Shelter: A Christian Romance (Shelter Trilogy Book 1) by Robin Merrill

Shelter: A Christian Romance (Shelter Trilogy Book 1) Reviews

• 
  Vikki

  Shelter was a book that held my interest. It is truly a Christian book. About real life people, real life problems and a very real God who makes a way for them. Maggie left her abusive boyfriend attorney to find herself homeless yet richer than ever before.
• 
  Nichole

  I read this book in one evening. I appreciated how the characters exposed what outsiders think of people who live in shelters.
  
  I would have liked to read a bit more of the history of Maggie revealed in order to understand her story.
  
  I loved how the romance remained pure even though Maggie had just left a live in boyfriend relationship.
  
  When Maggie chooses to continue her giving, I cheered.
  
  There were so many directions that could have been discovered deeper but the title explains the primary focus of the story boldly.
• 
  Sandra

  I loved the uniqueness of this story. I have never read a story before where the plot was all based around a homeless shelter. The author, Robin Merrill, did a great job of describing all the various characters who interacted with Maggie as she tried to get her life in order while at a homeless church shelter. It didn't take long for her to become a very important part of the daily life in the shelter and also in the life of Galen, one of the volunteers for the shelter. The book is entertaining, humourous, informative and a great read for any age from teenagers and up.
• 
  Donna Weaver

  WHAT IT'S ABOUT
  She begged God to rescue her. He said, “Go.” So she headed out into the blizzard. In a car that wasn’t exactly hers, with a dog who wasn’t exactly a rat terrier, she drove. Until she ran out of gas in the small Maine town of Mattawooptock. Mattawoopwhat? What on earth is God thinking? But it is there, in a weird little bathroom in a weird little church in a weird little town that Maggie Hansen finds herself. And as God would have it, she finds a lot more than that.
  
  MY TAKE
  This is a fun, Christian read with an interesting cast of characters. It's maybe a romance (it has a strong romantic element), but it's also very much about Maggie's growth and finding herself. Galen is a great guy and quite a contrast to the guy Maggie had been involved with before.
  
  It dragged a little in the late middle of story, and there were some things that happened that didn't really seem to go anywhere, and I wondered why they were included. But perhaps that fits the odd assortment of characters at the homeless shelter.
  
  I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was adequate but sounded like she was in a tunnel.
  
  3 1/2 stars, rounded up to a 4.
• 
  Coffeerequired

  Inspirational
  
  Got this free from Amazon and really enjoyed it. Fast light read that gives you a different view of the homeless and the people that try to help. Knowing many homeless veterans, there are so many people that look down on them without wanting to know the circumstances. Loved this for showing that and for showing what prayer can do.
• 
  Joanna Payne

  Good very nice
  
  Quick read but worth it. Great message. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for short ,feel good type of book.
• 
  CAROLE

  Great read!!
  
  Beautiful story of living life from the top to the bottom and back up again . Very moving in knowing "there by the grace of God go I ".
• 
  Donna Morton

  I really enjoyed this book! It's Christian fiction filled with truth. The main setting is a church that also functions as a homeless shelter and I think it gave an honest portrayal. We saw how some outsiders harshly judge the homeless, but also met some of the residents. They were a mix of characters and not a single one had wandered into the shelter because they wanted to and with intentions of bunking there forever. This reminds us that every homeless person has a story and that caring for the homeless is a true ministry and calling for some people.
  
  The main character, Maggie, is a young woman fleeing an abusive relationship. A new believer, she trusts God to lead her to safety and freedom, remaining obedient even when God's way seemed a bit wacky! Where was He taking her and why? His plans unfolded, though, and this was a joyful reminder to me that God's way is always more interesting, rewarding, and better than any path we map out ourselves.
  
  Through Maggie, who once attended beauty school, we see an example of how our talents can be used to serve others. Even if we feel like our contribution is small, it can be very important to someone else or can work with other things to complete a whole picture. I have to add that Cari, one of the shelter's directors, showed me a great way to surrender and pray when I'm clueless about what direction to take.
  
  The romance between Maggie and Galen is sweet but not sappy. I kind of wish readers were given a little more glimpse into Maggie's past, perhaps some flashbacks to experiences that led to her needing to run in the first place. Then again, we knew enough to know she needed to leave...plus all things were being made new in Maggie's life, so why weigh her story down with the old and the ugly? She was a new creation in Christ and in a position to move forward. This really is a great story!
  
  
  
  
• 
  Deanna Perkins

  I received this book (and book 2 & 3 in this series) from my Mom for my birthday. I hadn't heard of it before, but I'm very happy she got it for me.
  
  I truly enjoyed the characters of Maggie and Galen. They had real emotions and personalities, ones that I could relate to and sympathize with. The writing is easy to read and follow and made for a quick read as well. There were a couple situations that I was confused by or ways I thought the story was going to go that didn't end up happening.
  
  For the situation of something I thought was going to happen that didn't end up happening, it was dealing with Maggie's ex. I thought for sure he was going to come back into the story and cause some drama...but he doesn't. At first I was slightly confused/annoyed by this, but the more I thought about it the more I'm glad it didn't go that way...it would have been very cliche.
  
  Then there was a character that was introduced as someone who was lusting after Maggie. In a very short time, she turned him down and he didn't make an appearance until the end and it plays a part in the set-up for book 2. I just felt that maybe this could have not started with him checking out Maggie and started with him checking out Harmony and it still would have all worked the way it needed to to get to the end results.
  
  Again, overall I really enjoyed this book and read it quickly. I'm looking forward to starting in on book 2 and seeing where the story of this little town, it's church with the homeless shelter and the characters that I've come to know and grow fond of end up on the next chapter of their journey.
• 
  Mary A. Muchowicz

  Maggie left an abusive relationship to become homeless which was a true blessing
  
  Open Door Church in Mattawooptock Maine which hosted a homeless shelter is where Maggie ran out of gas when God told her to go and leave the abusive relationship she had been in for years. New to going to church, she began to really enjoy the daily bible studies. She naturally wanted to help the other residents and began cutting their hair which quickly grew into a full time volunteer position. Galen who was a member of the church and helped some with the shelter and had his own automotive garage offered to take care of her dog Eddie since pets were not allowed at the shelter. Galen had fallen in love with Maggie, but the abusive relationship she had left made her reluctant to commit to anything. As Maggie's love grew for God and the other residents of the shelter, she also came to fully love Galen.
• 
  Annette

  Maggie and her small dog Eddie are escaping from a bad situation. She ends up in Maine at a small town church. The church is also a shelter for the homeless. Maggie is homeless.
  The first person she meets at the church is Galen. He is a musician for some of the church services. And he volunteers to take Eddie since he is not welcome at the shelter.
  From that small beginning, Maggie finds her new life. With Galen’s encouragement, she begins to realize that she has a skill that can help others. Maggie realizes she has value.
  There is a strong Christian theme in this story. It is the way Maggie learns about herself as well as the people she encounters in the shelter.
  There are various secondary characters who add to the texture and depth of the story. I enjoyed the book.
• 
  Kim Slye

  Sweet Story
  
  Maggie runs from an abusive relationship and learns to follow God’s direction through difficult times. A sweet story that touches on some difficult issues in our culture today - domestic abuse, homelessness, mental illness and abortion - but is more centered on a being romance. I gave it four stars bc it tries to do too much with difficult subjects while remaining light hearted. The intention of the author needed to be more focused for depth. Also conflicts like Maggie can’t afford to buy lunch or hair coloring but when a benefactor buys her a car there’s no mention of the money needed for gas or insurance costs. Yet she drives wherever she wants. My heart wanted to enjoy the romance but my mind wasn’t suspended.
• 
  Roger

  Shelter, is my twenty-fourth read from author Robin Merrill who I’ve been reading since January of 2019 when I first read Piercehaven: Welcome to the Island & she never fails to entertain with her excellent writing. I got this book back in September of 2015 yet never got around to reading it until now when I'm listening to the Audible version with my wife. 312-pages/5-hours 42-minutes yet reads longer due to the story and characters being slowly & methodically developed, drawing the reader in. Narrator Lisa Kelly adds to the listening enjoyment. I was given both an Audible copy & Kindle copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
• 
  April

  
  Shelter
  : Robin Merrill
  
  A clean Christian book set in a homeless shelter. The many different people whose circumstance bring them together for a time. The listener learns of real problems that people face and how God and his people work to help them. There is even a sweet romance. I hope there will be more books in this series, since this is listed as book 1.
  
  
  The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed by Lisa Kelly.
  
  
  
  I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
  
• 
  Diana Wanek

  This was an easy quick read. Short chapters but they held my attention. The setting of a homeless shelter within a church was something I had never read before and was of interest. I am always amazed how the guy falls so quickly for the girl by outward beauty but was glad to see both main character move past that to the inward beauty. A few characters could have use a bit more backstory and development but I still will give the book 5 stars and will look to read the rest of this trilogy and more by this author.
• 
  Dave Wheeler

  From nothing to hope it is it purpose
  
  This is a easy read ideal a good book for filling a few hours on the beach or by the pool on holiday, or a lazy Sunday afternoon or which ever day you get free time. This book deals in a very gentle with a few homeless issue but is more about Maggie and her talents. With a possible romance in the background but you have to read it for any more info.
• 
  Lucinda Bean

  An endearing story that I enjoyed reading. A bit corny here & there as well as sparse in detail...I just felt that there was so much left out. The somewhat abrupt ending was a bit disappointing but was really pleased to not be left hanging. I loved the interesting and colorful characters and the setting and felt that this could've been a much longer book by delving deeper into them all. I was sad to see it end!