About the Book

Book: To Bring You Back

Author: Emily Conrad

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release date: August 16, 2021

He’s determined to confront the past she’s desperate to forget.

Broke in more ways than one, the last thing Adeline Green can afford is for her now-famous high school crush to descend on her quiet life.

People in the small town of Lakeshore, Wisconsin, think of her as the hard-working church secretary or as the local food truck’s lunch-hour cashier. They’d never suspect the shame she’s hiding.

She attended high school with both the lead singer and the drummer of the rock band, Awestruck. In fact, she used to play in the band herself, but that was back before Awestruck made it big—and before her relationship with lead singer Gannon Vaughn took a turn that ultimately led to tragedy and heartbreak.

She’s living a different life now, but when Gannon shows up, he brings with him a public spotlight that threatens to expose her deepest regret. The closer she gets to him, the more she risks the carefully curated life that’s finally brought her a measure of peace.

Gannon Vaughn and his rock band, Awestruck, have conquered the music industry, but he can’t overcome his feelings for Adeline.

She may have been right to cut off contact between them years ago, but thanks to the grace of God, he’s a changed man. When he hears Adeline’s struggling, he sets out to turn her life around and win back the love he lost to poor choices eight years ago.

But when Gannon’s fame and their mutual regrets jeopardize their relationship anew, will grace be enough to bring them back to God and each other?

A meaningful Christian romance with a side of fame and fortune for readers who enjoy faith-filled escapes and happily-ever-afters where no one is beyond hope of redemption.

MY REVIEW

The book tackles some sensitive issues like suicide, depression, drugs and domestic abuse which may be a trigger for some. The author does look  at these issues with an honesty at how these topics can affect someone. We get some background on the characters and how their lives interacted with each other. Fitz is a focal point between Adeline and Gannon. There may have been signs of Fitz’s depression when they were in high school together, but it was overlooked because fame was knocking at their door. Adeline didn’t follow the group and stopped playing all together. It has been years  since the tragedy happened yet she still blames herself. I found it interesting that she volunteered for everything maybe to not feel guilty about what happened or maybe she thought if she did all this volunteer work people would think she was a good person. Her shame has caused her not to face the truth and carries her burden deep so no one will ever know. 

Gannon showing up after all these years unsettles Adeline. Over the years the  band that Gannon is in has become famous.  I liked the look at what a band goes through as they start to get popular. It reminded me of bands today who break into the Christian genre. They have to find the right songs that reflect their beliefs and a label that will stand with them. Gannon is very determined to get Adeline to deal with her past and learn to forgive herself. I will say he never gave up and that is just what she needs. 

The book examines two people who share a past and how they each coped with what happened. The honest look at struggles that we face when we don’t feel deserving of grace is well represented by Adeline and her constant battle with forgiveness. In a way she seemed upset that Gannon has moved on and  hasn’t paid for his sin. I wonder if we do that to people ? We get upset when someone is forgiven when we don’t think they deserve it. The bottom line is we are not to question God’s ways. 

With characters that struggle with the past this book is a great lesson in redemption. I loved how much Gannon wanted to help Adeline and his genuine compassion for her to regain her faith is unquestionable. The author slowly restores their friendship to a point where they can be real with other. Putting aside the tabloids and flurry of paparazzi, they can finally open up and heal wounds that have prevented both of them to be free.  

Get ready for a journey where two people seek redemption and forgiveness. The road is not easy as one tries to play hero over and over again. Gannon thinks his worth is always being  there when someone is in trouble. He can’t let them down for fear of failure. Adeline can’t find her way to where God is waiting to comfort her. Her journey will take her to a place where healing is and freedom is felt. It’s an emotional story that opens the door to grace and a real relationship with the One who loves unconditionally. 

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

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Emily Conrad writes contemporary Christian romance that explores life’s relevant questions. Though she likes to think some of her characters are pretty great, the ultimate hero of her stories (including the one she’s living) is Jesus. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their energetic coonhound rescue. Learn more about her and her books at emilyconradauthor.com.

 

More from Emily

A Guilty Pleasure with a Purpose

When a reader called the Rhythms of Redemption Romances a guilty pleasure, I had to smile because that’s exactly what To Bring You Back, the first book in the series, was to me as I wrote it.

Don’t get me wrong, To Bring You Back is firmly Christian fiction, and it’s not “guilty” of being blush-inducing. Because of the characters’ history, theirs is a slow-burn romance that focuses more on the emotional side of their relationship than the physical.

But, To Bring You Back is a rock star romance.

When I first started writing it, I was embarrassed to admit that’s what I was working on.

After all, rock star romance has a reputation for being an unrealistic and shallow escape from reality with “guilty pleasure” written all over it.

Maybe there was some of that escapism going on. At that point in my writing journey, I was dealing with disillusionment, and I enjoyed the break of writing about rich and famous characters.

However, as I wrote To Bring You Back and went on to read others’ romances about famous characters, I found that the characters’ occupations and net worth don’t impact the most important elements of their stories.

The tales can still showcase meaningful relationships and God at work in the lives of people who—rich and famous or not—need redemption.

Fame, money, and music help up the entertainment value, but those same features add even more rich conflict to explore.

The men of Awestruck, starting with lead singer Gannon Vaughn in To Bring You Back, have allowed me to ask questions like: How good is grace? What does it mean to live in forgiveness? What gives a person worth? And, when is living the dream no longer worth the price?

To write this post, I took a break from working on the first draft of the final book in the series, and it’s been fun to look back and see how much my opinion of these stories has changed.

If To Bring You Back and the books that follow are a guilty pleasure, they’re a guilty pleasure with a purpose. God has worked in my life through them.

It’s my prayer that He’ll also use them in your life, both to explore meaningful questions and to provide a few hours of entertaining escape.

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, April 25

The Sacred Line, April 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 26

Inklings and notions, April 27

Remembrancy, April 28

Wishful Endings, April 28

Texas Book-aholic, April 29

deb’s Book Review, April 30

For Him and My Family, May 1

Spoken from the Heart, May 1

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 2

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 3

Miriam Jacob, May 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 5

Britt Reads Fiction, May 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 6

Simple Harvest Reads, May 7 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Pause for Tales, May 8

Of Blades and Thorns, May 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Emily is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and an ecopy of To Bring You Back!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1d0b1/to-bring-you-back-celebration-tour-giveaway