Can a wrong choice have a happy ending? Sandra Baker thought her life was on the right track until she ended up pregnant. Her boyfriend, not wanting the baby, pushes her to have an abortion.After the procedure, Sandra’s life falls apart, and she turns to alcohol. Her relationship ends, and she struggles to find meaning in her life. When she meets Henry Dobbs, a strong Christian man, she begins to … meets Henry Dobbs, a strong Christian man, she begins to wonder if God would accept her. Will she tell Henry her darkest secret? And will she ever be able to forgive herself and find healing? Find out in this emotional love story.
Fans of Colleen Coble, Lori Wick, and Karen Kingsbury will love this inspirational romance from best-selling author Lorana Hoopes. Grab your copy today!
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This is a great book! I loved everything about it and the author does a great job sharing a heartfelt story of redemption.
I just read this a 2nd time. The perspective this story opens up makes it a great “book club” or small group book. Read and discussion will open doors to have conversations with Christians and those who dont believe. Story is well written and eady to read. I enjoyed it even more the 2nd time
Where It All Began (Heartbeats #1) was another great read by Lorana Hoopes. Sandra ended up pregnant right as she thought her life was right on track. Her boyfriend doesn’t want to have a baby and pushes her to have an abortion, her life falls apart and she turns to alcohol for comfort. She meets Henry who is a strong Christian man who helps bring her to God. I really enjoyed Sandra and Henry’s story and can’t wait to read more by Lorana Hoopes.
This is the story of of Sandra Baker. It is about a woman who was almost destroyed by her life choices. Who found a new path to walk, but didn’t think God would accept someone like her. A woman who took the worst thing in her life, and changed it to a positive way to save souls and babies. I cried mostly through this book because it is a story close to my heart. What Sandra learned is where God guides he provides.
Finding yourself pregnant is difficult but more so when the guy wants you to have an abortion. Then there is the guilt when you decide to do what he wants. The woman suffers more than the man since he can just walk away from the situation & forget it all when he decides he doesn’t want to be involved with the woman anymore. Since this happens a lot in today’s society I think this story very appropriate for both men & women to read. I appreciate the christian perspective also. God is eager & willing to forgive & restore. It is very well written & has an HEA.
Heartache, Sadness, Forgiveness, Happiness, Love, Anxiety you name it this book has it. I listened to the audiobook and it was narrated pretty good. There are a few spots where the narrator seems to read a little too fast but it doesn’t affect the storyline at all. Lorana Hoopes nailed the emotions in this story. She is a terrific author! I look forward to reading & listening to more of her stories!!!
Where it All Began is a thought-provoking book in Lorana Hoopes Heartbeats series. And if the rest of the books in the series is as good as this first one, I look forward to reading them. The reader is quickly drawn into the drama of Sandra as she finds she is pregnant, chooses abortion and then lives with the aftermath of grief and guilt. The author seems to have a good handle on the emotions and reactions of an individual (and those around her) who make this choice, making the story realistic and relatable. This is definitely a story of how God can make beauty from ashes which brings hope to each one of us. It is a story of forgiveness and healing that readers who enjoy reading second chance stories will not want to miss Where It All Began. I listened to a complimentary copy of the audiobook and Corry Reynolds does a nice job narrating Sandra’s story, making for an enjoyable listening experience. I was not required to write a review and the opinions are my own.
This story touches on the effect abortion had on Sandra’s life. Everything seemed to fall apart! DrInking , nightmares. Until Henry came into her life. He showed her compassion, love and God’s love. Henry showing and teaching her how Gods love is always in his heart..How God will forgive. A loving story between Man, woman, and letting God lead in their lives. A beautiful story of love by Lorana Hoopes and the narration was superb by Corry Reynolds. I was gifted an audio book and offered my honest review
While I enjoyed the Pro-life message, it came at the expense of the abortion of two babies (very sad face). While one lady had a very ho-hum attitude about it, the other was very distraught about her decision which ultimately lead her to the Lord and a relationship with him (happy face). This story line has a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns and emotions. I did like the overall redemption message, because the Lord loves us no matter what and He will forgive us if we ask.
What an amazing story of sin, heartbreak, love and redemption! Sandra, a nursing student, discovers she is pregnant. Her boyfriend, Peter, doesn’t want to talk about it, then decides she must abort. They don’t have time for a baby right now. Knowing it is not right, Sandra still has an abortion anyway. But this “simple procedure” leads to very strong emotional and physical complications.
This book is a wonderful story of how God’s love can forgive and restore the lives and dreams of the people who turn to Him.
An amazing story about the agonizing pain experienced by women who have abortions. Some of this is difficult to read, but God’s forgiveness in boundless. This story is also about the beauty of the Almighty’s forgiveness.
Well-written book dealing with premarital sex, abortion, foster parenting, adoption and honesty in marriage! God loves us all and nothing is too bad for Him to forgive if we only ask and accept His forgiveness! Lorana Hoopes brings tears of sorrow and of joy to your eyes through this story. I recommend Where It All Began to others who enjoy contemporary fiction. I received a complimentary e-book from the author. This is my honest opinion.
I loved the way this author showed the ugly side of abortion, how Sandra did not want the abortion but did it because her boyfriend Peter pressured her to do and refused to discuss the chance of keeping the baby. It is only after Sandra has the procedure and their relationship breaks down doe her boyfriend realises what he has done.
Throughout this book you feel each emotion that Sandra goes through as you watch battle with depression and turning to alcohol to mask the pain she is feeling.
On one of her worst days Sandra is given the support of a stranger how lives in the same apartment block and through friends set up of a blind date she again meets this stranger Henry. Sandra comes to the realization that all the negative and disturbing feeling she had when around her ex-boyfriend she does not have with Henry.
Very early in the relationship Henry introduces Sandra to his faith in God, Jesus and his church and Sandra begins to explore this new appreciation for Henry’s dedication to his faith but she always doubts within herself why God would forgive her for her sin of abortion. Henry and Sandra are together for many months, when Henry proposes to Sandra which she agrees to but she keeps her secret from Henry.
After being married for two years and trying to have a child of their own Sandra discovers because of her abortion she can no longer have children and thinks god is punishing her for her sins. But the real test of life and their combine belief in their faith in god is when Sandra and Henry are involved in a motor vehicle accident leaving lasting effects on both.
Will their marriage survive? Will Sandra still have faith in God or will she turn her back.
Though this book does have a happy ending for the couple there are a lot of tests and challenges for them both and how they struggle especially Sandra to keep her belief in God and that he does love her, will guide her to the path where she can carry his message of love but also have an impact on other women’s lives by telling her story. This book though it’s a romance is about one woman’s journey both the ugly and the good.
There were a few very strong messages in this book and though I myself am not very religious, I do believe in God and Jesus and found that I could relate very much to what Sandra was going through, why people came into her life at just the right moments when she needed help the most and how she could change the lives of other.
This book truly is empowering to any woman that reads it, though it has a strong religious component to it, it is not all the book is about.
I will defiantly have been reading this book again in time, like today I took away something powerful and profound, I am sure any future times that I read this book, it will have different messages for me. If you are not religious please don’t shun this book because to the religious content there is so much more to this book and deserves a read
Bronwyn