Hearts Rekindled

Bell Bomber Brides #3

by Patty Smith Hall

"I'm Here to See My Daughter."

She never thought she'd see John Davenport again. Merrilee Daniels Davenport's former husband has returned to their small Georgia town after fighting in the Pacific. And now the soldier is bearing a letter from the little girl he didn't know he had. Merrilee wishes that she and her daughter could lean on John's able shoulders, but her new assignment as a homeland informant won't allow it.

Twelve years have only made Merrilee more beautiful in John's eyes. Back then, he was the proud fool who walked away. Now all he wants is to prove he can be the husband she deserves, and the daddy his daughter needs.

Genres: Love Inspired, Romance, Historical Fiction, Love Inspired Historical, Christian Fiction, World War II

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published February 4, 2014

About the author

The author of over 30 books and novellas, Patty lives near the North Georgia Mountains with her husband, Danny. When she's not writing, she's spending time with her family or playing with her two grandsons. Connecting with people who love to read as much as she does is one of her favorite things!.

Reviews

[Natalie Gleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The song that comes to mind after reading Hearts Rekindled is "Grandpa" by the Judds.

Patty Hall takes readers back to a time when children rode in the back of a pickup, barefoot, wind-chapped, and "happy as a puppy with two tails," as one of Patty's characters, Ms. Aurora, says.

While the setting harkens back to simpler, sweeter times, the plot is much more complicated. Merrilee, a boarding house owner-turned-government spy is assigned to investigate the people she loves most. Shortly after she begins her new assignment, the loving husband who divorced her suddenly ten years ago without explanation, shows up wanting to get to know their ten-year-old daughter.

While John is ever as sweet and loving as she remembered, Merrilee is reluctant to risk her and her daughter's hearts until she can find out why he left them years ago. When government officials start suspecting John of organizing a black market ring, Merrilee's loyalties are tried and her affections reach out to John against her will.

How do these hearts ever find healing? I won't spoil it. Read the book to find out. :)

This story deals with relevant issues, including rejection, faithfulness, honesty, integrity, parenting, forgiveness, loving people with physical and mental handicaps, and the list goes on.

I'm looking forward to more from this author.

[Janis Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

It been so long since I've read the last book in this little series (Hearts in Hiding). Anyway, I loved the subtle reference to FDR constantly being at Warm Springs -since he had polio just like Claire. I think Merrilee and John's situation is despicable...you know there was foul play involved somewhere, you just don't know exactly what and how bad until later as things come into focus. It's a stretch to say this has a bit of influence of Jane Austen's Persuasion in it. Not exactly, but yeah.

This is very marriage-oriented...you know, the trials of marriage including teamwork and perseverance and the like. I'm not married, but living with family is kinda the same deal -especially when you and your parents get older, more responsibilities are 'reassigned'. Anyway, this is a really good representation of how even the least-ideal marriages can overcome their shortcomings and become pretty close to perfect. Yes, it's not as scandalous as some break-ups, but all relationships boil down to mutual trust in everything. Claire's adorable BTW and acts as the glue that 're-initiates' their bond:)

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book! So glad I didn't let the other reviews sway me! At first I thought I would feel frustrated at this couple for a lack of communication but they really got it together quickly and were just so sweet. Love the thread of them taking in the abandoned children with special needs.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm Here to See My Daughter."She never thought she'd see John Davenport again. Merrilee Daniels Davenport's former husband has returned to their small Georgia town after fighting in the Pacific. And now the soldier is bearing a letter from the little girl he didn't know he had. Merrilee wishes that she and her daughter could lean on John's able shoulders, but her new assignment as a homeland informant won't allow it.Twelve years have only made Merrilee more beautiful in John's eyes. Back then, he was the proud fool who walked away. Now all he wants is to prove he can be the husband she deserves, and the daddy his daughter needs.During the World Wars, boarding houses offered temporary accommodations to working women far from home, and for men stationed in unfamiliar places. In some cases, these boarding houses also preserved someone’s culture of origin while also helping them understand the customs of their new community. Some were for women only; others were for men and women. Boarding and rooming houses were touted as an economical way to have the comforts of home as well as a wholesome source of friends. But conditions in many were claustrophobic and run-down, and there were often strict rules about when you could come home and with whom.Boarding houses became more necessary during wartime, as there were serious housing shortages for new families and people moving for work and military purposes.The housing market was not at all equipped to deal with this influx; construction had slowed during the Great Depression, and halted completely when materials and labor were diverted to the war effort.In private homes, lodgers and their hosts were drawn from a wide social spectrum, enabling those with similar occupations to live together.Boarders paid rent and helped with the household chores and errands.But in postwar, the desire for home ownership and privacy resulted in the decline of boardinghouses as people left to get married and have families, and/or found better employment opportunities elsewhere.

[Doris Bernethy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very intriguing story set in the World War II era. Merrillee Daniels, the daughter of wealthy man, and John Davenport, a son who had been abandoned as a child along with his younger brother, fell very much in love and married but were divorced due to her father's interference and devious actions. John returns home after receiving a letter from his now 11-year-old daughter whom he knew nothing about. Merrillee is forced into difficult circumstances while trying to obtain help for their daughter who is a victim of polio; John has a dark cloud hanging over his head because of his humanitarian help toward a Japanese family. All things are not as they seemed to be; John and Merrillee still love each other and adore their child, but there are trying days ahead to repair their marriage and become the family they both desperately want to be.

This is a clean, wholesome, and insightful book which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. This the first book I have read by this author, and I quickly purchased the other two books in this series.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy second chance stories, this book is for you. This romantic, happily ever after story is a delight to read. It is a tale of misunderstanding and hurts that turn into renewed love. It is a relaistic look into love and war. I am enjoying this author that I recently discovered.

The narration is excellent, which always makes listening a pleasure.

I requested this audiobook from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Lacy Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series.

A nice series showing a different side of ww2. The editing needs so!e work and it seemed one some things were cut and then not adjusted.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patty is a new author for me, and I really enjoyed her book. She developed the characters of John Davenport and Merrilee well. Merrilee has a daughter, Claire, who develops polio, but her ex-husband doesn't even know about Claire's birth. The book takes the reader on a journey about John and Merrilee's marriage, divorce and reuniting as friends. There is more to the story, of course, but you'll have to read it yourself.

[GJ S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good clean Christian book

This was quite a interesting story with a few historical aspects. The characters were easy to connect with and the Lord Jesus was glorified. The author did a good job of telling a story during war time hardships and how the love for each other and God's grace saw them through. I recommend the book

[Harlequin Books]

"The end days of WWII come alive in this story. The prejudices of some against those with handicaps, balanced with the kindness of others, make for an emotional, uplifting story." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars

[Pat Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read! I really enjoyed the book. I like family stories with a happy ending. It was also nice to know the characters believed in Christ!

Good read! I really enjoyed the book. I like family stories with a happy ending. It was also nice to know the characters believed in Christ!