Jessica ran from her past but can she hide from love?

Book I (Glenbrooke Series)

I would have preferred a less suspenseful opening to the book. I sympathized with the Jessica character and loved the small town atmosphere of Glenbrooke. I thought Kyle was a little too perfect. ( )

Secrets
Robin Jones Gunn

Book Description: The Glenbrooke Series Jessica ran from her past...but can she hide from love? Jessica Morgan wants desperately to forget the past and begin a new life. She chooses a small, peaceful town tucked away in Oregon’s Willamette Valley as the place to start over—Glenbrooke. Once there, Jessica conceals her identity from the intriguing personalities she meets—including the compassionate paramedic who desires to protect her and the jealous woman who wants nothing more than to destroy her. Will Jessica’s deceit ruin all hope for the future? Or will she find a deeper peace that allows her to stop hiding the truth from those who love her most of all? This heartwarming bestseller, book one in the Glenbrooke series, introduces the fascinating people of Glenbrooke in a compelling tale of romance and spiritual truth.

Review: I enjoyed this book the first time I read it and again this time. It was the first Christian fiction book I ever bought and for that alone means a lot to me. I loved the mystery that surrounds this character and the people, some of whom become lead characters later. This was a soothing story for anyone who was or is wayward in life, faith or with others. I liked and continue to use index cards with scripture on them. To this day it is one of my favorite things to do and use for book markers and to memorize. I thought the story line was well developed and the main characters well written. I am glad that I had another chance to read this story.
I would like to thank Blogging for books and Waterbrook for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
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I have picked up this book several times and each time I start reading it I'm hooked (actually read it several months ago and just found it again on my bookshelf).

Jessica Morgan is on the run. She didn't do anything bad but circumstances are such that she has traveled a ways to accept a teaching job and on the way she has a very bad accident. After the accident she meets paramedic Kyle who helped her after the accident and has taken it upon himself to get her car towed to a mechanic, find her purse and luggage and then help her find her new home as Jessica's contact in Glenbrooke is in the hospital himself after having had a stroke.

Her story is rather amazing. I really admire how she struggled through each of her tribulations in Secrets and through the help of her new friends she comes out on top. Kyle is a very strong Christian and one her new teaching friends helps her as Jessica tries to live on very little money after the accident ate up what little she had. No insurance, no history or records, no ties to family and other than the new friends she's made she's on her own. It doesn't help that her new boss is awful and has a chip on her shoulder and has decided she doesn't like Jessica from the start.

The scriptural content of the book is sound and even though it's obvious that Jessica isn't a Christian in the beginning it was interesting to see Kyle and her new friends share the Love they have for their Lord and the Greater Love He has for us. This book is actually a pretty light read and it's perfect for a rainy or blizzardy day. It sounds like we are going to have a few of those this winter – so pick one up for your self and for a friend when you get a chance. =D

Disclaimer: I was offered a copy of the book to read and review on GivingNSharing. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands. Thanks for reading GivingNSharing!

The first book of the Glenbrooke series was an auspicious start. Jessica Morgan can only see one way to a future where she is not under her father's thumb, and it means running away from her past and starting over in small town Glenbrooke Oregon. She has arranged for a teaching job there, and thinks she will be completely happy. However, unfortunate events when she arrives in Glenbrooke make it a little more difficult than she had planned out. The man who hired her is in the hospital and unable to speak to her. She meets and befriends Kyle, a fireman – who has his own secrets that she helps him overcome – and Teri, a fellow teacher – who wants to help her form a new relationship with God. Her acting principal, Charlotte, is not so fond of her because she has Kyle's attention. She agrees to go on a trip to Mexico with the youth group to help build a church, and when faced with some prickly situations she finds her faith and surrenders herself to God. She begins to see hope for a relationship with Kyle, but he insists that she must resolve her issues of the past, and reveal her secrets to him in order to be together. Charlotte threatens she will dig until she finds out what Jessica is hiding. The clock is ticking until she actually uncovers what Jessica wants kept hidden, so she decides to beat Charlotte to the punch and face her past, confront her father and build a future that is open, honest, and full of love.
I enjoyed the heartfelt story very much. It was uplifting and left you feeling good at the end. I would like to read the other books in the series to see Teri's and other stories unfold.
I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. ( )