For these two broken hearts, the first step toward love will be a huge leap of faith.
Jessica Mason isn’t looking for love when she meets Ridley Chesterfield. Instead she is still reeling from the tragic, unexpected loss of her husband and daughter—and awaiting the arrival of her unborn child. Harboring the secret of her husband’s betrayal, her pain is deeper than anyone knows.
Ridley … anyone knows.
Ridley Chesterfield is hiding out in Hope Springs, Idaho, avoiding a political scandal and the barrage of false media headlines that have tarnished his good name. The last thing Ridley wants is a relationship—but when fate leads Ridley to form a friendship with his reclusive and pregnant neighbor, he wonders if this small-town hideout might be more of a long-term destination.
When Jessica begins to read her great-grandfather’s Bible, she finds a connection with a man she never knew. Somehow the verses he marked and the words he wrote in the margins open her heart to healing. And as Ridley and Jessica help each other forgive the people who have wronged them, they must decide if the past will define them or if they will choose to love again.
Who I Am With You weaves together a modern-day romance with Jessica’s great-grandfather’s story from the 1930s, reminding us that some truths can cross generations and that faith has the power to transform families forever.
“Tender and heartwarming . . . a true delight.” —New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Courtney Walsh
- Sweet, inspirational read with contemporary and historical storylines
- First novel in the Legacy of Faith series but can be enjoyed as a standalone
- Book length: approximately 77K words
- Includes a reading group guide and a note from the author
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I loved this story and the interweave of the past and present. Loved how the past and present really mirrored each other and the revelations that can be taken from both life situations. Easy to read and follow and perfect ending!
One of the coolest ideas in this novel is the notion of leaving a Bible legacy. I am a BIG annotator. My Bible is covered in highlights, notes, ideas, and random in-the-moment prayers. I believe with my whole heart that God wants a real relationship with me, so He meets me where I am through His Word. I meet Him back through my prayers and annotations. Opening my Bible to be present in the Lord is as close as I can get on this earth to Yeshua. For me, it’s a very real experience. But I have to admit that I have never considered what my Bible could do for my progeny. After I die, will anyone open my Bible and read through God’s Word and my notes? Will something I have penned in the margins help a future great-granddaughter or son? Could I be a seed planter even after my death? It’s a truly remarkable thought that my study and relationship with God today could reach into the future and spark change and/or encouragement. I very much enjoyed watching as Jessica comes to some really good understanding of God and life as she goes through her great-grandfather’s much loved, highly annotated Bible. This idea has definitely left me putting a little more thought and effort into my Bible study annotations and prayers.
In Who I Am with You Jessica and Ridley are a little more mature than the average Christian fiction hero and heroine as they are in their early-mid 30s. Both Jessica and Ridley have experienced a great deal of life at the start of this novel, and their faith has been tested. When something seriously bad happens to Jessica, she temporarily closes herself from God and her community. To me, Jessica’s reactions are completely realistic and understandable. After a reasonable amount of time, Jessica starts to open back up to both God and her friends. She is able to do this because she has a mature foundation in God. Jessica knows that to get back to herself she needs to get back to God. In Ridley’s case, his foundation is so strong in God to begin with that he never lashes out at God. He’s upset and distrustful of people, but he’s so mature in his faith that he knows who to be mad at. I appreciate this maturity from both Jessica and Ridley because it makes their actions and thought patterns seem so real; and, ultimately, I am able to buy into their friendship and romance. Instead of raging hormones, Jessica and Ridley’s romance is real and sweet, and it feels like it has a good chance of lasting a lifetime.
I love the discussion of forgiveness that weaves its way throughout Who I Am with You. Each main character in this novel is betrayed in a pretty horrific manner. As the injured party, I believe each character has the right to be severely hurt and angry, yet each character longs for forgiveness. While each character deals with forgiveness in his/her own way and time, they all do forgive. What I love the most is how they each came to a place of forgiveness. No human is strong enough to forgive on his/her own. We need God to help us get to the place of real forgiveness. Each character eventually brings his/her desire to forgive to God. They talk to Him about how hard it is to forgive, they discuss their hurt, pain, and inability to trust. They admit they want to forgive, but aren’t sure how to do it. By going to God, each character finds success in being able to forgive, and they are healed of their hurts and disillusionments. I found the illustrations of each character taking his/her issues to God a great reminder of how I need to act every time I find myself in a hurting place.
Who I Am with You is a great read. I found the writing to be fast-paced, the plot to be thoroughly engaging, and the characters to be realistic and endearing. I am going to miss my time with Jessica and Ridley. If you are looking for a really good, heartwarming contemporary romance with thought-provoking themes then I highly recommend Who I Am with You.
I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via Audra Jennings at I Read With Audra and through NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Another wonderful book from the master of creating characters I want to spend time with.
Oh wow! What a wonderful beginning to a fascinating series! I absolutely loved and devoured this novel!
Who I Am with You is a dual timeline novel and I can easily say that both the present and the past timelines equally captured my interest and kept me turning pages to find out what happened next.
The development of the love story between Ridley and Jessica was heartwarming. Both of these characters had trust issues because of betrayals they had recently endured. The circumstances were different and both Ridley and Jessica had to work through their emotions in their own ways. I loved the way their friendship turned into more, and all while Jessica was preparing her heart and home for a new baby. It was so precious. What Jessica had endured prior to Ridley’s arrival was so sad, making her journey of forgiveness and happiness and love that much sweeter.
There was a beautiful faith message and focus on forgiveness woven throughout the entire book, in both the present and the past stories. I loved the way Andrew, in the story from the past, dove into God’s word and applied it to his life through some extremely trying experiences. God called him to love and forgive, even when it was hard. It was a touching story. I am excited to read more books in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
A gentle, inspiring, and beautifully written love story with characters you can’t help but care about from the start. I have to say I was especially fond of Kris, the hero’s dog, who did a commendable job of playing matchmaker!
Jessica Mason, an artist, is five months pregnant and struggling with forgiveness after finding out her husband was leaving her the day he and their six-year-old daughter were killed in a tragic car accident.
Ridley Chesterfield, a former political staff member, is staying at his family’s vacation home for the summer after being linked to false information. He is seeking peace and a way to come to terms with being betrayed.
Through a number of occurrences – being neighbors, a stray dog, long walks, and sharing talks about their faith – Jessica and Ridley become friends as well as help each other learn how to heal and trust in love again.
When her grandmother dies, Jessica is given her great-grandfather’s Bible, whose life is told in a secondary tale.
Who I Am With You, Book 1 of the Legacy Of Faith series, by Robin Lee Hatcher, is terrific. From the beautiful dedication at the beginning to the very end, it is filled with love and faith. I wasn’t sure how I was going to like reading two stories at one time, but it turned out to be one of the best books I have read in a long time. It has been many years since I took notes of a novel to save and went back and re-read scripture portions after the author applied it to the character. Ms. Hatcher is an amazing Christian fiction writer.
When tragedy strikes Jessica, she believes her secret will stay hidden. But she will soon find out that she needs to let the secret come out in the open and deal with it. Ridley, too, is hiding a secret that he needs to deal with. Jessica and Ridley meet and begin to trust one another with no real plans of commitment at first. As they grow together, they realize what life is really about and how they can deal with their own demons.
We are introduced to Andrew and Helen who lived in the past. Their life isn’t easy, and their dreams were not realized and caused disappointment. But with the help of Andrew’s bible, which plays an important role in future stories, they become the people God wants them to be. With the switch between past and present, the reader realizes what seems like just family history can really affect the outcome of their own lives.
This story is a “comfortable” read for me. That means that I am touched by many things but not traumatized by it. The story is not a cliff hanger, but you want to read more and find out who will be touched by the family Bible.
When I finished this book, I think I may have sat back with a sigh — and then almost immediately looked to see when the next book in this series releases. The author created a strongly redemptive yet not-forced story that mirrored in some ways the redemption that our heavenly Bridegroom Jesus wrought for each one of us. The romance is sweet, well-developed, and not gushy. I think I would have liked a little more closure at the end – the pace at the end felt a bit rapid, unlike the rest of the book, which moves in a very leisurely, thoughtful way – but the ending sufficiently tied up the loose ends.
I think my favorite part of this “contemporary” book was the 1930s storyline about Jessica’s great-grandfather. It was so neat to see a man who loves his God and loves his wife, struggling and ultimately winning his victory spiritually. I think any reader will love him — I’m hoping we see more of him in the next book in this series, which I’m pretty sure we will.
I recommend this one highly to those who enjoy dual timelines, contemporary fiction with a thoughtful feel, and storylines with strong characters and spiritually-challenging messages.
Note for teen readers: The storyline contains a strong thread of dealing with adulterous relationships in marriage. This is handled, in my opinion, in a discreet and Biblical manner.
Loved this book. Robin Lee Hatcher writes the most inspirational books around. Her characters make you feel inspired. Love all of her books. Cannot wait for her next one.
I received a copy of the book from The Fiction Guild, I was not required to give a favorable review. This was a beautiful story about starting over for two people. Jessica was cheated on and was being left by her husband when he and their daughter were hit and killed in a car accident on the way to get Christmas present. After their death she found out she was pregnant. Ridley came to Hope Springs after being accused of leaking information about a candidate he was working for. He is getting the house ready for his parents that they bought to live in when they retired. The house was next door to Jessica. They became friends but with healing of friendship & God’s help they found a new start with friendship.
Robin Lee Hatcher’s latest novel Who I Am With You is the first book in her Legacy of Faith series. Hatcher is a master at contemporary romance and created a heartwarming dual-timeline story filled with faith, love, and forgiveness that readers will not want to put down.
In the contemporary storyline, following the unexpected death of her husband and younger daughter, Jessica Mason finds comfort in reading her great-grandfather Andrew Henning’s Bible and the verses that he marked in the Bible. Jessica meets her new neighbor Ridley Chesterfield who is trying to make a fresh start of his own after false allegations of his involvement in a political scandal. The historical storyline follows Jessica’s great-grandfather Andrew Henning through the Great Depression in the 1930s and the pain and heartache that his family endured during that time.
Readers will fall in love with Ridley, Jessica, and the whole Henning family and will share in their heartaches and triumphs throughout the story. Forgiveness is an important theme in this novel, and the knowledge that God is always there for us during the good times and the bad.
I love the storyline of having a family heirloom Bible to pass on throughout the generations and how the characters grew in their faith throughout the novel. I can’t wait for the second book in the series, Cross My Heart, which will continue the journey of the Henning family through the years. I read this book for my book club and loved it so much that I purchased my own copy after first reading it from the library. I would recommend this book for fans of contemporary romance! It’s definitely one for the keeper shelf!
Who I Am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher is a predictable contemporary romance. It has slipped into the time-slip genre, which has become popular with many authors, such as Kristy Cambron, Jaime Jo Wright, and Rachel Hauck. The story features two different stories told in two different time periods. The present day and the 1930’s. While the romance grew alongside the characters in the present day story, the past storyline had a more confusing romance to deal with. I believe the present storyline was too easy for the characters. They really didn’t argue. They met, fell in love, and everything worked out perfectly; whereas, the past character married, struggled, and learned to fall in love again. I do enjoy the concept of the Bible being a wonderful legacy to pass on to future generations to show how strong a faith is. I have my grandfather’s and my father’s Bibles with all their notes. I understand the importance of seeing their opinions on certain topics even though they aren’t around anymore. With the preview of the second book in the series, I believe readers are going to have more of the story of Andrew Henning as the world heads toward World War II. Overall, I believe fans of Cambron, Becky Wade, Francine Rivers, and Hatcher’s other books might enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of Who I Am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Who I Am With You Starts off remembering the tragic deaths of Jessica’s husband and daughter. Jessica is secluded in her home in Hope Springs Idaho and that’s the way she wants it. Until Ridley Chesterfield moves into the house next door, trying to hid from the tragedy that happened with his job. Two people hurting and alone gradually starts communicating to each other.
I really enjoyed this story. Though Jessica and Ridley were hurting, they were both at odds with God because of their situations. It’s when Jessica was given a Bible that belonged to her grandfather that she begins to read the notes he had written decades ago that her heart begin to soften. And as she and Ridley spend time together, they begin enjoying each other’s company, and there is definitely an attraction there!
Robin Lee Hatcher has written a wonderful story dealing with hurts and tragedy, but of love, forgiveness and grace. Weaving together two lives that are at a total loss, and bringing a healing neither ever suspected. I love the contrast between the past, with Jessica’s grandfather offering his help through notes in his old Bible, and the life Jessica is now living. To me that adds a sweeter note to the story. All in all, this is a beautifully written story that you are sure to love.
I received this book from Read with Audra to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.
I’m going to admit this was my first time to read a book by author Robin Lee Hatcher. And it won’t be my last. I loved it! The characters are well developed and believable. They have issues and doubts just like we do. Well written, there is a thread of hope and forgiveness all the way through. We see that even though we may turn our backs on the Lord due to hurts in our lives, He always welcomes us back. But the story in no way is preachy. It’s simply a story of faith.
Who I am With You will pull you in as you read about Ridley and Jessica in a modern day setting, and the story of Jessica’s great grandparents woven through out. I really enjoyed the backstory of Jessica’s family and how it helped her to find her way back to God.
If you enjoy a mixture of genres, women’s fiction, historical fiction, clean romance, and Christian fiction, then you’ll enjoy this book. I highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
I loved this story! The characters Jessica and Ridley were easy to get to know and understand and relate to. If one has ever been hurt by loving someone as I have, it helps to read about the healing powers of forgiveness in this book. I had to keep my Kleenex close at hand.
From the very beginning of the book I felt drawn in and it only grew and grew to the end.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series in 2019, I Cross My Heart.
Well written book by Robin Lee Hatcher.
I love how the author takes readers on a journey traveling from the depression era to the present. It flows so easily and I had a hard time wanting to leave each time period. I would get so engrossed in the story, I didn’t want to travel to the other time period. I did wonder how I would be able to read quickly enough to get back to the other couple. The author sure had me hooked on the characters.
Jessica is trying to deal with a big loss in her life while pregnant. She had a great marriage until her husband shocked her with words she never expected to hear from him. Have you ever had an argument and then the person walked away? That is just what happened to Jessica, only tragedy struck and she finds herself grieving the loss of two very special people. Can she learn to trust again?
Ridley has moved next to Jessica for the summer to get away from the medial. He is hurt and trying to grasp the lies that have been told about him. What would you do if someone was spreading lies about you? Ridley is a very caring person and I liked how he reached out to Jessica with no expectations. Two lonely people dealing with forgiveness and trust will take readers on a journey that touch your heart.
I can’t forget to mention Andrew and Helen. We meet them slipping back in time to the depression era. I loved how the author described the time period and how hard it was during that time for people to find work and food. Andrew will be faced with a hard truth that will find him asking for God’s help. Andrew was my favorite character in the book because he has such a compassionate heart and forgives easily. He reminds me so much of my grandfather and it made me smile to have that memory of such a great man.
The story is strong in faith and scriptures that helped pull the story together in a beautiful and seamless way. The author writes with eloquence and her characters are very easy to relate to. Its a strong lesson in faith, trust and forgiveness. Everything happens for a reason, and in this story that statement is very true. Four people looking for guidance, forgiveness and happiness. This is one story that you will need to have tissues handy. I loved every minute of the story and hope you will too. Come take a journey and find out if these people will trust God. The title is perfect for this story because it made me think of who I am with my husband. With him beside me I am content, secure and know I am loved unconditionally. He is a great example of being Christ-like.
I received a copy of this book from Read with Audra Blogging Program. The review is my own opinion.
Sometimes I still need to pinch myself that I’m legit a book reviewer. Right now is one of those times.
Robin Lee Hatcher has been writing books since I was in high school. It’s safe to say I’ve been reading them since then, too! So the fact that I’m on this team, promoting her new release, is just … a dream moment, truly!
Who I Am With You is everything I would want and expect from a Hatcher book (and after 20 years reading her books, I should know ).
Romance and a delightful PNW setting combine in this sweet read. Jumping from the Great Depression to present day and back, you’ll enjoy following dual story lines across both miles and time. The story presents an insightful look into the Depression, bringing it close to home for those of us too young to know what it was like.
I natch loved even the passing references to Seattle, though the action primarily took place in Idaho (and a bit in Portland).
So glad to see this is the first book in a series. I’m definitely ready for book 2 and beyond, and hope to see these characters appear again.
I received a copy of the book from Audra Jennings PR. All opinions are my own.
I fell in love with Robin Lee Hatcher’s books a number of years ago when I first encountered her Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series. The whimsical and romantic western series was delightful and I have made it a point to read as many of this author’s books as possible since that time. One thing I have learned about this author is that although her books may vary from historical to contemporary romance and women’s fiction, I can always count on a satisfying experience when reading one. Who I Am With You offers the best of both worlds in a split time novel that features Jessica Mason’s current story side-by-side with her great-grandfather’s story from the early 1900s.
The tale of two wounded people attempting to just survive their pain with no intention of becoming involved with the opposite sex, Who I Am With You is a story that offers hope to its readers. well-developed characters with more strength than they imagine are brought together unexpectedly and form a bond that helps to heal them both. I loved how Jessica was encouraged in her faith by the notes in her grandfather’s Bible. It was also encouraging to read about his own marital struggles and his determination to keep his marriage together.
All-in-all, Who I Am With You is a story that will not only warm the reader’s heart but will give her plenty to think about in the following days. I am certain that this book may just be what someone might need to hear and the exact time she reads it – at least I do hope that will be the case.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Audra Jennings PR. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Who I Am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher is the first installment in the Legacy of Faith series. It’s a dual timeline novel with one story in present day and one story in the late 1920s/1930s. The author made both settings feel authentic to their respective times while binding them together with a well-loved Bible and its handwritten notes. Timeless Biblical truths about forgiveness, prayer, and love echo throughout both stories.
To me, Who I Am With You felt more like a fiction novel than a romance novel. While there was some romance and tension, it wasn’t a main focus of the story, as is the case in some Christian fiction. Still, I enjoyed watching Jessica and Ridley’s relationship grow in spite of the difficult circumstances in both of their lives. Both characters learned the necessity of forgiveness and faith. I especially liked Ridley’s character development and the changes he embraced throughout the story.
I recommend Who I Am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher to readers looking for a faith-filled heartwarming story. I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but I’m not sure if I would read it again. If you have read and enjoyed books by Robin Lee Hatcher in the past, you’ll probably enjoy this one!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I just finished this book of the genre Christian fiction. It lived up to my expectations of being a good read by Hatcher. I enjoyed the Bible quotes from the King James Version as this is the language of Scripture I learned in my youth.