Writer in Residence by Rhonda McKnight: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Sometimes the story you need to write is your own future.

Alexandra "Alex" Chambers is a writer who has lost her words. Facing a crushing case of writer's block and a looming deadline that threatens to end her career, she accepts a lifeline: a writer-in-residence position near Edisto Island in the South Carolina Lowcountry. She expects solitude, Spanish moss, and the time to salvage her next novel. She doesn't expect Gabriel Scott.

Gabe is everything Alex isn't ready for--handsome, steady, and a bestselling author. From the moment he walks back into her life, ten years after a fleeting encounter in his bookstore, the chemistry is undeniable. He challenges her to stop hiding behind her laptop and start living the story she's afraid to tell.

But amidst the ancient live oaks, Alex also discovers a profound connection to the Gullah Geechee culture--a heritage she never fully understood until now. Guided by the quiet wisdom of Ms. Kate, an elderly Gullah cleaning woman with losses of her own, and a blood-deep pull toward a past that refuses to stay buried, Alex begins to unearth family secrets that reshape her identity.

To find her voice, Alex must confront the ghosts of her past and the fears of her present. Writer in Residence is a heartfelt tale mixed with second chances, love, heritage, determination, and the courage it takes to claim your own happy ending.

The Author

Rhonda McKnight is the author of twenty-five traditional and indie-published award-winning bestsellers, including An Inconvenient Friend, What Kind of Fool, and Unbreak My Heart. She is a two-time winner of the Emma award in the categories of Inspirational Romance of the Year (2015) and Debut Author (2010). She has been nominated thrice for the African American Literary Award. She writes inspirational book club fiction and Christian romance about complex characters in crisis. Her goal is to touch the heart of women through her stories using the themes of faith, forgiveness, and hope. Originally from a small coastal town in New Jersey, she writes from the comfort of her South Carolina home.

She can be reached at her website at www.RhondaMcKnight.com and on social media at www.facebook.com/booksbyrhonda, www.instagram.com/AuthorRhondaMcKnight, www.twitter.com/rhondamcknight and www.SistersofFaithBooks.com where she has joined with sixteen other authors to introduce her stories to the world.

Book Review

What an intriguing and complex read this one was. I picked this one up thinking that I was just going to get a romance between two writers. While it certainly was that as well, and I did thoroughly enjoy the relationship between Alex and Gabe, it was also so much more than that... perfectly blending that romance with the journey of Alex to find out the truth about her heritage, the secrets of her family... and to find her voice as a writer again. Her story takes us on an emotional journey that I couldn't help but find myself drawn into. Prior to this book, I had absolutely no knowledge of the Gullah Geechee culture, so I thought that was a really intriguing part of this story. If you're looking for a book that combines romance with women's fiction and complex family relationships, this is certainly one worth checking out. 



You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4uqfnDm