Charming! 'New Beginnings in Shady Springs' - Shady Springs 4 - by Sarah Anne Crouch

 

About the book:

When the storm passes, can two guarded hearts believe in love again?

After six years of widowhood, high school biology teacher Clara Lewis has settled into a quiet life in Shady Springs, Arkansas, pouring her heart into her students, her church, and her garden. Romance, she tells herself, belongs to another season.

Sam Sullivan understands the safety of a guarded heart. A painful childhood and a broken engagement have convinced him that love is meant for others, not for him. Yet his long-hidden feelings for Clara become harder to ignore as they work together to encourage a withdrawn teen who needs them both.

Then a devastating tornado tears through Shady Springs, drawing Clara and Sam together in the storm’s aftermath as they help rescue the hurting, shelter the displaced, and rebuild the community they love. Amid the wreckage, Clara begins to wonder whether the steady, compassionate man beside her might be part of the new life God is offering.

But opening their hearts means facing old fears, unexpected competition, and the scrutiny of a small town that notices everything.

Perfect for fans of heartwarming Christian romance, this tender small-town story weaves together friendship, faith, grief, and healing as two guarded hearts must decide whether love is worth trusting again.

My review:

This was a sweet story about a second chance at love and realizing that maybe your story isn't over after all.  I enjoyed the small town feel to the story and I liked that love grew while Clara and Sam were helping the community, from helping clean up after the storm to planting a garden to help people in need and reaching out to a troubled teen, they were offering practical help while showing God's love.  I appreciated that faith was an integral part of their lives and they prayed and had conversations reflecting that.  However, they weren't perfect and both still had hang-ups to deal with, such as a fear of rejection or not being enough.  There was some suspense when the tornado came and some sweet romance as Clara started to have feelings for Sam and he realized there may be hope for him yet.  I loved the feeling of hope that permeated the story.  It worked well as a stand-alone even though it's book four and I didn't feel lost at all not having read the first three yet.  I would recommend this book if you like uplifting, feel good romance!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I wasn't compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.