4.5 "I loved this book" stars.

Fans of small town contemporary romances are going to fall in love with I'll Stand By You. Sharon Sala heads back to Blessings, GA where single mom Dori Grant and Johnny Pine, who is the guardian of his two young brothers, fall in love in the midst of hardship.

While she is from the "right" side of the tracks, Dori has weathered more than her fair share of gossip and innuendo after becoming an unwed, teenage mom. With the help of her granddaddy, she has managed to pass her GED and enroll in on-line college classes while also working at a local diner and raising her six month old son, Luther Joe. But one horrible night, Dori loses everything but Luther Joe, and she is shocked when NONE of her neighbors offers to help her out.

Johnny is no stranger to adversity and he is absolutely stunned when Dori's neighbors abandon her and Luther after her tragic loss. He knows what it is like to be all alone in the world and he does not hesitate to bring them home to stay with him and his brothers Brooks aka Beep and Marshall. Johnny fought hard to keep his brothers after his mother's death, and although they don't have much money, he is doing an exemplary job of raising them.

Johnny and Dori are pretty much strangers but they settle into their living arrangements with ease. As word quickly spreads through town about Dori's plight, most of the townspeople pull together to help her out while others immediately begin spreading vicious rumors about her and Johnny. Fortunately, Dori has a few good people in her corner who are more than willing to stand up for them. And when someone from Dori's past tries to cash in her good fortune, let's just say, this person gets EXACTLY what is coming to 'em.

I'll Stand by You is a charming romance that is a little poignant but very heartwarming. The relationship between Johnny and Dori is soo sweet and even though they fall in love quickly, their feelings for one another ring true. Sharon Sala fully captures both the good and bad of small town life and although there are a few truly despicable townspeople, there are also plenty of kindhearted and generous ones who more than make up for their mean spirited actions. A heartfelt and emotional love story that is incredibly uplifting and gratifying despite the sometimes somber (but always realistic) storyline. ( )

An enjoyable but very light read. Struggling teenage parents save each other in a small town in Georgia. Likeable characters. ( )

What a sweet uplifting story. A few holes, but the overall plot and tension were spot on. ( )

I loved the characters in this story and the situations the author puts them in. Great small-town romance. ( )

A lot happens in this book but the plot moves at fairly believable pace. I really enjoyed the sense of community that came through in this book and would read more in this series. This would appeal to fans of Robyn Carr. Review based on ARC from NetGalley. ( )