What We Found in Hallelujah by Vanessa Miller: Book Review

  *Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Another storm is on the horizon for the Reynolds women. And the only way out is to go through it.

Good things never happen in November—at least not for the Reynolds women. It was the month they lost their patriarch. And the month when fourteen-year-old Trinity went missing during a tropical storm. So Hope Reynolds isn’t surprised when it becomes the month she walks in on her boyfriend kissing another woman. Or when she receives a panicked call from her mother about a mistake that could cost the family their treasured beach house.

Meanwhile, Faith Reynolds-Phillips is facing her own financial struggles. She’s also looking down the barrel of divorce and raising a daughter who reminds her so much of her younger sister, Trinity, that sometimes it physically hurts. The last place Hope and Faith want to be is in Hallelujah, South Carolina, during hurricane season. Going home will force them to confront the secrets that have torn their family apart. But if they can survive another storm, they’ll have a chance to rebuild on a new foundation—the truth.

In the latest novel from prolific writer Vanessa Miller, three women must find the strength to endure the storm and the faith to believe in a miracle.

Vanessa Miller is a bestselling author, with several books appearing on ESSENCE Magazine's Bestseller List. She has also been a Black Expressions Book Club alternate pick and #1 on BCNN/BCBC Bestseller List. Most of Vanessa's published novels depict characters who are lost and in need of redemption. The books have received countless favorable reviews: "Heartwarming, drama-packed and tender in just the right places" (Romantic Times book review) and "Recommended for readers of redemption stories" (Library Journal). Visit her online at vanessamiller.com; Twitter: @Vanessamiller01; Instagram: @authorvanessamiller; Facebook: @Vanessamiller01.

From the moment we meet the matriarch of the Reynold's family, it is hard not to be completely drawn in by Ruby. Though she's far from an honest character, with plenty of secrets she's keeping and lies told even to those she loves, you can see that she's a woman who loves with everything she has... even if her methods are a bit flawed. In fact, all of the women (and the men too) are flawed and frustrating at times, but it helps to make them all the more relatable. 

At the beginning I really thought this was going to be a bit lighter of a read... what with Ruby's quirky character and all. While there were certainly plenty of laughable moments too, it really did take on some more emotional themes as the story went on. I found myself unable to walk away. It was such a good story about family relationships, and the toll that secrets can take. As a fan of romance, I appreciated that there was a hint of that, but it definitely leaned more towards women's fiction (with a whole lot of faith). 

Overall, I thought this was a great read. Fans of small towns and southern fiction are sure to want to check it out.