🚑🏥⛪ “Embracing His Past” (Natchez #3) (2022) ⛪🏥🚑 – Reviewer Tour
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MY REVIEW
Series: Natchez (Book #3)
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired (July 26, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN: 1335585176
ISBN-13: 978-1335585172
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“He came to find his son…
but might discover love along the way.
Stunned to learn he has an adult son, widower Harrison Mitchell’s eager to track him down and build a relationship. But when he uproots his life and moves to Natchez, Mississippi, he’s hit with another surprise: his new boss, Anise Armstrong, is his son’s adoptive mother. Now he must win her trust to prove he deserves to be a father and grandfather…and possibly a husband.”
As I had read the previous two books of the series, I was interested in this one to see how the characters from the previous books are doing, and this story sounded interesting from the beginning. Usually the hero/heroine (H/H) are younger (mid 20’s to late 30’s).
Rarely are the main characters older with adult children – even being grandparents (these two were in their mid-late 40’s), so that drew me right off and definitely made the book very interesting. As of note, if Anise was 18 when she had Abe, who was a year older than Jase, she was 44. With Jase revealing he was about 23 years younger than Harrison, that puts Harrison around age 48. Not too old though.
The hero on the cover was an interesting change too – again, an older man. That definitely intrigued me.
Some series books can be read as standalones. I HIGHLY recommended reading the books in order. One of the main reasons is that the events of the two previous books – Finding His Family and An Orphan’s Hope are referred to. And, the characters from those two books return in this well as well. This particular book is extremely connected to book #2.
Finding His Family (#1) – Abe reconnects with his ex-wife and learns he is the father of little Georgia, runs a gym and has a Parkinson’s boxing program
An Orphan’s Hope (#2) – Jase gets custody of baby Bella, marries Erin
Another reason is that anyone reading this book before the others will get some major plot and end-story spoilers. Those who’ve read the second book will automatically know one of the spoiler’s right off.
Returning characters from Finding His Family:
👣 Abe Armstrong – Jase’s Brother
👣 Rosemary Armstrong – Abe’s wife
👣 Georgia Armstrong – Jase and Rosemary’s daughter; Jase’s niece
👣 Eugenia – Rosemary’s grandmother
Returning characters from An Orphans’ Hope:
👣 Jase Armstrong – preacher and Abe’s brother
👣 Erin Rucker – private nurse and Danielle’s bridesmaid
👣 Fannie – Jase’s boss and friend of Eugenia
👣 Bella – Jase’s baby by way of a cousin (Courtney) who was killed in an accident
👣 Darnell – young man that is in Jase’s youth group
👣 Chance – immediately took to baby Bella
👣 Anise Armstrong – Abe and Jase’s mother
New characters for this story:
⛪ Harrison Mitchell – looking for the woman who adopted his son, wants to be a part of his son’s life
🐶 Tiny Romeo – a dog who befriends Anise by way of her dog; shared by Anise and Harrison
Miller wastes no time getting to the heart of the story all on page one. Harrison is in Natchez looking for his adult son after getting a letter from an attorney in Nashville. He has gone so far as to leave his flight nurse job in San Diego to settle in Natchez to look for the son he didn’t know about.
He meets his neighbor, Anise, thanks to Tiny Romeo – obviously a planned meeting thanks to the Natchez Matchmaker (aka: Eugenia). And, Harrison gets a brief intro to Anise’s family.
Harrison is looking forward to working trauma in the ER, which is going to be tamer, though not on his level of “keep-busy”. He ends up being recruited for the mobile clinic run by Anise.
It is there she asks him to her family’s dinner and bible study. And, it is at the dinner and bible study that he meets Abe and Jase. And, Jase is standoffish. He sees an innocent incident between the two and assumes they’re dating. He’s not used to seeing his “mom” with another man.
The hard fact – at first, neither Harrison nor Anise want another relationship in their lives. That definitely makes this a more intriguing read. Yet, Jase can sense and see the chemistry.
It is within the first 50 pages the reader finds out who the “son” is. And, those who’ve read the other books, it won’t come as a shock.
As Harrison gets closer to his son, he soon begins to realize what his late wife was going through with her infertility struggle and how badly she wanted to be a mom and have a family.
Harrison opts to continue his work with Anise in the mobile clinic due to a patient on the route, a young boy, that reminds him of his late brother. In addition, Harrison has found what he is looking for – his son.
Anise is putting off telling Jase who is father is. She isn’t sure how he’ll react, and Anise isn’t ready to share the news either. She also isn’t read to share Jase, no matter how nice Harrison is.
When Jason learns the truth, he is upset. More at Anise than Harrison. That wears off, but a concern lingers. It isn’t him that he is worried about, it is his daughter Bella who already lost her birthday mom. And, I have to say this – Harrison doesn’t let him down either.
As Jase finally gives Harrison his “blessing” to date Anise, there is an accident that completely derails the relationship before it gets started.
But, since it is a romance – there is an HEA, although it takes a while to get there. The end is dramatic, tearful, and hopeful. There are elements of humor as well – the two riding a donkey to deliver a baby is one moment that stands out.
The writing and pacing were perfect. Miller didn’t lag or leave anything linger. The book was over before I even realized it. Then again, it was pretty hard to put it down.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. There were a few things I did have some issues with. One involved an accident that the two were in. Anise’s attitude towards Harrison was troubling and disheartening as she became obsessed over repairs.
This was the first time I enjoyed the other characters more than the main H/H. I love that Darnell and Chance from the previous book returned too, though I would’ve liked an update as to what they had been doing.
I am hoping there is one more in the Natchez series as I wanted to see the closure of the story arcs involving a few of the patients.
Those who’ve read the first two books won’t want to miss this one, fans of the author and the Love Inspired line will definitely want to read this as well. I’m eagerly waiting for the author’s next book.
Since this is a Love Inspired book, and one of the main characters is a pastor, this is going to have some strong Christian and faith themes.
NOTE: In real life, the author did share Tiny Romeo with her neighbors, though they lived a half mile away. I thought this was a super sweet idea to share a pet, and then include the idea in a story.
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;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
Publisher: Love Inspired (May 25, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN: 1335488944
ISBN-13: 978-1335488947
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“Now that he’s found them,
he can’t let them go.
The last person Abe Armstrong thought would walk through the door of his gym is Rosemary Williams, the woman he once secretly married. Even more surprising is the little girl at her side—his daughter. It’s been four years since Abe and Rosemary broke each other’s hearts…and he hopes this time will be different. But first Abe must prove he’s father and husband material.”
Publisher: Love Inspired (January 25, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN: 1335759077
ISBN-13: 978-1335759078
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“He trusts her with his new daughter.
But his wounded heart is another matter…
Twice left at the altar, preacher Jase Armstrong avoids commitment at all costs—until he inherits his cousin’s three-day-old baby. Pushing him further out of his comfort zone is Erin Tucker, the nurse for his live-in octogenarian boss, and her lessons on caring for an infant. But can Jase open his heart enough to see the family forming around him?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Editor and author Christina Miller’s idea of a perfect day involves a white-sand beach, a stack of books, and a glass of sweet tea. Ten years ago, she decided to leave her job as an RN and become a writer and editor so she could read for a living—and sometimes even work on the beach.
Christina is a Bethany Global University graduate, pastor’s wife, worship leader, and author for Love Inspired, the Christian imprint of Harlequin. When she doesn’t have her nose in a book or her toes in the sand, you might catch her visiting an antebellum mansion, exploring a museum, or teaching at a women’s conference. Christina lives on her family farm with her husband of thirty-three years.
You can find her on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinalinstrotmiller
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CLMillerbooks
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