Wow! This book was amazing. I sat down and was only planning on reading a few chapters. And stopped reading three hours later after I finished the book.
There was so much emotion jam-packed into this novel and it left me with a good feeling inside. This was my first introduction to a novel by Robin Lee Hatcher, and I know that I will be reading more.
Cross my Heart is told in two time periods, one during World War II and the other in the modern day. There was not much of a connection as I was expecting, but it offered a unique perspective on the struggles of a parent during the war.
The highlight of this book was the characters. They are put through so much and come out stronger because of it. I really came to care about all of them and the stories they had to tell.

Rating: 5 Stars
Content: 4.5 Stars

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. ( )

My Review:

Genre: Romance, fiction, Christian fiction.

My Rating: 5 stars.

My Recommendation: 16 up for mentions of drunkenness and drugs but that's about it.

My Favorite Character/s: Hmm, Ben! Both of them to be truthful. But (the main character) Ben was such a great guy, I loved getting to see his struggles and accomplishments. He was so good to Ashley and I loved seeing him with his grandfather. I also liked that he still tried to reach people he harmed...

My Verse for Ben is Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (King James Version.) And this verse is all because of Ben's grandparents...

Ashley was just slightly under him in place for my favorite character but only because I loved the character growth in Ben throughout the book, it was harder to see the growth in Ashley.

My Thoughts: Like the first book in this series I feel in love with the characters and loved the story, plus it had dogs and horses, what not to love? And Ben taking care of Ashley was so so so so so sweet and cute! This book was a wonderful continuance of the first with Andrew's point of view and I look forward to reading many more of the author's books.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review and am truly happy to provide it! ( )

A fantastic book! I loved the story line and learning about equine therapy! I enjoyed getting to know Ben and how he struggled with being a recovering alcoholic. Then his path crosses with Ashley whose brother has an addiction. They must each let go of the past so that they can embrace the future. Faith in God is a theme in the whole book which really encouraged me! A definite must read! ( )

4.5 stars.

Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher is an endearing Christian romance. This second installment in the Legacy of Faith series can easily be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend book one, Who I Am with You, as well.

Ben Hennings is a recovering alcoholic whose experiences with equine therapy have inspired him to turn his great-great-grandfather’s farm into a non-profit equine therapy center. He is relying on donations and leases to provide the horses he needs to open Harmony Barn and he is happily surprised by how many people are eager to help him. Ben's deep faith sustains him as he maintains his sobriety and works to bring his dream to fruition. He is quite close to his grandpa Grant, but Ben's relationship with his mother Wendy is strained. He continues to work through the steps in his recovery but his efforts to make amends to his childhood friend, Craig Foster, are rebuffed time and again. After meeting Ashley Showalter, Ben enjoys their quiet friendship, but will he be able to resist his growing feelings for her?

Ashley has turned her small farm into a horse rescue but she cannot rehabilitate as many horses as she would like. She works full-time at a local store but she is hopeful she will one day be able to expand her horse rescue. Ashley is thrilled to donate two of her rehabilitated horses to Ben and she is surprised by how much she enjoys spending time with him. She is close to her mom but their reactions to her brother, Dylan's addiction problems, are completely opposite. Ashley considers tough love to be the best approach, but her mom continues to enable him. Due to her experiences with Dylan and her former boyfriend, Ashley distances herself from romantic entanglements. But when she realizes she is beginning to fall for Ben, will Ashley take a chance on love?

Chapters from Ben's great-great-grandfather Andrew Hennings are sprinkled amongst present day events. Andrew and his wife Helen have survived the Great Depression, but now their lives are threatened by the looming threat of Hitler and World War II. Andrew's faith never wavers as his oldest son Ben joins The United States Army Air Forces as a combat pilot. His comments and observations on various passages of scripture are powerful messages to Ben who is now in possession of Andrew's bible.

With an exquisite undercurrent of faith, a realistic storyline and genuine characters, Cross My Heart is a marvelous Christian romance. Ashley's reaction when she learns about Ben's alcoholism is understandable and she finds unexpected comfort through her growing relationship with God. Ben is an incredibly likable character whose deep faith sustains him on his life's journey. Andrew's story continues to reverberate throughout the generations as his Bible makes its way to his descendants who need it most. Robin Lee Hatcher easily engages readers with her realistic storylines and thought-provoking incorporation of Scripture into everyday life. This latest addition to the Legacy of Faith series is a wonderful story of grace, love and redemption. Highly recommend to fans of Christian fiction. ( )

What I think you should know:
Cross My Heart is the second book in the Legacy of Faith series however it can be read as a standalone novel. It is a time slip novel, the first story is a contemporary story, in which Ben has just inherited his grandfather’s farm. His goal is to turn into an equine therapy center. Ashley has been involved in horse rescue but does not have facilities like he does so she is happy to help him in his venture. The second story is Ben’s Great Grandfather, Andrew’s it takes place on the family farm in starting in 1939.

What you might want to know:
Ben is a recovering alcoholic and Ashley’s brother is an opioid addict, they both have scars from how what addiction has impacted in their lives.

What I enjoyed about this book:
This is a wonderful story of hope, forgiveness, overcoming your past and redemption. Ben is a wonderful example of what can happen if an alcoholic is able to overcome their past. He is a character who has had a very rough past, but is determined not to let his past overshadow his future, he also wants to help people find the freedom that he has found. Ashely is a good representation of many who have an addict as a family member, many parts of her life have been impacted by the demands of the addict. Ben’s Grandfather was a wonderful character who reminded me of my own grandfather. Robin Lee Hatcher, the author, has done a wonderful job of creating characters that are intriguing and realistic. I can’t wait for the next book in the series

Who will enjoy this book ( just to name a few):
Fans of Contemporary Fiction
Fans of Christian Fiction
Fans of Christian Romance

I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )