Thursday, June 11, 2020

About the Book

Book: Relentless Love

Author: Heather Greer

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: June 2, 2020

Without passion, there is no love. Without love, is she even living? Relentless Love Cover

Living with limits protects a heart from hurt. After unexpectedly losing her husband, it’s a lesson Katie Blake has learned well. From moving in with her elderly father to staying at home with her son, Sammy, Katie’s life has been arranged to avoid further pain.

After three years, life feels stagnant. It’s time to carefully venture into the world once again. Sammy needs friends his age, and Katie needs a project to focus on.

As Sammy adjusts to preschool, Katie finds her perfect job. Her position even allows her to befriend Anna, a young mother who needs encouragement. Events also bring Nathan Phillips, a childhood friend, back into her life. Each successful step forward encourages Katie to continue opening her heart. By the time her friendship with Nathan begins to deepen, Katie is ready to pursue the relationship.

Nathan’s encouragement gives Katie strength to make tough decisions regarding her father’s care as his dementia progresses. But when Sammy is injured while in Nathan’s care, Katie knows she’s made a mistake. It won’t happen again. Abandoning their relationship in favor of safety is only the beginning. Katie has felt God calling her to help change Anna’s situation, but the risk is too great. God will have to find another way to help.

It takes a strange message from her father for Katie to understand God’s relentless love and desire for her life to reflect His love. But will Katie take the risk or continue limiting love in favor of a life without hurt?

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

Raise your hand if you can relate to Katie being an overprotective parent. Do you see my arms raised as high as they can go? Oh my do I relate to this story in several ways. Katie has gone through a horrible loss and now feels like she has to be super mom. I loved her relationship with her dad. He is a loving parent who continues to speak faith into his daughter. I thought the author did a great job of showing how important a father/daughter relationship is. I envied Katie at times because I didn't have a good relationship with either of my parents.

There is a subject in the story that really hit home for me. Katie realizes that her dad needs more care than she can give him. Making the hard decision to place him where he can get the best twenty-four hour care was heart wrenching to read. I could feel her guilt thinking she had failed her dad. Finally facing the truth that he had Alzheimer made me cry. My mother had Alzheimer and my dad had to put her in a nursing home when he couldn’t take care of her anymore. I visited her twice a day and each day was harder for me. Like Katie I saw my parent slowly slipping away. Even though my mother and I didn’t have a relationship I still honored her. The last words she was ever able to speak was to me. She said, “I love you. Be happy.” My mother never once in my entire life said those words to me and oh how I wanted to hear them as a child. God knew exactly when I needed those words the most from her. Katie received a gift from her father that she will treasure forever. I’m not saying what it is, but I will say tissues are needed.

Nathan is a man most mother’s want their daughter to marry. He is handsome, sincere, honest, forgiving and loves God with his whole heart. He is patient with Katie even when she pulls away from him. I was irritated with her when she kept going back and forth on their relationship. Okay I saw myself in her and realized how difficult I was to be around. My poor husband is so patient and always forgives quickly. Nathan is good around Katie’s son and they develop a special bond. But something keeps Katie from making a commitment. Fear can hold us back from dreams, happiness and push us away from God. The author uses Katie as a great illustration of what fear can do in your life. She runs from the truth and hides her feelings from everyone.

This story is a powerful message to those who allow fear to keep them from living. We need to remember who our first love is and cry out to Him. Katie, I know how you felt when you didn’t know where to go. I was right where she was. Katie feels alone and the emotions pour out. The author has written a story that will forever stay with me forever. Thank you for reminding me that fear is not from God.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

About the Author

Heather Greer is a pastor’s kid and pastor’s wife from southern Illinois. Though her nest is quickly approaching the empty stage, with three of her four children out on their own, she enjoys the times she gets to spend with all her children, husband, and grandson. Equal mix geek and romantic, you could as easily find Heather watching an episode of Doctor Who as the latest Hallmark movie. Of course, you may find her baking, reading, or crafting too!

Heather’s writing and teaching ministries revolve around a passion to see believers grow in their faith. Though God has used her most often with teens and adults, she has worked in ministries reaching all age groups through the years. It is Heather’s prayer for God to use what she writes in her books and on her blog to challenge and encourage readers in their faith walks.

More from Heather

Authors leave a bit of themselves on the pages of what they write. Whether it comes out in a name or character’s special interest or a faith lesson the author had to learn themselves before they could put in on paper, somewhere in what is written readers will find a hint of the author in the story. This glimpse into the author’s world add a feeling of authenticity to the story.

My family and friends will quickly recognize at least one of these windows into my world as they read Relentless Love. Though I didn’t intend it, my personal experiences with dementia and Alzheimer’s care are woven into the story. While the exact details are different, I was a full-time caregiver to my grandmother through the middle and late stages of her life with dementia. Dealing with the confusion, illogical thinking, obsessing, and paranoia that are portrayed in the story is part of everyday life for a caregiver.

In including Katie’s experience with her father’s deteriorating mental health, I pray others facing the same struggle find encouragement and strength. And because my time with my grandma was blessed with sweet memories, in spite of the struggles, I’d like to share a recipe she passed down to me in high school. I cannot make this cookie without thinking of the one who made it first and all the lessons she taught me about what it means to love God, our families, and others.

Lace Cookies – from the kitchen of Sue Ellen Forby

Ingredients:

1 cup oats 3Tbs. flour

¼ tsp. salt 1 stick butter

1 cup sugar 1 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp. baking powder 1 egg

Directions: Mix oats, salt, sugar, baking powder, and flour. Melt butter and pour over dry ingredients. Add vanilla and egg. Mix well. Refrigerate at least one hour, until set.

Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into marble sized balls and place at least 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes. Edges of cookies will be golden brown. Remove from oven and carefully slide parchment from pan to let cookies cool completely before removing them from paper. These cookies puff during cooking but flatten out completely as they cool.