Book Review: Love So Lovely Born

Reviewed by John M. Murray

A sweeping Christian romance where faith, forgiveness, and family triumph over trauma and betrayal

Ken Fulmer’s Love So Lovely Born is a deeply emotional Christian romance that weaves together themes of generational wounds, personal redemption, and the power of God’s grace. At its heart are two central figures—Vickie Morrison, a woman scarred by abuse, betrayal, and self-condemnation, and John Breyer, a farrier and man of faith whose resilience anchors those around him. Their journeys, intertwined with tragedy and healing, form a story that is as much about overcoming the past as it is about discovering a future rooted in love and divine purpose.

The novel opens with Vickie in Washington, D.C., haunted by rape, family betrayal, and her fractured identity. As her life intersects again with John’s, the narrative shifts to the rolling hills of North Carolina, where horses, farm life, and a tight-knit community form the backdrop of their struggles. The plot follows them through missing children, broken relationships, spiritual battles, and near-ruin, culminating in Vickie’s acceptance of grace and a renewed sense of worth. As the story progresses, John emerges as the central figure, carrying his own burdens of sin and redemption, yet standing as a steady source of integrity.

Fulmer succeeds most in his characters, particularly Vickie and John. Vickie’s portrayal is raw, unflinching, and layered—she is both victim and survivor, sinner and seeker, whose honesty about her brokenness becomes the doorway to transformation. John, meanwhile, is compelling in his steadiness, a man who refuses to abandon his moral core even when false accusations and spiritual temptations threaten him. Surrounding them are memorable supporting figures: Katie and Abbie, whose vulnerability highlights the importance of protecting the next generation; Price, Vickie’s estranged father, whose arc from criminality to repentance mirrors his daughter’s struggle; and Nellie, a protégée whose true identity ties into some of the book’s most dramatic revelations.

Where the novel shines is in its exploration of faith as a lived, often messy process. Fulmer doesn’t shy from spiritual warfare, generational sin, or the painful honesty required in confession. The narrative blends contemporary realism with biblical allusion and even supernatural elements, reflecting how Christian fiction can grapple with the darkest corners of life without losing sight of hope.

If there is a drawback, it lies in the sheer density of the narrative. At times, the abundance of characters, subplots, and theological exposition threatens to overwhelm the reader. The layering of supernatural mythology alongside interpersonal drama occasionally distracts from the core romance, though patient readers will find the threads pulled together by the novel’s conclusion.

The ending delivers both emotionally and spiritually: John and Vickie’s union symbolizes a hard-won victory of grace over sin. Fulmer’s message is clear—love, when rooted in Christ, has the power to break generational cycles and restore even the most fractured of families.

Love So Lovely Born is a heartfelt Christian romance, ideal for readers who appreciate stories that do not shy away from the rawness of trauma and point hopefully toward redemption. For those seeking a novel that marries grit with grace, pain with promise, Fulmer delivers a tale where forgiveness becomes the truest expression of love.

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