Restoring Love Review And Author Interview!

Posted by abakersp in Contemporary / 1 Comment

I am so excited to have Jennifer Slattery on the blog today! This is the first book I have read of Jennifer’s, and I wasn’t really sure what to expect, as with any new author I read. Have you ever heard the expression mind blown? That’s how I felt as I was reading this. It touched my heart in ways you couldn’t imagine, and I am so glad Jennifer agreed to talk about it with me!!

    Purchase Here:

About the Book

Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old house in an idyllic Midwestern neighborhood. Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic. She’s almost his worst nightmare, and she s also working on restoring something herself. As he struggles to keep his business afloat and she works to overcome mistakes of her past, these two unlikely friends soon discover they have something unexpected in common, a young mom who is fighting to give her children a better life after her husband’s incarceration. While both Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this young mother survive, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back or unite them and bring redemption along with true love?

My Perspective

Make sure you have a box of tissues nearby because this book will pull at your heartstrings! I was blown away by the constant reminder of God’s amazing grace and how He can turn us into a new person. There is so much hope for us, as shown in these characters. We just have to trust in Him!

This book took a little longer to read than I thought it would, but it’s because I didn’t want to miss a thing. Every component was essential to the big picture as well as character growth. The characters easily jumped off the pages and entered my mind. I could vividly see Angela in her loud clothing and high heels trying to find her way. And sweet Bianca – she had a good heart, but had just been given a bad deck of cards and wasn’t sure how to manage life. My heart went out to her as she stumbled and tried to survive.

Restoring Love was ultimately about our relationship with God for me. This was a wonderful story for anyone to read, but felt it may be especially for those who are struggling and need a little hope. It’d be a great asset for you and your church to have to share with others! It truly inspired me and reminded me of how God can change lives – no matter what our past is! Thank you Ms. Slattery for this touching story!

About the Author

Novelist and speaker Jennifer Slattery has a passion for helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, (http://whollyloved.com) she and her team put on events at partnering churches designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. She writes devotions for Internet Café Devotions, Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com, and edits for Firefy, a Southern fiction imprint with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.

Visit with Jennifer online at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com and connect with her on

Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte

Twitter: @Jenslattery

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jenslatte/

Interview With Jennifer!

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer to the blog today! Let’s get right to it!!

Where do you find inspiration?

I hope and pray my inspiration comes from Christ and my ongoing relationship with Him. My heart’s desire is that my writing would be an offering of love to Him.

Are you an introvert or extrovert? What’s the best thing about being an (introvert or extrovert)?

I am an incredible introvert, though most people think I’m an extrovert because I can be quite a talker. I have no problem being in large groups or interacting with others, but I can only handle this in spurts. After a two or three hour social engagement, I’m wiped and ready to find a book to lose myself in.

In answer to your second question … I’m not sure. Perhaps that I always find plenty of time to read? It does help to be an introverted writer. I think it’d be hard to spend so much time behind my desk if I needed more social interaction.

Who has inspired you most?

Paul from the New Testament. Whenever I go through struggles or grow weary, God reminds me of all Paul experienced, his perseverance, and all He did for God’s kingdom. These reminders motivate me to keep going on those days when I’d rather sit with a big tub of ice cream and my ever-growing reading pile.

What scripture has impacted your life the most and why?

This seems to change depending on whatever season I’m going through in life. Right now I’m focusing on Philippians 1:10-11. It says, “For I want you to understand what really matters so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God” (NLT).

Lately, my schedule has felt crazy, and as a result, my stress level has increased. But this verse reminds me to prioritize my time and release those things that aren’t truly important.

Which character in Restoring Love did you most identify with?

Hm … I think I identified with them each in some way. But I loved Virginia the most. Whenever she came on the page, I couldn’t help but smile. She’s the type of lady I’d love to sit with over coffee! Oh, the wisdom she’d impart! We all need at least one Virginia in our lives!

How did you get started writing? How old were you? What made you want to start? What did you enjoy reading as a child?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, though I mostly journaled. I won (or placed, I don’t remember), in a young author’s contest in my sixth grade year. I wish I still had that story! I think it was about a couple of kids who got stranded in the Amazon. I went through a poetry writing phase in middle and high school. Then, once I had our daughter, I started dabbling in fiction writing. I also wrote a lot for ministry purposes—parent newsletters, curriculum, dramas, short stories for children’s church, that sort of thing.

How do you research the communities and people you write about? Do you find yourself having do a lot of research?

I love, love, love visiting the places I write about. It helps give me the flavor of the area and also triggers scene ideas. Plus, traveling is just so fun!

I also rely heavily on Google Earth. I don’t know how writers survived before that was invented! My latest novel, however, is set where I live—Omaha. That’s been fun—to incorporate some of my favorite locations and also to scout out new ones. My husband often comes with me, which is fun. And romantic. 🙂

Readers might find it surprising just how much we writers research. For example, in Restoring love, I needed to research locations, restoration projects, construction questions, black mold and black mold remediation, rehab centers and the cost of rehab, rental agreements, eviction laws, and more!

Wow thank you Jennifer for visiting today! Readers, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of this book to read. It is well worth your time! And please, leave Jennifer some words of encouragement here! Writers need to here from us too 🙂

 

 

 

 

One response to “Restoring Love Review And Author Interview!

  1. c4kwhite

    Based on this interview, I will be buying your book. 95% of my reading is historical, especially Westerns. However, this sounds like a wonderful story. I also identify with you on being an introvert. I am scriptwriter and most people think I am an extrovert too, but I can hardly stand being around a group of people for long either. I totally understand your feelings about that. Thanks to you both for a great interview.