When Daisy Riley arrives in Refuge, Wyoming to live with her brother and his family, she intends to stay forever. A victim of violence in Los Angeles, Daisy craves stability, peace of mind, and safety. Her hope comes true when she lands a job as a personal assistant to Miss Joan Prescott, the owner of Cottonwood Acres, a historic ranch that once served as the set for a famous TV show. A retired … retired college professor, Miss Joan has secrets and stories of her own, including a very unusual project that requires Daisy’s skills.
Rafe Donovan, a cop from Cincinnati, is haunted by a recurring nightmare about the death of his high school sweetheart and his failure to save her. Because of the nightmares, Rafe takes leave from the police department and seeks psychological help. He finds shelter in Refuge, where he pounds nails for his brother’s construction business. But he has no desire to stay in Wyoming and plans to return to Ohio as soon as possible.
When he finds Daisy Riley stranded late at night with a flat tire, Rafe is impressed by her courage. Daisy is equally impressed by him. Together they navigate the road to love—one complicated by the arrival of Daisy’s troubled best friend, online dating, and the impossible obstacle of 1,600 miles between her home and his.
AUTHOR NOTE: This story is about our current dating culture, including the risks of online dating. It also looks at the social mores of 1970s and how those values impact us today.
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I love this author’s book and style of writing! I also love her characters! They are real and flawed, like the rest of us. We can relate to them because they have real life situations that come up that they have to deal with. The author creates situations in which her characters have to rely on God to help them through, OR those who don’t believe, find themselves seeking a way a make sense of it all and then turning to those to do believe in God to help them out. She also tackles tough subjects like human trafficking, drugs, alcohol abuse, affairs, sexual attacks and the like. Not that the whole book is about that but those things are mentioned and dealt with at some point in some of her stories. We can’t put our heads into the sand and say they don’t exist. We must know how to confront them and teach our children and loved ones how to deal with them.
In this book Daisy is healing from her past and refuses to get involved with a man because of it but she meets Rafe, who is also dealing with some things (PTSD) and she slowly realizes that he’s really a great guy and can trust him. As Daisy gets back on her feet with a new job working for Miss Joan, her life gets better. Miss Joan is fantastic and her backstory is awesome! Troubled, for sure, but great to read about! We also learn about the perils of online dating with Daisy’s friend, Chelsea. There’s just so much great stuff in this book! I really enjoyed it and was very emotional!
“Where she lived didn’t matter nearly as much as why she lived. And that was to love and to serve others. Geography didn’t matter to God – not one bit. He met people where they lived – on mountaintops and in gutters.”
Victoria Bylin spins yet another wonderfully heart-breaking and redemptive contemporary romance in this second installment of Road to Refuge series. I’m relatively new to her writing and the first book in the series, When He Found Me, was my introduction to her books. This book brings Daisy, a broken woman on her path to discovering a full life in the small town of Refuge, together with Rafe, a city cop recuperating from PTSD with his brother in that same town. The town of Refuge is charming and lovely, the characters are down-to-earth and so lovable, the faith journeys of Daisy and Rafe are incredibly uplifting, and the issues addressed in the book will make you think some more about them once the book is finished.
The writing is fluid and the plot well-crafted. Daisy’s boss Miss Joan has a voice in the story alongside Daisy and Rafe; Miss Joan’s walk down memory lane to early 1970s is told in first person narrative which works really well to point out the pitfalls of looking for love in the wrong people and ties her experience together with what Daisy’s friend goes through in the present time. The heartache and struggle are real in the characters’ lives but their triumph through faith is even more real and edifying.
If you enjoy contemporary romance, you will definitely enjoy this one. Though it’s book 2 in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I received a copy of the book from the publisher via JustRead Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
A Gift to Cherish is the second book in Victoria Bylin’s Road to Refuge series. It can definitely be a stand alone novel, but it was fun to revisit some of the characters from the first book, When He Found Me. I enjoyed traveling back to the town of Refuge, Wyoming and meeting some new residents. Rafe Donovan is a caring, courageous hero who is troubled by PTSD from his past and is in Refuge helping his brother with his construction business while trying to recover. Daisy Riley has a troubled past complicated by abuse and violence, but she is an admirable heroine as she tries to turn her life around. I loved the interaction between the two characters and enjoyed seeing their relationship grow.
Bylin isn’t afraid to tackle some tough subjects, PTSD, abuse, online dating hazards, addiction recovery, but she does so with sensitivity and compassion. A Gift to Cherish is a beautiful story of forgiveness, redemption, personal growth, hope, and courage. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. Her books are always compelling and inspiring.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own
Love requires sacrifice is woven throughout this book. It requires stepping out on faith as Rafe, Daisy and Miss Joan learned in this moving novel. How we response to the choices in our past can determine our future. Readers get to see what happens when you surrender to God. It does not always go the way you want but God will be your guide through the good and the bad. These characters have had tragedies that could have made them bitter but through the redeeming power of God’s love be brought them together and changed lives.
My Thoughts on A Gift to Cherish:
I love a good book! This one is set back in time a bit but not enough for me to want to call it historical fiction. I’m sure some people would though. For me, it’s not that long before I was born so I don’t want to do that! I feel old enough as is!
This author has a propensity to write wonderful books. The characters draw you in and make you their best friends. You become invested in them and have to know what happens next and where they end up. She also happens to write about hard topics very well.
There is an author’s note in the about the book section that talks about some of the hard topics just in case they might be a trigger for you. I love how she takes two flawed and hurt people and can help them to heal and find peace along with a future together.
Highly recommend this book but also this author and this series.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Victoria Bylin returns to Refuge, Wyoming with familiar characters and some new ones. While A Gift to Cherish works fine as a stand alone book, I highly recommend reading When He Found Me first. Not only is it an excellent story, it tells more of Daisy’s story.
Daisy and Rafe are both in Refuge trying to heal. While Daisy has found her place with family, Rafe is visiting his brother for a visit while he’s on leave from the Cincinnati PD. From the first time these two characters meet, we see Rafe’s protectiveness and understanding of Daisy’s fear.
I also enjoyed the addition of Joan’s romance and the emphasis on the need for caution when it comes to falling for someone you know little about. This is highlighted even more with the dating app aspect.
Bylin creates flawed and relatable characters who face difficult life decisions while tackling the difficult subjects of PTSD, abuse, and affairs. Together, Rafe and Daisy learn to lean into God, compromise, and have honest conversations. I couldn’t help but root for them to reach their HEA.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
A Gift to Cherish is another honestly realistic book that encourages readers to boldly face the giants in their lives with the help of the Lord. Although the story is obviously a contemporary romance, it is so much more. Both the hero and heroine of this tale carry secrets and heavy burdens that prevent them from living their life to the fullest. Fear has led to a strong lack of trust, especially of the opposite sex. The third primary character is an older woman, their employer who has also decided to play matchmaker. Her own past experiences are told alongside the main narrative and adds another layer to it.
I love how the author is unafraid to tackle the tough issues such as addiction, domestic abuse, the dangers of online dating, etc. Her approach is authentic without exaggeration or unnecessary details. It was a pleasure to follow Daisy’s progression as she gained confidence in herself and her abilities. Her loyalty and compassion toward her friends truly made Daisy a character I could love. I look forward to reading the next installment in this excellent series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
I am a huge fan of Victoria Bylin’s contemporary novels (I’ve read all but one of them!) and after absolutely loving When He Found Me last year I jumped at the chance to request a review copy of the second book in the series! I loved Daisy in When He Found Me, and I was dying for her to get her own story, so when I first read the description of A Gift to Cherish and saw who it was about I was ecstatic and knew I had to read it! This book exceeded all my expectations, and I LOVED IT SO MUCH!
Thankfully, I have not had the same life experiences as Daisy, but I could totally relate to her feelings of unworthiness and fear that she wasn’t good enough, she feels like a dear friend to me and I kept wishing I could reach through the pages and give her a hug!
Rafe is a fabulous, swoon-worthy hero, who is very protective and kind, but also broken and in need of healing. I know you will love him as much as I did!
I absolutely loved that one of the settings for this book is a ranch that was formerly used as a filming location for a TV western, that was such a unique and enthralling aspect of the story! Joan’s story and POV was an excellent addition, it is both a cautionary tale and a beautiful reminder that no matter how badly we screw up God will never stop loving us!
A Gift to Cherish is an amazing read that I absolutely adored! I love the town of Refuge, Wyoming and I can’t wait for my next visit! I’m looking forward to seeing who the next book will be about, my prediction is Chelsea!
A Gift to Cherish is definitely one for the keeper shelf, I highly HIGHLY recommend it!
I received an ebook copy of this book from the publisher. Which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own!
Bylin once again brings us some new and exciting characters.
Bylin will have you eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens to Daisy and Rafe. I stayed up to finish the book because I couldn’t just stop at one chapter.
I love that this story is realistic and can draw you into it’s pages like it’s supposed to. She does a really good job and I can tell that this story is from her heart. Bylin wrote this with love.
Her supporting characters were amazing and I enjoyed getting to know them as well.
Daisy is an interesting character and she’s an incredible woman. I really enjoyed her story to fullest! It left my heart feeling full and satisfied.
I think the thing I most enjoyed was how she adapted to the changes in her life and with how fast they were happening all at once! Oh my!
It’s certainly weird how fast life can change in an instant isn’t it? Like that song on Frozen 2 Some Things never change and I’m holding on tight to you.
And then something changes and keeps on changing? I don’t think life is meant to stand still.
Highly recommended.
An overall fantastic story that you will be sure to love! I did!
My thanks for a complimentary copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my
It will be impossible to finish reading this book without tears in your eyes and sweet joy in your heart.
Victoria Bylin brings to us a story weaved around trusting God and the journeys of the wonderful characters from darkness to light.
It was hard not to love the characters and identify with them in their joys, struggles and triumph. I admired Daisy’s strength and resilience. Life had not been fair to her but she thrived even in uncertainties and her conversion story was beautiful.
I loved Rafe from the moment he helped Daisy. I admired his patience and strength. Without Ms. Joan this book will be incomplete.
I saw faith, trust and totally reliance on God even when it doesn’t make sense in the pages of this book. The settings of the book was wonderful.
I recommend it to everyone who loves a good story.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
Thank you in advance to the author, Victoria Bylin, and JustRead Publicity Tours for providing an advanced review copy. A positive review was not required, all words are my own.
I was not familiar with the author’s work prior to this, so she is a “new-to-me” author.
While this is the second book in the “Road to Refuge” series, it easily acts as a standalone, though readers might enjoy reading the other book, “When He Found Me” prior to this one.
When I read the description for this book, I was really curious about it. Right off the cover is cute and whimsical like this is going to be one of those “cute” romance reads.
It is and it isn’t. That’s what is interesting about this. This is a clean read and has a deep Christian Faith/religious tone to it. There are bible quotes in the headers of some chapters. Daisy’s faith is a huge part of her character and also part of the story. There are no sex scenes, while an affair is mentioned the “action” takes place off page.
Some “content” and/or “trigger” warnings will include:
** Opiod Addiction
** Drug Addiction
** Alcoholism
** Suicide
** Abortion
** Sexual Assault
** PTSD
** Extramarital Affair (mentioned)
In addition to being about recovery (in more than one way), there are also themes of redemption, healing, and facing new challenges. Bylin also tackles the new age of online dating and dating apps with a realistic, though challenging approach.
The main characters are:
** Daisy (Shane’s sister) – Sober and free of alcohol, she is trying to put her life back together. Deeply rooted in her faith and belief in Jesus, she still battles her demons
** Rafe Donovan (Jesse’s brother) – While he has “some” Christian beliefs, he is reluctant to firmly commit his life to God; happens to fall in love with Daisy
** Joan – a former TV actress who is looking to give her home away to a worthy cause since she leaves behind no husband, children, or grand-children. Was deeply in love with her married co-star, Trey, even after the affair ended
** Chelsea – single mom of Hannah. One of Daisy’s friends from Los Angeles. Stops in Refuge, Wyoming on her way to Michigan. Desperate not to be lonely, she takes to dating apps to find men
These four characters balance the story out. Told in third person, except for Joan’s reflection, the reader sees the dynamics of the relationships as well as the difference between the social setting of the 1970’s and today.
Daisy and Rafe don’t exactly hit it off on their first meeting – but, their “second” encounter is less stressful.
Daisy finally lands a good job working with Joan as an assistant. Joan, who is not only trying to write a “memoir” about the land, she is trying to sort through worthy charities to leave the ranch to. Daisy loves her job – and on the day of the interview – it is there she sees the kindness in Rafe.
Despite Rafe’s temporary status, he falls for Daisy. His approach to romance, for some, might seem old-fashioned. Yet, given everything Daisy has been through, it is a slow and sweet approach to gain her trust. Daisy appreciates his slowness and decides to take a chance on him.
From there, the romance is at a steady pace, not rushed or hurried. Rafe’s consideration of Daisy is admirable, if nothing short of chivalrous. There’s only two problems – his lack of faith and Geography.
Daisy wants to make her home and set down roots in Refuge, while Rafe wants to get back to the big city. Yet, each one starts to re-think what they want.
Chelsea, despite her divorce and what her friend has been through (and numerous warnings), has no problems with the world of dating apps. After Rafe and Daisy set up a date with Jesse, that fizzles, Chelsea takes to the apps to find her Mr. Right. Only she finds several Mr. “Wrongs” – three in a row no less. The last one proving to be dangerous.
Joan’s reflection on her own “affair” and how she handled her personal beliefs back in the early 1970’s, causes her to be the conscious and guiding hand that Daisy needs.
In the midst of this, Daisy’s brother (introduced in the first book) is getting married to MJ (also from the first book), a single mom.
Joan’s experience guides Daisy into finding and listening to God’s suggestion. Plaguing Daisy – choosing comfort and security over love. Joan has her regrets, but feels blessed by her experience. Her grace, tenacity, and benevolence are beautiful to witness.
I enjoyed watching Rafe slowly come around to seeing what his brother and Daisy saw. It wasn’t an “epiphany”, but a deep understanding and realization. Yet, his “stay or go home” conflict remains throughout the story, only being solved at the end (last few pages to be exact).
Joan’s lesson and advice for Daisy (and the reader as well) could be best compared to the “Serenity Prayer”:
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change what I can,
And, the wisdom to know the difference
Using Chelsea’s traumatic event at the end, Daisy and the reader, see that sometimes a place like Refuge isn’t to hide away, but to recover so one can move on to the next stage of their life. The work we’re sometimes called to do can be done from anywhere – both Rafe and Daisy see this throughout their journey of the “geography” challenge.
Bylin also has another message in the book – new challenges and how God directs us to them or puts them in our way. Not necessarily to punish us, but test us, as well as prepare us.
Of the four characters; I enjoyed Rafe, Daisy, and Joan. While Chelsea had a good heart, I was frustrated with her. The writer leaves the rest of Chelsea’s story at the beginning of the last chapter. I’m hoping that we get to see Chelsea’s story continue in the next book.
Written in a non-rushed pace, that keeps the reader interested, this was hard to walk away from. Despite it being over 350 pages, I found it a quick read. Most 350+ page books take at least three (3) to four (4) days. This took less than 36 hours to read.
The title, “A Gift to Cherish” comes from something Joan tells Daisy in chapter 32, close to the end. The gift is “grace” because it came at a cost, albeit different ones, to both of them.
This is definitely a heart-breaking, endearing, yet sweet story. It even had an element of suspense at the end.
I did enjoy this read and very glad I was able to get a review copy.
I’m sure fans of the author will enjoy the story, particularly fans of the first book.
Anyone looking for a read of this type will likely enjoy it as well.
3.5 Stars
A GIFT TO CHERISH is one of those stories that blends a past romance with a present one as one woman befriends another who is just figuring out how to live and trust in the God she believes in. It full of imperfect characters who have learned or are learning from their pasts while trying to find the right future, and one led by God. The characters are very genuine and the romance is sweet, making for an overall enjoyable story.
I have to just state that this book was good and I liked the characters in all their messiness, but it was also quite tough to read in places and I didn’t always connect with this book as much as I was hoping to. In places it was like watching a freight train and knowing where it’s slowly going and not being able to stop it. Both Rafe and Daisy had demons in their pasts, as did Miss Joan and Chelsea. Miss Joan had the wisdom of her age and a lesson already learned, making her the perfect person to help Daisy through some of her confusion. Chelsea was still a loose cannon, as far as I was concerned, and one I thought might bring danger back into Daisy’s life. I leaned a bit towards Daisy cutting her loose because she didn’t need the extra stress and risk after what she had already been through.
Then there was the main romance between Daisy and Rafe. Daisy at least had already had her faith crisis, so she was good in that way, but she was still learning to trust God and see that maybe what she thought was her future might be different in His hands. Rafe was working through some difficult things in his past, especially as a cop who had to function on the job and not let that past affect his job. I loved that both Rafe and Daisy were completely blindsided by each other. They find attraction and a chance at love between them. It wasn’t in either of their plans, but someone else had a different path for them if they would choose it. Thank goodness that there was a sweet HEA ending that made the rough patches worth the struggle and challenges these characters faced!
I did feel like the story dragged on. I think the secondary story with Miss Joan wasn’t my favorite part, but then also Rafe and Daisy’s romance just kind of felt stretched out for me and with a chunk of the story dealing with Chelsea. At 80 percent through I was ready for the story to be done, which is very unusual for me with this author. Maybe it wasn’t the right story for me to read right now as I just didn’t connect with it like I usually do with Bylin’s stories, and like I did with her last book.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a rough read with a bit of an emotional roller-coaster. The characters were likable, the faith aspect strong and inspiring, and the romance was sweet. Overall, it’s one I’d recommend to Christian contemporary romance or women’s fiction readers.
Content: References to assault, date-rape drugs, an affair, but no specific details.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through JustRead Publicity Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
A Gift to Cherish tackled many challenging issues in a straightforward, yet sensitive manner. There was a cautionary tale of a romance that occurred back in the 1970’s, where decisions made led to heartache. It was hard for me to read this portion of the story, which was presented in a flashback format. I felt sorry for Joan as I knew that she would not be getting a happy ending in that tale.
The modern day romance between Rafe and Daisy was really nice. I appreciated their candor with each other regarding the physical boundaries while dating. I also thought the author did a good job of showing two people who realized that they loved each other yet struggled to determine what God had in store for them.
Daisy’s friend, Chelsea, had a difficult time in this book and her life spiraled from one bad situation to another. Her desperation for love fueled bad decisions and even though she tried to be careful as she used the online dating apps, trouble found her anyway. This book can be read as a stand alone novel, even though it is book two in a series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
A Gift To Cherish is book number two in Victoria Bylin’s Road To Refuge series. I must admit though, I did not even realize it was part of a series until I sat down to write this review. Needless to say, it can be read as a standalone with no problem. That said, I so enjoyed not only this story, but the author’s unique voice in the Christian fiction genre that I will certainly be interested in going back and reading book one, and more from her in the future as well.
In A Gift To Cherish, we meet two imperfect characters- Daisy and Rafe. Both have been through a lot in their past and have made their way to Refuge to recover from those struggles. A flat tire leads to a chance meeting…and without giving too much away, a romance follows. But this isn’t your classic Christian romance novel. Let’s be honest, many Christian romances tend to steer clear of the physical aspect of relationships completely. While I certainly don’t mind that, it’s also not quite realistic either. This book is completely clean, but it does bring light to the setting of boundaries in a relationship. As such, I can see this being a refreshing read for those who are single and perhaps struggle in that area… it’s a much more realistic viewpoint that I think can be appreciated. It also gives us a look at the very real dangers of online dating in an honest way as well. This book certainly isn’t one to shy away from the hard stuff.
I really enjoyed the contrast of Daisy and Rafe’s current relationship and the struggles with modern dating with Joan’s own romance in the 70s. Not only do we see the differences in the times, but in the mindset of these two women as well. Daisy found herself striving to keep physical boundaries in place, and God at the center of her relationship whereas Joan did not. I again will not give too much away, but I really enjoyed this backstory and seeing how Joan grew from the experience and offered up that wisdom to Daisy as well.
Overall, this was a really unique story and one that I am glad to have read. While I certainly enjoyed it as a married woman who enjoys romance, I can also see it being one that really appeals to those currently in the dating scene even more. It’s certainly one worth checking out regardless.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
A Gift to Cherish by Victoria Bylin
The Road to Refuge Series Book Two
Rafe Donovan is a Cincinnati police officer. After a panic attack and nightmares, he needs to take some time off. He ends up in Refuge, Wyoming by his brother, Jesse. Jesse had taken a different path than Rafe…but he was reformed now and hired men like himself to work for his construction company. Rafe works for Jesse while there, but he’s not the most popular with the rest of the crew…a cop and ex-cons.
Daisy Walker Riley is so thankful for her second chance. After a world of bad choices…Jesus saved her in more than one way. Happily living in Refuge with her brother, Shane, and his fiancée, MJ, and her son, Cody. But the fear of her past lives with her still. Like having a man stop at three a.m. offering to help fix her flat tire.
Miss Joan Prescott is the last of her line. The last one to take care of Cottonwood Acres. As she makes decisions for the future, her past plays in her mind like it wasn’t almost fifty years again.
Another fabulous story. Joan’s POV is first person and just as interesting as the main story. And there are other little things as well. Like Chelsea and her desperate need to have a man in her life. I highly recommend reading When He Found Me, the first book in the series (if you haven’t read it already). This is Shane and MJ’s story and also introduces the reader to Daisy and some of her trials.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2011/08/victoria-bylin-books.html
Love the colors used in this cover! They really caught my eye. I do want to let you know that this book is the second book in a series. It can be read as a stand-alone though, as the characters from the previous book are just mentioned in passing.
I read Victoria Bylin’s first book back when it released and loved her edgy writing style. Victoria Bylin tells real-life stories and she does not shy away from the facts. The main characters in this book were easy to follow and get invested in. I loved their teasing (Flirting) back and forth, it was very sweet. Daisy shows remarkable strength in picking herself up after all that has happened to her and she keeps a very positive outlook on life. Plus, she is brave and ends up learning to trust God fully with the changes that life unexpectedly brings. Rafe is also a character of great strength, and someone I’d like to meet in person. Rafe has a good sense of humor and is honest with himself and others about his struggles. The optima of a tough cookie, Rafe may be tough on the outside but inside he is sweet.
The storyline kind of has a dual timeline in it, vague flashbacks to a different era that was quite interesting. The flashbacks I think, taught some valuable life lessons and were very enhancing to the overall story. Victoria Bylin worked in quite a few realities of life into this book, things like physical abuse, alcohol recovery, loneliness, and dealing with life when things do not go your way. Through it, all Victoria Bylin brought everything back how God is always there for us always no matter what situation we may find ourselves in. I truly appreciated how Victoria Bylin shared the gospel in this book.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the vivid portrayal of everyday life, the great characters, and the theme of God overcoming all. I recommend picking this book up!
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
Author Victoria Bylin has a special gift for infusing inspirational contemporary romance with perfectly imperfect characters and compelling story lines that don’t shy away from Life’s complications. “A Gift to Cherish”, Book 2 in her “Road to Refuge Series”, is the story of a man and woman, both no strangers to violence, and each struggling to find sure footing on the path to ultimate faith, whose lives connect in the small town of Refuge, Wyoming. Rafe Donovan has been haunted for years by the death of his sweetheart, Kara, whom he could not save from the ravages of addiction. Taking a temporary leave from the Cincinnati police department, he heads to Refuge to help his brother, Jesse, with his construction business. Daisy Riley, a survivor of abuse and assault, leaves Los Angeles behind in her rear view mirror and makes a permanent move to Refuge to be close to her brother and his family. Seeking security and a fresh start, Daisy longs for a job beyond waitressing that will allow her to use her newly-learned office skills. Rafe and Daisy first meet when he helps her fix a flat tire. He is immediately interested in her, but she is quite wary of men due to the nightmare of a near-fatal attack by her former boyfriend. They meet again when Daisy is hired as a personal assistant by Miss Joan Prescott, who is renovating her historic family ranch home, Cottonwood Acres, and Rafe’s brother’s company is doing the building work. As time passes, with the help of Miss Joan as matchmaker, Daisy and Rafe will get to know more about each other, and friendship and attraction will grow between them. However, they are on different pages when it comes to spiritual matters. Daisy continues to embrace her faith as a lifeline and a source of strength to deal with trying circumstances. Rafe somewhat skirts the issue–unlike his brother, a former substance abuser with a troubled past, he has not found spiritual solace and the comfort of redeeming hope. While Daisy is happily planting roots in Refuge, Rafe yearns to return to his life as a big-city lawman in Cincinnati. Would their differences and the distance between them be too great to sustain a lasting, loving relationship? Can they find common ground and learn to trust in each other and the affirmation of abiding faith? I really loved Daisy and Rafe’s story, and I also greatly enjoyed learning about Miss Joan’s personal history. “Road to Refuge” is a beautifully-written inspirational contemporary romance series, and I highly recommend reading the first book, “When He Found Me”, and then following up with “A Gift to Cherish”. Victoria Bylin has a wonderful, unique storytelling style that is both and involving and uplifting.
Book Copy Gratis Author
Learning to trust God with our future even when it means being willing to make changes! Daisy Riley is an excellent female protagonist as she has learned to trust in God and left a physically abusive relationship and won over alcohol addiction! Rafe Donovan is a Cincinnati cop who is on leave because of nightmares which are affecting his performance while on duty. Rafe and Daisy meet when he visits his brother in Wyoming. Attraction is there but is there a future when Rafe wants to return to big city cop life in Ohio and Daisy loves living in Refuge, Wyoming. There are several secondary protagonists who are excellent. Daisy’s boss, Miss Joan, has a secret past which is another story within the book. Daisy’s friend, Chelsea, has bad experiences with on-line dating. If you read When He Found Me, you will recognize Daisy and know more background but A Gift to Cherish is also good as a stand alone. A Gift to Cherish is an excellent contemporary book that deals with some tough issues. I highly recommend this book to others. I received a complimentary book from the author. This is my honest opinion.