Book Review: The House that Love Built by Beth Wiseman ~ 5/5!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review 

as part of a Litfuse Publicity Blog Tour.  To see more about the book, author, and other reviews please click HERE.

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Title:  "The House that Love Built"
Series:  N/A

Author:  Beth Wiseman
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson
Publication Date:  4/2/13

Pages:  320

Buy From Amazon:  HERE

Book Description:

Brooke has only loved one man, her late husband. Owen's rebuilding after a painful divorce. Can a mysterious house bring them together for a second chance at love?

In the charming town of Smithville, Texas, Brooke Holloway is raising two young children on her own, supporting them by running the family hardware store. The last thing on her mind is falling in love. But she's intrigued when a stranger moves to town and buys the old Hadley mansion. She's always heard that house holds a secret-maybe even a treasure-and she can't wait to see inside. When she meets the new owner and they spend time together, she can't deny the attraction. Could God be giving her another chance at happiness? Or is she betraying her late husband's memory by even thinking that way?

Owen Saunders bought the Hadley place to spite his cheating ex-wife. She'd always wanted to restore an old house in Smithville. Now he's going to do it without her. But if anything needs restoration, it is Owen's heart. Then he meets Brooke and her kids and finds himself tempted by love. Can he bring himself to trust a woman again?

Throw an eccentric uncle into the mix, along with the town's teenage troublemaker, and even a finicky cat-and one thing becomes clear: God is bringing them all together for a reason.

Meet Beth:

 

Beth is a Carol Award Winner, Inspirational Readers Choice Winner, INSPY Winner, and the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. All of her books have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) bestseller list and the CBA (Christian Book Association) bestseller list. She grew up in Houston, Texas and now resides in a small town west of Houston with a population of around 300. She lives with her husband, two dogs, two cats, two pot bellied pigs, two chickens and a pygmy goat. Her two grown sons also live in Texas. Beth has been writing in some capacity for most of her life. She's a former award-winning journalist with eleven honors, including 'First Place News Writing' for The Texas Press Association. However, writing love stories with a spiritual message is where her heart is. When Beth isn't writing (which is seldom these days) she enjoys traveling, cooking, fishing, reading, or just settling in for a good movie. Her best times are spent with family and friends! 

 

Learn more about Beth at: BethWiseman.com 

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I loved this book.  I was hooked as soon as the remodel of the house started.  I love that stuff!

The main characters were great.  Complicated, but great.  Their dynamics were so interesting and it was fun to watch the relationship evolve.

The kids were adorable and the other characters added so much dimension to the story.

It was fun to read as they tried to find the "hidden bunker."

A Brief Excerpt:

"Didn't you ever want to leave here?" Owen took a gulp of water.  "I mean, I thought people who grew up in a small town always looked forward to the day they could leave."

 Page 57

The Cover:

I loved the background.  That house is amazing.  There was just something about the characters in the foreground that bugged me a little bit.  I don't know why though.

Other Notes:

~There are some delicate topics contained within these pages.  A harsh divorce, the death of a spouse, overcoming grief, child abuse and neglect.  It all works out in the end but I wanted to give a "heads-up" on these issues.

Rating

5/5

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On to the next book,