River of Love (Bradens at Peaceful Harbor, #3)

by Melissa Foster

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

 
 
I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own
 
There are a few authors whose novels can keep me glued to the pages. Melissa Foster falls into that category.  (There may be one or two that falls through the cracks). The portrayal of her characters and the emotions they elicit as a result makes for a compelling read.  ‘River of Love’ was no exception.
Who would have thought that Sam Braden, the consummate playboy would be brought to his knees by the very thing he did not believe in, LOVE?  This is what happened when he met Faith Hayes. He first met Faith when he visited his brother’s (Cole) office.  Since then he has found every excuse to go back just to see her.  However, Faith would not give him the time of day because of his playboy reputation.  Sam is not the type to give up and so he was not about to stop until he broke down all the barriers she had built around her heart.
 
Faith was attracted to Sam; however, she was not willing to give into her feelings. She was recovering from a break-up that emotionally devastated her.  As a result, she started an online support group called ‘Women Against Cheater’ (WAC).  She believed Sam was a cheater and so she was reluctant to trust him with her heart. Will Sam be able to convince her that he is a changed man and that she is the only woman he wants?
 
Connecting with the characters was easy, which is no less than I expected from the author. I could relate to Faith on so many levels. (It’s quite ironic that her name is Faith.) Having been hurt in the past makes it difficult to trust your heart to someone else. The healing process takes time and if the other party is not patient, then things will not work out.  Patience is an important ingredient for love and Sam demonstrated this on all levels.  Right then and there I knew he was genuine in his feelings for Faith.  He was willing to wait for her to trust that he would not intentionally hurt her.  If only she would have faith and seize what belongs to her.
 
“Cheating is a cognitive, willful act, a decision someone makes knowing the pain they’ll cause to their partner”.
 
I found the story engaging. It conveyed a range of emotions. I laughed, especially at the antics of Sam and his brothers. The interaction between Sam and Faith was heartfelt. I could not help but root for them at every page turn. I was eager to see how things would unfold. I must confess that there were times I jumped ahead just so I see what was going to happen.
 
Ms. Foster has proven once again why she is on my list of read authors.  ‘River of Love’ is a story about family, friendships, love, healing and trust.  It demonstrates that at times we have to be willing to take risks no matter how painful to realise our dreams. I enjoyed this installment and I recommend it to fans of contemporary romance.
 
N.B. Although River of Love is a part of a series it can be read as a stand-alone.