The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck

Title: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck

Author: Bethany Turner

Genre: Rom-Com

Publishing Date: Oct 3, 2017

Publisher: Revell

Length: 297 Pages

About the Book:

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.

My Review:

Tired of being locked-in at your house because of COVID-19? Yeah, me too. And not that I don’t enjoy rom-com to begin with, but it’s been all I’ve been in the mood to read lately.

Sometimes you just need a good laugh, and Bethany Turner is always able to deliver. I appreciate her novels because you’re not just getting a bundle of laughter, but a real story–not just a mound of fluff. Her characters are flawed in realistic ways with realistic problems. She doesn’t sugarcoat things or create easy “outs”. She makes her character go through the ringer. But it’s also handled with witty humor and comical scenes that manage to keep the mood light in spite of the circumstances. She goes into territory other authors might not venture, but manages to give encouraging stories of redemption.

Bethany Turner is one of my must-read authors. Her books are my go-to “rainy day” reads because I always know I’ll get some laughter without fluff. I highly recommend this read and any of her others.

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