Wow!

Gritty, gutsy, funny and sweet meet and the intersection of Secret Life. This clever offering gives humor and insight into the difficulty of attempts to bury a past that leaves Sarah less than proud. She struggles to live out a new faith and navigate relationships. While the characters are fictional, the universal task of self-acceptance and Sarah's emotions are not. We can all use a further dose of grace and acceptance of that as an incredible gift.

I received a complimentary copy of the book. This review is my opinion.

We need more Christian fiction books like this, just had to get that out there. I loved this book from word one straight to the end. The writing style is engaging and funny. The chapter titles, those need their own review. They are awesome. This novel is very real addressing something I have said myself, christian novels don't have to be one dimensional when it comes to sexual attraction. There are ways to "bring the fire" without being crude, tactless or pornographic. This book not only talks about it, it also proves it. In saying that I loved the ending, which I shall not give away. Don't cheat to find out you have to read the book to get it.
Sarah, of the title Sarah, lived a life of.... well she lived a life that was less than God-honoring, at least in the books that she wrote. She was hurt by her ex-husband and their divorce. Ben the pastor who Sarah meets on her first visit to church after her conversion. Everything that happens after that is just a delicious journey that I thoroughly enjoyed a few times. I seriously started re-reading the book as soon I finished it the first time. This book is just that good. Sarah lives in her head which is something I do too so I understand her. This book is a keeper.

What a delightful and refreshing book told from the first person point of view. We see everything that Sarah thinks about her situation in a sometimes humorous and self deprecating way--sometimes in a sad way. We see someone learning what it is to a Christian from her viewpoint. Those of us who have always gone to church sometimes take our upbringing for granted.
Sarah Hollenbeck's life has been turned upside down since she discovered her husband cheating on her in the room of her home that she hoped would be a nursery one day. Her marriage wasn't great; her husband's life revolved around his job instead of her and their marriage. He put her down and made her feel that marital problems were her fault. After the divorce, she is struggling to find her place and footing. She doesn't have a job or a career and needs to find a way to spend her time. Money is not a problem. She joins a book club and after trying her hand at writing, she becomes a bestselling author of steamy romance novels. But it is not enough. Piper, a friend from the book club sees that Sarah is searching for a meaning to her existence and leads her to Christ. The first time she visits Piper's church, she literally ran into Ben before the service started. They are instantly attracted to each other. But when the service started, she finds out that Ben is the minister. And she is the author of steamy romance novels even though at this point she has decided to quit writing novels of this genre.
Sarah and Ben have a lot of stuff to deal with if they want to start a relationship together. How can a minister date a person who has written books that are not what would be acceptable to God? We are all a new creation after we accept God into our heart and so is Sarah but how will the congregation see her if they find out? Sarah and Ben are humans who have to fight their attraction to each other in a Godly way. How honest and refreshing to see how Bethany Turner shows that Christians are normal people who desire the loves of our lives. Sarah also has to overcome her feelings of unworthiness, insecurity and guilt while learning what it means to be a follower of Christ. Her journey as a new Christian is funny, rocky and humbling but she is determined to change her life for God's glory and become a Christian fiction author. But there are people who want to see Sarah judged by her past and see her relationship with Ben fail.
This is an absolutely great story of a person who begins a new life with the wonder of what it means to live for Christ and to be dependent on Christ's strength to get us through temptation and problems, not ours. I loved the characters of Sarah, Ben and Piper as well as others. I hope that Piper gets her own story. Kudos to Bethany Turner for a new and refreshing way to write Christian fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I kept hearing about this book and how amazing it was. I was very excited about reading this book! I read this book in one day. It was very intriquing. I thought this book was pretty good. It's about Holly who became a christian and then was faced with the questions such as How do you live a christian life while being tempted by things you once thought were ok? This book specifically deals with physical attraction & relationships between men and women. I liked how she presented the joys and struggles of trying to follow Christ in a sex saturated world. I think thst a lot of Christians feel like they have present a picture perfect life but really struggle when facing temptation. But if we share our struggles, we can encourage each other, and share each other's burdens. I love how Bethany Turner weaved grace and forgiveness and second chances throughout this book.
The only thing, I wished there was some more average get to know each other time. For example, they could have gone bowling or done other dating activites. The days seemed to move quickly through this book and a lot of the story happened on Sundays. I think it would have added another depth to the story.
I found the story to be interesting and thoughtprovoking. It is a realistic look at being a Christian and dating in this world. I think the reader can learn some valuable truths in this book.

I recommend this book to my family and friends.
I received this book from Netgalley to read and share my honest opinion about this book.

I've always had a love for reading, but as I get older I find myself reading more books and consuming television and movies a lot less. Having said that, I do enjoy a good book that flows like it's made for live entertainment. In reading Bethany Turner's debut novel, The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck, the story read very much like a picture perfect movie that might appear on the Hallmark Channel.

In this romantic, Christian comedy, we meet the titular character who is grieving her recent divorce. In an effort to re-discover who she is, Sarah joins a book club. One thing leads to another and she ends up a wealthy author of some very steamy romance novels (think 50 Shades of Grey steamy). In the midst of her success and with the help of her BFF, Piper, Sarah becomes a born-again Christian and decides to once again re-invent herself. If that wasn't enough, she finds herself in love (at first sight) with the pastor of her new church. Chaos ensues, but everything is tied up nicely in the end.

While this brief synopsis might make the book sound rather superficial, make no mistake, Bethany Turner does an excellent job of presenting realistic and complex situations any of us could find ourselves in. The author's gift as a writer is that she takes those situations and offers a fresh perspective with a bit of hope and a dash of humor. It's often said that comedy helps us digest difficult circumstances with a bit of sugar. Turner certainly has mastered this craft. Additionally, she offers wonderful insight into common issues that all couples face, but specifically she creatively demonstrates how Christians can approach these issues while remaining true to the faith.

I also enjoyed the construction of this book. Many of the books I've read as of late simply number the chapters in chronological order. I liked that Turner included descriptive headings for each of her chapters. It makes the reader anticipate what's to come in the secret-turned-very public life of Sarah Hollenbeck. What's more is all of the characters seem so genuine. They're relatable and broken, but not beyond repair and redemption. And most importantly, not beyond the grasp of God's grace and mercy. This is what gives the book an overarching theme of hope. (As an aside, I really want Piper to be my best friend!)

My only criticism of this novel, albeit a personal one, is that I found some things in the book a bit unrealistic. For example, I don't believe in "love at first sight." You can disagree though. Let me know what you think in the comments. Also, I would have liked the book to include a little more breadth in terms of ethnic diversity.

Recommendation: I found this story to be a delight, containing nuggets of truth that convicted but also inspired me. It is a story about overcoming grief, releasing guilt, forging friendships, and reading and writing books. What's not to love? I think it would make for a great book club discussion as well as an individual read. Pick up a copy and see for yourself.

An inspiring and utterly delightful novel. Loved the main character and her honesty in depicting her attempts to live a changed life after becoming a Christian. I was surprised at how much space the love story took up, but it was charming so I didn't mind. Love this author's fresh voice -- a welcome addition to contemporary Christian fiction -- so very relatable.

An enjoyable modern Christian romance with humor and heart.

*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Looking for a lighter read with a chick lit feel, with relatable characters? This one might be the key that fits that lock for you. The character grows in her faith throughout the book, but is completely fallible. By this, I mean, she messes up a lot.
However, through everything, I loved the raw, gritty honesty she portrays. The romantic thread between two older unique characters really round out this book, but is not really one that I would recommend for the teen reader. That is not to say it is inappropriate, but it is more topics that would be best understood by those with more maturity.
This book is unique in a world of similar books and I really liked so many things about it. It did not hit every facet of my enjoyment scale, but it came pretty close.
I would say, don’t read this novel if you are looking for dealing with hard issues in a detailed way or realistic romance. But it does get to the heart of a few issues within the church with lighthearted jabs that pack a punch.
You can purchase it on Amazon. “The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck”.
Look for it and find it! I received this book through NetGalley. The opinions contained herein are my own.

If making people laugh was prohibited by law, Bethany Turner would be on Interpol’s Top Ten Most Wanted list. Come to think of it, causing people snort with laughter SHOULD be prohibited by law, in which case I’m going to have to report her anyway, because the humour in this book occasionally took me so much by surprise that my laughter kind of exploded involuntarily. And I don’t necessarily mean through my mouth . . .

Sarah Hollenbeck is a totally adorkable character. She’s random and has a penchant for dramatic hyperbole, but she’s also genuine (even when she’s misguided!) and refreshingly honest. It's impossible not to love her, as Ben Delaney very quickly discovers! And Ben is just . . . well, it’s impossible not to love him, too. He’s warm, funny, and just as genuine as Sarah—and so in over his head!

I know ‘love at first sight’ often gets a bad rap—and it’s a difficult trope to pull off successfully—but I think that’s for two reasons. (1) The connection between the characters is often shown purely through superficial physical attraction; and (2) Most authors overlook the unique challenges that come from such a strong attraction to someone you really don’t know very well. Bethany Turner avoids both of these pitfalls.

There is certainly a strong physical attraction between Sarah and Ben (and I loved the mixture of humour and sincerity in the way this was portrayed), but it was the totally adorable conversation they have when they first meet that won me over to this relationship. I could feel the emotional connection being forged and how well suited they were to one another, and that sense only grew as their relationship developed. But the fact remains that it takes time to really get to know someone, and Ben and Sarah encounter several bumps along the way as they get to know one another and work at building the kind of openness, understanding, and grace that gives their attraction a lasting foundation.

And that brings me to Sarah’s unique circumstances—responsible for the majority of the bumps they encounter as their relationship develops, but probably not in the way you anticipate. Even before I started hearing all the rave reviews for this novel, I knew I wanted to read it, because, let’s face it: just because we become new creations in Christ doesn’t mean our old creations aren’t still around to haunt us. And the premise of a woman famous for writing steamy romances converting and falling for her pastor in quick succession had ‘read me’ written all over it.

I’m so glad I did read it. It was hilarious and heartfelt at the same time, and constantly surprised and delighted me. This isn’t just for the keeper shelf; it's for the books-I-could-read-over-and-over-again shelf!

Every now and then you just want to read a book that is light-hearted and fun. This book fills the bill. But don't think that there is not a message in the book, there is if you look deep enough - that you can change your life and become a better person. Ok, so that sounds like many books, but in this case, Sarah goes from being a kept wife (for lack of a better description) to divorced to author of steamy books to a born again Christian and Christian Romance novel writer.

I liked this book but felt like Sarah was very self absorbed. It seemed like it was all me-me-me. She has a best friend Piper that she met through a book club (and how was actually quite comical), but we don't really know anything about Piper other than she is a Christian and loves to read. She is always there for Sarah but don't recall a time when Sarah is there for Piper. Perhaps there will be a book from Piper's viewpoint and her life?

As self absorbed as I thought Sarah was, she was a character that was in continual development. She had to figure out how to restart her life after divorce. Then she becomes a famous author over night of some steamy romances (think 50 Shades) and then attends a church with Piper and decides to become a Christian (I think she always was but maybe more aware and dedicated?) overnight. Then she meets Ben, the new pastor of her church, and it is like fate has stepped in to push them together despite many roadblocks that arise.

Overall an enjoyable read and I had many LOL moments. It was the perfect book to read at the time, escapism but a little reality too.

I really enjoyed this book, and found it well written and likeable main characters. An interesting take on modern religion and how it can fit in to every day life.

Who is Sarah Hollenbeck? Is she the former Sarah McDermott, divorcee of Patrick with the wandering eye? Is she Raine de Bourgh, author of steamy novels that are flying off the shelves, and getting her spots on talk shows? Or is she actually Sarah Hollenbeck, who finds herself a new Christian, ashamed of the work that has brought her wealth and fame? And as Sarah finds herself falling for the pastor at the church she's begun attending, how does she reconcile all three of those people and pasts into a new creation trying to move forward?

I thought this was an interesting concept for a Christian novel. Like Sarah herself recognizes as she attempts to move from popular romance to her own Christian romance novel, there is a gap in the Christian fiction market. So many fictional couples have the perfect little romance with little to no temptation, and no sordid pasts to have to explain or be forgiven of. How true does this ring to life? While fiction is a good escape from the issues readers might like to avoid, sometimes it's helpful to see problems worked out in someone else's life to see that it can be done, and that they're not alone.

The other thing I really appreciated in this novel was that it avoided the trope of each half of a couple withholding the truth from each other under the guise that they didn't want to hurt their partner, only to have that bite them in the butt when the news was spilled from someone else. I liked that both Ben and Sarah were as upfront with each other as they could be, even with awkward conversations. And the one time Ben withheld information, it was because he honestly didn't see it as important.

I give this book 4 stars, for its interesting characters and fresh outlook on what a Christian character can look like.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner - I loved this book. It was fun to read. An author who has low self esteem because of a cheating ex-husband writes a series of racy novels under a pen name. She becomes a Christian and falls in love with a pastor and his daughter. Now she has to decide whether to continue to promote her books or learn how to live a new life. Witty and nostalgic with references to the Sound of Music and other movies and books. Can't wait for more by this author.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher (Revell) for my honest review

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck is written in first person point of view. The beginning build-up, for me, was a little slow. The part where Sarah decides to be a Christian and give her heart to God in one brief paragraph and was so sudden, I had to go back and read it again, because I glossed over it the first time.
I enjoyed the friendship between Sarah and Piper. Piper is such a level-headed, character, she really adds to the story and gives some stability to Sarah, who at times tends to let her imagination run away with her.
On Sarah's first visit to the church, she literally runs smack into a man who she feels an instant and surprisingly strong attraction to. She is surprised to find that he is the new pastor of the church, and thus starts the comedy as Sarah struggles to navigate her way through a relationship that she never saw coming.
When it's all said and done, I enjoyed reading this debut story from Bethany Turner and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

This is my first book by Bethany Turner and it certainly won’t be my last. This book is funny, poignant, and relevant. When a steamy romance writer becomes a believer and almost immediately falls for her new pastor, laughs and heartache are sure to follow.
Sarah is blessed to have a true friend in Piper. Piper understands Sarah’s hurts and neediness and knows how to speak truth into Sarah’s life…even when things don’t make any sense. We could all use a friend like Piper. Piper reminds her that while there may be some consequences of her past that carry into her future, Sarah is a new person in Christ. She is no longer defined by her sins and bad choices.
Sarah is doubly blessed in Ben, a man who isn’t afraid of what others might think and is willing to fight for what he wants and knows is right. From the start, there is a lot of wit and humor in their interactions.
Sarah is surprisingly confident in her newfound faith even though she doesn’t always get the little details right. She is wise enough to know when she’s in over her head and asks Piper or Ben for help when she doesn’t understand something. She grows as she learns that people can be trusted with who she really is…that she doesn’t have to hide her fears and insecurities or put on a front for others.
I really enjoyed this book and hope there’s a sequel where Piper meets her match. It would be interesting to see how Sarah would encourage her.
Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck

by Bethany Turner

Revell

Christian

Pub Date 03 Oct 2017

I am reviewing a copy of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck through Revell and Netgalley:

Becoming a Christian was both the best and worst thing that happened to Sarah Hollenbeck. The best because she had given her heart to Jesus and accepted the gift of eternal life. The problem is she had made her living as a steamy romance novelist, who wrote the type of novels that would leave church members blushing. Sarah is now trying to reconcile her past and future while still being under contract from her publisher and on the hook from her huge fan base.

Will Sarah be able to decide what is right, or will she bend to pressure? Find out in The Secret Life Of Sarah Hollenbeck.

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

The first person point of view telling made me feel like I was sitting down having coffee with Sarah as she was personally telling me her story. I really enjoyed this perspective.

Sarah is in a transition period in her life trying to figure out to go from a steamy romance novelist to a new Christian and how to transition her writing with her new life. She then literally runs into Pastor Ben and feels an instant attraction to him. How does she deal with this attraction and what does she do about her past? Could a possible relationship ever work between them? And will he be able to accept her past?

I loved the characters. Sarah kept me so entertained. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at some things she said or thought. Ben was a true swoon worthy guy, wholesome, honest, cute, and a loving father. He may have been naive to some things around him, but he was a caring guy who tried to treat everyone with love. But Piper was my favourite. She was the best friend everyone wants/needs to have. She was the one that told Sarah directly how she felt about what Sarah was doing, no darting around the bush. But she was also the one that was there for Sarah. She kept Sarah grounded, she loved Sarah and stood by her and up for her. She was also very entertaining.

I did feel like there was quite a bit of discussion about getting to the intimate physical relationship between the two main characters. Yes they were waiting to get married before taking that step, but they couldn’t wait to get there and it was talked about quite a bit. A little too much for my liking, it was more edgy than most Christian fiction I have read. At times it felt like this was the main reason for the wedding rather than the fact that they really loved each other and couldn’t wait to start their life together. That being said the relationship was adorable and I loved that they were completely honest right from the beginning and made a point to follow the rules they had put in place for themselves. There were many moments that I was smiling as I read. I loved that the climax moment brought them closer and stronger as a couple rather than tearing them apart. The ending had my heart a fluttering.

What a great Christian romance. The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck is very well written. I enjoyed the main character, Sarah. Sarah is an author of steamy romances and a new Christian. What does she do not? I recommend this to readers show enjoy good clean romance.

I've heard so many good things about The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck, so I couldn't wait to read it. Believe the hype, y'all. It's fantastic. This book was a breath of fresh air, one of the best romantic comedies I've ever read, and so much fun!

It was so funny! There were too many times to count where I had to set my Kindle down for a minute because I was laughing so hard. It deals with real issues, in real ways with, what I thought, humor and grace. It is one of the more edgy Christian Fiction books that I've read, but I loved that. It made it feel more real and relatable.

I really enjoyed the way it was written. It was very conversational, like a friend was telling me her story. Sarah grows a lot, spiritually and emotionally, from beginning to end. It was great to watch her transformation. The chemistry between Sarah and Ben was off the charts! They're so good together! The relationship developed really fast, which is usually a big turn off for me, but it didn't bother me with this book. It was perfect for this story and these characters. Piper was an amazing friend and I'm really hoping she gets her own story. (Please!)

I loved every second of this book and highly recommend it! I'm definitely gonna be keeping an eye out for any future books by Bethany Turner.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

I have a confession to make to y'all today. I have never read a romance novel. This might surprise you, since so many of my book reviews are "romance" novels. But I've never read a real romance novel. You know, the kind they put on those little racks at the store and you blush a little as you go by? Yes, that kind. I like reading Christian romance, because they are sweet and clean. I think of them as guilty pleasures that don't leave me feeling guilty. The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner is a whole new take on Christian romance, and I have a few mixed feelings about it.

When Sarah Hollenbeck's marriage ended, she was at loss ends about what she should do next. So she joined a book club and started reading. Eventually, she decided she should try her hand at writing. Her first attempt was pretty dismal, but, when she decided to write a romance, a star was born. She wrote three salacious, sexy novels under a pseudonym, and had a contract with her publisher for a fourth book. But, before she wrote the book, her best friend introduced her to Christ and her life was changed. Then, she had figure out how to fulfill her publishing contract, while remaining true to her new faith. If that wasn't hard enough, she fell head-over-heels in love with her pastor. There are a lot of misunderstandings, hilarity and even heartbreak in store for Sarah and Ben. What else can you expect when a man of God falls for the woman who literally wrote the book on sex?

First, let me say that I really enjoyed reading this book. It's the first book in a while that I've not been able to put down. I love the message that our past is forgiven after we accept Christ. While God forgets our past, humans cannot forget, and sometimes the things we do, do come back to haunt us. I love that Ben always stood up for Sarah, even when others attacked her. I actually loved all the characters in this book. Sarah was quirky cute, and her relationship with Piper was hilarious. Everyone should have a best friend like Piper. Ben was truly a dream, and his support for the woman he loved was admirable.

Now, I'm going to go out on a limb and tell you what I didn't like about this book. I never like to write anything negative about a book, because I know how hard an author works to write a novel. But, there are a few things I felt could have been left out. This book is kind of a story within a story. After her salvation, Sarah is determined to write the kind of book "Christian women want to read." It has all the heat and passion without the sex. I don't really think that's the kind of book Christian women want to read. It's not the type I've ever read before. I think a book like this gives women a false idea of what love and marriage is. Sure, there is physical attraction in marriage, but that's not what it's all about. After you've been married a few years, and have a few kids and have had hard times, you're going to need more than just physical attraction to keep you together. I couldn't find much between Sarah and Ben except physical attraction, and I think that sets a dangerous precedent about marriage in general.

I think if this book had a little less steam, and a little more substance to the relationship, it would have been perfect. It had so many great things that I love to read in books: a jealous ex-girlfriend, funny misunderstandings, quirky characters, witty dialogue and a great plot twist. I'm definitely not saying you shouldn't read it. I honestly really like it. I'm just telling you to go into it with your eyes open and know what to expect.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.