Book Review: New Beginnings in Shady Springs
Today, I’m participating in a book review tour for New Beginnings in Shady Springs, a clean and wholesome friends-to-lovers Christian romance by Sarah Anne Crouch, published by Scrivenings Press. It is Book 4 in the Shady Springs series.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher as part of JustRead publicity tours. All views expressed are my own. This post includes Amazon affiliate links.
My Review
New Beginnings in Shady Springs is a heartwarming romance telling the story of a small-town bachelor pastor and a beloved widowed high school teacher. Sam and Clara have been friends for years, but somehow it takes a destructive tornado and a troubled teen to bring them together. I appreciated the strong element of faith that is essential for anyone navigating through such traumatic events.
I also loved the sense of community woven throughout the story. It felt like the neighbors and friends had backstories of their own. And as it turns out, they do! This is Book Four in the Shady Springs series by Sarah Anne Crouch. I haven’t read the first three, but it didn’t feel like I was missing anything while reading Sam and Clara’s story. However, I do think it would have been an even richer experience to know the neighbors better by having read the earlier books.
On a personal note: The Shady Springs series is set in Arkansas, which made the story feel very relevant and close to home for me. In fact, just a few weeks ago, my own community experienced high winds that did considerable damage in the area. We were without power for 28 hours during the hottest part of the summer, so I could definitely relate to the crisis Sam and Clara were facing.
From the Publisher
When the storm passes, can two guarded hearts believe in love again?
After six years of widowhood, high school biology teacher Clara Lewis has settled into a quiet life in Shady Springs, Arkansas, pouring her heart into her students, her church, and her garden. Romance, she tells herself, belongs to another season.
Sam Sullivan understands the safety of a guarded heart. A painful childhood and a broken engagement have convinced him that love is meant for others, not for him. Yet his long-hidden feelings for Clara become harder to ignore as they work together to encourage a withdrawn teen who needs them both.
Then a devastating tornado tears through Shady Springs, drawing Clara and Sam together in the storm’s aftermath as they help rescue the hurting, shelter the displaced, and rebuild the community they love. Amid the wreckage, Clara begins to wonder whether the steady, compassionate man beside her might be part of the new life God is offering.
But opening their hearts means facing old fears, unexpected competition, and the scrutiny of a small town that notices everything.
Perfect for fans of heartwarming Christian romance, this tender small-town story weaves together friendship, faith, grief, and healing as two guarded hearts must decide whether love is worth trusting again.
About the Author
Sarah Anne Crouch writes Christian romance stories that celebrate love, faith, and the quiet beauty of God’s plan unfolding. Her hope is that these stories speak to your heart, offering encouragement, inspiration, and a gentle reminder that God often shows up in life’s most unexpected moments.
