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Falling Into Us
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26She only meant to drop off a letter. She found a family instead.
Gabby Donaldson's late mother left her with one final deliver a letter to her estranged mother. Once Gabby fulfills her mom's deathbed promise, she'll leave behind the grandmother she never knew and return to her carefully constructed life in the city. With a fulfilling career as a jewelry designer, she's convinced she doesn't need roots to feel whole.
But locating Rosemary proves more complicated than expected. And when journalist--and single dad--Mason Morrison offers help in exchange for telling her story, Gabby agrees. The arrangement seems simple he gets the human-interest piece that could be his big break, and she gets to fulfill her mother's final wish.
What neither anticipates is how quickly professional boundaries blur. As Gabby is drawn into Mason's world--and the life he's built with his precocious twelve-year-old daughter--Gibson begins to feel less like a stopover and more like home.
Yet the past has a way of complicating the present. If Gabby uncovers the truth about her family, will it free her to move forward--or make leaving impossible? And when the story is finally written, will she return to the life she planned . . . or risk falling into one she never saw coming?
Gabby Donaldson's late mother left her with one final deliver a letter to her estranged mother. Once Gabby fulfills her mom's deathbed promise, she'll leave behind the grandmother she never knew and return to her carefully constructed life in the city. With a fulfilling career as a jewelry designer, she's convinced she doesn't need roots to feel whole.
But locating Rosemary proves more complicated than expected. And when journalist--and single dad--Mason Morrison offers help in exchange for telling her story, Gabby agrees. The arrangement seems simple he gets the human-interest piece that could be his big break, and she gets to fulfill her mother's final wish.
What neither anticipates is how quickly professional boundaries blur. As Gabby is drawn into Mason's world--and the life he's built with his precocious twelve-year-old daughter--Gibson begins to feel less like a stopover and more like home.
Yet the past has a way of complicating the present. If Gabby uncovers the truth about her family, will it free her to move forward--or make leaving impossible? And when the story is finally written, will she return to the life she planned . . . or risk falling into one she never saw coming?
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
Denise Hunter
87 books4,977 followersDenise Hunter is the award-winning author of more than 40 novels, three of which have been adapted into Hallmark movies.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.
In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest and four beautiful grandchildren.
Denise gives away books and gifts cards in every monthly newsletter! Subscribe here to be eligible: https://www.denisehunterbooks.com
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.
In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest and four beautiful grandchildren.
Denise gives away books and gifts cards in every monthly newsletter! Subscribe here to be eligible: https://www.denisehunterbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 21, 2026
This was a sweet, Christian romance! There isn’t necessarily anything about it that was ground breaking or addicting, but it was an enjoyable read overall.
I love the small town feel and the found family. Mason’s family is what dreams are made of! I liked the setting of the family farm too - honestly what I would love in my own life 😆
One tedious thing I didn’t like was the lack of identifying who was talking during dialogue. I had to go back at times to identify who started the conversation and do a process of elimination.
Overall, it’s exactly what you’d expect out of Christian fiction!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
I love the small town feel and the found family. Mason’s family is what dreams are made of! I liked the setting of the family farm too - honestly what I would love in my own life 😆
One tedious thing I didn’t like was the lack of identifying who was talking during dialogue. I had to go back at times to identify who started the conversation and do a process of elimination.
Overall, it’s exactly what you’d expect out of Christian fiction!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
June 10, 2026
Another 5 star read from Denise Hunter. I was excited to receive the ARC for her latest novel, Falling Into Us. It follows Gabby who is looking for her long lost grandmother. To her surprise, her mother on her deathbed revealed that her grandmother disowned her after getting pregnant at 19. Gabby has a lot of emotions to tackle - from her mom lying to her for her whole life, to honouring her request from her mom to deliver a letter to the grandmother. While in Gibson, where the grandmother last lived, Gabby finds comfort with her Airbnb host (and journalist), Mason.
The novel is filled with emotional trauma and finding family. Romance was sweet and the characters finely developed. A perfect romance read from the fabulous Denise Hunter. Releases October 2026.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
The novel is filled with emotional trauma and finding family. Romance was sweet and the characters finely developed. A perfect romance read from the fabulous Denise Hunter. Releases October 2026.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Falling Into Us, Denise Hunter delivers another deeply moving story filled with emotional honesty, small town charm, and characters who feel wonderfully real.
To honor her late mother’s final wish, Gabby Donaldson travels to her mother’s hometown to deliver a letter to Rosemary—the estranged grandmother she has never met. What she expects to be a quick trip becomes far more complicated when locating Rosemary proves difficult. Though Gabby intends to return to her structured life as a jewelry designer, she soon finds herself unexpectedly drawn to the warmth of the community and the sense of belonging she’s never quite known.
Mason Morrison, a single father and local journalist, offers to help Gabby in her search in exchange for permission to share her story in the town paper—provided her identity remains anonymous. As they work together, Gabby witnesses the tender, everyday challenges Mason faces raising his spirited twelve-year-old daughter, as well as the quiet burden of guilt he carries from the tragic loss of his wife.
I was quickly swept up in Gabby’s quest to fulfill her mother’s last wish and in the beautiful, messy, heartfelt lives of the Morrison family. Hunter writes with such sincerity that the emotional journeys of both Gabby and Mason feel intimate and deeply earned. Her stories always seem to come straight from the heart, and this one is no exception.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
To honor her late mother’s final wish, Gabby Donaldson travels to her mother’s hometown to deliver a letter to Rosemary—the estranged grandmother she has never met. What she expects to be a quick trip becomes far more complicated when locating Rosemary proves difficult. Though Gabby intends to return to her structured life as a jewelry designer, she soon finds herself unexpectedly drawn to the warmth of the community and the sense of belonging she’s never quite known.
Mason Morrison, a single father and local journalist, offers to help Gabby in her search in exchange for permission to share her story in the town paper—provided her identity remains anonymous. As they work together, Gabby witnesses the tender, everyday challenges Mason faces raising his spirited twelve-year-old daughter, as well as the quiet burden of guilt he carries from the tragic loss of his wife.
I was quickly swept up in Gabby’s quest to fulfill her mother’s last wish and in the beautiful, messy, heartfelt lives of the Morrison family. Hunter writes with such sincerity that the emotional journeys of both Gabby and Mason feel intimate and deeply earned. Her stories always seem to come straight from the heart, and this one is no exception.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
The main female character Gabby was enjoyable. I fear though, at times without the help of her mother’s, grandmother’s, and Mason’s parts in this book, her story didn’t feel like the main focus. Those characters carried her throughout the book. Mason and Gabby were the main characters, but I felt as though the story was more so about Mason and his life/families lives. Which I wholly enjoyed. I loved the father/daughter relationship between Peyton and Mason. I could feel their love and closeness. I laughed and shed some tears. It was a good story. Grief, leaving to love again. It did lag slightly towards the end but not much to mess up the book. This is the only reason why I gave it 4 stars.
#Netgally
The main female character Gabby was enjoyable. I fear though, at times without the help of her mother’s, grandmother’s, and Mason’s parts in this book, her story didn’t feel like the main focus. Those characters carried her throughout the book. Mason and Gabby were the main characters, but I felt as though the story was more so about Mason and his life/families lives. Which I wholly enjoyed. I loved the father/daughter relationship between Peyton and Mason. I could feel their love and closeness. I laughed and shed some tears. It was a good story. Grief, leaving to love again. It did lag slightly towards the end but not much to mess up the book. This is the only reason why I gave it 4 stars.
#Netgally
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a complimentary copy of this book given to me by Thomas Nelson Fiction via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
“Falling Into Us”, by Denise Hunter, is a touching, absorbing story showing very lovable characters dealing with loss and grief, yet trying to live and enjoy life the best they can.
I loved Gabby, Mason, and Peyton. The bonds that form between them are solid. The initial meeting and reactions are fun to watch.
Ther romance is sweet; the attraction develops fast but it’s convincing.
The story is a pleasure to read as the characters show their several dimensions and new relations and affections are borne within Mason’s gregarious family.
I liked Gabby’s grit and smartness and how she integrated so well in the hero’s family and community. Mason is a great hero. I loved the outlook on journalism.
I also appreciated the way the author wrote about some themes – loneliness, grief, guilt, widowhood, ageing and dementia, adoption – and how they were embodied by the characters personalities and backstories.
“Falling Into Us”, by Denise Hunter, is a touching, absorbing story showing very lovable characters dealing with loss and grief, yet trying to live and enjoy life the best they can.
I loved Gabby, Mason, and Peyton. The bonds that form between them are solid. The initial meeting and reactions are fun to watch.
Ther romance is sweet; the attraction develops fast but it’s convincing.
The story is a pleasure to read as the characters show their several dimensions and new relations and affections are borne within Mason’s gregarious family.
I liked Gabby’s grit and smartness and how she integrated so well in the hero’s family and community. Mason is a great hero. I loved the outlook on journalism.
I also appreciated the way the author wrote about some themes – loneliness, grief, guilt, widowhood, ageing and dementia, adoption – and how they were embodied by the characters personalities and backstories.
Read
June 26, 2026Falling Into Us by Denise Hunter is a full length stand alone novel published by Thoms Nelson Fiction.
I read the blurb and was intrigued and thought why not, give it a try. I read a few books by this author and I like her style and writing.
Gabby is on a mission to find a relative. But easier said than done and soon she meets her AirBnb landlord who wants to help her.
Mason is a widowed single dad and whilehe's still mourning his late wife, he's intrigued with Gabby and her story. Her story that would be perfect for his newspaper.
Falling Into Us is a slow burn where not much happens at first. In the second half the pace gets a bit faster, but there's still a lot of nabelschau going on.
A well rounded story, a beautiful second chances story, 4 beautiful stars.
I read the blurb and was intrigued and thought why not, give it a try. I read a few books by this author and I like her style and writing.
Gabby is on a mission to find a relative. But easier said than done and soon she meets her AirBnb landlord who wants to help her.
Mason is a widowed single dad and whilehe's still mourning his late wife, he's intrigued with Gabby and her story. Her story that would be perfect for his newspaper.
Falling Into Us is a slow burn where not much happens at first. In the second half the pace gets a bit faster, but there's still a lot of nabelschau going on.
A well rounded story, a beautiful second chances story, 4 beautiful stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Loved this story of Gabby Donaldson who was traveling to Gibson , North Carolina to find the grandmother she had never met to give her a letter had left for her to deliver while on her death bed. Off Gabby went on a journey to find her. The night she arrived she lost the key to the Airbub and had to call the owner. Mason came with the key and killed a spider. She found out he worked for the newspaper. It seemed he might be able to help her because she didn't have much to go on. Follow their journey as they follow leads but it takes a while to get the right one. See what she is up against and how it all works out. A GREAT READ>
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A mysterious letter, a lost grandmother, and a search for healing set the background to the novel "Falling Into Us". The story follows Gabby’s journey after her mom’s death. When Gabby brings her late mother’s letter to the grandmother she believed was dead, she meets Mason, an Airbnb host whose becomes involved in the search.
Denise Hunter creates characters who written like real people. The story’s depth is one of its best qualities. Tough topics are dealt with sensitivity, giving readers like myself, a sense of hope. It reminds us that even after heartbreaking circumstances, healing is possible.
I receive complimentary books from various sources, including NetGalley, authors, and others. I am not required to write a positive review, and I have not received any compensation for my thoughts.
Denise Hunter creates characters who written like real people. The story’s depth is one of its best qualities. Tough topics are dealt with sensitivity, giving readers like myself, a sense of hope. It reminds us that even after heartbreaking circumstances, healing is possible.
I receive complimentary books from various sources, including NetGalley, authors, and others. I am not required to write a positive review, and I have not received any compensation for my thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Falling Into Us by Denise Hunter is an inspiring romance about second chances, healing and restoration of hope. I loved the characters, the family warmth and small town setting. I love how the romance built up in the process of searching for answers and the twist at the end was lovely. Nice read.
I got the ARC from Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson via Netgalley. This is my honest feedback
I got the ARC from Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson via Netgalley. This is my honest feedback
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a complimentary copy of this book "Falling into Us". Always happy to read a book from Denise Hunter. I loved the characters and the small town setting. Gabby and Mason, I loved their journey. Overall great book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews