🏚️ 🔨 🏘️ "You Belong With Me" (Restoring Heritage Book #1) (2019) 🏘️ 🔨 🏚️ - Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Restoring Heritage (Book #1)
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 3, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800736478
ISBN-13: 978-0800736477
Click Picture for Purchase Information
“Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. Unfortunately, selling houses in the town where her family name is practically poison isn't one of them. When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map--and hopefully finally repay the financial debt Hannah's mother caused the town. But at first no one supports her efforts--not even her best friend, Luke.
Luke Johnson may have grown up in Heritage, but as a foster kid he never truly felt as if he belonged. Now he has a chance to score a job as assistant fire chief and earn his place in the town. But when the interview process and Hannah's restoration project start unearthing things from his past, Luke must decide if belonging is worth the pain of being honest about who he is--and who he was.”
Luke Johnson may have grown up in Heritage, but as a foster kid he never truly felt as if he belonged. Now he has a chance to score a job as assistant fire chief and earn his place in the town. But when the interview process and Hannah's restoration project start unearthing things from his past, Luke must decide if belonging is worth the pain of being honest about who he is--and who he was.”
In anticipation of receiving the second book in this series – “Until I Met You” (UIMY), and since I am currently on the launch team, I decided to order this novel to get familiar with this series.
The series covers are the same design – a sweet, loving couple on the cover; so it draws you in. The titles are very interesting and will likely play into the theme of the novel. This one “You Belong With Me” (YBWM) is explained near the end of the book with regards to Hannah and Luke’s relationship, and his “place” in Heritage.
This is the first of the series, so it is a standalone read, obviously. However, I am sure the novels would be best read together when they’re all done.
Right off I LOVED and adored Luke, he was my hero! I really liked Hannah. And, I understood the Thomas/Janie disconnect. Interesting note – I actually knew a married couple by the name of Janie and Tom. And, does it go without saying how much I despised Madison? I hope she doesn’t return in the second book …
Derek, from the description on page 53, reminded me of a particular character on a TV show that ran from 2003-2010, especially with the “harem” comment. What’s sad? I could ONLY envision Derek like that character. I found that funny since I am re-watching the show again. No spoilers or hints.
Moving on …
The writing style was near perfection and I got drawn in by chapter one; it was hard to put down, but also a bit intimidating as I didn’t know where this novel was going. The plot was absolutely darling – saving a small town and the two-for-one romances.
I had mixed feelings on the Janie/Thomas deal – I thought it was cute, praying for them; but at the same time thought it was being forced and unnatural. I am a sucker for happy endings though. His reasoning was explained in chapter six (6) which was heart-breaking for me.
There are so many “sweet” moments in this book …
* Hannah trying to save Heritage from Kensington
* Her off/on/off romance with Luke
* Luke trying to find a sense of belonging
* Hannah trying to win the grant to save town and her mom being a criminal
* Hannah always trying to fix things
* Taking a long, hard look at life
There was LOADS of good advice here – no good could be found digging in the past, sometimes stuff is just stuff – things like that. It was like a walk through the garden on a light, breezy, misty day.
In chapter three, not only do we learn that the woman watching Luke threw away his adoption papers, we learn more about who he is and why his and Hannah’s relationship is complicated.
Hannah and Luke start to reconnect again, even making up for a lost prom. His issue is one that is complicated. It is rooted in miscommunication and assumption. Where someone sees they’re doing a good deed, someone else might feel inferior or less than as a result of the deed. Faris definitely had a great idea with the multiple viewpoint on that matter.
Where this has a happy ending, it takes its time getting there with a few scandals, mysteries, and even Luke finding his family.
As this is distributed by Revell which is a Christian/Faith themed publisher, there are strong themes of faith, trust, and hope in God, but they are not central to the story until chapter 15. So this definitely fits its genre without bearing overwhelming or overbearing.
Told in third person from Luke and Hannah’s POV, they weren’t often front and center – Tom and Janie were featured as well, if not equally.
One plot hole, or rather something where I wished the author would’ve expanded – Kensington’s motives for the town. I also wanted to know what Derek’s position was in this. I’m also wondering if they’re going to be back in UIMY.
I definitely recommend this debut author for those who enjoy clean romance reads with Christian/Faith themes; which is the audience this book is written for. Especially, if the reader loves small town romances; “restoration” and hopeful types of reads.
For a debut author, Tari Faris knows how to tug at the heart-strings and tells a beautiful story of loss, gains, faith in God when we have nothing, that we’re building beauty from ashes, and how we are perceived when we try to fix things in others’ lives.
I’ve got another book I’m reading and then? “Until I Met You” is up next.
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tari Faris has been writing fiction for more than ten years. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she is the projects manager for My Book Therapy, she works for My Book Therapy, manages www.learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis Award winner. Although she lives in the Southwest with her husband and their three children, she lived in a small town in Michigan for twenty-five years.
You can follow her on the following social media accounts:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/FarisTari
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