Author: Tari Faris
Series: Restoring Heritage #2
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: September 8, 2020
Reviewer: Jessica Higgins
As the town square is restored, more relationships are restored between members of the town.
Libby Kingsley decides to take the job of the town librarian in Heritage, Michigan, the town her brother Luke has settled in. Luke had been kidnapped from their family for many years and was just reunited with them. Libby has also had her share of tragedy after the bookstore that she worked at in England was robbed by her boyfriend and she was held at knifepoint for cash and a first edition of Moby Dick. Three years later, she decides to not let her fear control her life anymore and branch out. When she realizes that the library is in the basement of the town hall, she tried to find a suitable replacement, which becomes the abandoned schoolhouse. All she must do is convince the town council and a hot, but grumpy landscape contractor to agree to her plan.
Austin Williams wants to get his family business back on track. But to do so, he must complete the revitalization project in Heritage, which is also the town that his brother serves as a pastor at a church. To say that the two don’t get along is an understatement, so Austin wants to get this project over with as fast as possible. When the new librarian throws a wrench in his plans, Austin gets more frustrated by the day. But when he finds that she is not just book smart but can plan out ways to make his project stay within budget, he finds that he may need to reevaluate his life and his standards.
I enjoyed this book so much more than the first in the series! Maybe the first book was just setting things up, but this story pulled me in so much more. I loved Libby’s story, which may have been because she is such a book lover. She had to overcome agoraphobia and a traumatic event with her boyfriend at the time. Olivia was such a positive influence throughout the book and quite the opposite of Libby. I thought casting them as roommates really brought out the best in both of them. Austin and Nate’s relationship centered around stories that each had of the other. Nate lived with a dark past that tormented him even though he knew he’d been forgiven by God. He just couldn’t forgive himself. Austin didn’t want to forgive Nate for the past and used it as a crutch to forge ahead. All flawed characters in need of grace who pulled together when it was needed.
. I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
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