About the Book
Book: To Bring You Back
Author: Emily Conrad
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Release date: August 16, 2021
He’s determined to confront the past she’s desperate to forget.
Broke in more ways than one, the last thing Adeline Green can afford is for her now-famous high school crush to descend on her quiet life.
People in the small town of Lakeshore, Wisconsin, think of her as the hard-working church secretary or as the local food truck’s lunch-hour cashier. They’d never suspect the shame she’s hiding.
She attended high school with both the lead singer and the drummer of the rock band, Awestruck. In fact, she used to play in the band herself, but that was back before Awestruck made it big—and before her relationship with lead singer Gannon Vaughn took a turn that ultimately led to tragedy and heartbreak.
She’s living a different life now, but when Gannon shows up, he brings with him a public spotlight that threatens to expose her deepest regret. The closer she gets to him, the more she risks the carefully curated life that’s finally brought her a measure of peace.
Gannon Vaughn and his rock band, Awestruck, have conquered the music industry, but he can’t overcome his feelings for Adeline.
She may have been right to cut off contact between them years ago, but thanks to the grace of God, he’s a changed man. When he hears Adeline’s struggling, he sets out to turn her life around and win back the love he lost to poor choices eight years ago.
But when Gannon’s fame and their mutual regrets jeopardize their relationship anew, will grace be enough to bring them back to God and each other?
A meaningful Christian romance with a side of fame and fortune for readers who enjoy faith-filled escapes and happily-ever-afters where no one is beyond hope of redemption.
Click here to get your copy!
In My Opinion
In To Bring You Back, Emily Conrad gives readers a genuine look into the chains of shame and the exhaustion of holding onto the past. Of maintaining a mask so others don’t see your failings. The author also takes that guilt, shame, and pain and turns it into something beautiful.
Gannon and Adeline are broken people. They’ve done things they’re not proud of. They are trying to live better lives, though in different ways. And I rooted for them to heal—to heal together and carve a happy future for the two of them.
Conrad tackles topics like drugs, alcohol, sex, and mental illness with a gentle hand that speaks the truth in love instead of raining judgment down on these characters. The reconciliation and redemption in this story are so prominent, so well written, that it shines the light on the miracles that God works in relationships and lives.
Add to that the rock star element and the slow-burn romance, and the author hit all the right notes in this story.
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. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About the Author
Emily Conrad writes contemporary Christian romance that explores life’s relevant questions. Though she likes to think some of her characters are pretty great, the ultimate hero of her stories (including the one she’s living) is Jesus. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their energetic coonhound rescue. Learn more about her and her books at emilyconradauthor.com.
More from Emily
A Guilty Pleasure with a Purpose
When a reader called the Rhythms of Redemption Romances a guilty pleasure, I had to smile because that’s exactly what To Bring You Back, the first book in the series, was to me as I wrote it.
Don’t get me wrong, To Bring You Back is firmly Christian fiction, and it’s not “guilty” of being blush-inducing. Because of the characters’ history, theirs is a slow-burn romance that focuses more on the emotional side of their relationship than the physical.
But, To Bring You Back is a rock star romance.
When I first started writing it, I was embarrassed to admit that’s what I was working on.
After all, rock star romance has a reputation for being an unrealistic and shallow escape from reality with “guilty pleasure” written all over it.
Maybe there was some of that escapism going on. At that point in my writing journey, I was dealing with disillusionment, and I enjoyed the break of writing about rich and famous characters.
However, as I wrote To Bring You Back and went on to read others’ romances about famous characters, I found that the characters’ occupations and net worth don’t impact the most important elements of their stories.
The tales can still showcase meaningful relationships and God at work in the lives of people who—rich and famous or not—need redemption.
Fame, money, and music help up the entertainment value, but those same features add even more rich conflict to explore.
The men of Awestruck, starting with lead singer Gannon Vaughn in To Bring You Back, have allowed me to ask questions like: How good is grace? What does it mean to live in forgiveness? What gives a person worth? And, when is living the dream no longer worth the price?
To write this post, I took a break from working on the first draft of the final book in the series, and it’s been fun to look back and see how much my opinion of these stories has changed.
If To Bring You Back and the books that follow are a guilty pleasure, they’re a guilty pleasure with a purpose. God has worked in my life through them.
It’s my prayer that He’ll also use them in your life, both to explore meaningful questions and to provide a few hours of entertaining escape.
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Emily is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and an ecopy of To Bring You Back!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/1d0b1/to-bring-you-back-celebration-tour-giveaway
Blog Stops
Read more reviews and author interviews via the Celebrate Lit Tour Landing Page.
Thank you for featuring To Bring You Back today, Suzie! I’m so grateful the story resonated with you. Your kind words are such an encouragement <3
Thanks for sharing your review, this sounds like a great book
Thank you for sharing your opinion of To Bring You Back, this sounds like a wonderful story and I am looking forward to reading it myself
Suzie, Thank you for sharing your wonderful review. Emily Conrad is a new-to-me author.
I’ve recently read a few books with famous actors, rather than rock stars. Dealing with life in the limelight has to be a challenge, especially with secrets at risk of being uncovered.
What’s special about this one, Emily, is its Wisconsin setting!
Even though this story’s characters are fictional rock stars, it sounds very realistic.