The Heart's Forgiveness

Pinecrest

by Merrillee Whren

Raising daughters wasn't easy for a singledad, especially when one daughter was atroubled teen with questionable friends. SoGrady Reynolds moved his family to small-town Pinecrest, Washington, hoping for a freshstart. Instead he found a reminder of the Maria Sanchez, his late wife's friend.Maria's life was busy, filled with mission tripsand a job at her friend's charitable foundation.Helping Grady regain his lost faith should havebeen fairly easy for her. After all, they wereneighbors and coworkers. Except Gradywasn't ready to give or receive forgiveness--or love.

Genres: Love Inspired, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian Romance

256 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2007

About the author

Merrillee Whren is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author who writes Christian romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award. She is married and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Cincinnati, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida. She now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she plots her novels. Please visit her Web site at http://www.merrilleewhren.com/.
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Reviews

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two-haiku review:

He's workaholic
Can he care enough to love?
Or will work come first?

He also lost faith
Took a crisis to change him
Hope he can stay changed

[Phylisha Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A good Christian read about a man thru exclusive focus of his career lost his wife (who ran off with another man then was killed in an accident.) The story focuses on his reaction and his distancing himself thru work to the detriment of his two daughters.

[Kristin Hermanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgiveness is just as important for yourself as it is for others

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ½ Stars ~ This is another sweet romance, the third in Ms. Whren's Pinecrest series.

Four years ago, Grady's wife died in an accident while she was in the process of leaving him, and their two girls, for another man. He'd never told a single sole and the only other person who knew of his wife's betrayal is his wife's best friend, Maria. At Nina's funeral, he'd angrily told Maria to stay away from his family, and she did.

After working ministerial assignments outside the US, Maria has re-established herself in Pinecrest. Maria's in charge of marketing and publicity for her friend's charitable foundation, and Grady has been hired to be administrator of the foundation's assisted living facility that is almost completed. Grady admits he still holds a grudge but he can put it aside for work. Maria doggedly pushes until he hears her truth, that she knew nothing of Nina's affair or plans to leave. With the air cleared, a friendship forms and Grady finds himself leaning towards her for help with his girls, 13 yr old Amanda and 9 year old Kelsey.

When Grady breaks the promise that he'd left his workaholic ways back in California, his eldest daughter acts out with attitude. Grady fights hard to win that trust back, and he's fighting his attraction to Maria. His girls have grown very close to her, maybe they could make a go of it. Only Maria still see's Grady's workaholic ways as a definite no.

[Harriet Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Heart’s Forgiveness has been a very pleasant read. It is not a story about a first-time bride or husband. It is a story about a man with a family who is a widower with issues. The heroine has her own issues. The story shows the ways God brings them together. There are some emotional feelings but no strong sexual scenes. In some circles, the writing might seem trite, as many books in this genre seem, but it is a wholesome, well-written story. If you are not interested in reading strong sexuality, you would enjoy this book. I would personally like to see the characters a little fuller, and a little truer to life, but I’m sure there are only so many pages the writer can use. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian romance.

[Desiree · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really don't expect a lot out of the shorter books. However, this one really sucked. I felt it was to weepy (and for me that's saying a lot). The main character spent most of the book with the "oh poor me, my father worked long hours and didn't go to every school event, so my adult life is horrible and I can't love or trust anyone." I felt like the main character just needed to grown up. In addition, the book is based in WA, but many of the geographical facts were just plain wrong. You can't get from Portland, OR, to Eastern, WA/Spokane in 2 hours. Also, Eastern WA is desert, not Evergreen trees, so it was just annoying.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first time I read this book I liked it and decided to reread it. The second time around I was not as impressed. I am so sick of books where the woman thinks that she's not giving enough in the relationship and that everything is her fault, it irritates me. I will not read this book again.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grady lost his wife 4 years ago to her bible study partner, Maria's brother. Can Grady and his two girls, Amanda & Kelsey, find a new start in Pinecrest? Will working with Maria on the new elder care facility be too difficult?

[Dakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!!