I picked this up in 2020 thinking it was a sweet, Christian romance—and it blew me away with its amazing story of restoration, family, and hope. If you like modern, cozy character-driven stories, then Provenance may be for you!

Ratings

Story: 5 out of 5
Worldview: 5 out of 5

Overall Thoughts

The main characters are immediately placed at incredible odds with each other. Mayor Gabe Brandt wants to save his cozy town of Jasper Lake, Colorado from being taken over by a resort mogul. Kendall Green wants to sell her (previously unknown) grandmother’s property to save her interior design business in California. The only one willing to pay the money she needs…. is the same developer who wants to tear down the town.

The story itself has so many cool details from beginning to end. Laureano does a great job building tension until the final moments. It does have a slow start, though, so give it a few chapters to really get moving! It does help that both Kendall and Gabe are incredibly genuine characters. I could really relate to their struggles from their pasts, especially with wanting to know where you come from…. but also struggling with the roots of bitterness and disappointment.

Laureno also included a strong message of salvation and the actual conversion of a few characters. The book shows some characters drinking, but it’s a clean romance with no spicy scenes or moments.

I read Provenance on Kindle when it came out, and I bought it again because it was so good I had to have it on my shelf!

Recommendations

If you like cozy, sweet Christian romances, I recommend checking out other reviews on my blog! After growing up reading spicy novels, I’ve come to appreciate more down-to-earth books that reflect more healthy messages regarding love and life. (Though I do still appreciate a good adventure/mystery novel!)