Two broken souls find each other, only God has been healing Ben's heart before we even start this story. God brings Ashley and Ben together through the equine therapy program, and begins a healing in Ashley. It's not Ben's love that will completely heal Ashley, but the love she finds in God. A legacy left by Andrew Henning is renewed in Ben and Ashley.

Robin Lee Hatcher has quickly become one of my favorite authors! Cross My Heart is an amazingly written story of love and Gods promises. It's the second book in the Who I Am With You series. It's extremely adventurous and romantic and has horses...which makes everything better. I highly recommend this book and series. And pretty much everything she writes turns to gold.

I have discovered that if a novel touches a lot on a particular topic, I have to have an interest in the topic to keep reading. Though I like horses, I could not get into the story because of the frequent mention of the equine program.

Those who like programs like that may enjoy this book though. The faith elements are there, and not too much and not too little.

Good writing but just not my book due to the above reason.

Croos My Heart is the second book in the Legacy of Faith series.Two storylines, one from the past ,follow love stories that deal with addiction and redemption . A wonderfully refreshing read!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my hoinest review.

Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher is a beautifully written time slip novel. I love the way this author writes. Her novels have a familiar tone that I find welcoming. Her characters are relatable in their mannerisms and realistic problems. I think readers of women's fiction and inspirational romance will love this book. The entire series is amazing! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Robin Lee Hatcher added the book, Cross My Heart, to her Legacy of Faith series. As with the the previous book in this series, the reader will jump between a story in present day and a story that occured in the days of WWII.

On the opening pages, you will meet Ben Henning, a man in the process of leaving behind a life of addiction to build a equine therapy barn. By utilizing the farm he received from his grandfather, he hopes to assist others in need. Ben soon meets Ashley Showalter, someone he thinks can assist him with this task. Ashley has a sad story of addition in her own family, her younger brother is currently fighting a battle against this beast!

The WWII tale will tell the story of Ben's great-great grandfather, Andrew Henning, and his journey with his family through the uncertain days of a war taking place across the ocean!

Take a moment and see how both of these men (and women) learn to lean on their God to bring them through some terrible days!

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

This was a pretty good sequel to Who I Am With You. Ben, Ashley, and Andrew were well developed characters that I could easily root for. One thing I admire about Mrs. Hatcher’s writing is that she doesn’t shy away from tough topics like alcoholism, yet she finds creative ways of addressing them that show the rawness of them without dwelling on the evil of them. She doesn’t slip into the “dark side” but rather showcases the “light” of healing from them.

The horses were wonderful. I felt like I learned a lot about setting up an equine therapy barn and the ins and outs of horse rescues while being entertained with a dramatic story.

I was left wondering why the therapy itself wasn’t featured more, so I reread the back-cover copy and realized why that had bugged me so much when I was reading the book. The back-cover blurb clearly stated that “Ben has started an equine therapy barn.” That made me think he had already opened the barn to clients. But most of the book (around 85% or so) was about his setting it up and finding funding and gathering horses and such. Because of the wording of the back-cover blurb, I had really looked forward to seeing Ben work with patients in his equine therapy business, but this wasn’t featured at all and felt like a mere afterthought when it was only barely touched on in the final couple of chapters. I’m not a fan of being deceived by back-cover blurbs, so this really bothered me.

Back to the wonderfulness of the horses. Ashley’s horse rescue operation was amazing. It felt very realistic and just the sort of venture I like to read about. Her passion for her work of rescuing horses from abuse and malnutrition struck directly to my heart, and it made me wonder if there are any such operations in my area.

The WWII thread was perhaps my favorite aspect of this story. That might have something to do with my having a thing for WWII stories, but it could also be because Andrew Henning’s family intrigued me. Each of his children had their own drama going on, and I loved each of them so much. This thread could have easily been its own full-length novel, and I kind of wish it were, because I want more. Much, much more.

Speaking of that, I also wanted much more of Ben’s friend Craig’s story. I thought this thread could have been more involved throughout, because it would have been great to feature a character in a wheelchair. There was room to do this, but he barely showed up for two scenes.

I was disappointed that there was a single expletive.

It’s so hard to sum up my thoughts on this book. There were some things I really loved, especially the horse rescue and WWII storylines, and some things that fell flat or disappointed me. Overall, it was a good story that many readers will fall head over heels in love with.

I knew I was going to love this one but somehow I managed to put off reading it from week to week. I finally sat down to read it and didn’t get back up until I had read the whole thing! Hatcher easily swept me away in this well-told story with two timelines, contemporary and WW2. Both are compelling stories and learning what happened in the same town/house so many years before lent a sense of permanence to the story. I can’t help but think that Andrew would have approved heartily of Ben’s new endeavor with the farm in a new century.

Ben and Ashley enjoy a slow romance despite pretty quickly feeling attraction for each other. I liked that they didn’t just throw up every other dream they had for love, but continued to build their lives until they came naturally alongside each other at the end. A number of issues pop up to be dealt with and I enjoyed that the characters all met them headlong and dealt with them rather than crawling in a corner and sobbing poor-me!

I loved the rich Christian applications in the story and the gentle but in-depth way they are portrayed. I feel encouraged by this story.

Thanks to the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

Cross My Heart is a beautiful story about second chances. A story that isn't fast-paced or a thrilling adventure, but one that has the sense of coming home. A story that leads the reader down a road through bad choices, regret and a change of heart. I thought that the characters had such great personalities. They seemed like everyday people that you would encounter in your life. Robin did a great job weaving in the hope of Jesus into her story, and how following Him can bring the lasting change people are wanting. Also, I loved how there are two stories being told in this novel. On one hand you have the current story of Ben and Ashley, but on the other hand, the author also tells the story of Ben's Great-Grandfather, Andrew Henning from the 1940's. Adding in Andrew Henning's story adds so much depth to the background information about Ben's generational heritage. This is a story that you'll want to pick up and add to your reading pile!
You can read this book as a stand alone novel or you can pick up the first book in this series, Who I Am With You. So make sure to check out this series for some great summer reading!
***I received this complimentary book from Robin Lee Hatcher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Book 2 in this series by Robin Lee Hatcher is Cross My Heart which I found to have a wonderful weaving effect of real-life situations brought alive through fiction. She brings faith into it a lot and I really appreciate that while I’m reading. Being a person who enjoys horses, I enjoyed her descriptions of them. Bringing the therapy into it was top notch with the healing it brought. The two main characters had a hurtle to jump to come together and have a relationship. It was a delight to see how this author brought that about. I’ve read both book 1 and 2 in this series and I think they could stand alone but they are both wonderful reads so why not read them both.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


***Also posted on CBD, B&N

Will she choose the pain of the past...or love...?

I've always read Robin Lee Hatcher's historical romances until the A Legacy Of Faith series. I think part of the original attraction for me was that this series is set in southern Idaho and northern Idaho is a familiar landscape to me. North and south are different, but, hey, it's still Idaho. I also wanted to give the author's contemporary novels a chance as well.

I was so happy to discover that this series was so much deeper and went far beyond the average contemporary romance, instead dealing with tough issues like infidelity and forgiveness, and in Cross My Heart addiction and trust. The characters quickly become real as the reader is able to personally identify with their many struggles, in one way or another.

Robin Lee Hatcher has penned a beautiful story of finding your way through the hurts and messiness of life. It's a poignant story in many places, and, believe me, Cross My Heart is a story that will not soon slip from your memory.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

What I think you should know:
Cross My Heart is the second book in the Legacy of Faith series however it can be read as a standalone novel. It is a time slip novel, the first story is a contemporary story, in which Ben has just inherited his grandfather’s farm. His goal is to turn into an equine therapy center. Ashley has been involved in horse rescue but does not have facilities like he does so she is happy to help him in his venture. The second story is Ben’s Great Grandfather, Andrew’s it takes place on the family farm in starting in 1939.

What you might want to know:
Ben is a recovering alcoholic and Ashley’s brother is an opioid addict, they both have scars from how what addiction has impacted in their lives.

What I enjoyed about this book:
This is a wonderful story of hope, forgiveness, overcoming your past and redemption. Ben is a wonderful example of what can happen if an alcoholic is able to overcome their past. He is a character who has had a very rough past, but is determined not to let his past overshadow his future, he also wants to help people find the freedom that he has found. Ashely is a good representation of many who have an addict as a family member, many parts of her life have been impacted by the demands of the addict. Ben’s Grandfather was a wonderful character who reminded me of my own grandfather. Robin Lee Hatcher, the author, has done a wonderful job of creating characters that are intriguing and realistic. I can’t wait for the next book in the series

Who will enjoy this book ( just to name a few):
Fans of Contemporary Fiction
Fans of Christian Fiction
Fans of Christian Romance

I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

Cross My Heart is the second book in the Legacy of Faith series, but it is a standalone story. It is a dual-time story, with one family involved. Ben Henning and his grandfather Grant are the family members in the present, and Andrew Henning and his family are the focus of the past storyline, which takes place during WWII. It is the family bible and the names handwritten in it that bring the two timelines together.

Ben was a rebellious teen and after climbing behind the wheel while drunk he has a serious car accident that leaves his best friend in a wheelchair and him wallowing in the bottle. It is not until he finds Jesus, that he is able to move on with his life, always praying that his friend will forgive him. Because of his strong faith, and following God's plans for his life, he plans to open The Harmony Barn where they will provide equine therapy for troubled and disadvantaged people. While searching for horses, he meets Ashley Showalter, who is dealing with her own issues. She doesn't have the room on her property to keep the many horses she rescues and rehabilitates so accepts Ben's offer to work with him. Both of these flawed characters have hearts of gold and when Ashley finds God, she is able to move forward in her life as well.

In the past we find Andrew Henning and his wife, Helen raising their family of five in the 1940s. When his oldest son, Ben, tells his parents he wants to go to college so he can enroll in flight school and join the airforce, they are worried. Andrew prays and reads scripture to guide him in his decisions. As time marches in, Andrew and Helen will deal with many trials involving their children and their involvement in the war.

This book has a little romance, some family drama and family love, second chances and a lot of faith. This was a well-written story that I read in a couple of day. The two different timelines meshed well together and gave an enjoyable look into five generations of the Henning family. Ben Henning (in the present) is a wonderful MC. His faith directs all his decisions and actions and he trusts that to lead him in the right direction. Ashley is a strong character who needs a nudge to move forward with her family and her faith. This was a sweet romance, that blossomed over time. It was not instalove, but love that grew with some bumps along the way. I really enjoyed the addition of the equine therapy story as a main plot. This is an area that is growing all the time as more and more therapists recognize its value. My one complaint with this book is that it seemed to wrap up a bit too quickly. It seemed that there was a climax and turning point, then the end. Besides that, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Christian Fiction.

CROSS MY HEART by Robin Lee Hatcher is a wonderfully good clean romance! This is a book everyone will love! Thank you, Robin Lee Hatcher for this amazing five 🌟read!

This was a sweet and beautiful contemporary romance with a dash of historical flavour.
Ashley and Ben both had spotty pasts. Ben as a recovering alcoholic struggled with the past and rebuilding relationships, while Ashley wrestled with the pain of a brother addicted to drugs and alcohol and finding peace in God. These two people connect when Ben approaches Ashley for help with his new equine therapy facility - Harmony Barn. They labour on this project together and eventually find themselves falling for each other. But it isn’t all sunshine and roses; no, there are disappointments and hardships. Yet, through it all, Ben and Ashley are moulded into stronger characters who see God’s hands through it all.
There is also a lovely connection between Ben’s family Bible and flashbacks to the 1940s and Andrew Hennings experience of World War II. This aspect connected beautifully to the previous book and added another tone to the story.
The writing, while simple was neatly done and Hatcher did a wonderful job conveying the emotions. This was also a clean read which was quite enjoyable.

Ashley and Ben are wrapped in a great romance of redemption and honest love. I fell in love with the author and her writing style. Honest and hopeful romance for all ages!

Robin Lee Hatcher is an author that knows just how to pen stories that engage not only your brain, but also your heart. This one is no exception.

The characters are real, and have true-to-life issues. Ones that draw you in and tug on your heart strings.

I loved this opportunity to get to know a few more members of the Henning family. I loved meeting Ben and Ashley.

As did the first book in this series, so this one also involves the Henning family Bible. Because of receiving his great-great-grandfather's special Bible, Ben feels a special connection to him, and allows this Book to draw Him closer to God. And it's also because of this connection that the timeslip element comes in to play. It takes us back to the days when the US joined WWII, and all of those tumultuous times that were the 1940s.

The equine therapy program. Just superb. One of their taglines was using "broken horses helping broken people". I love seeing animals and people interacting with each other in ways like this, ways that bring healing to all involved.

This story deals with many hard life issues. Including addictions, difficult family relationships, and lots more. It will get you to take a fresh look at your own life, and perhaps draw you closer to God, too.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Personal Rating: 4.48 Star Rating: 4/5

Recovering from past mistakes, Ben inherits his great-great-grandfather's farm and finds God's purpose for his life. Ben wants to build an equine therapy barn and counts on Ashley's advice on how to choose horses. Can Ben, a recovering alcoholic, and Ashley, whose trust has been broken, work together to build a dream?

After reading who I Am with You, I knew I wanted to read all the books in this series. I appreciate that Robin Lee Hatcher doesn't avoid difficult issues because this makes her characters come alive. In Cross My Heart, Ben and Ashley had my heart, but I wanted to know more about how they used equine therapy.

The legacy of faith, a used Bible, is the anchor to this storyline. The Bible has been passed to Ben and it changed his life. The story starts with his past being in the past and he is now a man who wants to make a difference. I loved Ben's character and as more people were introduced they seemed to belong and the story progressed naturally. I also enjoyed the split time line. Going back and forth between Ben's present and the past of his relatives gave more meaning to the Bible and legacy of faith.

Equine therapy was an interesting choice for Ben's mission. I know very little about horses and enjoyed reading how Ashley rescued them from undesirable situations. With that said, my curiosity was piqued and I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more about the actual process of therapy. Although I wanted to know more, there was enough to move the story forward. "....A boy and a horse. An easing of tension or anger or hurt or fear. A blossoming of hope."

I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series. A note from the author says she's at work on the third book and we'll meet another of Jessica's and Ben's cousins and we'll also get more of Andrew and Helen Henning's story. The third book has been placed on my TWF "To Watch For" List. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story with good faith content. You will leave this book encouraged.

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own

I was pleasantly surprised with this novel. I knew I would like it because of the horse theme and equine riding aspect, but I didn't expect such a great lesson in having faith. I feel like my spirit is is refreshed after reading this novel at a time when I didn't realize how badly I needed it. The story was sweet and flowed really well. I enjoyed the characters and the story line. With the flashbacks to the older generation Hennings I was a little confused at the format. I would've loved for that to have been a novel by itself. Overall, this was a sweet charming novel and a quick read. I recommend it to anyone who loves stories involving farming or horses especially.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the advanced reader copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

This is a great book with great characters! It will have you up reading all night long not wanting to put it down. The story builds appropriately and you will find yourself rooting for the main characters.