About the Book
Author: Merrillee Whren
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Release date: September 27, 2022
The Village of Hope: A community built on service and love
Annie Payton hopes for one thing—to regain custody of her children. She believes the Village of Hope’s lawyer will give her this chance until she learns that lawyer is Ian Montgomery, her ex-husband.
Since Ian has turned from his life of substance abuse, he’s all about helping others, but he doesn’t know if he can help his former wife. Her betrayal still brings him pain, and most people at The Village don’t know about his past relationship with Annie.
As Annie and Ian’s lives intersect, can she show him that she’s clean and sober and wants a second chance not only with her children but with him?
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My Thoughts:
I don't always read the synopsis on the back of books, a lot of the time I read it after the first chapter or so. So going into this book and seeing a new start for a young mother who is bound and determined to get her kids back after becoming clean and sober is what I was expecting. However, what a surprise I got to find out that the lawyer assigned to her is her ex-husband. Wow, that was a doozy.
Anna and Ian got married at a young age and made many mistakes before, during, and after their marriage. Both were looking for acceptance anywhere since neither really received it at home. Now some years later both Anna and Ian have gotten on the right track. Anna would like to regain custody of her children, whose father is an old boyfriend. The Village of Hope is a center to help people in all walks of life to begin anew. Anna is very thankful to have been given a second chance to start over.
Ian is still nursing some old wounds from his relationship with Anna, along with a secret he has been keeping. However, he loves the Village and wants to see it succeed and help as many people as it can. The Village is having some financial problems and others on Ian's team think Anna with her financial background will be a great asset to help keep the Village open. Ian is not so sure if Anna can be trusted. I think his hurt was still blinding him, which was understandable, and he wasn't sure he wanted to work so closely with her.
Ian and Anna realize their feelings for one another have never truly gone away. But how can they overcome all the obstacles between them? I thought this book really showed the providence of God and how miracles are ripe to happen when all looks dark and when people choose to forgive, watch out.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author
More from Merrillee
One of my writing goals is to set at least one book in every state in which I have lived. So far I have written books set in Washington State, Texas, Florida, South Dakota, Georgia, Ohio, Montana, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. I still have to write books set in Illinois and Arizona to complete my goal. Just for fun I’ve gone astray and have written a couple of Christmas novellas set in Maryland, where my older daughter lives. The third book in the series, Puppy Love and Christmas Cookies is ready for preorder.
Annie’s Hope is one of my books set in Georgia. It is the first book in The Village of Hope series. We lived in the Atlanta area for nine years when our daughters were in elementary and middle school. I have many found memories of that time. One of the things I remember is a ministry there that served older adults and had children’s homes. When I got the idea for this story, I thought of that ministry. I also have friends who served many years at a children’s home in Oklahoma. I expanded on those ministries to create The Village of Hope, a multifaceted ministry, a place that provides hope, love, and a helping hand for those in need. James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” This verse fits Annie’s Hope perfectly.
Because I’m what they call an organic writer, I don’t plot my stories. I start writing and see how things unfold. I start with a set of characters and wonder what if. In the case of Annie’s Hope, I wondered how a divorced couple might find love with each other again, despite hurt and betrayal. I’m always thankful that somehow God brings everything together when I write a book.
Blog Stops
Texas Book-aholic,
November 3
lakesidelivingsite,
November 4
Locks, Hooks
and Books, November 5
Susan K.
Beatty, Author, November 6 (Author Interview)
Cover
Lover Book Review, November 6
Ashley’s
Clean Book Reviews, November 7
deb’s Book
Review, November 8
Truth and Grace
Homeschool,Academy, November 9
Because I
said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 10
Debbie’s
Dusty Deliberations, November 11
Britt
Reads Fiction, November 12
For Him and My
Family, November 12
Inklings
and notions, November 13
Happily
Managing a Household of Boys, November 14
SusanLovesBooks,
November 15
Pause for Tales,
November 16
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Merrillee is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of A Match to Call Ours!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/2266f/annie-s-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway
I added to my tbr list. Good luck on your release!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your review
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really interesting, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis review answered a question I had about Annie's children. TY… This looks like a very realistic Christian romance.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your release of Annie's Hope, Merrillee, I enjoyed following the tour and learning about your book , which sounds like my kind of romance and I am looking forward to reading it! Good luck with your book and I hope the tour was a success! Thanks for sharing it with me!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pause for Tales, for sharing your thoughts!
Have a splendid day!