Natalie Burke trudges through life in a daze of work and tending to her ailing mother. Every day is a fight to keep a roof over their heads. She doesn’t have time to date when she works two jobs.Deputy Jake Sims lives his life to protect others. When the amber-eyed beauty captures his attention at a crime scene, he wants nothing more than to help her. Too bad she’s pushing him away at every turn.… every turn.
After Natalie loses her mother, Jake makes a vow to help her overcome her grief and get back on her feet. Just as their relationship begins to grow, they discover Natalie’s problems have only just begun.
Will Jake be able to rescue Natalie, or will he be too late to save the woman who stole his heart?
A sweet, Christian romance about holding onto hope even in the darkest times.
Living Hope is book three in the Unfailing Love series, but the books can be read in any order.
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I really loved Jake and Natalie and their journey together. I really loved Jake and what a great person he was. This is a super sweet, clean romance that I didn’t want to end.
I have to confess, I have been binge reading all of Mandi Blake’s books. 🙂 Living Hope is the third book in the Unfailing Love series, and it is about Jake and Natalie. Jake Sims is the deputy, and he has worked hard to keep people safe. When he meets a broken amber-eyed beauty at a crime scene, he wants to help her and get to know her but she keeps on pushing him away. Natalie Burke is just trying to get through life, she is living in a daze as she works and tends to her ailing mother. Will Natalie let Jake in? After Natalie loses her mother, Jake steps up to help her but as their relationship grows they discover Natalie’s problems have only just begun.
Natalie was sweet, but she was also tired. She had been carrying for her mom on her own for quite some time. She was just trying her best to stay afloat. I liked her, she was a hard worker and she tried her best. She was also nice. It was so fun to see her relationship with Jake grow and to read about her learning about God.
Jake was super nice and he just wanted to help Natalie. I thought that it was super cute, how he fell in love with her at first sight. He was taken with her, but as they spent more time together it grew into love. However Jake had to learn that he couldn’t save everyone and that he needed to trust that God’s plan was better than his own.
Jake and Natalie had to trust God as he led them through life. Jake had to trust God to protect Natalie when he couldn’t and Natalie had to learn to turn to God for help. Living Hope was a good book. I really enjoyed it and of course, seeing old characters again. I would totally recommend this book! Living Hope is a clean, Christian, romance book.
In this audiobook, we are back with another touching , at times heartbreaking Christian romance in this series.
This time the story belongs to Natalie Burke and Jake Sims.
Natalie is struggling with her life, work and dealing with a very ill mother.
Jake , a deputy, is determined to help Natalie through her personal and spiritual struggles.
Especially after Natalie’s mother dies.
This is not a story for the faint of heart. It’s a story about loss, hope and an unexpected future.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook through Author’s Direct. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Living Hope is an action-filled sweet and clean romance. It is packed with drama and pulls out every emotion…fear, hope, loss, joy, anticipation, dread. The characters are so realistic and well developed, I couldn’t help but be vested in their story. I couldn’t stop listening. The narrator gives a fantastic performance and her country twang is spot on.
You get pieces of Jake in the first two books of the series and he shows just how stand up he is when he answers a call and meets Nat. Nat has led a life of hardship yet filled with love from her mother. When she has more hits than a person should have to deal with the charming Jake is there to help. There are so many sweet and caring moments in this Christian romance. The author slides in scriptures and messages of God and his mercy in a way that makes you want to know more. She delivers her (God’s) message through her characters. That’s what makes her message stand out loud and clear. They actually live the life WWJD and this is what makes her reads solid, enjoyable and real. I am loving this series of standalone reads.
Natalie was beaten down by life. She worked two jobs to support her mother and pay for her cancer treatments. When Deputy Jake Sims comes into her life after she was held at gunpoint during a robbery at her job, she thinks she’s not good enough for him and pushes him away. She has to learn to love herself and accept help from others before she can truly let him in. Jake does have a hero complex and he feels guilty he couldn’t protect his aunt, but he genuinely comes to care for Natalie, want what’s best for her, and encourages her to do what she loves like cooking and making jewelry. There were plenty of sad, scary, and sweet moments in this small town romance.
This is a sweet romance about a gal who is robbed while working at a convenient store. The hero, is the deputy and is quickly drawn to her and wants to protect her. I feel there is an immediate attraction between the two. This has some thriller aspects to it as well. I enjoyed it and I look forward to more in the series.
3.5 stars
Deputy Jake Sims was a protector. Ever since his uncle abused his aunt so badly that she would never be able to live a normal life again, he was determined to protect those who might be harmed by others. When he was called to the scene of an armed robbery at a gas station and saw the beautiful angel who was so frightened by what had happened, he had to help her and provide her with his support.
Natalie Burke had the responsibility on her shoulders of a much older person. Her dad died when she was seven and her mom was now dying of cancer. She worked two jobs, never really hoping that her life would get better. When she faced down a robber with a gun pointed at her, she fell apart, and when kind deputy showed up to help, she broke down, crying while he held her. When he offered to take her home when her car wouldn’t start, she never imagined how much her life could change by meeting one person who could be answer that you never imagined was possible.
This was a beautiful story of healing, romance and love and being able to see a brighter future. Jake was the kind of man every woman hopes and dreams of finding. One who will protect you at all costs and love you no matter what.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
I loved Natalie and Jake’s story!! I especially love how Natalie admitted she didn’t really know God, but she was so open to finding Him!!! Natalie realized that it wasn’t just “coincidence” that things happened as they did. She knew it was God working to bring her to Him, and used Jake and circumstances to do so. In the end, she realized that dreams can come true, they just need to be done in God’s way and God’s timing. I can’t wait for the next book!!!
Mandi Blake really packs a lot into this book. There is romance, friendship, grief, crime, mystery, along with interesting characters, a plot that flows and the wonderful message of salvation and God’s guidance. I’m not I have the words to say how much I loved this book. It really shows that, yes, there is hate and evil in the world but there is also kindness and love which will always win in the end.
This is a well written christian romance. It is a story that will lift your spirits. You will laugh, cry and cheer while reading this book. Once you start reading you can’t put it down, you just have to know what happens next. This book deserves more than 5 stars!
Living Hope is a well-written romance with lots of heart, faith, and suspense. The main characters, Natalie and Jake, are likable and are written so that I feel like we would be best friends. I love how Jake’s friends never hesitated to help him help Natalie. I admired Natalie’s devotion to her mother and how hard Natalie worked to provide for her. The only thing that I didn’t care for was Jake, a Christian, romantically pursuing Natalie, a non-believer. Of course, in the book everything works out for that HEA. There’s a touching epilogue. The plot has some twists and turns and moves at a good pace. The dialogue flows well. I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to clean/wholesome romance readers and to Christian fiction readers. I received an complimentary copy. I chose to write a review and share my opinion.
This book will make you cry and smile all at the same time.
As I was read I this book it brought back so many memories of what I went through with my own mom. Not the same health reasons of course.
But I knew where my mom went because she was a stout believer. So even though I was sad and I still miss her because I could use her wisdom. I was relieved at the same time because I knew she was no longer miserable and in pain. I know I will see her again soon. For the Lord is returning soon!!
We also lost my father in law 2 years ago. But I wasn’t sure about where his beliefs lie. I really hope that he was a saved person. He was a good man in life but that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have Jesus.
I loved Natalie and Jake but most of all I was rejoicing for her at the same time if that makes sense.
Mandi I felt like you were writing my story because of the certain events that happened to Natalie in this beautiful story. You’ve done an excellent job!
For without the Lord we are nothing. It’s what we are missing when we feel empty inside.
I am a stout believer and I talk to my mom and Jesus all the time. I’m sure people think I’m crazy but you know what? I dont care. I know I will have the greatest treasure in Heaven.
My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this book. NO compensations were received and all opinions are my own
Natalie and Jake meet during a stressful situation. My heart went out to her for all that she has and is going through. Jake was oh my so swoon worthy. Loved how he pursued he but was gentle about it. He gave her her space when she needed it. There is always hope and was glad they turned to each other in the end. Awesome narrator. I liked this book so much I read and listened to it.
This was another great read. I actually listened to it as I received this from the author. I didn’t agree to leave a review for it, but I leave it by my choice. I loved listening to it. The story of Natalie and Jake is so good. I loved hearing about the other people I has previously read/listened about in Carson. Great love story with a little bit of action suspense. This is worth the read/listen.