Until I Met You by Tari Faris – Book Review

Item: Until I Met You
Rating: 4
Author: Phyllis Helton

Posted September 25, 2020 by Phyllis Helton in Book Reviews /

Until I Met You

by Tari Faris

Series: Restoring Heritage #2
Published by Fleming H. Revell Company
Publication Date September 8, 2020
Genres: Christian Fiction, Clean Romance
Setting: Michigan Contemporary
Main Character Ages: 25-34
Written for: Adults
Pages: 336

Synopsis:

When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.
All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town's new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints--and possibly even his heart?
Novelist Tari Faris invites you back to the small town with a big heart in this second book in the Restoring Heritage series.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Revell for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

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Until I read Until I Met You, I had not read anything by Tari Faris. The synopsis caught my attention when I was looking for my next read so I thought I would try it.

This is such a sweet story about second chances and forgiveness! Austin and Libby had each experienced hurts that led them to the town of Heritage and left each one fearful of trusting. Austin’s pain and the unforgiveness he held onto caused him to be quite prickly! I did love the way Libby continued to forgive him for his attitude and wasn’t afraid to confront him about it!

Aspects of the prodigal son parable played a significant role, with Austin being the older brother. It made me understand his frustration with his father’s kind treatment of his younger brother; and how it felt like a rejection of all Austin had done.

My favorite spiritual lesson, however, was that of grace. Nate, the younger brother, still felt tremendous guilt over the sins of his past and though he knew better in his head, his heart had him volunteering all over town and doing what he could – not for salvation but more as penance. I was touched when he finally realized this is what he was doing!

I enjoyed Olivia and her research for the article she was assigned. My favorite was the fishing trip! I would love to see the articles she came up with, at least portions of them, though. It was a little disappointing not to see what she wrote.

Until I Met You stands alone, though several of the characters have had their stories told in previous books of the Restoring Heritage series. Not having read them, I am intrigued and would like to see how they ended up where they are now. So I will be reading more by this author.

If you enjoy small-town, Christian romance, be sure to get this series for yourself.