Justified

What a beautiful story. Great characters, quaint small-town setting and romance to swoon for, all with a side helping of suspense.

Fawn's life changed the moment she realised she was pregnant. Now she is seeing her town of Trapp and its inhabitants in a whole new light. Away from her family and the prestige and comfort it brought, she is beginning to question her faith, her choice in friends and who she can trust. JohnScott's family reached out to Fawn when her family shunned her. He feels a desire to protect and look out for her, but is unsure if he could ever deserve to have a future with her.

I loved JohnScott in the first book in the Mended Hearts series, Jaded. He was funny and caring, but we saw him through Ruthie's eyes - as a cousin. In this book we see a whole new side to him - and it's a handsome, romantic, protective, sweet, frustrating side. I can understand Fawn's attraction to him completely. The relationship that gradually builds between Fawn and JohnScott is that perfect mix of comfortable and chemistry-filled tension. The romance is perfectly interwoven with humour, friendship and faith.

I would recommend reading the books in series order. While each has a fairly complete story arch, Fawn's story begins in the first book, Jaded, and a whole lot of undercurrent stories continue throughout the two books. I enjoyed the continuation of Ruthie and Dodd's story in this second book, as well as the return of all the other familiar faces of Trapp. Trapp is such an authentic small town where everyone knows everyone (and their business). You can taste the dirt, smell the creosote (if I knew what that smelt like), and hear the town gossip.

This beautiful story carefully handles topics of forgiveness, shame, abuse, resilience and love with an authentic and down-to-earth voice. Justified is highly recommended as a great contemporary romance.

The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review written by Madison Dearnaley

This is book 2 to Jaded, reviewed above. Again, Varina Denman draws the reader in with a realness that will capture the hearts of anyone who has struggled through family issues, personal sin, job loss and more. Her writing will connect with a broad base of readers who have possibly, at some time, felt that God or the church has let them down. This real look at church life and the family of God will bring an inward glance to your own heart.

I love how the author weaves together humor and fun characters with very serious life realities. The reader quickly jumps into this little town and gets glimpses of characters from book 1 while getting to know new characters, new stories and new challenges of faith. These are two books to watch for sure!

So I just finished reading Justified by Varina Denman and all I can say is Wow, because I loved this book!

Having read Jaded, the first in the Mended hearts series, I was already pretty hooked on Varina's writing style, and her characters, but I still wasn't prepared for how much this book would resonate with my own thoughts and feelings, in a way that would ultimately help me come to terms with some of my own fears, judgements and inabilities to forgive myself and others.

Which to my mind is exactly what good Christian fiction should do in our day to day lives it is so easy to get sidetracked, to forget to spend time with God and reading Christian fiction is a great way of grounding ourselves and reminding ourselves what is important. Varina does this in a way that you don't feel pressured or forced to see a message about how you should live, but instead, gently guides you to the realisation through the lives and experiences of her characters. A nudge so gentle in fact that you barely know it has happened, until you close up the book, sit back and let out a contented sign and ponder it a while.

I've said it before in my review of Jaded and I will say it again now, Varina is up there with the great Christian writer, Francine Rivers and she has well and truly earned a place in my heart, alongside Francine Rivers as one of my all-time favourite authors. So much, so that all Varina's currently published books have made it onto my wish list, for my birthday in May.

I only wish it were three and I will be excitedly awaiting the release of the third book in her Mended heart series, which I believe is called Jilted.

If you haven't read one of Varina's books you should. Even if you are not a Christina I believe you will get enjoyment from reading the carefully penned words of this brilliant author.

Also, reviewed on Goodreads.

Justified isn’t for the faint of heart. I found myself struggling with understanding how some people can treat people they “love” so harshly but at the same time appreciated Denman’s willingness to write about abuse. I also appreciated that to offset the abusive relationship she provided a good guy to enter Fawn’s life. I’m already looking forward to what book three will bring.

I hate when I read books out of order, but when I finished Justified last night, I was totally enthralled. I will go back and read the first book in the series. Varina Denman has enthralled me with Justified, and now I MUST go read Jaded when I get a chance.

So we have a young lady who has done things not quite in order--she's pregnant and not quite married. It's not that the father of her baby doesn't want to marry her, he does. It's that he's too much like her father and a bit too handy to hit or slap her. Fawn Blaylock's family threw her out of the house when she turned up pregnant and it was the best thing that happened to her. She found her feet, she found her strength, and she found someone to love. She's had to wade through rattlesnakes, the ex-boyfriend turning stalker, giving birth in a Texas dust storm, standing up to her father, and finding out the man she thought to be her father really wasn't. Those are just some of the things that happened, the others include being the object of gossip in church, finding a job to support herself, going to school to finish a degree, finding out what a true friend is, finding out what true love is, and getting past some of the hurts incurred in her life.

I have looked briefly at Varina's blog and see that she has encountered hurt within her church, and she knows she's not the only one. She has this in common with a lot of people who are not very vocal about their pained hearts because of the church. That she has woven so tenderly and seamlessly into this novel the fact that Christians are notorious for shooting their own wounded makes her a definite must-read. Real-life is well described through Varina's fiction--people seeing what they want to see, people being what they think others want them to be, people with misplaced desires and loyalties, and people falsely accused of things they didn't do.

What we want is to find acceptance from the others around us, but what we need is only the acceptance God gives. It's hard to overlook things that happen to us in the realm of the church without becoming embittered by them. It's hard to let those things go, especially the guilt from our own sins. And yet at the same time, we will overlook our own sins to point the finger at someone else's sins. We are a scurvy lot.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a cup of Fawn's iced coffee

My thanks to David C Cook for allowing me to read and review this book. It was well worth the time spent.

I enjoyed this book as much as the first one and honestly, maybe even better. I loved how the work of the Lord was evident in Fawn's life and even the other characters. The characters had depth and the story line was very interesting and moved along at a good pace with no slow parts. This book is much recommended.

Characters: Fawn Blaylock was a fascinating character. She is a character whose standing in a community had fallen... a lot. At the start of the novel, she is pregnant, trying to end an unhealthy relationship, and abandoned by her family. She is probably one of the most broken characters that I have read about. But that same brokenness let's her become a new person--a better person who can live out her faith. Other favorite characters from Denman's first novel of this series also show up and they are fun to visit with again.

Storyline: Like the first book of this series, this one comes with some hard truths--but it makes for a beautiful story. I loved watching Fawn become a new person and becoming less selfish and more selfless. The storyline also offered a few surprises in it which always makes for a great read.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book... and finished it quite quickly. The story flowed quite well, and the message of the story stood out without being dominating. This is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction with a strong message within the pages.

**I received a copy of this book from David C. Cook and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**

Why I was interested in this book: I hadn't read Varina Denman before and the back cover copy completely grabbed my spirit. I love small town stories and romance, I love compassion and when people realize that they are more than what they've believed/seen themselves to be. I was completely hooked by the first page (the dedication): "For those who try too hard," followed by the scripture Titus 3:5 ~ "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."

Favorite characters, quotes, lines: 1st line: "My world shattered last winter. A hairline crack formed, and my life perched on the edge of an abyss, set to topple at the slightest breeze. But instead of a breeze, I got a whirlwind." SOLD! Seriously, from the dedication to the scripture to the 1st line; I haven't seen a better beginning that all at once whispered to my soul and heart--ever. Well done Ms. Denman!

And, how can a reader not instantly love Coach and Miss Blaylock?!

Overall: There are some books that you read and you're ready to move on to the next book. Then, like Justified, there are some stories told that require you to take a day or two off as you continue to bask in the story and the community of the people you've just spent time with. Those are my favorite stories. They captivate and impact. They connect. They resonate.

I give this story a full 5 stars. Definitely bookshelf worthy! I have yet to read her debut book Jaded but this book stands incredibly well on its own. There is reference to something that happened at church involving Fawn's dad but it's not enough to distract the reader from the story nor does it tell too much that you feel like you don't need to read the story.

Varina Denman won my heart with her debut novel, "Jaded". She has sealed the deal with her sequel, a book more powerful and more captivating than the first. "Justified" is a book you must not miss this year.

Fawn Blaylock was a member of the "let's scorn Fawn and her mom" group. Now life has turned upside down for her and she's on the receiving end of the judgment, shunning and scorn. Can anyone get close to Fawn without dealing with the fallout of associating with her?

True, it was Fawn's choices that put her in such a precarious position, but don't we all make mistakes, bad calls in judgment, and...sin? Then who are we to sit on our moral high horses when we find broken people in our midst?

Sometimes I fear the church either takes "judge not unless you're willing to be judged" too far...but she also goes on the "pass judgment bandwagon" so many times she should have a lifetime pass to ride. (hopefully you got the wit in that last statement...if not, just move along, nothing to see here...).

Thankfully, God forgives us all and He enables us to have the faith to ask Him for His forgiveness. My heart ached for Fawn in "Justified"...and believe me, that took some powerful writing, because I couldn't stand her in "Jaded"!

Oh, what a difference a sequel can make!

For such a tiny, one horse town, Trapp, Texas packs a lot of mystery and small town secrets. Surprises and Varina's specialty, and she has a few in store for readers in "Justified". My thanks to my friends at David C. Cook Publishing for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, make Varina Denman and her "Mended Hearts" series a must-read on your list. And prayer your daughters might one day find real life men like Dodd and JohnScott!

"Justified" releases June 2015, which gives you plenty of time to read "Jaded", available now at booksellers everywhere!

Justified is the second book in Denman’s Mended Hearts Series. The story seems to overlap the one that began in the first novel Jaded, and contains most of the characters introduced there. Fawn Blaylock is the featured character in Justified so readers will learn more about her story as well as those of Tyler, JohnScott, and Clyde. An added bonus is catching up with what is going on with Ruthie, Dodd, Grant, and several others.

When I read Jaded, I was not particularly impressed with Fawn’s character. In fact, she seemed to be one of those stuck-up, rich mean girls who are not very pleasant to be around. As I got deeper into this novel, it was easier to see the real person inside who was insecure and always seeking to gain her father’s approval. And who would ever have guessed that the popular head football coach JohnScott had his own lack of confidence, especially when it came to women? It’s also humorous to me that I didn’t like Ruthie nearly as well from Fawn’s point of view.

Justified is a novel laced with drama, romance, and family secrets. I found myself a bit aggravated with certain characters at times but I feel that it is an indication of a well-written book when I can get that involved with the characters. This novel deals with some hard topics such as abusive relationships and out-of-wedlock pregnancy but the situations are handled well. I liked how the author didn’t take the easy way out at the end by letting a particular character die but used the event to pave the way toward forgiveness and redemption.

Justified is my first book to read by Author Varina Denman. I enjoyed reading this book and even though Justified is Book Two in the Mended Hearts Series; I did not feel I had to read Book One first. There were a few times I felt the book was slow, but the author was great in her details and descriptions of the characters, settings and the drama. For me, I could easily picture what was happening in my mind as I was reading. The content of this book touched my heart. It's my understanding, there will be a Book Three in this series. I'm thrilled to have found a new author. I enjoyed reading Justified and thought it was a wonderful book. I'll be reading more of Author Varina Denman's books.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.

So the continuation of Jaded is followed by the book Justified, which has just as stellar writing as before. The nice thing about the way Varina writes, is that if you miss the first book, that’s okay. This book is a standalone, Jaded would be a compliment to the book Justified.

Justified is about Fawn, who is pregnant from her abusive boyfriend. Her parents, who are pillars of the religious community, have kicked her out of the house. Despite falling on her feet, literally, she finds friends and companionship with the people whom her parents once forbid her to hang around with. The story grows on you and Fawn grows on you as she shakes loose her snobby ways and you find yourself cheering for her and hoping that she makes the right decisions. Then shaking your fist and yelling, “NO!”.

Christianity in the book isn’t the type that is in your face, rather it’s a lived in, placed appropriately. You are with Fawn as she grows in faith. It’s not in your face.

All in all, the book Justified is a well written book and well worth the time to read. Kudo’s to Varina Denman for creating another book just as awesome as the first.

Justified is book 2 of the Mended Hearts series. After the weekend I read Jaded and when I finished Jaded I just had to read Justified which focuses on Fawn Blaylock. In the first book she was the spoiled daughter of the rick cattleman, Neil Blaylock. Toward the end of the first book Fawn had just told her parents that she was pregnant and was promptly kicked out of the house with nothing but the clothes on her back. Neil Blaylock was a hypocritical Christian from the first book. He was a so called pillar of the Trapp, Texas church. In this book we saw all the townspeople from the first book. In the first book I didn't care much for Lynda Turner but in this book she softens up quite a bit. She's still cynical but a little smoother on the edges. I loved Ruthie in this book. She is so down to earth and helped Fawn adjust to being poor. The toxic church from the first book is back and is a little better now that Neil Blaylock is no longer an elder but still has people in there who gossip and look down their noses at people who fall from grace but that is typical of any church. And then there is the biological father of Fawn's baby Tyler Cruz. Fawn does not know if she should be with the baby's father. She thinks a baby should have both a mother and a father but Tyler has let her down several times. He's cheated on her, denied paternity and even slapped her around yet she takes him back six times. Will there be a 7th? There is a growing friendship with JohnScot. At first he was there for her to help her out but the more time he spent with her he began to see the good in her that she did not see in herself. The main problem with Fawn is that she kept putting herself down. She knows God has forgiven her for her past mistakes but finds it hard to forgive herself.

I highly recommend that you read Jaded first before you read Justified. You will enjoy the story more if you know some of the backstory of some of the other characters.

At the end of this book I got to read the first four chapters of the next book Jilted. This book will focus on Linda and Clyde. I'm looking forward to this one and have put it on my to be read list.

Thanks to David C. Cook and Netgalley for providing me an e-copy to read and review. Justified is due for release on June 2, 2015

The latest book in the “Mended Hearts” series, Justified takes us back to the small town of Trapp, Texas, and the characters we grew to love (and strongly dislike) in Jaded. Swirling with poetic language and poignant truth, Justified is the prodigals’ story – the ones who came home and the ones who kept walking. It will stir up a Texas dust storm of emotions in you – laughter, nostalgia, swoons, tears, anger, boy-that-dude-needs-counseling, smiles – but the journey is more than worth it.

Small towns are great… except when they aren’t. And local gossip weighs down that “aren’t” side of the scales considerably. Fawn Blaylock, the spoiled rich girl we met in Jaded, knows what everyone is saying about her “untimely” pregnancy and her continued unwed status, and she believes they are perfectly justified in saying it. Struggling to make it on her own, she finds God’s grace in some of the most unlikely places – maybe none more surprising than the high school football coach. As she deals with her parents’ demands on one side and the addictive pull of her baby’s father on the other, will her refreshed faith and fledgling romance survive?

In Jaded, I enjoyed reading so much about Ruthie and Dodd and Ansel and Velma; I was delighted to see them appear prominently again in Justified. Ruthie’s quirkiness continued to make me chuckle but I never would have guessed that, of the two girls, I would end up liking Fawn better. But I think I do. Or maybe I just really like the combination of the two as unlikely friends. Speaking of unlikely-but-loving-it, the romance between Fawn and another familiar character from Jaded really surprised me – but in the best possible way! When I read the first book in this series and tried my hardest to dislike Fawn, never in a million years would I have predicted who she would end up with in Justified, but that’s why I just write reviews and not the books themselves. And oh honey! This romance? Wow!!! Full of sparks… and kissing! Might want to have a fan handy because the Texas heat won’t be the only thing to raise the temperature ;-)

Justified is a beautifully written story of second chances – giving them, knowing when to stop, and learning the fine line between the two. It’s also a story of relentless hope and the reminder that God meets us where we are… if we just stop long enough to look for Him.