I enjoy Hatcher’s storytelling usually but this one felt a little disconnected to me. The joint storyline with one being present day and the other being told in a journal from the 1930s just didn’t mesh together. Tyler fell in love with Olivia far too fast and then out of nowhere, at the end, Olivia was in love too after being told the whole book she didn’t trust and I never saw her do the work to get to love.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Robin Lee Hatcher has such a beautiful way of writing stories that not only tell beautiful romantic love stories, but that also celebrate family in a beautiful way too. Like the Wind was no exception. In this story we meet Olivia who had just been reunited with her daughter, from whom she'd be isolated from due to a messy divorce. While there is a love story as well, much of the book does revolve around their relationship as well.

This story goes back and forth between several POVs- Olivia, her daughter Emma, Tyler and a 1930s diary that Emma has found. I must admit at first this really through me because it changed rather abruptly each time, and it took me a bit to catch on. I do think that perhaps this abrupt change was actually more to do with the formatting of the ARC digital copy I received, as those can sometimes be a little off when it comes to page layouts (so spaces between POV changes, for instance, may not have actually showed up on my end, but would in the finished copy. Having read previous books by this author, I know that typically her transitions between timelines and such are generally very clear.

Once I got used to that minor issue, I absolutely adored this book. My heart broke for Emma and Olivia and all that had been through. I was drawn into their story and so badly wanted them to get their happy ending. The author did a great job of capturing their unique relationship well. I also found Tyler to be such a good match for Olivia as well.

There were some parts that I perhaps would have liked to see expanded on, but overall I thought this was such an enjoyable read. If you enjoy inspirational stories of mother/daughter relationships as well as romance too, this is certainly one to check out.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

SO SO Good! I loved the character development and how vivid they were. I have never read a book by robin lee hatcher and was pleasantly surprised

This is a dual time novel that follows Olivia in the present. Her vengeful ex-husband kept their daughter from her for six years until his death. Now Emma wants nothing to do with her mother, whom she believes didn’t want her.
Emma finds a ninety-year-old diary. She is fascinated by the life of Millie MacIver, who had a hard life during the Depression.
I love the prayers sprinkled throughout the diary. The whole story kept my attention from beginning to end, and I highly recommend Like the Wind.

Robin Lee Hatcher pens a story of love, heartache, joy and forgiveness. One that's sure to pull your heartstrings and maybe cause you to ponder a few things within your own life as well. Olivia Ward has lost the two things in life she held dearest...her marriage and her daughter. When circumstances bring her now 15-year-old daughter back into her life they'll have years of deception to unravel. I really loved each aspect of this book. The characters, their chemistry, and the diary that may hold the key to bringing mother and daughter together again.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

A huge thanks to Thomas Nelson for my complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I am a huge Robin Lee Hatcher fan and so I jumped at the chance to read this book. The book follows Olivia who suffers a divorce from the infuriating Daniel who also happens to take their daughter whilst living her in a dire financial situation. When he dies he leaves nothing for her but Emma doesn't believe her mum wanted her.
I enjoyed how a close knitted and loving community such as Bethlehem Springs , how theatre and a journal helped Emma come into her own. I recommend everyone read this book. It's a reminder of how God heals.

Like the Wind is a touching story by Robin Lee Hatcher. Olivia Ward lost everything in her divorce six years ago including her daughter. Not her fault but because of her wealthy, controlling ex-husband. Now he has died so her daughter who is a teenager is back with Olivia. You can only imagine what Olivia has been through.

A daughter who grieving in her own way plus all the mixed up attitudes that come along with being a teenager, Olivia has her work cut out for her. Add in an investigator send to check out Olivia, this story has its share of angst and drama. All of this is handled beautifully in the story. The characters begin to see the Lord at work in their lives as they begin to bond over a hundred year old diary.

I liked the way that this older time is told through the diary entries. It is not exactly a dual timeline but seems like it because of the diary. Truly knowing the past can be a help for the present. Olivia and Emma do precisely that. Tyler Murphy comes to a clear respect and even love for Olivia. Through this story you see the Lord, his mercy, and his grace. Wonderful read.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

I finshed Like the Wind by Robin Lee Hatcher and I was having all the feels. This is not my first book by this author but, it is my third and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her books are so satisfying and fulfilling. They are a tiny bit Christian based. Not in your face but, she shows people who rely on their faith to get through life or those who have lost their faith and are slowly making their way back. It is not the total focal point of the book. It just gives it another demension.

This book is about a woman who has it all and her controlling husband yanks it out from underneath her feet. Olivia Ward has to start over and doesn’t even have a home to live in. The husband moves across the country making it impossible to see her daughter very often. So, literally she has lost everything that means anything to her. She plants her feet on the ground and goes about rebuilding a life for herself. Six years later she learns that Emma will be coming to live with her turning her life upside down once again. I really enjoyed the characters in this book. I could understand where they were coming from and I knew how they were thinking. In other words, the character development was perfect in my eyes.

The story telling and the plot development kept me interested. Emma discovered an old diary that drew her in and parts of the book were entries from the diary. Well…you know me, I love diaries and books that contain diaries. The mention of the diary drew me in and I was there to stay until the book was finished. I really must learn how to live life outside of my books because they even take over my dreams at night. I am never not thinking about them as I go about my daily chores.

If you love books about strong women, diaries and those who lean on their faith to get them through the hard spots, then this book is for you. Please don’t let the Christian aspects turn you away. I promise you there is only a smattering here and there. I highly recommend this author and anything that she happens to write. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!

I recieved a copy of this book from the author, #Netgalley and #ThomasNelsonPublishers. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this dual storyline! I'm becoming quite fond of them, I've realized, and Ms. Hatcher writes them so well! You have one storyline from the 1930's taken totally from a diary written by a young mother who is struggling to do all she has to do for her young family as they move around due to the Depression, but she is filled with faith, although it ebbs and flows as trials befall her. Then, the main story focuses on Olivia, who was dealt a very raw deal by her ex-husband who was incredibly mean to her, just because he wanted to be, and took her daughter away from her when they split, along with all their money. She has had to struggle to pull herself up financially and emotionally for several years until one day her ex dies and she gets her now teenage daughter back - to the delight of Olivia but not so much the daughter who is pulled away from everything she knows. I felt for all the characters who had to make adjustments and learn to be together again. This included a couple men that became important to them. Tyler, especially, had lost everything when he was young and now that he is hired to investigate Olivia by the grandfather, he finds out Olivia just might be the woman he's been waiting for all along. A fabulous story of second chances.

Like the Wind by Robin Lee Hatcher is a quick easy read with astrong Christian theme, filled with grace and love, that warms the heart. Olivia Ward has lost everything when she requested a divorce from her controlling, wealthy and powerful former husband; her marriage, her career, and custody of her daughter, Emma. Her ex didn't really want the child but being the cruel and spiteful person he was, he didn't want Emma to get custody. After getting custody of Emma, and he moved them to Florida, making it impossible for Olivia to have any visitation rights, since she was barely able to make ends meet. Her ex didn't even spend any time with his daughter putting her in an expensive boarding school. Six years later, Emma comes back to Olivia after her father killed in a car crash. For some reason the ex's money is tied up in his business so Emma can't go to that expensive school anymore and goes to live with her mother Olivia in Idaho. Emma is an angry, resentful, and sullen teenager trying to understand and get through what has come her way. Olivia is at a loss in how to parent her daughter, a daughter she no longer knows. Olivia discovers Emma’s interest in theater and helps her get involved with the community theater; slowly Emma began to warm up and bonds with her mother. This is a dual timeline store that is told in the form of a diary which Emma found and reads. The diary was written in the 1930s and Emma finds kinship with the writer. The diary had little to do with current story but reading the diary brought Emma closer to G-d and rediscovering her faith.

Tyler Murphy has been hired by Peter Ward, Emma’s paternal grandfather to investigate Olivia and determine if she is a good mother. During his inquiry, Tyler starts falling for Olivia, and she for him. She is hesitant to believe in love after what Emma’s father did to her.

Ms. Hatcher wrote a story that offers a twist with the mother being the one who was hurt and punished by her ex-husband. A woman of strength and courage, Olivia is a fabulous character. Tyler is a beautiful balance for her and their growing feelings are encouraging; allowing her to blossom and grow as she develops her relationships. I recommend Like the Wind to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This was a sweet Christian romance with a little history thrown in. I've read a few books by Mrs. Hatcher that has a mix of past and present and it speaks to my history loving heart. This book is heavy on the Christian elements, but I loved what the characters learned as they put their trust in God. Olivia, Emma and Tyler have some hard things to overcome, but luckily with the help of each other, friends and God they are able to grow and overcome it. I loved the sweet romance between Olivia and Tyler and watching Emma learn to love and trust again.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

Following their divorce, Daniel vindictively did his best to destroy Olivia's life, including systematically cutting her off from access to their daughter Emma. When he dies six years later, leaving Emma unprovided for, Olivia is thrilled to have her daughter back - but Emma has been taught to hate her. Can Olivia convince Emma that she really does love her? Can Emma learn to find joy as she settles into her new home? Meanwhile, Tyler has been given the job of investigating Olivia on behalf of Daniel's estranged father. The problem is that the more he investigates, the more he finds himself personally involved. And not only is that a conflict of interest, she finds trust hard. Can he find a solution that doesn't end up with his - and possibly her - heart broken?

Another heart-warming, inspiring split-time story from the author. For the first half of this book, I enjoyed the old journal entries which were interspersed with the main story, but wondered how the two were connected. Once the journal appeared on the scene, it dovetailed in beautifully, and I appreciated the way it was done to avoid either missing out on parts of Millie's story or getting it in too-big chunks once it starts. Even with wondering, this story captured my attention from the very first page, and held it throughout. I cared about all the characters - well, except Daniel! (Fortunately, he never comes onto the stage because there didn't seem to be anything good to say about him.) - and it was great to see them get their respective happy endings. A great read - recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#BookRevew: LIKE THE WIND by Robin Lee Hatcher

Like the Wind is a quick standalone story. It focuses on a mother’s love for her children.

This was a dual timeline though the characters are not blood related. In 1931, Millie liked writing in her diary. Millie loved her family and her feelings were evident in her entries. At present, Olivia went through a divorce and lost custody of her daughter. Olivia’s POV showed us her inner feelings and struggle in all of these.

I appreciated the story’s focus on a mother’s love for her children but it was a little slow at times. I have always enjoyed the author’s other books but this was not my favorite. I didn’t connect to Olivia’s character. I knew that she was hurting but somehow it did not evoke deep feelings for me. I do like the message that God’s love endures forever. Jesus cares for us.

Rating: 3.5 stars
Pub date: 29 Nov 2022

Thank you Thomas Nelson and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

A story that radiates hope and promise. Olivia lost everything due to her rich, selfish ex. Six years later her daughter comes back to her, but is surly and estranged. Tyler has been lurking on the fringes Of Olivia’s life, but he can’t reveal why.
I liked the setting of small town Idaho. I actually liked the diary flashbacks the best.
There is quite a bit of religion in the story, but it doesn’t impede the narrative.
A, good, solid story.

Like the Wind, by Robin Lee Hatcher, is a dual time line story that takes place mainly in Bethlehem Springs. When her father dies and with no preparation for her, Emma is forced to move to Bethlehem Springs with her mother. Only when she gets involved with the community drama program does she start accepting the situation. Tyler is also involved in the drama program and quickly becomes friends with Emma’s mother, which might be questionable because he was hired to investigate her and her ability to care for Emma.

This is a wonderfully written story that has so much emotions spread through out it. It is so realistic in the adjustment Emma and her mother have to go through. But her mother’s love shines through with all that she does for Emma. I enjoyed how the story in the diary shows how much faith was needed to live during the great depression. With the lose of multiple homes and a daughter, the writer struggles with her faith. This was an enjoyable, yet sad, to read.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this story from Thomas Nelson Publishers through NetGalley, this is my honest review.

Like the Wind by Robin Lee Hatcher has Olivia Ward moving to Bethlehem Springs after an acrimonious divorce. Her rich and powerful ex-husband took everything from Olivia including their daughter, Emma. Six years later, Olivia’s life is once again turned upside down when she learns that her ex-husband has died in a car accident and her fifteen-year-old daughter is coming to live with her. The last thing Emma wants is to leave her boarding school (aka her friends) and live with her mother in a small boring town. Tyler Murphy is a private investigator hired by Peter Ward, Emma’s grandfather, to see if Olivia is a good mother and fit to raise Emma. Tyler soon finds himself falling for Olivia, but his deception could end the relationship before it begins. Like the Wind is an inspiring story. We get to see Olivia and Tyler overcome adversity. I thought the characters were realistic and relatable. The author really captured the attitude and behavior of a teenager. There are diary entries from a journal Emma finds mixed in with some props at the local community theater (from 1930s). I enjoyed the historical diary entries with their faith messages. I like how the diary tied to the present. There are inspirational messages sprinkled throughout the story that are enlightening. We are reminded that His love is everlasting. We get to see Olivia and Tyler overcome their pasts with love, understanding, and faith. The ending is lovely. Like the Wind is an uplifting tale with a discordant divorce, adolescent angst, an old diary, a captivating PI, an interfering grandfather, and a remarkable romance.

Robin Lee Hatcher does a great job penning a story that pulls on the heartstrings. In this story, we meet Olivia Ward, a woman who is hurt and stunted when her husband Daniel divorces her, takes Emma, their daughter with devious means, leaves her homeless and penniless. She has to depend on help from her parents and a friend, to make it. Olivia and Emma visit every other weekend until her ex moves across the country taking their daughter. She doesn't have the money to pay for trips across the country so she and Emma drift apart. When Daniel is killed, Emma moves back to Bethlehem Springs, Idaho from Florida with her mother, but Emma is dealing with grief and past hurts. When Emma gets involved in a local community play, she opens up. She found a diary written almost one hundred years ago during the Great Depression by a woman with roots in Bethlehem Springs. Millies's thoughts are an eyeopener for Emma, who grew up a child of privilege, and Millie writes about her struggles with life, tragedies, disappointments, and her faith. This is a touching story as we watch mother and daughter reconnect and each makes new friends and heal from past hurts and misunderstanding with the help of faith. Tyler Murphy is an investigator with a law firm and a case pushes him to get to know the Wards. He is a man of faith that has had his own share of hurts, but his work takes his interest in Olivia beyond the case, and she is attracted to him. This is another lovely story by Ms. Hatcher for those who enjoy stories of romance and faith.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are mine only.

Another wonderful book by Robin Lee Hatcher. Olivia is devastated after a divorce and losing custody of her daughter Emma. She moves to Bethlehem Springs to start over. Fast forward a few years and Emma is living with her after a horrible loss. Tyler works as an investigator for a law firm. He is sent to investigate Olivia. In the bargain he did not know how close to her he would become. I love how the past is weaving with the present. This book shows how God puts others in our paths to be friends, lovers, and supporters. I loved this book!!

I loved this read, it does pull on your heart strings!

So many things in life are unfair, and this time slip read shows how unfair things can be, the primary story is about a woman who loose everything including her daughter, the time slip takes us back to the hard times during the Great Depression, but through it all they show great faith.

There is some sweet romance, but we are shown the struggles that others cause in their lives. This read did not disappoint, it became a page turner, you will want to help, but of course, you can't. In the end you will want to continue on in the lives of these characters you have come to care about!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

A diary from the 1930's provides hope for Emma, a fifteen year old girl who's father has died in a traffic accident. Olivia, hurt by a painful divorce, separation from the daughter she loves, trust is hard for her. The author does a great job allowing both Olivia and Emma to work out the situation at their own pace. Very realistic story. Loved the steadiness of Tyler and the support of the community. The story emphasizes God's love and plans for us even when hope is lost. Recommended!