Kindle Edition Category:  Romance Publisher: White Rose Publishing Type: Fiction Pages: 230 Copyright: July 14, 2023 He's everything she never knew she wanted  A decade ago, Rochelle Delany made a decision that changed her life forever. Wanting more than just football games and potluck suppers, she boarded a bus for California and didn't look back. But instead of a glamorous life, she became trapped in a nightmare of labor trafficking. Now, she's made a daring escape and returns home to Ohio. Sandy Fairbrother has a problem with trust. Twice betrayed, he now puts his faith only in God. He' s a single dad doing his best to grow his construction business and raise his young son. But haunted by an impulsive kiss Rochelle gave him fifteen years ago, her unexpected return has him rethinking things. He' s been given a second chance to win her heart. And this time, he plans to succeed. Rochelle barely remembers Sandy, but she's drawn to his goodness. But just when she thinks she's found peace, her past catches up with her, and she finds herself in danger of losing the only safe haven she' s ever known.      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t47XKOnecvQ

Sweet Romance with a Dash of Suspense!
“You’ll find, my darling girl, that sometimes, God’s most glorious answers are to the prayers you never even prayed.”

The Little Things is my first introduction to author M. Jean Pike, and I think it’s definitely a good one to start with if you’re wanting to get a feel for her writing voice & style. This contemporary romance also has a touch of suspense – just the right amount to add a different kind of tension to the mix and make romantic suspense fans (like me!) happy without being too much for people who just want the romance.

Rochelle Delany is a compelling heroine right from the start. While she holds her secrets close (even from readers), you can tell that there’s much more to her story than even her family has assumed. We get the sense right away that there was more to her continued refusal to come home than a cold heart or grand aspirations, even though her brother – all the family she has left now that their foster mother has passed away – seems to believe the opposite. In fact, she really is the embodiment of the concept that we should be slow to assume because we likely don’t know the whole story. As Pike gradually reveals the layers to Rochelle’s past few years, I became very sympathetic toward her plight and began rooting in earnest for her to find a safe haven.

Enter Sandy Fairbrother and his adorable son Jace. Swoony house-builder/restorer Sandy heart may have been broken by his ex-wife, the mother of his son who he now raises alone, but he’s also been carrying a torch for Rochelle since their school days. His close friendship with her foster mother kept Rochelle in the forefront of his mind over the last few years, as well as joining Bessie in praying for Rochelle’s well-being. I appreciated this foundation that the author established to keep Sandy’s heart tender toward the town’s prodigal daughter, even when her own brother seems mostly frustrated with her sudden reappearance. Certain decisions on Sandy’s part made more sense in light of this deep affection for Rochelle (though I do think their relationship still advanced at warp speed toward the end), and I really loved the two of them together. For his own part, Jace is a little boy with a big heart who quickly wriggles his way past Rochelle’s defenses and into her heart – and mine! And then there’s Gus, the diapered dog who I could easily picture, much to my amusement.

Bottom Line: The Little Things by M. Jean Pike is a sweet romance with a redemptive faith thread, small town setting, and layered characters you’ll enjoy meeting. The dash of suspense fleshed out the various dimensions to Rochelle’s story and also allowed the author to spotlight something that’s not talked about a whole lot – in fiction or otherwise. I enjoy novels that make me smarter and more aware of issues that aren’t part of my own experience. I especially loved little Jace and Gus the dog… not to mention the thoughtful way everything comes full circle in the end. A quick & engaging read!
Reviewed by Reading is My Superpower

Good Reading!
Returning home to a small down in Ohio isn’t Rochelle’s first choice, and things quickly take a surprise turn!

I loved reading Ro and Sandy’s story! They live in a small town, giving the story that fun small-town charm, while keeping me glued to the pages with plenty of surprises! Sandy is a great character, and a wonderful father. I adored seeing him with Jace his young son, and seeing Jace with Gus! Gus is a bulldog and the bond Jace shares with him in this story is precious!

While this is a fun small town read, it does deal with the tough topics, include labor trafficking and broken families. I enjoyed seeing how the author wove these difficult yet daily issues into the story. It worked well in this one, and as Ro’s story unfolds I found myself drawn into the story more with each new twist! Author M. Jean Pike does a good job of talking about difficult issues with finesse and tact, keeping it subtle and with minimal detail will still alerting readers to the situation. I appreciated her efforts to both bring awareness to these issues while still providing readers with a clean and delightful read!

The romance was also wholesome and heartwarming in this one! It isn’t easy for either of them to trust after the bad hand life has dealt them, so seeing Sandy and Rochelle both overcome there past mistakes and betrayals, learning to work together. Their relationship is sort of a second chance romance, paired with the ‘girl-who-got-away’, so I enjoyed seeing them reunite early on the the story, and loved getting Sandy’s side of things, and especially loved seeing how he regarded his feelings for Jace when considering pursuing a relationship, wanting to be sure Jace has a good life as well. The blooming relationship in the story is a sweet one, and I enjoyed getting to meet these characters!

originally posted at long and short reviews

5 Star Review from Reader's Favorite!
The Little Things by M. Jean Pike is a thrilling Christian contemporary romance. Filled with themes of family, forgiveness, past regrets, a hint of suspense, and a healing message about trusting God, this story packs a punch! Rochelle Delany, or Ro, returns home only to find that it no longer offers the promise and security she once knew. A lot has changed in the years she’s been gone, and returning to the small town in Ohio isn’t easy. Not only has her life changed drastically since she left, but when she returns home, she finds out that the house she grew up in is being sold. What? Finding that her brother had made plans to sell the house to a local home renovator, Sandy Fairbrother, sparks all sorts of emotions within Ro’s already chaotic life. Can they work things out, or will she be left alone and on the run again when she needs him most? Can she trust Sandy with her secrets, or is it better to skip town before anyone else gets hurt?

I found The Little Things by M. Jean Pike to be a fun story and an eye-opening read. Rochelle’s life had been much harder than many realized over the last several years. I loved seeing her and Sandy as they reunited. Their unexpected reunion is only the beginning of their surprise journey. I also adored meeting Jace and Gus in this story. Jace is a precious child, and I loved Sandy’s relationship with him. Gus the bulldog is also a fun addition, and I honestly can’t think of another story that includes doggy diapers, which made for some hilarious conversations between the characters. I felt this story is a pleasant change and works well as both a Christian contemporary romance and romantic suspense read, as it balances the romance and drama well while also having a thrilling twist that adds a dash of suspense to this lovely small-town tale.