What Did I Think of This Second-Chance Novel?

We all know I’m not much of a sappy girl, but there are a few things that are “my jam.”  One of those: second-chance romances.  I love to see things that didn’t work… work!  So, when I had a chance to review the book Restored, by Tonya Eavenson, I jumped at it.  

Note: Links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I requested a review copy and chose to review here.

What Did I Think of This Second-Chance Novel?

With a great premise and clean editing, Restored offers a glimpse into the difficult world of widowhood, cancer treatment, infertility, and unexpected medical trouble.  With a line-up like that, you’d expect it to be a difficult book to read, too implausible, or a little like that series, Cranford inspired by Elizabeth Gaskell—everyone dying all over the place.

But it wasn’t, and that part of the book was brilliant.

There were things I didn’t love as much as I wanted to, however—things that took this from being a great book to just a nice one.

Most things I took issue with were minor—a child’s speech patterns being spelled oddly or a little too cliche rather than authentic. A slow start (one that, in retrospect, might have been a good idea. I’m still pondering that). Much of the book could have been improved by focusing on showing rather than “explaining” things.

But my one real complaint is that I saw in the characters things I really liked, but the characters themselves came off a bit flat.  I didn’t connect with them the way I wanted to. Instead, they were… there. Perhaps the best way of stating my primary problem was that I felt like I was observing something rather than living the characters lives with them.

Still, with all that…

I’ll be reading more by this author. Something tells me she may be a favorite someday. Meanwhile, I’m not sorry I requested the review copy, and I hope she keeps going.

Restored is on tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Restored

Author: Tanya Eavenson

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release date: February 10, 2016

Sometimes love arrives when you least expect it.

Dr. Steven Moore is known nationally for saving lives. If only he could save his own. Unable to deal with his prognosis, he retreats to a happier time in his past—to the woman who once stole his heart.

Four years after the death of her beloved husband, bookstore owner Elizabeth Roberts still struggles to sustain her faith and joy in the Lord as she raises her two sons. She strives to find a way through her family’s grief, never suspecting a man from her past might offer hope for her future.

But how can there be a future when he’s only come to kiss her and say good-bye?

About the Author

Tanya Eavenson is an international bestselling and award-winning inspirational romance author. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book. You can find her at her website http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/ on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google, or on Amazon.

More from Tanya

RESTORED is the second book in the Unending Love series. It’s a story I wanted to write, one I knew I could write, but still, it took six years to write. Not that it was difficult, but something was missing.

A friend and I attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and during the conference, we discussed RESTORED. We came up with different plots, but nothing felt right.

I decided then to take a hiatus from contemporary romance and to begin writing another genre I’ve always loved, historical romance. While doing research and working on my historical romance novel, doctors discovered I had cancer.

There are many times in a person’s life where he or she may reach an obstacle.

It may be an illness, an accident, a difficult decision that must be made, or any number of other things. I’d reached that point in my life. It was a defining moment, not only dealing with my cancer prognosis, but asking the Lord if He truly called me to write as I thought, or was I mistaken. I stuffed my historical romance novel away and almost gave up on God’s call to write.

But through the fears and searching for God’s direction…

I learned He did indeed place this desire to write on my heart and no matter what I was facing in my life, it didn’t diminish His call. I’m inspired by the Lord to write inspirational Christian fiction so people may know the love of Christ. To know the depth He will go to have a relationship with us. And though we struggle, He uses us—ordinary people like me—to do out of the ordinary things. Unexpected things—like writing. This propelled me to write RESTORED.

I began pouring into RESTORED the knowledge I’d gained through my own experiences and that of my stepfather and father-in-law, who were both diagnosed with melanoma. Now, I know that if I had written this story any earlier in my career, I wouldn’t be on such a personal level with my characters nor could I have written it from the heart.

I love this story. I love my characters, Steven and Elizabeth. RESTORED is about lost love being given a second chance when you least expect it. A story of how nothing is impossible with God.

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 6

Through the Fire Blogs, June 7

Simple Harvest Reads, June 8

Remembrancy, June 9

Godly Book Reviews, June 10

For Him and My Family, June 11

Spoken from the Heart, June 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 13

Texas Book-aholic, June 14

janicesbookreviews, June 15

A Reader’s Brain, June 16

Inklings and notions, June 17

Artistic Nobody, June 18 (Spotlight)

Just the Write Escape, June 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tanya is giving away a grand prize of a $5 Amazon gift card and a pillow cover from RedBubble!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e4f5/restored-celebration-tour-giveaway