House on a Hill

by Tamara Rector

Aspiring author, David Connelly, once a homeless ex-con, risks everything to save Samantha, the daughter of a reverend. After the fallout leaves him homeless again, she finds him and brings him into her father’s home. There, David begins writing the story of his past—a story meant only for her.

As their connection deepens, danger resurfaces, and David must leave to protect her or stay and risk everything they’ve built.

A slow-burning romance and a fight for survival.

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2025

About the author

I’m Tamara Rector, a self-published author from Canada who loves writing about complicated people and the type of stories that keep you up at night. My books include the Skyeholm series, House on a Hill, and my newest, The Legend of Blackshore. When I’m not writing, I’m usually chasing after my two daughters, curled up with coffee, or daydreaming into different worlds.

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. I was excited when the author compared it to A Walk to Remember. The main characters are David and Samantha. David is a homeless man who had a tough past but his trying to change. He runs into Samantha after seeing her one time years ago at church. Little does he know she is the reverends daughter. The reverend and his family make David feel welcome and not alone. The more time David spends with Samantha the more he falls for her and the more he writes. Will David’s past catch up to him? Will being around Samantha put her in danger? Will her and her family be able to forgive him? When David leaves will he come back for Samantha or leave them both broken hearted? This story is of a man who was at the lowest of lows but with the help of God, Samantha, and her family he was able to overcome it all. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before things get better. I will say there is cussing, mentions of SA (he was able to prevent it from happening), and one spicy scene. Most of the books I read are cleaner so I wanted to give a heads up. Also, this book shows you the struggles that homeless people endure and the bad things they will do to survive but it was truly eye opening for me. The ending to this book was great. I will say I think seeing them further into the future together would’ve been great but overall it was a great book. If you are looking for a book where a guy is out for emotional healing, self-forgiveness, and hope for a better future then you may like this book.

[Michelle Dreyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 ARC Review — House on a Hill by @author.tamararector

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t your fast-paced, twisty thriller or steamy romance. This is a slow, steady, soul-deep story — and if you’re in the right headspace, it hits hard in the best way.

This book offers peace and healing. And I’m so glad I signed up to read the free ARC because once it clicked, it really clicked.

House on a Hill is a gentle, emotional journey about redemption, grace, and finding family in the most unexpected places. David was a character I rooted for from page one. You feel his trauma, his guilt, and that deep ache of someone who doesn’t think they deserve good things. And then there’s Samantha — written with such delicacy and quiet strength. She brings the light, the patience, the faith.

The writing is beautiful — poetic, heartfelt, and full of meaning. It's one of those stories where the healing feels just as powerful as the romance. Watching these two characters slowly learn to trust again, to believe in their own worth, and to reach for their happily-ever-after? Chef’s kiss. Pure, wholesome goodness.

> This book is a warm, slow-burning reminder that grace is real, love is healing, and even the most broken souls can find home.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

House on a hill is a wonderful written story about David as a young boy who wanted to be a writer. The day he was taking his first draft to get reviewed but an agency all hell broke loose when he was mugged the guy took his backpack with everything he owned. At that very moment his, mom and dad had an accident and we killed instanting. Which changed david life forever. He tried to keep his family home but with no funds he lost everything. Which left David homeless. This novel is alot about David's struggles of homelessness and the struggles and dangers with living on the street. In the end he was living in his car. One night he went into a church when he first saw Samantha not that he knew who she was. But she plays a huge part in his life as well as he father the pastor of the church. The novel teaches us about forgiveness and humanity and being humble to others in need. There was a tiny bit of spice but was tastefully done. It was a beautiful story that I'd recommend to anyone who is going through alot and needed a glimmer of hope that things do get better. When you follow the right part in life. And learn to forgive yourself for the wrongs you have done while being down and out. Looking forward to seeing what other novels Tamara has in store for us.

[The Plot Thickens Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Emma on behalf of The Plot Thickens Book Club

I really enjoyed reading this book! It reminded me of a Hallmark movie as it is a bit cheesy at times but I love a bit of cheese! It is a nice, easy read and you know it’s going to have a happy ending to make you feel good!

The main character, David, becomes homeless as a teenager when his parents die in a car accident and the book is about his struggles to survive on his own. Just when it seems David’s luck is changing and he finally has people who care about him and want to help him, his past comes back to haunt him, putting himself and those he loves in danger once more.

David and his love interest, Samantha, are really likeable characters and you root for them all the way through the story because they go through so much together and seem made for each other.

I loved the messages in this book about never giving up, learning to forgive yourself for your past mistakes and how we all need to accept help sometimes.

[Victoria Znajewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

House on a Hill by Tamara Rector is a heartfelt and thought-provoking story about redemption, forgiveness, and the power of human connection. It follows David Connelly, a homeless man in Toronto, as he struggles to escape a painful past marked by crime and loss. Through meaningful relationships—with a compassionate reverend, a kind-hearted woman named Samantha, and a welcoming church community—David begins a slow, emotional journey toward healing.

Rector paints a vivid portrait of life on the margins while exploring themes of faith, self-forgiveness, and hope. Though danger from David’s past resurfaces, threatening his progress, the novel emphasizes that transformation is possible—even in the darkest moments.

A moving, compassionate read for those who appreciate stories of second chances and quiet resilience.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like these tropes slow burn romance, ex- criminal and reverends daughter, found family, trauma recovery, faith and second chances. I highly recommend it.

This is a story about a man named David who is homeless. Who got into a bad group and was trying to get out of it. One day he talked to a reverend and the reverend helped. His past came back to haunt him. And he had to run from getting hurt.

The reverends daughter Samantha was the one who helped David know what being a better person was. She fell for him. And didn’t let his past change the way she looked at him. The way these two characters fit was such a beautiful story.

Beautifully written. I liked it!

[Deborah Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

"House on a Hill" by Tamara Rector is a beautifully crafted slow burn that captivated me from the very first page. The narrative follows David Connelly, a former criminal who once roamed the streets of Toronto, Ontario, lost and adrift in a world that seemed to have forgotten him. This book dives into themes of redemption and true love, exploring the power of human connection and the resilience of faith.
As I read each chapter following David's struggles and triumphs, I found myself swept away by a whirlwind of emotions, expertly maneuvered by the author’s skillful storytelling. Tamara brings you into the pages in such a way that it feels like a true story.

[Nikki Pinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book… I don’t know if there are words. It wasn’t anything I’d thought it would be. You know how sometimes you read a book that just stays with you? This is that book.

David is a character that I understood and identified with in a way that is deep and soul searching for a character who I do not have a similar history as. The only way that can happen is for the writer to write in a way that makes you feel the characters inside you. This book will find a permanent place in my shelf and this writer will be an immediate add to tbr.

[Jami Briggs-Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

David a young man finds himself living on the streets. Trying to find a way to make it and run from what is behind him. He finds himself standing inside a church where he learns about second chances. The meaning of true friendships. Inexplicably he ends up finding more than just that. As he gets comfortable his past finds him. His life is turned upside down. The people he loves are now in the crossfire. David now needs to figure out how to live and fight for those he loves before it’s too late.

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tamara is seriously a literary genius! Her writing is so poetic, so captivating. Even as a slower burn you never lose interest.

I felt so much for David's story; I laughed, cried.
The way Tamara connects characters and situations just blows my mind.

I absolutely loved her Skyeholm series and didn't think she could top it.....this is right up there with it.

I believe Tamara has an amazing author journey blossoming!

[Marianne Antonichuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this is her 4th book she has written and it follows a guy that is homeless and how he goes from the very bottom to being a reverend you see what he does to survive and how that past comes to hurt people he cares about I loved this book and can’t wait to have this book in my hands this author has a lot of fantastic books

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

After his parents died in car crash, David who was a teenager became homeless. You feel his struggles and his fight to survive. After becoming friends with a rectors daughter Samantha and is taken in he starts to feel his life has changed. But his past comes back and putting those now close to him in danger.
This book is full of emotions and how to forgive and accepting your past.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect as this was my first Tamara Rector read, but it seriously did not disappoint. I loved the characters, and the story writing made it so easily to fall in love with them and get completely engrossed in the story itself. Well worth a read!

[Judy Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love redemption stories!

This book surprised me ... in a good way. I love redemption arcs, and this delivered the best love story ever. Highly recommend this book ... and this author. Great read!

[Sydney Fantin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters, plot and pace were all on point. I was able to become invested in the characters and their stories and kept me wanting more. 👌

[Waseema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing story. The story put me through so many emotions, hope, anger, fear and peace at the last page.
We meet David who has not had the best life and his choices in relation to this led to poor choices and meeting unsavoury people, but when we meet him he's decided to change. All because he saw a girl in church, which led him to going to church more, to find her, but then we find he found himself.
His past catches up with him! And we get some really exciting, nerve wracking moments. Mainly because all we want is for David to get a break and find peace.
Do I have the grace for David to find happiness, I am not sure lol! And a lot of times I kept thinking Rev what are you doing man!!!
However, i really did want a good ending for David, Tamara wrote him as a kind soul, whose morals stopped him from ending a life, resulting in him being in danger and having to restart again and again. The tools he had been given I think helped him be able to restart everything and rebuild, and the letting go and listening yo your gut was such a clear message.
Reverend and his family showed what was important in helping someone with redemption

[Dee Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I read this book. I read the blurb and was skeptical especially when it was talking about a reverend's daughter I was really scared of the religious aspect of it due to religious traumas of my own. Just let me tell you something Tamara Rector blew me away with this. I thought it was gonna go one way and it went absolutely different. David a now writer with a past of being an ex-con and other not so great things finds Samantha. Samantha is the sweet wholesome good woman I feel David needed in his light. The more time he spends with her the more he sees that for himself. I love how this is a slow-paced slow burn kind of book and it hits the emotions hard. I am glad I read it cause it was amazing and I couldn't have been happier.

[Heather Mylek · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!! One of my all time favorites!! This is a masterpiece and truly amazing book!! This book gave me all the emotions!! David a man who lost it all as a child and became homeless, found life of crime. He realized that was not for him! He escaped and found a church. While at a church seen a beautiful girl. Went every Sunday for 4 years. Just to see her again, but she never came back. He ran into her at a bar and then that was it. Then a dinner invitation led to Meeting her again. His past comes back to haunt him. This book is truly inspiring and a must read!!!!! I LOVED it!! I would give it 10 stars if I could!