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This Wandering Heart

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Member Reviews

I enjoyed the writing in this story so much! I don’t think I’ve ever had so many quotable quotes to choose from as I did this time. It was so difficult sorting through them to pick only 30!

Kiera and Robbie’s lives couldn’t have been more different. He came from a stable, loving, Christian family. Hers was filled with strife and abuse. He struggled with school and learning. She was brilliant. Yet, despite their differences, they fell in love.

Ok. I just have to say that Robbie was the best kind of father! His love for his four-year-old daughter, Anabelle, was pretty amazing; especially considering the circumstances of her birth. He was a great, though flawed, hero. I was so curious to find out what happened to separate Kiera and him, and particularly how (why?) this Christian man ended up having a daughter out of wedlock!

I also appreciated that Robbie had no animosity toward Vivian, Anabelle’s mother, despite the things she had done and the way she attempted to gain custody. Wow!

It took a little bit for me to warm up to Kiera. At first, she seemed a little cold and unkind. Yet as I learned more about why she had erected the walls around her heart, I understood and came to care about her and empathize with her. It was wonderful watching her blossom.

Anabelle was delightful! She was such a little princess and had such a big heart. I loved the way Robbie played with her, comforted her, and cared for her.

I really enjoyed This Wandering Heart and look forward to reading more books by Janine Rosche.

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This Wandering Heart is a clean romance that provides an intense story of love, grace, and redemption.
Rosche’s writing style was comfortable and enveloped me from chapter to chapter. It was my first book by this author and will not be my last, especially since this was the first in a series of three books!
It actually took me a while to get through this book. It felt a bit long, to be honest, but the journey of each character was worth every single word and page. When I finished, I felt renewed to hope for love, trust in God, and offer grace even in circumstances where I may not want to.
The story of Robbie and Keira individually was inspiring. The trust and growth in Robbie’s walk with God encouraged me in my own walk. Keira’s journey of self discovery, but relying on God in the process, reminded me to strive for what God is calling me to do in my own life. But the story of these two together? I won’t spoil anything, but I will tell you to read this book because their story is worth it.
The story of grace toward Vivian was eye opening. It reminded me of God’s grace that is gifted to us daily. I appreciated this part of the story because so often we want to dislike, even hate, the antagonist in our lives without truly trying to understand where they’re coming from or what they are fighting for. Everyone is fighting battles of hurt in some form or another and it is our job to offer grace against the tides of what society teaches us. Robbie’s approach toward Vivian was heart-wrenching and admirable. Those little whispers God provides us can go a long way.
I also adored the settings of this book! It made me want to travel and see other parts of the country again. If you enjoy reading about wanderlust stories, this is the book for you!
Overall, I adored this book and highly recommend to anyone who is a hopeless romantic like myself.

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This Wandering Heart has humor, romance, and a little bit of angst that hits you in the feels and has you desperately waiting for a happily ever after as you turn the pages of Ms. Rosche's debut novel.

The journey is entertaining and gives a nod to past travel TV shows and more importantly, carves the way for future Madison River romance. The scenery in this book is breathtaking and I wished for actual pictures or at least a way to escape into the places Keira Knudsen takes us too.

And Robbie Matthews makes a wonderful hero. I’m sure he’ll end up on book boyfriend lists everywhere. (Psst: he has a daughter and if that doesn’t melt your heart, nothing will.)

All in all, I was happy to read this book and I look forward to more books by Ms. Roche.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required nor influenced to leave a review.

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This Wandering heart catapulted Janine Rosche to the top of my favorite authors list, alongside Denise Hunter and Becky Wade. I absolutely loved this debut novel, and am already ready for the other books in the Madison River Romance Series.

Keira and Robbie's story drew me in immediately, and kept me turning the pages. I love second chance romances, and this tops them all. Keira and Robbie were very relatable characters - both have parts of their pasts they must wrestle with so they can heal and move forward. This book does tackle some very difficult topics (like a learning disability and domestic violence), but does so delicately. I enjoyed seeing the characters work through their pasts so they could heal. There were numerous things that stuck with me in this book, one being, "You've only got so many heartbeats. Use them well." I felt so many different emotions during this book, and will definitely re-read it, probably numerous times.

I've already pre-ordered a paperback copy of This Wandering Heart to add to our church library.

I am a member of the author's launch team, and received a copy of the book through NetGalley. I was not required to submit a positive review at all.

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This Wandering Heart is a more-than solid debut novel from Janine Rosche.

From the beginning, this second chance romance between single dad Robbie and wounded school teacher/social media maven Keira/Kat Wanderfull had an inevitability that diminished the conflict and tension a bit, but the last quarter of the book is the strongest - fast-paced and rich in conflict.

The beautiful Montana setting really shines throughout the story. As do the scenes with Robbie's daughter - humorous and realistic. The author obviously knows kids. I look forward to reading more in the series!

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This Wandering Heart by Janine Rosche is the first book in the Madison River romance series. Keira is a geography teacher by day and a travel blogger under the name of Kat Wanderfull. Keira grew up in an abusive home and always dreamt of escaping to travel the world. She wants to share that passion with other girls.
Robbie is her first love and is now the single father of an adorable daughter. She steals the show in the book. This is a beautiful romance between Robbie and Keira. However some tough situations they go through. This could be a trigger for some women who have had their ex have a child with someone else. Some heart breaking scenes but a happy ending.
It’s also a story of getting through or over your past and figuring out what really matters to you.
I loved Robbie’s relationship with his daughter and his family.
Sexual content - no scenes, but you know someone has sex and a child out of wedlock
Drinking - someone had too much to drink and maybe drugs which led to sex.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

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This is a charming debut. You can't go wrong with a second chance romance and a close-knit community. The hero and heroine have a substantial backstory, which is well-crafted. Robbie is a wonderful hero and my favorite character in the novel. His love and tender care for his little girl and the challenges he faces as a single parent throughout the novel make him easy to root for. The scenes featuring Robbie and his daughter are delightful.
Keira is a complicated heroine and a character I struggled to appreciate. A desire to escape is a powerful motivator. Yet in her quest to outrun her pain and experience grand adventures, she doesn't treat Robbie very well. She uses him to get what she wants, then pushes him away. I was frustrated by her hot-and-cold approach to their relationship.
This novel covers a lot of ground, both in the external plot and the characters' internal conflicts. The author doesn't shy away from difficult issues such as domestic violence, learning disabilities and custody disputes. The number of plot threads felt a bit overwhelming at times and the geographical distance the characters traveled wasn't quite plausible.
I recommend this novel to inspirational romance readers who appreciate redemptive stories and an overt, evangelical message in their Christian fiction novels.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions stated here are my own.

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This is a wonderful debut that feels like a modern day play on You’ve Got Mail, but with characters who have more depth and backstory. I love that I got to travel to so many places in the novel. I love Keira’s personal growth in finding herself. My favorite scene? Her jumping on the bed. Wow. 😭 I love Robbie’s devotion to his daughter, even if it means sacrificing everything. What a beautiful picture of our Heavenly Father! Overall, this is a great story of redemption and healing.

*I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

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This was a lovely story. It was the story of young love trying to endure all of the trials that come in life. It was a story based Christian faith, love and forgiveness.
Keira and Robbie were high school /college sweethearts, but misunderstandings pulled them apart. Their lives went in different directions, but they never could forget each other. When they happened to run into each other, the sparks couldn’t be ignored.
The adventures they experienced were described so well, you felt like you were there with them. The emotions so strong, you could feel them. Hurt, betrayal, abandonment, abuse, love, joy, admiration, security, faith and forgiveness. The author covered them all so well. There were a few places toward the beginning /middle of the book that dragged a bit. But it really was an enjoyable read. A Clean Christian romance.

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This book is absolutely wonderful!! It hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. This is one of those books that once you start reading it you can't stop. You don't want the book to end but you just have to know what happens next. You don't want to miss this book. Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Janine Rosche for the ARC copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Ronie Kendig has done it again! This story is amazing. I had really high expectations for Kings Falling and I am happy to say that this story totally exceeded them! I loved everything about it. The camaraderie, the action, Leif, the growth of key relationships, the wonderfully creative storyline, and did I mention, Leif? Ronie Kendig writes the best male characters.

There is not a whole lot I can say about this story without getting into spoiler territory. So, what I will say is this, there are so many twists and turns in this story and so many things I totally did not see coming. I was on the edge of my seat from the very first page to the very last page. I cannot wait to find out what happened to Leif during those missing months. I am so glad that we do not have that long of a wait for Soul Raging, which comes out in November! I cannot wait to see how this series plays out.

Ronie Kendig is the most consistently amazing author I have ever read. Her always creative, addictive stories, and her characters are why she is my absolute favorite author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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This book was Wanderfull! (You will understand my purposefully misspelled word when you read the book.) It is a beautifully written second chance story, filled with many heart-touching moments, a sweet little girl, drama, faith, and love. I could clearly see this story unfolding in pictures as I was reading. (I love it when that happens.) I read this book all in one sitting and I highly recommend it.

For sensitive readers, I must point out that there are a few scenes and recollections of domestic violence, a subject I tend to stay away from. Those scenes play an integral part in who Keira is and how she relates to the world.

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. A review was not required. The opinion expressed is entirely my own.

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If you’re looking for a romantic read loaded with sweet moments to take on vacation—or to give you a taste of vacation while you’re stuck at home—I’d recommend This Wandering Heart. The characters are kind and strong and have depth that renders them both surprising and real. Robbie is easy to root for, as he’s such a good father and so loyal to Keira. As for Keira, she’s adventurous and thoughtful, and tagging along with her through the pages to the many places she visits left me feeling like I’d gone on an adventure of my own.
I received a free copy of This Wandering Heart from the publisher but wasn’t obligated to leave a review. All thoughts here are my honest opinions.

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I immensely enjoyed this dynamic story of love lost and found, of faith and finding ones true self amid the challenges that life brings. Every time I picked up the book, I felt like I walked right into the heart of the story and traveled the distance alongside the characters. I didn’t just read the story on the page, I lived it.

I enjoyed the witty banter between the characters and found myself talking out loud to them on more than one occasion. The characters grow and learn things about not only themselves but others. I felt like each scene is meaningful and well written inviting the reader to not only participate, but to evaluate how they would handle the situation.

One-hundred times better than any romantic drama movie you could hope to find. This Wandering Heart is a story that envelopes you and keeps you turning pages late into the night. I look forward to reading more from Janine Rosche in the future!

(I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

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Janine Rosche's debut is a sweet love story. Keira slowly allows herself to blossom and grow into the best version of her. Robbie is a fabulous character who deeply loves his young daughter and is trying to do his best by her, no matter what life throws at him. The author does a great job of tackling real life issues without giving up on hope.

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What a wonderful, delightful debut novel by Janine Rosche. I knew it would be good, she is a genuinely funny person and this novel beautifully blends humor, healing, and second chances in a way that kept me reading far too late in the night. Her characters are well developed, her story has several twists and turns, and you can't help but root for Robbie, Keira & Annabelle. I can hardly wait for the next installment in the Madison River Romance series.

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My goodness! Where to start? I loved Janine Roche’s writing! She beautifully captured the setting of each location we traveled to with the main characters. The heavy issue of an abusive father was also handled delicately with care. And I just loved the hero, Robbie. His relationship with his daughter was one for records. Secondary characters, like Robbie’s sister, really have me looking forward to the next book in this series.

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I wanted to like this book. I was set to fall in love and start raving about it from the rooftops. After loving the Christmas novella this author put out and hearing nothing but good things from fellow readers I thought this was a shoo-in for success. But as I read those hopes plummeted and I was forced to face the reality that this book was not what I was expecting.
We got off to an okay start as the characters were introduced, first Kiera, the geography teacher turned travel influencer, then Robbie, the construction working single father. But as things progressed I found myself not liking both of them for various reasons and not really understanding their relationship.
As for the plot, it wasn’t very clear what the actual purpose of the story was and it seemed like there were too many big issue moments coming completely out of left field that left you scrambling to figure out what was going on and why it mattered.
Clearly this was not the book for me, but I know of many who loved it and would encourage you to check out their reviews before deciding if this book is the one for you.

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I have anxiously been awaiting Janine's book! I follow her on social media and enjoy her comments. And she has a winner in this one!
The Wandering Heart has a lot going on. Robbie and Kiera were childhood first loves who fit so well that neither could picture their lives without each other. But that is not what happened and now yeas later they are reconnecting and realizing that they never fell out of love. But the path of true love is rarely easy and they have many hurdles to get over.
The travel and adventure portions and the precious child and father moments in this book were wonderful. And learning that happiness in life is taking your dream and that figuring out how to blend that with the love of your life is worth it.
I love that the author included some hard issues such as dyslexia and abuse. She also made the story relevant to today with blogging, child custody issues and single parenting.
I truly enjoyed the story. It did seem to ramble some and wasn't maybe as tight in some places as.it could have been. But overall I am now a fan.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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I really enjoyed this lively second-chance romance undercut with deeper truths and a weighty look at how the alluring prospect of running away often leads us back to where we started.

Kiera's abusive childhood has left her raw and vulnerable and excited for the open road. Never more so than when her most recent relationship ends with her refusing a public proposal. Robbie still harbours a flame for Kiera despite their long-ago break up. When their paths continue to cross, Kiera and Robbie confront the needed truth at the core of their continued friendship: that despite the hurdles that have crossed their life paths, they are still destined to be together.


Kiera has made a livelihood of escaping --using the pseudonym of Kat Wanderfull to share her passion of the open road with social media followers while rarely showing her true self. She prefers, instead, to focus on the landscapes while keeping herself carefully hidden from view.

Robbie has unintentionally connected with his former flame in a lovely "You've Got Mail" twist which finds him sharing his deepest thoughts and insecurities--with his former love on an instagram-like social media app. Robbie and Kiera, through soft flashbacks and current interactions are so clearly soulmates it is a delight for the reader to experience and to explore. While Kiera tries to convince herself she loves traveling solo, her love language is touch and at the first prospect of traveling with others (namely Robbie and Anabelle) she gives into the instinct. Her meeting of her authentic self rather than the brand she so wanted to be is a welcome look into human psyche.


I loved the sensitive and intelligent way Rosche explores Robbie's learning disability as well as Kiera's problematic family background. The latter's obsession with control and perfection leads to issues with food and with the next steps in her carefully guarded life. I was especially appreciative of the way Rosche looks into. For one, anyone who has ever read Of Mice and Men will enjoy the lens into the discussion around apostrophes and the possessive used to highlight so many relationships. I truly appreciated Robbie and Kat Wanderfull's look into Curly's wife as one of the most tragic figures in the American literary canon.

Resplendent locales, wholesome heart and a winning match of vulnerable moments with smart humour loan This Wandering Heart a needed slant that makes this robust and character-driven piece a winning and promising debut. Through adventures great and small, Kiera's growing devotion to Robbie's daughter Annabelle as well as the forging for family and the fight for its survival are explored with as much tenacity and close attention as the grand visions Kiera experiences near and far in her journey of self discovery.

You will root for Robbie and Kiera and relish the way in which they innately protect each other but also champion each other's dreams. When they intersect each other at the middle of running away and a confrontation of their circumstances they find immeasurable strength.

Note: this is a Christian romance with an overt Evangelical message


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