Reviews

Marian Beaman 5.0 out of 5 stars I can imagine this book becoming a Hallmark movie August 10, 2018 Format: Mass Market Paperback Verified Purchase Love triangles and a delightful daughter with a personality plus populate the pages of this endearing novel A Father for Bella. A “Love Inspired” novel of faith and forgiveness, Jill Weatherholt’s second book entices the reader with family secrets, long-buried dreams, and a simmering love story. As the book blurb suggests, “When single mom Faith Brennan discovers the Virginia Inn she grew up in is for sale, she’s determined to make a bid. Even if that means going head-to-head with handsome real estate broke Joshua Carlson.” The author’s skilled use of dialogue as she reveals character, along with her vivid description makes the novel a page-turner for more than the plot resolution. I was not surprised to learn that the author has a college degree in psychology and a background in paralegal studies, both qualifications that contribute to the novel’s ring of authenticity. Early on, readers learn that Faith has lost her husband: “ . . . dressed in a tan pantsuit with a long-sleeved chocolate turtleneck underneath, Faith topped off her coffee and placed it into the microwave for one minute. Her heart squeezed as she recalled how special Sunday morning coffee used to be before Christ died.” As the novel progressed, readers learn how accidents involving both fire and ice inform the motivations behind the main characters’ decisions. In an open letter to readers at the book’s conclusion, Weatherholt assures the reader that faith is an antidote to fear, a fear she herself has experienced firsthand. Do visit the fictional town of Whispering Slopes in the verdant and real Shenandoah Valley and immerse yourself in a heart-felt story with a happily ever after ending.

Jacqui Murray VINE VOICE 5.0 out of 5 stars When everything seems to be working against you, try love. July 28, 2018 Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase I've read Jill Weatherholt's books before (see my review of Second Chance Romance) and she has emerged as my go-to author for Christian romantic fiction. Her latest, A Father for Bella (Harlequin 2018), continues that description. It is a fast-moving, personal read that addresses the messiness and confusion of what really happens in everyday love lives. Faith Brennan, a young widow, finds out that the Virginia inn Faith runs, one that specializes in personal care for guests and a variety of snow sports, is going to be auctioned by the owner. When Faith's husband dies, she promises him she will take care of Bella, their daughter, and give her a bright future. Buying the inn where she has lived and worked almost her entire life seems like the perfect way to make good on that promise. That is until Joshua Carson, another bidder, shows up. Joshua is handsome, rich, and newly-divorced. He too has a promise to keep, this one to his dead mother, and to fulfill his means Faith can't fulfill hers. He arrives at the Inn planning to spend a month investigating it in preparation for the auction, only to become embroiled one time after another in events and emergencies that involve Faith and Bella. It's clear the young girl adores Joshua, a sentiment he shares, so how can he tear apart the life she and her mother have built? Weatherholt's characters are imbued with moral strength and ethical beliefs that drive their actions and mold the story's plot. Weatherholt also includes such a wonderfully rendered snowy setting that I might even decide to vacation in the mountains--if I didn't like warm weather so much. One final characteristic of her writing that--like the Christian roots--keeps me coming back is the way she can spin words into a mental picture I can't forget: “He never skied without his own gear. It would be like using someone else’s toothbrush. “ “He’s never liked the sound of time passing him by” After a fully-satisfying story, Jill provides personal reflections on how this story is rooted in her own life. Have no doubt, if you like this genre, A Father for Bella will resonate with you.