This book is so good, I love the aunts!! They totally make this book and provide a lot of interesting dynamic to the relationships. I loved that he was there for her when she needed him most, I wish she would have needed him when the aunts first went away to see grandpa. But being alone also helped her realize how much she has in Mars and how much she needed everything and everyone around her. Some parts were a bit drawn out the like apple festival but other parts needed or could have used a little more like maybe another relationship break through with John. It was a great book overall.

This is a charming Christian romance story filled with heartwarming characters. It is well written and engaging, even though at first I had difficulties with Penn's character's behavior and her way of thinking toward John, her childish behavior towards him was often frustrating. Over time I realized her behavior was driven by her life experiences and that John, in true Man of Faith fashion, wouldn't give up on her, no matter how much she tried to push him away.

The story had so many different facets to it, the quirky town, a wayward pet horse named Periwinkle, and warm hearted characters (Penn's aunts Jancie and Winnie were the absolute best), angst, tragedy (both past and present), unconditional love and friendship, and best of all a deep faith in God ran throughout. The story was emotional and engaging at the same time, drawing you in early and keeping hold until the very end.

The author's writing style brought so much life and depth to all the characters, including the secondary ones...so much so that I found myself emotionally invested in the story and kept reading to find out the outcome of Penn overcoming her fears and learning to trust John and God's unwavering love and strength.

This book was provided by the Publisher and Netgalley for my honest review.

This is a great book by Hope Toler Dougherty. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Mars...with Venus Rising is the first book by Hope Toler Dougherty that I have read. At first I wasn't to sure, but once I picked up Penn and John's story I simply couldn't put it down! If you haven't read a book by Hope Dougherty then this is a great one to start with!

This book is charming, quirky full of hope and romance. It shows true love not book love. The author knows how to pull you Into the book and make you a part of the family, a part of the love. Penn is defensive when it comes to love and John is patient when it comes to love because he has GOD directing his love life, and with GOD you can't lose and he did not lose. Penn has had a very hard life but is surrounded by Aunts who love her and a quirky horse. This is funny and quirky and with GOD fun. Yes I said fun with GOD. HE is amazingly fun and funny, who made Mark Lowry? Her Aunts try setting her up and as you guess what fun we have as peeping Thoms or Thomettes we enjoy the tomfoolery that goes on with them the horse and a paperback floor, and no I am not going to tell you more about all that just that the author grabs you by the collar on page one and pulls you right into the book and makes you one of the Aunts or horse etc.depending on the scene and you feel empty when you put the book down because your family is gone. It's great. Hurry... Go Buy.