Second chance romance ✔️
Small town ✔️
Spiritual growth arc ✔️
Hallmark feel ✔️
I received a free copy of this wonderful novel because I was part of the launch team to help promote its release. From beginning to end, the story engaged me. The plot and characters made for a pleasurable read. And if you’re looking for a place to escape from your daily stress, the small town of Heritage, Michigan, with its caring inhabitants and mysterious Otis, offers the perfect setting for relaxation.
Honestly, the only part of Here with Me I didn’t like was the courthouse scene when Sadie got the letters. It was just a little sappy for my taste. I won’t say anymore in case you haven’t read the novel. And I recognize many readers enjoy this kind of community support in stories.
Like any other good romance, the book meets all the genre’s obligatory scenes. From the meet-cute, to the first kiss, the break-up and the HEA, Here with Me narrates Sadie and David’s second-chance journey. Apart for ten years, Sadie and David had moved on and grown up through the process. Sadie had married and had become a legal guardian for her stepdaughter, while David had served as a teacher in a Costa Rican school for missionaries. By the time they reunited, they were more mature versions of themselves, each with weighty responsibilities that didn’t exist in their lives when they’d dated in the past. The romance reader in me reveled in seeing them work through their adversities and experience their love triumph in the end!
But there’s a deeper level to Here with Me.
As much as I loved the hero’s and heroine’s reunion -I’m a romance reader and writer, after all- what stuck with me was David’s spiritual arc.
David’s strong determination to return to the mission field in Costa Rica was evident at the start of the novel. He had set his heart on serving the Lord in the Central American country where he had been doing so for the last ten years. During his tenure in this country, David had worked for the Lord selflessly. His desire came from a servant’s heart and from the knowledge that he’d blessed and could still bless many families, including their teenage children, there.
Noble intentions? In line with Scriptures? Yes, and yes.
After all, Jesus did call us to go to the world and make disciples. So why wouldn’t the door open for David to fulfill his dream?
That yearning had to originate from the Lord, right?
There’s a spiritual lesson here for us. To me, David’s dilemma makes him a highly relatable character because Christian men and women often find themselves in a similar conflict.
How many times do we want to do a specific ministry for God? Or go somewhere in His name? Or get the perfect job where we know we’ll use our skills and talents to shine for Jesus? Something that, like in David’s case, would bring glory to Him?
Nothing wrong with that. In fact, the New Testament is full of commands for the Christian to serve and help advance the Kingdom.
However, sometimes we envision lofty goals and believe God must be behind them. But are they His plan for us?
Maybe. Maybe not.
In the words of Lance Everett, David’s field director, “It’s okay if God changes your plans. Often, He works in ways we cannot explain, and it’s only when we follow His plan that we find peace.”
Later, David finally surrendered himself to God’s will with the prayer: “Okay, Lord. Whatever You want, wherever You want, I’m listening.” Then, he found that peace as he left his burden in God’s hands.
It turned out God had a new mission field for David. And it took him weeks and lots of obstacles to figure it out.
By the time he had the chance to return to Costa Rica, God had changed his vision and had given him a fresh dream that included a wife, family nearby, and a place in his community. Through hard work, he gained the town’s respect and was offered a position to serve the Lord, with his immediate family and Sadie by his side.
May our spiritual eyes and ears always be open to God’s direction.
To find out the story behind the other wonderful characters in Here with Me, including the lovely Otis, I recommend you read the books in the Restoring Heritage series. With characters well-fleshed out, witty dialogue, and plenty of tension to keep you turning pages, you don’t want to miss the earlier books, written by Tari Faris.
In a system of 5/5 stars, I would give Here with Me:
- 5/5 for characters
- 4/5 for plot
- 5/5 for spiritual arc
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