Betrayed by her husband, Willa Jane Wilson and her daughter are left penniless and alone in post-war Germany. She returns to her hometown in rural North Carolina and prays that a new beginning will soothe the anger still raging inside her heart. But no matter how many miles Willa Jane puts between her and her shame, the peace she seeks is drowned out by ignorance and abandonment.

Her saving grace comes in the form of a new opportunity that she can’t pass up. Tasked with caring for children at a local orphanage, she dedicates herself to transforming the financially-strapped institution into a real home filled with love and faith. But when her fundraising mission lands her in the middle of Raleigh’s glittering social scene, she encounters PJ Townshend, a handsome young lawyer with a dedication to service that matches her own. There’s only one problem: PJ is on track to change the country from its political epicenter—Washington D.C.—and the closer they grow to one another, the farther apart their worlds seem to be taking them.

When a natural disaster of Biblical proportions threatens to part them for good, it also puts the orphanage and everything Willa Jane has worked for in peril. An offer for help arrives from the most unexpected source. Accepting it will require forgiveness of the past…but it might also reunite her with the person her heart desires most.

Laurie Batzel is a new author to me. I picked up this audiobook as part of reading challenge (one of the reasons I love reading challenges — exposure to new authors and genres). It was a slow start for me, but I’m glad this was part of a challenge, because I had to keep listening and the story took off after a few chapters (if you’re struggling with the early chapters, keep reading!).

Batzel blends a lot of vivid imagery with compelling characters and situations. There are a few instances when the story feels a bit more contemporary than historical, but there’s still enough decade-appropriate angst and issues to keep you in the past instead of pulling you to the future.

An important thing worth noting: this isn’t as much a romance novel as it is historical women’s fiction. If you prefer more character growth and challenges and less romance, this is for you. There’s still a light romance thread throughout the story, but it’s not nearly as dominant as Willa’s transformation.

Overall, a fun read/listen. I’m glad I pushed through as I ended up really enjoying it.

Rated PG. Get your copy here!

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