Carmen Peone

A powerful read that truly has it all, Renewed Hope is the third novel in the Seven Tines Ranch series and when I say that this series continues to get better and better I mean it!

I’m not going to sugarcoat it, this novel can be tough to read at times, especially if you have had any type of abuse in your life, but even if you haven’t it still hits hard. The emotions are so raw and real that I found myself having to close the book and take a breather while I silently prayed for Sophie and her situation. I remember that feeling of helplessness so vividly when I was going through my own tumultuous situation and the author was able to capture those emotions so distinctly.

I love seeing Native American women have a voice in this series so much, as they are often marginalized, their cries disappearing like a whisper in the wind. I come from a long line of strong, native women and appreciate the author’s pen giving hope to the hopeless and reminding us all that true love goes far beyond the words we speak but to the very depths of our soul, and that love and pain do not belong together. My prayer today is for all of those that are abused, whether past or present, and no matter what way. We need to lift one another up in prayer and give hope to the hopeless and faith to the faithless.

Though this is a very tough subject matter this is worth the read. Sophie is such an incredibly strong woman that I admired so much. How she was able to go through what she went through and come out on the other side is remarkable. Chad is incredible and reminded me so much of how my husband was when I was going through my ordeal, a beacon of light in the darkness.

This series continues to impact me on such a visceral level, and I continue to give it my highest praise.

*I have reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.… (mehr)

Wow...

Before I picked up this note I knew there was a trigger warning that went along with it, but after reading quite a few Christian fictions that were lacking depth I was craving something more real, and boy oh boy did I get that with Broken Bondage.

Rita is in an abusive engagement and knows it will not end well for her unless she makes an escape, so she takes a chance and runs away to a safe haven, Seven Tine Guest Ranch, where she meets Robert. Robert is fighting to obtain his pro-rodeo status and nothing is going to stand in his way, but there is something different about Rita that makes Robert realize that he just might be fighting for the wrong thing, and Rita gets to see how a woman should be treated.

This is a darker novel in terms of topics that are prevalent which includes physical and verbal abuse, sexual assault, miscarriages, panic attacks, suicide, and even murder. I was honestly surprised with how many triggering topics were brought up, especially with it being a Christian fiction. I applaud the author for including these as many Christian fictions shy away from them, but they are topics that many, many people can identify with. Life is messy and holding onto your faith when you don’t understand why these things happen is something we all struggle to comprehend, which is why I believe I personally felt such a connection to Rita.

Rita experiencing multiple panic attacks throughout the story hit so close to home for me, and was incredibly accurate, which could be triggering for some to read, but for me it made me feel seen. When I’m in the throes of one of my attacks I always feel so alone, like no one understands, but that’s a lie! There are many that struggle right along with me and it was comforting to see how Rita handled them, and remind me that I am not alone.

As far as being triggered, I honestly wasn’t as triggered as I thought I would be. Sure, there were moments in the story that brought me back to similar instances in my own past, but because I have grieved, forgiven, and moved on from my own experiences those memories don’t bother me as much as they used to. Thinking back on my own trauma for a moment allowed me to praise God for how far I’ve come from those dark times, and that is my prayer for everyone that has been a victim of abuse.

When I read the author’s note at the end of the book it crushed my soul, as she states why she wrote this particular story. There are truly no words and I am so sorry for her loss, but I know that God is going to use this story for good. I am so proud of her for getting deep down in the muck and writing about these tough topics with such heart.

This was such a powerful read that I could not put it down for even a moment, and has made me fall in love with this seres. I haven’t had a chance to read the first book yet, but I do plan on it in the future. If it’s anything like Broken Bondage I know it’s going to be amazing!

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I read through Kindle Unlimited with JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.… (mehr)