When Ashley Showalter and Ben Henning meet on Ashley’s horse rescue farm, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Both were raised by single moms. Both want to help where they see a need. And both work with horses in the Boise valley. Ben needs Ashley’s help and expertise after starting an equine therapy barn on his great-great-grandfather’s farm—and the more time they spend together, both Ashley and Ben have the feeling that there could be something more between them. They also carry the burden of past experiences that may drive them apart if the truth is ever revealed. Ben is a recovering alcoholic with five years of sobriety behind him, while Ashley’s brother is an opioid addict residing in court-ordered rehab. Holding fast to the belief that addicts can never be cured, Ashley has promised herself she will never walk knowingly into the chaos created by addiction. Ben knows that with God, all things are possible—but will Ashley find it within herself to give love a chance? Or will her brother’s mistakes and the pain of her past jeopardize her future with Ben?
I never expected to call a story about the consequences of drug use ‘sweet,’ but that’s exactly what Hatcher’s penned in Cross My Heart. Despite – or maybe because of? – Hatcher’s personal experience with a person fighting addiction, she writes this story with heart, grit, and sweetness in equal doses.
I loved the raw brokenness in the first book in this serious, and I loved the Ben’s quiet strength in this one. The contrast is refreshing, and as my very favorite type of main character is a strong, independent leader, I think Ben rocks. He has his faults, but he’s spent years bringing them to the light and learning to overcome them, and that’s admirable. We all need that kind of example.
Ashley is pretty admirable, too. She’s the strong one in her family, but given her family, that isn’t saying much. She needs help, but she doesn’t want to admit it. On the other hand, she knows exactly what she’s called to do and doesn’t let anyone dissuade her from that. That’s a different kind of strength, and I loved this dichotomy.
By far the best parts of the book, though, were the flashbacks and lessons learned from the correlations between Ben’s great-grandfather Andrew and the modern-day storyline. I had thought that Hatcher had told all there was to tell of Andrew’s story in the first book of the series, but I was happy to be shown otherwise in Cross My Heart. I loved Andrew’s pieces as much as Ben’s, and his story was both fascinating and inspiring. There is much we can learn from the history and the generations who came before, and this is never so evident as in Andrew’s story.
My great-grandparents were wonderful models of faith for me, and I knew them well. I do not have their Bibles, or notes left therein, but I often sat with Grandma in church and held the hymnal for her. I know her favorite hymns and favorite scriptures; how much more would notes in a Bible share? Hatcher has taken a fantastic idea and developed it well throughout the series. I love the familial, historical, and faith connections and can’t wait to see what she does in the next book in the series.
I can see Cross My Heart appealing to a wide range of people: to people of faith, in a crisis of faith, without faith, who care about animal rights, who are mission-minded, or have difficult families. Despite the many issues it tags, however, the over-arcing theme is one of peace and a quiet faith that He has it all in control.
That makes it a perfect summer read, for while life is running at a calmer or slower pace for many of us, it won’t be long before we’re back at warp speed, and Cross My Heart provides the perfect reminder to slow down, spend some time with Him, and trust in His plans.
I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
What are your thoughts?