A Gift To Cherish by Victoria Bylin {A Book Review}

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own. 

When Daisy Riley arrives in Refuge, Wyoming to live with her brother and his family, she intends to stay forever. A victim of violence in Los Angeles, Daisy craves stability, peace of mind, and safety. Her hope comes true when she lands a job as a personal assistant to Miss Joan Prescott, the owner of Cottonwood Acres, a historic ranch that once served as the set for a famous TV show. A retired college professor, Miss Joan has secrets and stories of her own, including a very unusual project that requires Daisy’s skills.

Rafe Donovan, a cop from Cincinnati, is haunted by a recurring nightmare about the death of his high school sweetheart and his failure to save her. Because of the nightmares, Rafe takes leave from the police department and seeks psychological help. He finds shelter in Refuge, where he pounds nails for his brother’s construction business. But he has no desire to stay in Wyoming and plans to return to Ohio as soon as possible.

When he finds Daisy Riley stranded late at night with a flat tire, Rafe is impressed by her courage. Daisy is equally impressed by him. Together they navigate the road to love—one complicated by the arrival of Daisy’s troubled best friend, online dating, and the impossible obstacle of 1,600 miles between her home and his.

AUTHOR NOTE: This story is about our current dating culture, including the risks of online dating. It also looks at the social mores of 1970s and how those values impact us today.

Victoria Bylin is known for tackling tough subjects with great compassion. In 2016, Together With You, a story of grace and healing, won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary Romance. Her other books, including historical westerns, have finaled in the Carol Awards, the RITAs, and RT Magazine’s Reviewers Choice Award. A native of California, she and her husband now make their home in Lexington, Kentucky. Learn more at victoriabylin.com.

A Gift To Cherish is book number two in Victoria Bylin's Road To Refuge series. I must admit though, I did not even realize it was part of a series until I sat down to write this review. Needless to say, it can be read as a standalone with no problem. That said, I so enjoyed not only this story, but the author's unique voice in the Christian fiction genre that I will certainly be interested in going back and reading book one, and more from her in the future as well.

In A Gift To Cherish, we meet two imperfect characters- Daisy and Rafe. Both have been through a lot in their past and have made their way to Refuge to recover from those struggles. A flat tire leads to a chance meeting...and without giving too much away, a romance follows. But this isn't your classic Christian romance novel. Let's be honest, many Christian romances tend to steer clear of the physical aspect of relationships completely. While I certainly don't mind that, it's also not quite realistic either. This book is completely clean, but it does bring light to the setting of boundaries in a relationship. As such, I can see this being a refreshing read for those who are single and perhaps struggle in that area... it's a much more realistic viewpoint that I think can be appreciated. It also gives us a look at the very real dangers of online dating in an honest way as well. This book certainly isn't one to shy away from the hard stuff.

I really enjoyed the contrast of Daisy and Rafe's current relationship and the struggles with modern dating with Joan's own romance in the 70s. Not only do we see the differences in the times, but in the mindset of these two women as well. Daisy found herself striving to keep physical boundaries in place, and God at the center of her relationship whereas Joan did not. I again will not give too much away, but I really enjoyed this backstory and seeing how Joan grew from the experience and offered up that wisdom to Daisy as well.

Overall, this was a really unique story and one that I am glad to have read. While I certainly enjoyed it as a married woman who enjoys romance, I can also see it being one that really appeals to those currently in the dating scene even more. It's certainly one worth checking out regardless.