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Review: You're the Reason - Home to Heritage #1

You're the Reason book cover on blue background

That feeling when one of your favourite book series gets more books added to it—what a lovely surprise to hear the announcement about the Home to Heritage series after completing the Restoring Heritage series a while back! An even lovelier surprise has been seeing additional authors join this series, such as with You're the Reason by Susan May Warren with Tari Faris.

Book Synopsis

She never intended to return to Heritage.

When an injury sidelines her, Grace Howell leaves her life as a ballerina and returns to Heritage, Michigan, to heal. Teaching dance is just a temporary gig, until she finds herself unexpectedly charmed by small-town life and her growing attachment to Seth Warner, a man from her past with a troubled history of his own.

He’s back in Heritage as a changed man.

The last place Seth thought he’d return is Heritage, but a felony record has narrowed his options, compelling him back to a community that hasn’t forgotten his transgressions. Dreams of starting a Ninja Gym give him purpose, yet it’s his entanglement with Grace—the woman he once let slip away—that ignites his desire to stay. Is this his chance at redemption and to live out the love he’s always harbored?

But can they forget the past?

When Grace’s old ballet company offers her a chance to come back, she’s faced with a heart-wrenching decision: pursue the dream she’s always known or stay with the community and man that have captured her heart, even as that love is put to the test.

But has Seth really changed?

Seth’s world is rocked by a confrontation that threatens to pull him back into the world he’s tried so hard to escape. He must fight to clear his name and protect his future with Grace, proving that his commitment to change is more than just talk.

With their happiness hanging by a thread, the decisions they make will define their fates and the heart of Heritage itself.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

After reading the Restoring Heritage series, I admit that I felt a little bereft after it was completed. The characters, the town, and even Otis the town hippo all grow on you, along with the incredible stories of God's redemption. When I saw that Sunrise was releasing a new series based on the beloved town of Heritage, Michigan, I couldn't wait to return. You're the Reason carries on with the same determination and hope as previous books where Seth and Grace experience the love of God from their community.

This book is a little grittier in depicting realistic battles that the characters face, from addictions to criminal justice to toxic parent-child relationships. There is so much to unpack in this book, yet the authors are able to do it in a way that allows the light of Jesus to shine through. I love that the characters pray and turn to God continually as they face each day. Time after time, the messages of God's love overcoming the darkness leaves readers feeling encouraged and uplifted even with heavier themes involved. Those looking for a small-town romance will find Heritage to be an endearing setting, and the story to have a strong emotional pull on the heart.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: ๐Ÿ“ฑ
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: ๐Ÿ‘

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