STARTING OVERAfter serving six years in prison for the false charge of manslaughter in the death of his wife, Kurt Jansen must overcome a world of bitterness if he wants to start a new life. But his first priority is securing a restoration job to pay a private investigator to find the real killer and a lawyer to get his kids back.Hiring a convicted wife-killer isn’t what kind-hearted Molly … kind-hearted Molly Finnerty bargains for as part of the prison ministry she supports. However, she begins to believe Kurt’s claim of innocence and gradually finds a great deal to like about him—perhaps more to like than she should.
Can they overcome the past and find forgiveness and love?
BOOKS IN THE FRONT PORCH PROMISES SERIES
1. A Place to Call Home
2. A Love to Call Mine
3. A Family to Call Ours
Each book stands alone, but the stories are connected through setting or characters. The final two books in the series will release in 2017 and 2018.
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A inspirational romance about a wrongful murder and forgiveness. Merrillee Whren’s story touches on current topics of battered women and being wrongful accused. Well written and nicely developed characters.
A Place to Call Home was a book that tugged at my heart at every turn. I loved the God element in this book and it reminded me that through trust in God anything is possible, even take the broken and impossible situations and turn them into joy.
The characters were well-developed and it was easy to get involved in their journey. I felt compassion for Kurt right away and loved the character of Molly. She was trying to face the ghosts from her past and struggled but still put herself out to help others in need. She was full of generosity which I admired. I loved how the author showed how their relationship grew into one of love, in spite of numerous obstacles.
A Place to Call Home was a very well-written story of love, compassion, faith, and forgiveness. A story of second chances. I can’t wait to read more from Merrilee Whren.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit and voluntarily chose to review it.
This is a book you can’t put down. I love how it ended!
A Place to Call Home is the first book by Merrilee Whren I have read, and it won’t be the last. The protagonists Kurt Jansen and Molly Finnerty are complex and realistic characters that I really liked and related to. I enjoyed the fact that Kurt’s and Molly’s pasts are handled differently in the book. The premise of the story is that Kurt is imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Molly also has secrets that are fed to the reader bit by bit, and often in response to something that has happened to Kurt. The story hooked me immediately, and was well-researched. Other than a few repetitive words (lots of wry smiles), the writing flows well and the dialogue is natural. Kurt’s kids are precocious without being obnoxious, and the minor characters are sufficiently developed. The mystery is mostly solved off stage and gives a satisfactory ending to the story.
I received a copy of the book for free from CelebrateLit Publicity, and a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
How do you start life again after being in prison for a crime that you didn’t commit? Trusting anyone is hard, but, Kurt Jansen has to start trusting people again. He wants to find the real guilty person. He meets Molly Finnerty. She has her own life story with a secret or two that she is not ready to share yet. Author Merrillee Whren gives the reader the opportunity to explore many emotions, such as trust, faith, love and happiness after tragedy. The story reminds us that we all have a story to share and sometimes, those life stories can help others. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
This story show’s God’s forgiveness and love, overcoming self and the past, and looking beyond self to find true love and happiness in work and others.
A Place to Call Home by Merrillee Whren
My rating is 4.5 Stars
Kurt had been falsely accused of murdering his wife. He was convicted and sentenced for it. I really appreciated that despite the fact he had given his life to Christ while in jail, he still struggled with anger and unforgiveness. Wait! Not the way it sounds. I’m glad the author didn’t just make him perfectly able to forgive and not fight anger. He was real His struggles were real.
Molly had some struggles of her own. Although she was also a Christian and even involved in ministry to ex-convicts, she was afraid to trust Kurt and to work with him. I did find it humorous that she “tested” him by giving him money to go to the store for her. He was a convicted murderer, not a thief. What exactly would that have proven?
I enjoyed reading about the struggles and growth of both Kurt and Molly. The way they learned to trust God, to seek His help and direction. The way they learned to trust each other. And, ultimately, to forgive.
While the subject matter and tone of the book is serious, it was hopeful and not sad. Though the book is partly about a murder investigation, it is not gruesome, nor is that the primary theme of the book.
This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net.
Get a preview of A Place to Call Home at amongTheReads.net
A Place to Call Home is an engaging, easy-to-read, contemporary romance that held my interest until the end. I read fiction for relaxation and enjoyment and do not tend to analyze or critique the novels I read so this book met my requirements.
I enjoyed the development of the romance between Kurt and Molly despite her misgivings about him at first. His very demeanor and caring nature made it obvious that he was a person who could be trusted. Although there was a bit of drama and mystery, overall A Place to Call Home was primarily just an enjoyable, well-written tale with a sweet romance, some cute kids, and lots of forgiveness and reconciliation. What more could a gal require for a lazy summer evening other than a comfy chair and a tall cold drink?
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
What would it be like to be accused of a murder? How would you react when you are sentenced to prison knowing you are innocent? Kurt has lived that nightmare and now finds himself finally free from prison. He has a lot to deal with but his first priority is to find a job. When he gets hired by Molly to restore her Victorian home he seems to have hope. I liked that he was determined to prove his innocence and try to win custody of his children.
I understood why Molly was a little apprehensive about hiring Kurt . The story is really intense at times and I could feel both characters holding back their feelings for each other. It would be hard to believe someone you don’t know telling you that they are not guilty. I loved how the author slowly draws Molly and Kurt together. They both have trust issues and will need to learn to overcome that. It was nice to read that faith helped them deal with past issues. I was surprised at the secret Molly was hiding. How will Kurt react when she tells him about her past?
The story is beautifully written and easy to like the main characters. I love second chance stories and always like to see how it gets resolved. We all make mistakes but sometimes people won’t forgive. I loved how forgiveness was a main theme in the story. It made me think about times I wouldn’t forgive and how I missed a chance to repair a relationship. Will Molly and Kurt be able to forgive and trust each other? Don’t miss this charming book that reminds us that everyone deserves a second chance.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Imagine being convicted of a crime you didn’t commit. Then to add insult to injury you are ordered to stay away from your children, even after you have served your time. This is Kurt Jansen’s life! My heart ached for him, even as I rejoiced in Molly Finnerty’s kindness in giving him a second chance.
Molly’s life isn’t entirely on the up and up, either. However, her need for Kurt to restore the home she bought and turn it into a bed and breakfast is genuine.
Merrillee Whren’s book, A Place to Call Home, is rich with forgiveness, second chances, and redemption. I enjoyed reading it, not only for the redemptive qualities but also for the renovations aspect-a topic dear to my heart.
I bought A Place to Call Home earlier. However, I also received a copy through Celebrate Lit; I was not obligated to provide a review.
I found this book to be a page-turner, and quickly rooting for the injustice and unfairness of all this young man had lost, and the help he receives from those who live their faith.
The author puts faces on these people and we soon are caring about them, and keep reading hoping the true murderer will be found and all the bad things that have happened will be rectified and Kurt will be reunited with his children.
A really interesting and compelling read, you will have to get to the end for answers, and yes, I did suspect who the real culprit was, but didn’t see what was coming.
Don’t miss this one, people who really live their faith!
I received this book through Celebrate Lit Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.
The characters were well done. Their fears, actions and reactions seemed natural.
The kids were especially well done.
The story plot was great and well paced.
My Review:
My Rating: 3 and 1/2 stars.
My Recommendation: 16 up for romance, rumors, accusations, and slight violence. Mentions of drugs, suicide, murder, and fraud.
My Favorite Character/s: Molly was a intriguing character with her want to help ex cons and yet her worry of how people will respond to her employing men that have Judy been released from prison. Then there’s the fact that she has a painful past and layers of pain hidden.
My Verse for Molly is Psalm 130:4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. (King James Version)
My Thoughts: This book has been on my TBR list for a few years now . . . So long I forgot about it, and when I win a e-copy in a giveaway I was surprised and I loved it! (The next ebook I get will hopefully be the next in the series.) Anyway, the theme of this story is kind that has been done many times before but not quite like this; it is a tail of forgiveness. Forgiveness of people that had been trusted and forgiveness of those that turned their back on the main character in a time of need. I highly recommend you get out this book out you are 17/18 or older though I suppose younger can read the book off a trusted guardian/friend pre-reads the book.
Just figured I’d mention that I was not asked to review this book and all the thoughts are my own.
I enjoyed meeting Molly and Kurt, they had both been hurt very badly in relationships where they had lost someone , and in Kurt’s situation, he lost his own family and went to prison. Now he is out looking for a job and Molly needs someone to restore a historical house for a bed and breakfast…will they be able to get along to help each other?? Good question.
It was good reading. Interesting story line and good characters. I recommend reading it.
from start to finish the book was riveting, could hardly wait till my regular reading time to see how things were going with the characters,
Great book!