Last Book of 2012! - Book Review of Betrayal

"Betrayal" by Robin Lee Hatcher

Publisher's Despcription:  


The latest historical romance from award-winning author Robin Lee Hatcher and the second book in the Where the Heart Lives series, Betrayal will take readers to the high desert of western Wyoming, through the crags of the Rocky Mountains, and into the hearts of two seekers learning to trust God's love no matter the circumstances. It's the turn of the twentieth century and drifter Hugh Brennan is a man well acquainted with betrayal. Hugh finds himself drawn to the attractive widow, Julia, yet when he looks into her eyes, he recognizes the same hurt that haunts him. Julia Grace has little reason to trust men, but she's going to have to trust someone if she's to keep her ranch from the clutches of her dead husband's half-brother. Is it possible God had a hand in bringing Hugh to her door?

My Thoughts:

I was due for a good read by this author.  After reading quite a few more secular stories this fall, I was just ready for a really good faith based story.  And Robin Lee Hatcher always delivers that for me, this book included.  She always takes real characters and puts them into real situations which tests their faith and brings their flaws to the surface and then takes them through it with a biblical perspective.  I really like that.  This story dealt with both main characters dealing with their own deep betrayals put upon them by close family members. One character had been a Christian since childhood and the other was very new to faith.  But each struggled with the forgiveness, deep pain, shame and trust issues that betrayal brings.  When circumstances brought them together, they had to deal with those issues and allow God to heal their hearts and break down the walls that each had built and learn how to not only trust each other but to trust God with their lives as well as they had to pull together in order for Julia to not lose her ranch, which is all she had.  This is a love story but really that was secondary to me as I read it, with their stories of forgiveness, trust and allowing God to heal them and allowing God's work in their lives as more the story that took the forefront. Some might feel the story is too predictable, but for me, that also is secondary to the fact that the story was one in which the characters walked out their faith.  Sometimes I like a good comfort read.   I really enjoyed it and found it as a breath of fresh air to finish off my reading for 2012.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the cover.  I was really bugged by the cover.  Can't quite put my finger on it.

Thanks to Booksneeze for sending me the book free of charge for my honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Betrayal is available for purchase here and here.