Review - Jilted

David C. Cook; 384 pages; $14.99; Buy Link; Blog Tour

Now available to purchase in bookstores from David C. Cook is the third novel in the Mended Heart series by Varina Denman, titled Jilted. Set in the small town of Trapp, Texas, where gossip and rumors spread quickly among the townsfolk.

Jilted centers on Lynda Turner, a woman who has suffered from depression ever since her husband left her, as well as their daughter (Ruthie - aka, the main character from the first novel), over fifteen years ago. Lynda has had a lifetime of troubles - the death of parents, her high school boyfriend cheated on her, her husband left her and she was kicked out of her church.

Finding love again was the last thing Lynda had on her mind when an ex-con, Clyde, takes an interests in her. Her self-esteem is low; believing that all she is a waitress at a diner and nothing else. Why would any man (even an ex-con) be interested in her?

Lynda must find a way to forget her past, forgive her own mistake and restrengthen her faith in the Lord before she can see any sort of future with Clyde.

Final Thoughts: Unlike most Christian series that have a new setting and characters in each installment, the Mended Heart series is set in the same Texas town with recurring characters. Book 3, Jilted, centers on Lynda Turner, the mother of the main character (Ruthie) from the first novel. While we, the readers, got a glimpse of Lynda in the previous novels, we finally get to see events and feelings from her point-of-view.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Jilted (as well as Jaded and Justified), which in my humble opinion is the perfect summer read. The author, Varina Denman, has a natural talent for storytelling, and she cleverly crafts a well-written contemporary small town drama.

*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.



About the Author: Varina Denman is author of the Mended Hearts series and a native Texan. She spent her high school years in a rural town and now writes stories about the struggles women face in similar small town settings. She and her husband live near Fort Worth, where they enjoy spending time with their five mostly grown children.

You can visit her website at: varinadenman.com

You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.