BETRAYAL

Bestselling author Robin Lee Hatcher's latest offering Betrayal, the second in the Where the Heart Lives series, published by Zondervan, is the story of two individuals in a quest to find healing and peace in their respective lives.

Julia Grace is a widow who runs a ranch on her own in Wyoming. Though it is not always easy, she feels liberated in a sense as her husband, Angus, was abusive and temperamental. Many a times she had wanted to run away from him and escape. But she had nowhere to go. And now, Angus' half-brother wanted to take away the ranch.

A drifter Hugh Brennan walks into her ranch one day, looking for a place to rest his tired body and injured horse. Hugh is no ordinary drifter. He's a man with a past - a past that still hurts. He's a man well acquainted with betrayal and injustice. Hugh is also on a mission to find his sisters who were separated from him when they were kids.

Both of them had a disappointing past. They had parents who disappointed them. Life was supposedly harsh on them, or so it seemed. Will things now hold better promises for them?

Hugh finds himself attracted to Julia, yet when he looks into her eyes, he could see the same pain and suffering that he went through. For Julia, marriage could be the only option available to save the ranch from the clutches of others.

Robin Lee Hatcher weaves a tale that is both endearing and compelling. Her incredible style of storytelling keeps one guessing to the very end. And the characters almost jump out of the pages of the book.

Will Julia and Hugh let go of the past and learn to forgive? Will they rediscover the joy and happiness of life? Or will they discover that though life is not always good, God is? Set at the turn of the twentieth century, Betrayal will take you 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.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review.


Series: Where the Heart Lives
Publisher: Zondervan
Release Date: Nov 20, 2012
Pages: 352
List Price: $14.99


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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Robin Lee Hatcher is the bestselling author of over sixty-five books. Her well-drawn characters and heartwarming stories of faith, courage, and love have earned her both critical acclaim and the devotion of readers. Her numerous awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, two RITA Awards for Best Inspirational Romance, Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards for Americana Romance and for Inspirational Fiction, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. Robin currently resides in Idaho. For more information, visit her website here

STILL LOLO

I still vividly remember the news story from December 3, 2011: Lauren Scruggs had just landed with a girlfriend after viewing Christmas lights from above in a small prop plane piloted by a family friend. The young communications graduate, who had started a fashion website called Lolo and had worked in the wardrobe department of the TV show "Gossip Girl," is thought to have turned to say a final goodbye to the pilot when the horrible accident occurred. The 23-year-old fashion blogger and model, “Lo”, as her family and friends affectionately call her, was hit by a still-spinning airplane propeller. She was rushed to a hospital where she underwent a series of emergency operations. She lost her left hand and left eye. Far from dwelling on the horror of this face-changing accident, she writes about its life-changing spiritual implications. "I have kind of gained a new perspective of life," she told a recent interviewer, "and I feel like I need to use my message of hope and healing to help others, and inspire others, just like people have inspired me."

As a model and fashion blogger, Lauren Scruggs built a life and career that prioritized beauty and physical appearances. She had interviewed tons of gorgeous celebrities and traveled to Paris, Montreal, and New York to report on Fashion Week. But far from wallowing in self-pity, “Lolo” now sees God’s beautiful plan in her life. The accident has transformed the way Lauren sees herself and her God-given mission in life. She realizes that there are more important things in her life than the way she looks.

The Scruggs Family

Still Lolo: A Spinning Propeller, a Horrific Accident, and a Family's Journey of Hope is a story that spins out of human control but not beyond the control of God. In this memoir, “Lolo” and the Scruggs family with Marcus Brotherton, embark on a journey of fear, anger, despair, hope and beauty as they shift gear to and fro.

The book, all of thirty-two chapters, is a well-written 272-page book, with contributions from Lauren’s mother Cheryl, father Jeff and sister Brittany. It begins with fear An Unmistakable Premonition and ends with praise Giving Thanks. Lauren's courage and insight shines through out in her memoir. Each family member shared their own take of the night's events and how hope triumphed. The book and the story of the Scruggs family, most importantly that of Lauren Scruggs, is a clear demonstration that even when we despair and find ourselves helpless God is not helpless even among the ruins of life.

This is a must-read book for all - to find hope and succor in troubled times and to continue to be reminded of God's goodness and faithfulness even during the good times.

If I were to rate this book on a scale of 1-5, I would give it 5+

BOOK DETAILS:

Lauren doing "push up"

Publisher/Distributor: Tyndale House Publishers
Release Date: November 15, 2012
Category: Biography/Autobiography
ISBN: 978-1-4143-7669-1
Pages: 272
Binding: Hardcover
Price: $24.99

Check out the book at Tyndale

Read the First Chapter here

Lauren Scruggs

About the Author: Lauren Scruggs is a fashion journalist and the founder and editor-in-chief of LOLO Magazine, an online lifestyle experience magazine that integrates coverage of the food, fashion, beauty, health, and travel industries. She has served as a contributing editor at MyItThings.com, SMUStyle, and PR Couture. A 2009 Dallas Baptist University graduate, Lauren has worked in the Michael Kors showroom and reported from New York, Paris, and Montreal Fashion Weeks. She was an intern in the fashion department of the television series Gossip Girl. See her magazine

Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs are authors, speakers, and counselors. Their writings include the widely used book I Do Again and are the founders of Hope Matters Marriage Ministries in Dallas. See their website Brittany (Scruggs) Morgan is Lauren’s fraternal twin. She works in accounting for a commercial insurance company and is married to her best friend, Shaun.

Marcus Brotherton is a journalist and professional writer known for his literary collaborations with high-profile public figures, humanitarians, inspirational leaders, and military personnel. He has authored or coauthored more than 25 books, including the New York Times best-seller We Who Are Alive and Remain, with 20 of the last surviving Band of Brothers. See his website

Disclaimer: This book was obtained through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.