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Set in Hope Springs, Idaho, the novel centers around pregnant Jessica Mason, who had lost her husband and daughter in a car accident five months ago. Now her Grandma Frani has passed away. To deal with all this grief, as well as learning about her husband's betrayal, she turns to great-grandfather's Bible for guidance through this troubling time.
Since this is a romance, there has to be a leading male character, which happens to be Ridley Chesterfield, who finds himself hiding from the media in Hope Springs after a political scandal. The last thing on his mind is romance, but that's exactly what he is thinking about after he befriends his neighbor, Jessica.
The book is split up into two different timelines - one set in the present day with Jessica and Ridley and the other set in the 1930s centering around Jessica's great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. Inside the Bible, Andrew had marked specific verses and scribbled words in the margins, which mysteriously connects to what Jessica is currently going through emotionally.
Final Thoughts
This isn't my first go-around with the writings of Robin Lee Hatcher, as I have read a few other titles by her over the years. I wanted to read Who I Am with You just because she was the author of it. I didn't even know what the plot was about when I agreed to review an ARC.Within the short prologue, the readers will learn about the death of the main character's grandmother, which the situation was somewhat relatable to me, as my grandma has dementia and is currently in the hospital after having her second hip replacement. (FYI - She broke the same hip twice in just over a month.) So, basically, I connected with Jessica (the main character) at the very beginning.Riley Chesterfield is a completely different story. While the character is likeable, he felt a little too cliched. To me, he didn't have a personality that stood out. He could have easily been a character from another romance story, who just happened to move to Hope Springs, Idaho and becomes romantically involved with Jessica. He was just too generic for me.The time-flipping aspects throughout the novel was a nice touch. Actually, I liked reading the 1930s chapters with the great-grandfather than I did the present day story.Overall, despite a few flaws, Who I Am with You is a fast-paced a cute, well-written romantic read! It's not exactly perfect, but there's no such thing as a perfect romance story. At least that's my opinion! Nevertheless, the novel is a good start to a new series.
*Note: I received a review copy from the publisher.
All opinions are my own.
About the Author
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 75 novels and novellas with over five million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Robin is an ACFW Carol Award winner and an eight-time finalist and has won two RITA Awards and been a finalist eleven times. Her numerous other awards include the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. She is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America.
When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. A mother and grandmother, Robin and her husband make their home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.
For more information, visit www.robinleehatcher.com, Facebook: robinleehatcher, Twitter: @robinleehatcher and Instagram @robinleehatcher.
Aww, sounds like a sweet story.
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