Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

Inspiring and poignantly written, Replay by Mandy Lawrence is a romance that explores what it takes to make a relationship succeed against the odds. When rookie receiver for the Carolina Panthers, Derek Holder, marries Abby, it seems like a fairy tale to her. But things start falling apart when her father is diagnosed with cancer. Abby fears an imminent loss and regrets she hasn’t given her family the time they needed when she had the opportunity, absorbed with college life. Things aren’t going great for Derek as he has his own demons to deal with. The two become so engrossed with themselves that they begin to distance themselves from each other. When their marriage faces the inevitable crisis, can something help them recover the love that once was?

While Replay explores the challenges that most couples face in their marriage, it is also a story of a family’s faith and how letting God speak through the events of their lives can help them change perspective and redefine their purpose. Mandy Lawrence knows how to explore the climates of the human heart, allowing emotions that are real and powerful to come out through the narrative. This is a well-written story that will resonate with most married couples. I have been there and I have witnessed what stressful situations can do to a marriage. The characters are real, the writing is balanced and deft, and the setting is vividly captured in elegant prose. This is an intelligently written story with powerful lessons for readers. It is entertaining and inspiring, a gift to be shared.