’s case, his foundation is so strong in God to begin with that he never lashes out at God. He’s upset and distrustful of people, but he’s so mature in his faith that he knows who to be mad at. I appreciate this maturity from both Jessica and Ridley because it makes their actions and thought patterns seem so real; and, ultimately, I am able to buy into their friendship and romance. Instead of raging hormones, Jessica and Ridley’s romance is real and sweet, and it feels like it has a good chance of lasting a lifetime.
I love the discussion of forgiveness that weaves its way throughout Who I Am with You. Each main character in this novel is betrayed in a pretty horrific manner. As the injured party, I believe each character has the right to be severely hurt and angry, yet each character longs for forgiveness. While each character deals with forgiveness in his/her own way and time, they all do forgive. What I love the most is how they each came to a place of forgiveness. No human is strong enough to forgive on his/her own. We need God to help us get to the place of real forgiveness. Each character eventually brings his/her desire to forgive to God. They talk to Him about how hard it is to forgive, they discuss their hurt, pain, and inability to trust. They admit they want to forgive, but aren’t sure how to do it. By going to God, each character finds success in being able to forgive, and they are healed of their hurts and disillusionments. I found the illustrations of each character taking his/her issues to God a great reminder of how I need to act every time I find myself in a hurting place.
Who I Am with You is a great read. I found the writing to be fast-paced, the plot to be thoroughly engaging, and the characters to be realistic and endearing. I am going to miss my time with Jessica and Ridley. If you are looking for a really good, heartwarming contemporary romance with thought-provoking themes then I highly recommend Who I Am with You.
I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via Audra Jennings at I Read With Audra and through NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.