Redeeming Cade

by Susan Crawford

Cade McGuire has turned a one-eighty. The ex-con is now assistant director at the downtown mission that gave him a fresh start when he needed it most. When Cade attends a press conference and discovers that a woman running for a seat on the city council plans to close the mission, he can’t just stand by. Not even for a politician as beautiful as Darby Phillips.

Darby has been groomed her whole life for a future in politics. The City Council seat is just the first step in following her grandfather’s footsteps and making a difference for the community. When the obviously blue-collar Cade confronts her at a press conference, demanding she come and meet the people she’ll displace with her fancy new entertainment district, she knows refusing would be political suicide. No problem. A few hours at a rundown mission won’t change anything.

As Darby and Cade butt heads over what the city needs most, one unsettling thing becomes clear: though they’re from opposite worlds, they might just be what each other needs.

Unknown Binding

Published December 15, 2015

About the author

Susan Crawford is an author of inspirational fiction and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Oklahoma City, where she happily crams writing in between her day job of serving on her church's pastoral staff and being a wife and mom.

Visit her online at www.susancrawfordbooks.com to sign up for her email newsletter and be the first to hear about her writing news and upcoming releases.

Reviews

[Terressa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Sweet with a side of swoony. Wonderful story. I enjoyed the character development and communication between Cade and Darby. Very realistic. It will be fun to read more about secondary characters, especially Darby's brothers.

[Psusan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redeeming Cade by Susan Crawford is book two or maybe three in the Hometown Romance Series. I say this since Saving Justice is the first but there is also Reclaiming Brynn in The Boy Next Door Anthology. Each story is self-contained so there is no need to worry about the order much. However, I think each story out does the one before.

I like how the author set the stage for the conflict in this novel. The beginning builds the relationship of the mission on the people and community in which it is located. On a personal level, the importance of it to Cade is clearly evident. So it came as not a surprise that the mission’s future was in jeopardy. The honest but sympathetic approach taken with this conflict hit home with me.

The two main characters, Cade and Darby Phillips couldn’t have been more unlike, in upbringing, in goals and in beliefs, at least in the beginning. As for Cade I liked him from the minute he drove Loretta into the parking lot. I loved the changed he has made in his life and the way he is willing to fight for what he believes. Darby had to grow on me. The slick controlled by others politician is how I viewed her. As she changed so did my feelings for her.

In this surprisingly heartwarming romance is a strong social message. It is delivered with lecturing or preaching. I thoroughly enjoyed the story-line, the cast of characters, especially those at the mission and loved the ending. That was straight out of what you would see in a Hallmark movie. In fact, this would make a great movie!

The publisher provided a copy for an honest review.

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ex-con Cade McGuire is the new Assistant Director of the MidTown Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City, and he credits the mission with introducing him to God and turning his life around after his release from prison. All is going well until he meets aspiring politician Darby Phillips, whose plans for a new MidTown Entertainment District don’t include the mission.

I wasn’t convinced Redeeming Cade was the right title—most of the novel seemed to be about redeeming Darby. I’d like to have seen a little more of her spiritual regeneration, as it was never clear if she was anything more than a cultural Christian (as opposed to Cade, who was definitely saved). My only other complaint was that the ending felt too abrupt—the Kindle version finished at 81%, and we then got long samples from two other novels from the publisher (both excellent books, I might add).

Despite this, Redeeming Cade was an enjoyable feel-good contemporary Christian romance about the power of God to give us second (and third, and fourth . . . ) chances. The plot was solid, the characters were likeable and believable, and it was a well-written and entertaining read with some thought-provoking lines. Recommended.

Thanks to Redbud Press for providing a free ebook for review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cade has a past that he is trying to correct and a future he is not unsure of. He knows he needs to save the mission but he also knows he needs to show Darby why the mission is so important and needs to remain a fixture. Darby is so excited to be running for city council and is ready to over hall the downtown area with a face lift but what she was not ready for was finding things out about her mom and the brother who has been gone from her life. She also did not expect to have to deal with a hard headed stubborn man who runs the local mission in the area of town she over making. Will they be able to come to a compromise before its to late or will the secrets of the past destroy everything?
I had a hard time getting into this book at first.It quickly draws you in after a few chapters and has you hooked. The 2 main characters a polar opposites and they seem to make a friendship build off of that. They both have some quirky characters they hang out with which adds to the silliness in the book. The are parts in the book that deal with the heart and make the book appear deep at times. Over all the book was a fun read and really grabs your attention and totally well worth the read.

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! At the beginning, you might just think it's the typical "rich girl/guy from the wrong side of town" type of story but it's so much more! Cade is an ex-con but he's changed SO much from the man he used to be and his life is totally different now. He's become the assistant director of a downtown shelter that helps the homeless, hungry and needy. He loves to serve those who are there because this is where he went when he was troubled! Darby is the "rich girl" who is a politician who is running for office for a seat on the city council. She wants to shut down the shelter, until Cade challenges her to actually VISIT the shelter and get to know it. She does and finds herself loving the people and involved with Cade. I really enjoyed the journey of Cade and Darby. This is an emotional book but also a book of overcoming stereotypes and loving with your whole heart, while overlooking someone's past! I would highly recommend it!

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redeeming Cade by Susan Crawford is a beautifully told story about Cade McGuire, a man with a checkered past who turns his life around with the help of the Lord and is the assistant director of a community mission that helps people who are homeless. Cade is very connected to the mission and the community they serve. However, one day Cade finds out that the mission is being threatened by a politician set on closing it down in order to build a entertainment district in the community.
The politician is Darby Phillips, a woman who has the best of intentions in her campaign to become City Council member. From the beginning, Cade and Darby are at odds due to the closing of the mission and their relationship takes them both on a God-ordained journey neither expected.

I enjoyed reading the story of these two characters. Susan Crawford developed relatable characters. Cade struggles with the shame of his past and Darby is trying to figure out her purpose. God intervened in both their lives and illustrated to them that He will guide them through their struggles. I think that this story is a wonderful reminder of how God meets us in the middle of our struggles and through His guidance and love leads us to freedom in Him.

Happy Reading!

Note: I received an ebook copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of forgiveness and love!
Cade has found God’s forgiveness; but assumes not everyone would forgive his past, if they knew what he’d done. When he meets Darby, he can’t imagine being with her, for the same reason. This is a great story for many of us who think if others knew (fill in the blank) about us, they’d not want to have anything to do with us. Susan does a beautiful job of writing this story! I recommend reading it, for the romance; and also, for the story of forgiveness.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts off with tension and doesn’t let up. The tension between Darby and Cade is thick and then stretches.
Darby seems to have it altogether and is on her way to success but underneath her tough exterior is someone who seems to be doing things to please others more than herself. And she overhears a conversation that definitely suck with me and wait to see what would happen once all was revealed.
Cade is a great character who has overcome a lot in his past and only wants others to experience the redeeming love of Jesus.
I recommend this book highly. A great romance with a lot of tension.

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Alisha Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute story though found the finally part rushed. would have liked there to be a final discussion between mum n daughter. Wonder if tyson n weston will get their story told?