Convicted felon Natalie Jones once gave her heart to Gage Merona. Now her heart belongs to eight-year-old Dash, the son Gage doesn’t know about. Determined to face the criminal charges against her, Natalie moves Dash across the country to meet his father for the first time.
Although Dash is Natalie’s whole world, her plan for redemption involves the heartbreaking task of leaving him with Gage. Will Natalie be able to forgive herself for what she must do? Will Dash?
And what happens when emotions between Natalie and Gage rekindle? How will Gage react when he learns the actual truth of what happened all those years ago?
“Forgiving Natalie is an unforgettable love story about forgiveness and second chances. An intense read, this latest Kristin Noel Fischer book will stay with you long after you finish the last page.”
Kristin Noel Fischer writes stories that combine uplifting women’s fiction with inspirational romance. Her books focus on overcoming tragedy through faith, family, friendship, love, and laughter. Readers enjoy her realistic characters and hope-filled endings.
If you’re looking for a heartwarming, compelling read without gratuitous love scenes or foul language, you’ve come to the right place.
Kristin is an Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist as well as a Golden Quill finalist for Best Inspirational Romance. She lives in Texas where she enjoys biking, yoga, and spending time with her husband and six kids.
I have almost given this book 5 stars if not only for that small detail that bothered me towards the end, but still giving a book a 4.5 rating doesn't change the fact that this is an amazing story of forgiveness and second chances.
This is no saccharine sweet Christian romance. Despite maintaining a relatively light touch throughout, it deals with crime, addiction and punishment.
I really liked how the man male character was such a handsome, wealthy, great guy with one leg. Only having one leg did not hold him back at all and the matter was treated with a commendable matter-of-factness.
This story is filled with well-rounded characters. No one is perfect. Forgiveness is needed on more than one side. Real mistakes are made and not sugar-coated. Yet still this is a romance.
All round a well-crafted story that kept my interest throughout.
This book had an unusual premise to begin with and while I likely would not have picked it up on my own because of the paper weight and cover style, I am thrilled I did for book club.
There are not many books that address addictions, especially high functioning addictions and the issues that a family might face with it, from the addicts point of view, especially in CF.
I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the discussion.
** *** I really enjoyed book- this is pretty much a clean romance but it flowed so well and was such a wonderful story I actually was ok with this.
This is a second chance romance centering around faith, forgiveness and redemption. I really enjoyed this one with a few exceptions - H was too quick to give up on h, did not stand by her when he should have (what about "for better or worse)? Also H was with the bitchy friend from high school days that he claimed was like a sister to him so why were they now dating for few yrs? Also was pretty mean to the h, in this second chance space H did redeem himself. Lastly, I hate when h with hold child from father unless he is abusive, harmful etc. No excuse even though usually the fear is usually getting emotionally hurt by H but this is about the child.
No actual cheating, not sure if any sexual relationship between H/ow as this was not explained. I will definately check other books by author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
First I'm not going to retell the story in my review... this was a brake ur heart put it back together kinda book. I love how this book show even though our lives don't turn out like we thought God has a plan for us. I highly recommend this book.
This novel jerked at my heartstrings as I listened. So many issues were involved because of individual choices. I found myself in tears several times, and rooting for the protagonists to succussed all the way thru. I would like to hear of a sequel to this book.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Rebecca Rush made every bit of the story touch the heart.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I loved this book. It deals with disabilities, drug addiction, lost love, divorce, raising a child, legal issues, dreams, family responsibilities and family issues. All of these things woven into a very entertaining emotional story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's a quick read and one that keeps you wanting to turn the pages to find out what happens. It also gives great insight into how easily any of us can get addicted to drugs, alcohol etc.
Forgiving Natalie is by Kristen Noel Fischer. This is a compelling read. You simply cannot put it down once you get into it. You experience a wide range of emotions as you read. You laugh, you cry, you get angry, you get sad, you feel hatred, you feel love, and you feel the love of a Mother for her child. You never know what lies around the next page as the action changes so fast. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Kristen throws in another twist. It is a haunting read as you remember people in your past who have gone through or are going through the same things Natalie is. Natalie has decided to move to San Francisco to be near her ex-husband and the father of her son, Dash. Unfortunately, Gage Merona does not know about his son. He hasn’t seen nor talked to Natalie in years. He left her when she got arrested for stealing drugs. He just could not trust her anymore. Their marriage had already started on shaky grounds with his parents’ discouragement for his marrying her. After all, her Father was in prison for killing his wife (although that wasn’t quite the truth it was what the town got). Coming from that sort of background, she certainly wasn’t as good for him as was Sheela was. Sheela had picked on her from the first day she started at the private school. His teasing of her and his antics to get attention did not go unnoticed by his friends and family. Natalie has her plan set. She will set up her household and business in San Francisco. She will introduce Gage to her son and let them have time to become acquainted, She will leave Dash with Gage and return to Chicago where she will give herself up to the authorities until she serves her time out. She just hopes Gage can understand why she behaved the way she did and that she only did what she believed was best for her son.
This is one of those books that will suck you in and make you feel all the feelings. On the first page, we learn that Natalie’s life is clearly in chaos since she’s San Francisco to introduce her son Dash to his father (Gage) before she turns herself into jail in Chicago. The story then alternates between present day 2017 San Francisco and 2006 Chicago when Natalie and Gage first meet. Natalie is an ER nurse and one night Gage, her former high school crush who is everything dreamy and a war hero, ends up in her emergency room due to a dog bite. Early on in their relationship, Natalie is in a car accident, which is the catalyst for her downfall and what eventually tears Natalie and Gage apart in Chicago.
Without giving away any spoilers, this book deals with timely issues and will make you think. These characters and their emotions felt so real to me, and I understood all of their motivations, good and bad. Everything about this read is engaging, wonderful, heartbreaking, and hopeful – a definite feel-good book!
The USAToday review was absolutely correct when it said once you've read Forgiving Natalie, the reader will want to read all of Kristin Fischer's other books--I've already downloaded Anna's Courage and will be getting her other books. Forgiving Natalie is a feel-good book even though you can see disaster looming throughout the story. Fischer is a good writer who quickly draws the reader into the story. Her characters are well-drawn--Gage is swoon-worthy and the man every woman wants to marry. Natalie is spunky and independent and a great mother. Dash steals the book, though. I wanted it to work out for them almost from the get-go.
I found her portrayal of drug addiction accurate, and Fischer showed how easily one can become entangled in addictions. Readers who enjoy a good love story will love Forgiving Natalie.
Kristin Noel Fischer never fails to make me sigh with content when I finish one of her books. Forgiving Natalie is no exception. I admit I wasn't sure I'd like reading a book that went back and forth between 2007 and 2017 but Kristin made it easy to read. I do wish I'd learned a bit more about the criminal charges Natalie faced earlier on, but that didn't stop me from searching ways during my workday to sneak in another few pages. The book kept me engaged and hooked from the beginning. The romance between Natalie and Gage took a big hit in the past, but Kristin brings them back to a happy, solid relationship in a realistic way. For a feel good, heartwarming story, make sure to read Forgiving Natalie.
I'm genuinely puzzled by the rating and reviews for this book.It has a great storyline but the way the book unfolds just made me dashing into dielema that if I should complete it or not and yup I did not, the absence of chemistry between the H and h, the style of writing did not make me feel like I was being pulled inside the book, I merely felt like I was just looking at it. I just knew after the 100th page I can't finish it, the writing did not resonate any sort of emotional pull from me. It's a hell no from me to read this book.
Natalie is involved in a severe accident and becomes addicted to pain killers. As a nurse in an ER ward she has easy access, is caught stealing and convicted to 6 years prison. Her husband Gage divorces her at that point. Unbeknowst to him she has his son and is never given the date to voluntarily appear to serve her sentence so she doesn't go. It is now 7 years later and she takes Dash to meet his father as the first step to turning herself in.
This was an amazing story. We all make mistakes, yet it is in how we handle those mistakes that true character shines through. This was a great story that had me laugh and cry. I could not put the book down as I had to see how it ended, and I can say I was pleasantly surprised with the ending. This also shows that if you want to change, you can. It is not easy, but it can happen.
Loved this story! Love, forgiveness and true friendship is shown throughout the book. This is a story that will touch each readers heart. Can be read by all audiences.
An inspired story, of redemption. You he er know what one thing will rock your world , either for good or bad. Follow along as tragedy, and triumph collides. Watch what happens when you let go and let God take control.
This book was excellent. It mirrors issues that many people are struggling with today. It also shows if we turn to our Heavenly Father and ask for His help our life can change miraculously! Loved this story!
I enjoyed t Reading this book. It showed that oftentimes others forgive us more easily than we forgive ourselves. Even though we can do crazy and sometimes illegal things God still is at work to draw us close to Him.
I loved this book! It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that I wanted to stay up late because I couldn’t put it down. Loved the characters and flow of the book. Definitely an author I will follow.
Truly an excellent read. Very moving. I cried and I sympathized with Natalie. I really got sucked into the story. I highly recommend this clean, Christian romance. My first time reading this author’s work and I was impressed. I read it all in one sitting as, once started, I couldn’t put it down.
I really enjoyed this book, I had trouble putting it down... The author kept you guessing as to why Natalie was headed to prison. The use of flashbacks and different first person narratives was well done.
Good story, even though it started out slow. This is a positive story of how circumstances and not the system can change a person. It is definitely a story about forgiveness and the unconditional love of a mother towards vher child..
Entertaining story line. Believable characters. Just wish you hadn't killed off the Grandpa... But still an enjoyable read and one I will recommend to my reading friends.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting reading from each character's viewpoint throughout the book. It was easy to follow the switching back and forth between current years and prior years.
This was the second book I have read by this author. I, thoroughly, enjoyed the story line. I read it in one day. I love that the author didn't have to use profanity to write a good book.
Fischer has written a beautiful story of one woman's struggle to face the consequences of her past as she hopes against hope that the one person she hurt the most will forgive her.
Readers of romance and women's fiction will enjoy this honest portrayal of a courageous woman.