Book Review: Jaded (Mended Hearts #1) by Varina Denman

SERIES: Mended Hearts #1
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction
PUBLISHER: David C. Cook
RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2015
PAGES: 432

As a child, Ruthie was shunned by the local congregation. Thirteen years later, Ruthie’s heart begins to stir when an attractive single preacher arrives. But their relationship is bitterly opposed—unearthing a string of secrets which threaten to turn the church, the town, and her world upside-down.

Jaded is the rare novel that is both love story between a woman and man … and God and His church. Plunging deep into the waters of shame, forgiveness and restoration, it will resonate with every woman who’s experienced a loss of heart … and a thirst for hope.

“The people are everything.”

Ms. Denman’s debut novel is quite simply everything I want in a book.

Her writing voice is smooth and easy and the scenes played out in my head like a movie while I read. The characters are so life-like and relatable that I felt almost sad when I closed the book because I wouldn’t get to spend time with them anymore. The romance was so very gentle and sweet and grin-inducing. ? See? I even grin just thinking about it again lol.

And the plot … Something we all as believers know about the church but wish weren’t true: Sometimes, churches get it wrong. And when they do, they tend to get it REALLY wrong! But then along comes someone who lives out Jesus and slowly begins making the sad things untrue again with His help and with quiet and consistent demonstrations of His love. The Cunninghams were people like this.

Finally, the little bits of unanswered questions have me waiting most impatiently for the next book – Justified!!

Bottom Line: Jaded is a must-read for the churched, the unchurched, and the dechurched. Plus it’s just a really well-written story of small towns, layered characters, and falling in love!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 5 stars / Fabulous!

Varina Denman enjoys writing fiction about women and the unique struggles they face. She seems to have a knack for describing small town life, and her debut novel, Jaded, won the ACFW Genesis Contest, the BRMCWC Selah Award, and the INSPYs Bloggers’ Award for Excellence in Faith-Driven Literature.

Varina attended three universities over a span of five years, majoring in four subjects and earning zero degrees. However, she can now boast sixteen years as a home educator, volunteering in her local cooperative where she has taught numerous subjects including creative writing and literature. Varina lives in North Texas where she volunteers in local marriage and family ministry. She is represented by Jessica Kirkland of Kirkland Media Management.

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What about you? Who do you know that has quietly lived out Jesus to you & others?