"God speaks in whispers when all the world is loud. Just remember—mountains, oceans, prairies? They may give beauty to our eyes and depth to our experiences, but it is God who gives peace to our soul. Don’t lose sight of him and don’t forget where or with whom your home is.”

This is just one of the many quotes—from Janine Rosche’s debut novel, This Wandering Heart—that ministered to me in a huge way!! I’m going to be totally honest here, this story epitomizes the reason why I adore Christian fiction. Yes, I get that swoon-worthy romance, the sigh-inducing hero, and that perfect reading escape, but along the way my heart gets refreshed. Grace is brushed with poignant strokes within the pages, painting a vivid and soul-stirring portrait of God’s unconditional love.

The heroine, Keira, has an adventurous spirit with a nostalgic heart. From the start of the story, I was championing her to discover what her heart craved the most—a sense of belonging. I wanted her to see herself the way God did. Having been hurt by her first love, she goes through life with a play-it-safe attitude, ensuring she never has to risk her heart again. Instead she chooses to watch the world through the lens of her camera, visiting sights most only dream of. The author used such brilliant imagery, I felt like I was there right alongside Keira. (And since it’s dreary winter here in Ohio, it was most welcomed.)

Okay, now I need to discuss Robbie. You guys! I fell in love with him from his introduction in the first chapter. He’s a single dad, and let me tell you, those affectionate interactions with his little girl totally won me over. I can’t even tell you how many “aww, I love him” moments I had. Super sweet. I soon learned his tenderness also extended to Keira. He didn’t suffocate her with his affections, but rather shown his love by giving her space. Though he was always there when she needed him. Sigh.

The engaging banter, the meaningful conversations, the fan-the-face kissing scenes, all blend beautifully together, producing a satisfying story that left me scouring Amazon for the next installment to this series!

***I was provided a copy of this story from the author. All opinions are my own.

"When she'd been with Robbie, her whole heart, soul and mind loved him more than she thought was possible."

In a charming tale of second chances and reuniting with a first love, This Wandering Heart is the perfect novel for fans of contemporary romance. With heartwarming characters who immediately capture the readers’ hearts and author Janine Rosche’s ability to weave humor and grace authentically into the storyline, her debut novel is definitely one for the keeper shelf.

In This Wandering Heart, former high school sweethearts Robbie Matthews and Keira Knudsen unexpectedly reunite after years apart and find themselves taking the journey of a lifetime. Will unresolved issues from their past, secret identities, and Keira’s love of adventure be too much for Robbie and Keira to overcome?

This Wandering Heart is highly recommended for readers of contemporary romance, especially readers who enjoy books by Denise Hunter, Courtney Walsh, and Becky Wade. Readers will be eagerly awaiting the October 2020 release of Wildflower Road, the second installment in Janine Rosche’s Madison River romance series, where Robbie’s sister Ryann will have her story told.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

"That's the thing about grace. It's most appreciated by the ones who deserve it the least."

I already knew I’d like this book just from having read the related(ish) novella last Christmas, Mistletoe Menagerie. That was excellent. But this? Absolutely lovely, wonderful (or should I be ridiculously cheesy and say Wanderfull?), and a whole bunch of other adjectives that basically mean I loved it. For a Christian romance addict like myself, this one ticks all the boxes. It’s got secret identities, a single dad, a friend-turned-more who was betrayed, a short-lived love triangle, an ex causing drama, and best of all, a whole lot of learning to forgive and lay down one’s own needs for the other.

Robbie Matthews is precisely the kind of hero we love to read. He’s an amazing girl-dad, a hard worker, a protector, a friend with a sense of humor, handsome with just a hint of ego that’s kept well in check by insecurity, and a servant heart. Considering Janine Rosche’s social media posts regarding her affections for such heroes as Riley Callahan and the Porter brothers, it makes total sense that she’s the perfect person to blend the best of them all into one delicious carpenter.

And Kat. Or Keira. By either name, she’s a complicated, precious heroine I just want to follow online and stalk until I can give her a hug. While there are plenty of opportunities for extra drama, she’s the kind of heroine who can sidestep all of that and act in wisdom... most of the time. As long as she has plenty of room to wander until she can figure out what it is she really wants from her life.

Definitely get this one as soon as you can. I found myself lucky enough to be part of the ARC team, but while I got my copy free, the opinions are all my own without influence. Be on the lookout for Janine Rosche, y’all, she’s got the gift!