Robin Lee Hatcher has written another wonderful story of hope. This is book two of the Legacy of Faith Novels. Like book one, Who I am with You, the story also follows the notes in an ancestor's Bible and the story behind them. I love Ben's story in Cross my Heart, as well as the setting on a ranch. Ben is a man who has made mistakes, but allowed Jesus to change him inside out. He wants nothing more than to give back in return. On the other side of the coin, Ashley doesn't understand her brother and his destructive path. I like how Robin gives different views of an all too common dilemma in our society—addiction. So many people know someone who is affected. This story gives hope in a difficult situation, while also telling the story of folks who went through WW2. This is a great read if you enjoy inspirational fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

CROSS. MY HEART. Robin Hatcher
Ben had not lost the belief that God had given him the vision of a farm, the reality of having was when. A way to help others, and to make amends for what he did to his best friend. The name Ashley was given to him as someone who could help him. Meeting, and asking if she believed in God, which she did. She also believed in the healing of the spirit that horses give. Was interested in his equine project, and to see his set up, being agreeing to help. She knew the owners and places for the different type of horses he would need As they worked together,would forgiveness and healing from the past come. To soften hearts and love, a shared goal of helping others with horses.
Beautiful story that flows with the love of God that these two share. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley
and Thomas Nelson.

An amazing read from Robin! I loved how she tied in the great grandparents story into the new one. The grandparents story happened during WW1/WW2 and was very emotional. I was able to connect to that story and can’t wait to see where else it goes in her other books. I also really enjoyed that the story was centered around a relationship with God.

I so wanted to like this one… My daughter is an equine therapeutic horsemanship instructor and this book intrigued me because of the subject matter. Unfortunately, it would have been better suited for a YA audience and there were multiple typos and mistakes that made it difficult to get past for me. The story was okay, not great, but if you like horses and ranch life and don’t mind a somewhat predictable story line, you might like it.

Robin Lee Hatcher's second novel in her Legacy of Faith series with Cross My Heart is a wonderful time-slip novel showing the faith of a grandfather as he struggles and prays for his family during World War II mirrored against the present day story of Ben and Ashley as they work together to start a horse therapy farm. While the romance wasn't over the top, the romance between Ben and Ashley moved slowly and patiently. I really enjoyed how Ben didn't rush his feelings or rush throwing them onto Ashley when she was clearly ready for a relationship of any kind. Ben was a patient pursuer, just like God is to us. I really enjoyed the historical sections of the novel. But then again, I LOVE anything to do with World War II. Hatcher did a great job at showing how heroic this generation is. Overall, Cross my Heart was a lovely story. Definitely something to keep on my keeper shelf with the first book. I believe fans of Hatcher's writing or Rachel Hauck's stories should pick this book up.

I received a complimentary copy of Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Every time I read Ms. Hatcher’s books I read something that obviously God needs me to hear. In her latest novel, she weaves a tale of forgiveness, letting go, and letting God lead your path and way. Even when we have made poor choices, God can use our experiences to produce good that benefits others. This story continues from her previous book from the Legacy of Faith series with Andrew Henning’s life. This is a split time book. Readers start in the late 1930’s with Andrew and his family at the brink of WWI. During our current time, readers meet Ben, Andrew’s great-great-grandson. Ben has inherited the Henning farm and is wanting to transform it into an equine therapy ranch. He finds several people interested in investing and is beginning to transform the farm. He is told to contact Ashley who rescues horses. She has the contacts to help him find horses to fill the needs of his ranch. His goal is to help others. Ben has his own fears due to what he considers his failures of the past. Ashley has her own fears due to issues from her past as well. Together they instantly become friends, but can they work through their fears to discover if there is more to their relationship? This book is a fantastic read! I highly recommend this book and the previous book in the series, Who I Am with You. You can read both as stand-alone books, but you will enjoy both.
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.

A contemporary Christian fiction novel with strong, relatable characters, alternating with a historical storyline involving the hero’s ancestors, “Cross my Heart” is a story about resilience and fighting adversity, be it one’s internal demons or a very real evil, like war.
I find Robin Lee Hatcher’s storytelling so compelling and the depiction of addiction so realistic that I couldn’t stop reading, even if I didn’t relate to the experience of faith.
Ben is such a charismatic hero: a man with a tortured past, but in peace with himself and with a deep steadiness, seeming more sometimes an old soul than a young man. His charm, attentiveness and generous and compassionate nature are a magnet, and the fact he’s so oblivious to his romantic life in the beginning is endearing.
Ashley is a great heroine, too, her passion for horses riveting, her guardedness so well explored.
I loved the equine therapy context and how the dimension of broken horses helping broken people was woven into the plot.
The historical plotline was engaging too, with its complex characters, and I wonder what will happen to them in the future. There are also some characters in the contemporary plotline that would deserve their own story.

CROSS MY HEART is the second book in the Legacy of Faith series by ROBIN LEE HATCHER, but it can be read as a stand alone. I really enjoy this author's novels - she has such a way with describing the emotional struggles of her characters, and the growth of their faith in the Lord. In fact the Christian message is very prominent in her stories.
As in the first book in the series, Who I Am With You, where we are introduced to the Henning family, Andrew Henning's bible plays an important part. It has now been given to Ben, by his cousin Jessica, at an interesting time in his life. He is back at the family farm, which he is about to turn into "Harmony Barn", a place where equine therapy will be offered to those who need it, and where abused horses will be nursed back to health.
Ashley Showalter catches Ben's vision, as she loves horses, in many ways preferring them to people! She deals mostly with horses that have been abused and starved, and helps Ben find horses for his programme.
Running in the background to this story is that of Andrew and Helen Henning and their family, who lived on the farm during the Second World War. At this difficult time, with two of their sons serving in the military, Andrew holds closely to the Lord, and leans on His promises, especially those in the book of Joshua.
Drug and alcohol abuse and the toll this takes on the families involved, forgiveness and second chances, are all themes in the book. I especially love the part that horses play in the restoration of the characters.
It is an inspirational and enjoyable read and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I am looking forward to the third book in the series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.