Synopsis:
Becoming a Christian is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to Sarah Hollenbeck. Best because, well, that’s obvious. Worst because, up to this point, she’s made her very comfortable living as a well-known, bestselling author of steamy romance novels that would leave the members of her new church blushing.
Now, Sarah is trying to reconcile her past with the future she’s chosen. She’s still under contract with her publisher and on the hook with her enormous fan base for the kind of book she’s not sure she can write anymore. She’s beginning to think that the church might frown on her tithing on royalties from a “scandalous” book. And the fact that she’s falling in love with her pastor doesn’t make things any easier.
With a powerful voice, penetrating insight, and plenty of wit, Bethany Turner explodes onto the scene with a debut that isn’t afraid to deal with the thorny realities of living the Christian life.
Rating: 4.5-stars
Review:
The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner is a sweet romantic comedy. A young woman who writes sexy tales is in love with her pastor. Her career seems to clash with her pastor’s lifestyle of teaching what’s right versus wrong. I laughed out loud a lot with this story. It was crazy good. The characters are believable. Each protagonist has a past that they felt uncomfortable with until they finally let it out the truth. Not that they lied to one another. But that it was embarrassing for them to say until the right moment. Even then they struggled a bit. It was so real. Heartfelt, realistic, and enjoyable. Sarah and Ben’s relationship is different but it’s a happy one. They both felt a pull to be together and went with it. They trusted their gut. There were some moments when I thought oh no, what’s going to happen next and other moments where I was like, yes! I loved the protagonists. Overall, I recommend this beautiful tale to readers everywhere.
Urban Book Reviews 