STORY | Teaching, much as she likes, doesn’t quite fulfill Lauren Bailey’s life the way she hopes. For that she’d like to build a family of her own. With no Mr. Right in her future, she makes the decision to become a mother, and begins to pursue adoption. before I called you mine book
Josh Avery is not the man Lauren ever expected to enter her life, and next door, no less! Her ordinary life is turned upside down by this substitute teacher, or more like, her heart. The funny and down-to-earth teacher is exactly the man to melt her heart. But will this unexpected flip in her plans affect her dreams?
Before I Called You Mine Book Review | Nicole Deese
REVIEW | I can still remember falling in love with the novel A New Shade of Summer. The characters worked their way into my reader heart, and I fell pretty hard for the likable hero. This is why when first I saw a Nicole Deese novel set to publish with Bethany House, I was a little more than excited.
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The concept of this story is not one I’ve read before. Deeply personal to Deese, the story resonates in this way, and in other places in how it uses its space. The characters are engaging and endearing, and because of this, we want to be on their journey. We want to know what is next in their story. Lauren’s specific plight may not be something all of us can relate to, but in broader terms, many of us will understand hope, and dreaming for something we want to result from it.
This is what Lauren pins her hopes on; the child whose face she doesn’t know, but who she loves with her whole heart. It’s this, in part, that makes her such an endearing character. Lauren knows what she wants to look for in life and it’s inspiring to walk with her. Of course, not to be forgotten, there’s also Josh, who is another winning character. I like that he’s like this perfect blend of serious adult (when need be), but yet he’s able to “let go,” have fun and know when not to take himself seriously. It’s sweet and honest how he pursues Lauren, and with my whole reader heart do I like their dynamic.
Whether they’re talking face-to-face, confessing things, or spending hours in text message threads (seriously, these scenes…!), the page-time they share is fiction magic. In conclusion, Before I Called You Mine is warm and funny, engaging and perfect. It’s one of those reads that, despite being “early” on in the year, I see taking as firm a place on a “best 2020 reads” as it does on a reader’s heart.
Sincere thanks to Bethany House for kindly sending a copy of Before I Called You Mine book for review; all opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Author: Nicole Deese
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: 2020
Source: Publisher provided – THANK YOU, Bethany House
Genre: Fiction; Contemporary, Inspirational
Find the Book Elsewhere: Goodreads
Find the Review Elsewhere: Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★★
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I, too, will place it in my top 10 list this year.
So touching! Found another favorite author!
It’s definitely a favorite of mine; usually I like more certainty with a love story, but that doesn’t stop me from loving this one! And I’d recommend Nicole’s A New Shade of Summer, too. So good.
Oh my goodness, I LOVED this book. I loved the story of Lauren and Joshua, but especially the adoption story line. Made me tear up so many times.
SAME. SO GOOD!