Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher

Best-selling author Robin Lee Hatcher returns to the adventurous American West in the final book of her Where the Heart Lives series. This story is filled with Robin’s trademark heartwarming and emotionally charged message of faith, courage, and love.

When Diana Brennan’s husband returns eight years after abandoning her, can she find it in her heart to forgive him?

Diana Brennan came west on the orphan train and was given a home with a loving couple who cherished and spoiled her. At 17, she fell hard for Tyson Applegate, the son of a wealthy mine owner. After a whirlwind courtship and marriage, Tyson took off for adventures around the world, including fighting with the Rough Riders in Cuba. Receiving no word of him for eight years, Diana’s infatuation with her dashing husband died an ugly death, and she is ready to move past the old pain and marry again, just as soon as Tyson is declared legally dead.

But when her husband returns, supposedly a changed man, he wants to reunite with his wife and run for the senate. While Diana suspects the election is his real reason for wanting her by his side, she agrees to maintain his home and to campaign with him, but when it is over, win or lose, she wants her freedom. He agrees with one condition––she must give him a chance to change her mind about him.

Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher is the third installment in the Where the Heart Lives series, and it follows wonderfully in path set by the first two novels. These novels are not strictly tied together, however, so it is possible to read them out of order.  The plot of this novel was well developed and interesting, and it included a good mixture of mystery, suspense, past mistakes, and, of course, romance. For example, the novel starts out at a party where Diana's engagement is being announced. All of a sudden, in walks her husband whom everyone thought was dead. This scenario adds to the feeling of suspense and intrigue that surrounds the events in this novel. Beloved is written in third person, but the storyline is still told from different characters' perspectives so that the reader has an idea of what the different characters are feeling about certain situations. Some of the characters that the chapters are told from include Diana, Tyson, Tyson's father, and Diana's supposed fiancé. The novel also alternates between the present situation between Diana and Tyson and their past history, such as when they married, etc. These memories are also presented from either Diana or Tyson's point of view.

 

The characters in this novel are well developed and realistic. The way the novel is set up allows the reader to really see some of the growth that has occurred in Diana and Tyson from the time they married to the present. My sister is also reading the novel mentions that "originally Tyson had mistreated Diana, but when he comes back, he has changed and tries to win her heart over a second time. She is determined not to let him but slowly through his acts of love and kindness, he is begins to win her over against her will and better judgment." Both characters do experience growth as the novel continues, and it is cool to see how having a relationship with God can completely change the relationships you have (for the better).

 

Overall, I enjoyed this novel, and I would highly recommend Beloved as well as the first two novels in the Where the Heart Lives series by Robin Lee Hatcher.

 

I received this novel for free from Booksneeze.com and Zondervan Publishers in exchange for an honest review.