Oh my gosh! I love this book so much! First of all—Christine Nolfi—when have I never loved her stories? Secondly, this book has a cover that drew me in before I even started reading. It's dark and ominous while also feeling like it's full of love and hope.

I immediately fell for Henry and Bella and just wanted to take care of them, especially that little Bella. What a sweet little person she is. Henry has his good qualities too, it just took Nova some time to break through his shell.

And then there is Nova, living her damaged life, trying to make things a little better for these two little people. No one knew how intertwined their lives were and would become. The hands of fate are very strong in some cases.

This is a story with plenty of drama and suspense, balanced with plenty of love, compassion, and healing. I've love all of Christine's stories and this one is over the top good. I highly recommend A Heart Like Home for a beautiful story that will fill up your heart.

Do you ever pick up a book and feel like it just wrapped its arms around you and pulled you in? You find yourself immersed in the surroundings and involved with the characters and didn’t know it was happening until you looked up from the book and were surprised you were sitting in your comfy reading chair in your own home? This is exactly what I experienced while reading the sensational new book by Christine Nolfi titled A Heart Like Home.

If you have read anything by Christine, then you will definitely want to jump into this new book as soon as possible. It is up for pre-order and will be in your library on the 16th of this month. I highly recommend arranging this as soon as possible.

This is about a woman named Nova Doubeck who was adopted by her parents when she was six years old. She is now starting her own landscaping company and she fosters teenagers on a short term basis. This time she has two young children on an emergency basis because there are no other homes. She is aware she is going to have to protect her heart from falling in love with these two. Otherwise, saying goodbye is going to be hard.

I have read one other book by Christine and fell in love with her writing style then. That book was A Brighter Flame. She has a sort of magic when she writes. I am easily drawn in and can’t put the books down. She leads me down the winding road and I have to know where it goes and how it ends up. Her story lines are not typical or predictable. I usually don’t pick up a book before I even roll out of bed in the morning but, I did today.

There is a little romance in this book but it is not the main topic of the story. There are characters I didn’t like and those I wanted to hug. I loved one of the foster children and wanted to throttle the other one. The author definitely pulled my heart strings and caused a few tears to well up in my eyes while I tried to read through them. This book is worth every minute spent reading it.

If this sounds like anything you might like to read, I encourage you to give it a try and add it to the stack waiting to be read on your nightstand. You won’t regret it. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #Christine Nolfi, #Netgalley and #LakeUnionPublishing. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

It is easy to see why Christine Nolfi is one of my favourite authors. Her gift of storytelling makes it a delight to pick up one of her books and become totally captivated for hours on end.
She really pulled at my heartstrings this time with such an emotionally beautiful story.
Full of surprises and captivating characters, "A Heart Like Home" explores the healing power of family when dealt with horrific and heart-wrenching obstacles in the lives of two young children in the foster care system.
A Wonderful Read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Nova is a foster mom normally for teenagers but when a pair of siblings need a foster home Nova can’t say no. When Bella and Henry come into her life Nova has to learn the new rules of parenting younger children. Once I picked up this book I didn’t want to put it down. It is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I love Nova’s strength and how she treats Bella and Henry. I don’t want to spoil the book but there are many surprises in store for this trio. This book is a wonderful contemporary fiction story that I’m so glad I was able to read. If you love books filled with love, protectiveness, and family this book is for you.

MEMORABLE FAMILY DRAMA

Award-winning and best-selling author Christine Nolfi is releasing another thought-provoking, well-written novel that will leave you pondering the story long after you have read the final word. Nolfi knows how to create believable characters because they live everyday lives. She inserts them into realistic situations and lets readers see whether they react or respond to the trials she plots for them to face.

In A Heart Like Home, Nolfi takes on the subject of foster parenting and foster children. Fostering is a subject that can be difficult to discuss because readers know of success stories and also know of some severe failures as well. Nolfi handles this subject beautifully by having her main character, Nova, in foster care herself before she was successfully adopted. When Nova decides to foster, she has a much different perspective on how to handle the two foster children in her care. As Nova delves into the children’s family life, they discover what a nightmare they have lived through. She decides to do her part to make these two children’s lives as stable as possible by showing them love, patience, understanding, grace, encouragement, and discipline, all you find in a real family. Nova wants the children to feel secure despite all the things that have gone on and are continuing to go on. Nolfi also adds a major mystery twist to her plot that adds a deeper dimension to her story and guarantees to keep your attention to the very end!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and without influence.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Happy Pub Day!

Children learn what they live and Henry and Bella are not getting the education any child deserves. Abusive father who only cares about and for himself. A caring neighbor who does the right thing. A loving foster parent who knows the system too well. Can this lead to a happy ending?

I’ve been reading Christine Nolfi’s books for a while and have seen her writing evolve. This look into the foster and adoption system will restore your faith in people. Nolfi shows how a bad situation can be turned around with the right amount of love, patience and discipline, which isn’t always the case. Characters are engaging, and seem to come to life, but are too closely tied together, making things a little too convenient. Henry is a tough nut to crack, growing up much too soon with no positive role model. Bella is all things girly, so needing love. Some situations are heartbreaking and disturbing, but are more implied than written. They will definitely tug at your heartstrings and bring a few tears to your eyes. This book brings closure that so many adoptees seek. As an adoptive aunt, I’ve seen the system work to the benefit of both the child and adoptive parents. It was nice to see a positive spin on this story. This is a story that Nolfi was born to write. Sometimes you just need a book that makes you feel, but there are also many moments that will make you smile.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

A Heart Like Home by Christine Nolfi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As soon as I saw this book by Christine Nolfi offered on NetGalley, I put in my request and WOW am I grateful that it was approved! This story has everything that you want in Women’s Fiction……a plot that draws you in from the very first page, characters that are so beautifully written you will wish they were real and a story so emotional that will pull at your heartstrings.

Nova Doubeck is a single, young woman who is a gifted landscape architect. Adopted at the age of six, she grew up in a loving home so it is no surprise that she too has opened her home to teenagers in the foster care system. When two children, Henry age nine and Bella age six, are removed from their abusive father months after their mother died, Nova takes them in despite her lack of experience with young children. With themes of family love, secrets, friendships and healing, this story will take you on an emotional journey you’ll be glad you took.

Having spent many years serving on the board of a foster care/adoption agency which brought a foster daughter into my life, I can say that Ms. Nolfi did impeccable research and portrayed a very realistic depiction of the traumas that these kids have lived through. This family drama will provide great insight into the foster care and adoption system through the eyes of the children and adults portrayed in the story.

Way to go Christine. All of your books are wonderful but this is the best one yet. It's not just an emotional story it also has some chuckles added in along the way. While it did make me weep bit ugly tears there was also parts that made me laugh out loud. This book will be in my top twenty for the year for sure.

This book will pull at your heartstrings in ways no other will. It's the story of a brother and sister. The life they lived and the life they are finally given. A kind of rags to riches kind of story only it's rags of emotion to riches of love. These two children, Henry and Bella, are taken from their dad after a neighbor calls the police. Their mother had died and their dad left them alone on weekends so he could go out drinking and picking up women. They lived in squalor and near starvation. All of that is about to change. These two beautiful children will find out what it's like to be loved unconditionally and fearlessly.

No child should ever experience what Henry and Bella did. Children should be treasured. In a perfect world they would be. How any parent can hurt or abuse their own little child is beyond me. They give us total and complete love. Until you strip that away from them. Even then if you show them kindness they will forgive you and try again.

These two children are so worthy of a good life and deep love. With Nova they will experience what it's like to be accepted. Fed well. Dressed in good clothes and sent to school. A life spent enjoying themselves instead of worrying about what will happen to them next.

Henry is a very rebellious young boy. He's nine years old and already endured more than he should. He has a tendency to berate and belittle females. He hasn't a lot of respect for them. He learned that lesson from his dad.

Bella is a bundle of love. She's open to being loved and loves back. She's still young enough at seven to believe in magic. She's an outgoing child and keeps you on your toes. She will make you laugh many times while reading this book.

This is a heartbreaking story that will ultimately mend you back together. As do all of this author's books. I loved most all of the characters in this book. I felt the beauty of all the flowers and bushes and trees described in this story. I felt the magic of Bella's photograph. The fears of what all Henry went through. I did not like Egan. He was a very trouble man.

Thank you #NetGalley, #ChristineNolfi, #LakeUnion, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

FIVE huge stars and the highest recommendation. Grab this and a few boxes of Kleenex.

A Heart Like Home by Christine Nolfi was such an emotional and captivating story!
This is definitely a page turner and hard to put down for any length of time.
The characters are so well written and the storyline, which has a lot going on, holds your interest and flows together so seamlessly.
I loved reading The Passing Storm and was eager to read another novel written by Nolfi!

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A Heart Like Home by Christine Nolfi ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An emotionally filled novel that will leave you really thinking about things. Unless you know about the foster care system you will learn all the good, bad and ugly truths about the system. Its all about what's best for the children.
But this book is more than just the foster care system. You also have adoption, families, lies, and friendships.

Preorder your copy today for an April 16th launch day. You will not be disappointed.

What a beautiful story! I laughed and cried! This story brings the fear that abuse causes through Bella and Henry and shows how young children cope. The twist! Absolutely loved this story! Nightmares, trying to please the abuser and depression, acting out or bedwetting are strong signs of abuse. This story handles the subject with grace and makes for a great book club discussion! The reader will be hugging the book through tears at the end!

I was lucky to get an early chance to read this book. Nova agrees to foster a nine and seven year old brother and sister. She’s used to fostering older children so this will be a new challenge for her. It’s still unsure whether or not their father will get custody of them back. Nova and the children will go through emotional challenges as the days go by. I enjoyed the characters. Nova’s family and friends are interwoven into the story as everyone helps Nova and the kids. The story was heartwarming.

A Heart Like Home is Christine Nolfi’s newest masterpiece. This is a beautifully written story about family and the home. An amazing story written with so much compassion it will stay with you long after you finish it. It grabs you from the start and will take you on a roller coaster ride filled with emotions until the very end. There are strong, well developed characters that will bring the story to life. A unique story that will make you happy and sad all at the same time. Heartwarming yet heartbreaking it has family drama, mystery, secrets, romance and so much courage to keep the pages turning quickly. I loved it from start to finish. I highly recommend this highly captivating story, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Christine Nolfi for this wonderful story to read and review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#netgalley #bookouture #christinenolfi. #aheartlikehome. #libertyladies #arc #heartwarming. #heartbreaking

This is a captivating novel about a single woman, who had grown up knowing she was adopted. Nora has her own landscaping business that is small, but growing. She has fostered teens in the past, but she was asked, on an emergency basis, to take in a pair of children who had lost their mother and their father appeared to be an unfit parent.

The children, a boy and a girl, are trying to be loyal to their father, but out of love or fear? They appear to have been abused. Can Nora provide them with enough nurturing for them to feel safe and cared for? Can she keep her business afloat? Can she deal with an unsettling carpenter at her worksite and what about the man who has contracted her company's services?

Throughout the book, Nora learns more about herself, her history, and the history of the children's father. She learns to cope and grows through challenges, knowledge, and love.

A Heart Like Home is a emotional tale of fostering, love, abuse, and acceptance. The plot is one that I thoroughly enjoyed and find myself continuing to ponder randomly. My heart shattered for the two young children in the story. I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this talented author.

A Heart Like Home is my first book by Christine Nolfi and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is emotional and involves child abuse, foster care, adoption, and family in a loving way. There were many chapters when I just couldn’t stop reading for anything else. I will look for other books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this e-ARC, with a release date of April 16, 2024.

Wow, what a story of love, heartbreak, perserverance, fostering and drama! This was an excellent read telling the story of Nova and how she came to be a foster parent, filling in the gaps of her own personal journey. The emotions run deep in the pages of this book and the twists and turns keep you wondering how it will all play out. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A HEART LIKE HOME by Christine Nolfi is a beautifully-written and emotional story of love, family and what home really means. I have loved every book I’ve read by this author and this one is definitely a new favorite. Nova Doubeck is a single woman with a growing landscaping business. From time to time, Nova also fosters teens transitioning through the foster care system. As a child, Nova herself was adopted by two loving parents after being in foster care, so she is well-versed in the foster care and adoption system and knows what a difference a safe and loving environment can make. When she is asked to temporarily foster two troubled children, nine-year-old Henry and his seven-year-old sister, Bella, she reluctantly agrees. She learns that the children have been abused by their negligent father, yet he is seeking to regain custody of Henry and Bella. Nova works hard to gain the trust and affection of the two children and soon finds they bring unexpected joy and love to her solitary life. How will she possibly say goodbye when the time inevitably comes? I was completely engrossed in the heartfelt story and invested in what would happen to each of the characters. The author sheds a light on the foster care and adoption system with honesty and compassion. I loved this touching story of the true meaning of family and home and most highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Nova Doubeck was used to only fostering teens, so when Imani asked her to foster two siblings, much younger than she was used to, she knew she had no choice. She couldn't see these two abused children without a home. And it wasn't long before seven year old Bella wormed her way into Nova's heart. Henry was another story though - nine years old and needing to be tough, he didn't know who to trust. Bella's small box of treasures stayed with her constantly, while Nova did her best to keep the children safe and secure.

The children were granted supervised visits of an hour with their father, Egan Croy, and for awhile after those visits, the children acted out. They were both terrified of him, but did as he said so they didn't make him mad. They knew what would happen if he got mad. Bella and Henry started school with Bella loving it and making new friends. It took Henry longer; his confusion was obvious. And when it was summer, they had day camp which they enjoyed. But Nova was constantly on edge. Would Egan get his children back? Or would the courts stop that happening? Either way, Nova would lose the two children she'd grown to love.

A Heart Like Home is a heartwarming story by Christine Nolfi, showing that love and family can overcome anything. Nova was fiercely protective of her two charges, all the while knowing she could - probably would - lose them to an adoptive couple. I thoroughly enjoyed A Heart Like Home, as I have the other novels by this author; the characters are well-written, especially Bella and Henry - I just wanted to give them cuddles! A hugely satisfying novel, this is one I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

A Heart Like Home is about Nova Doubeck, a single small business owner, who is asked to foster two children. Henry is 9 and Bella is 7. As a child of adoption herself, Nova agrees to help. Her life was positively affected by adoption and she wants the same experience for these kids. But Henry and Bella give Nova a run for her money and in the process of fighting for these kids, Nova is forced to confront secrets from her own past.

This book was emotional and heart-felt. It covers topics of foster care, adoption and abuse in an honest, realistic way. The story is woven with secrets and has so many twists and turns! It contains themes of friendship, family, romance, hope and love. It was a roller coaster of emotions! I absolutely adored this story! This was my first Christine Nolfi book but it won’t be my last!

***Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC copy of A Heart Like Home in exchange for my honest review.