You'll Think of Me by Robin Hatcher

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 11, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718085949
• ISBN-13: 978-0718085940

About the Book:

Her mother abandoned her, her father disowned her, and her husband left her. Can Brooklyn be convinced that it is possible to forgive the greatest of betrayals?

Brooklyn Myers escaped her broken home and her embittered, unloving father by eloping to Reno at the age of 17. But when she was pregnant with their first child, her husband abandoned her as well. Not welcome back home in Thunder Creek, Brooklyn stayed in Reno and raised her daughter Alycia on her own, doing her best to make sure Alycia never knew the heartache and rejection Brooklyn herself had known.

When her estranged husband Chad Hallston dies, he leaves the family home in Thunder Creek to his daughter. Believing it is the best way to give her daughter a stable home, Brooklyn does what she thought she would never do. She goes home to the orchard and wine country of Southwest Idaho. There, she encounters Chad’s best friend, Derek Johnson, a part time sheriff's deputy who also owns an organic produce farm next door. Derek was never a fan of former bad girl Brooklyn Myers, but he made a promise to his dying friend that he would be the father to Alycia that Chad had never been.

Although Derek and Brooklyn get off to a bumpy start, he and Alycia quickly form a bond. And soon, Derek realizes that he wants Brooklyn to trust him too . . .  even knowing that her trust won’t come easily. And then he realizes he wants even more than her trust. He wants to win her love.

While Brooklyn may be tempted to give her heart to Derek, risking her daughter’s happiness is another story. Will Brooklyn hold onto her self-reliance for dear life, or will she come to understand that the greatest gift she can give her daughter is showing her how to love and trust others?

My Thoughts:

I've enjoyed Robin Hatcher's novels for a few decades, but "You'll Think of Me" feels like a departure from her usual books.  The emotion is high octane and the character development is rich and multi-layered. Be prepared to lose your heart multiple times over!

Brooklyn has never had a human being remain in her life long enough to leave a positive impact. Unfortunately, it can only take mere minutes to leave a negative and damaging influence.  She thought her knight in shining armor was Chad, but his armor was severely tarnished.

He did leave her with a gift that never ends...her precious daughter Alycia.  Surprisingly, Chad also left her something else--his family home.  Chad had his regrets and he wanted his daughter to have a childhood home to grow up and to keep her safe.

Question is, did Chad forget his promise to the best friend he's ever known, or is he matchmaking from the beyond?  Derek had been counting on that fresh start that a house and acreage would bring.  He doesn't want the baggage of Brooklyn and Alycia...but Alycia is the kind of young girl who gets under your skin before you can blink.

It's no shock how the story ends up, but it's more about the journey to the final pages that are critical. Powerful and emotional scenes will catch you by the heart and flood your eyes with tears, so keep a box of tissues nearby.  Don't be surprised if you have to stop reading a little while to let the waterworks flow and you just might feel your heart healing.

I'm giving "You'll Think of Me" my "Oh, The Feels" tag, and encouraging everyone to get a copy.  My thanks to my friends at Thomas Nelson for my advance copy via NetGalley, with no obligation or service promised in return.  Until the next book...

Mark Your Place,

Deena