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angmander's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my gosh, this was so good! I could not put it down. Such a sweet story and very clean. I would definitely recommend!
flowersofquiethappiness's review against another edition
4.0
Ah, this book is like an overflowing cup of happiness! I was totally committed to Lauren’s journey right from the start. And then Joshua walked onto the page and….well, the rest is history as they say. :) Knowing that Ms. Deese pulled from bits of her own personal journey with adoption while writing this only made me more excited to read it! Then once I was started there was no putting it down until the final pages.
I loved Lauren. Her heart and her clear calling to adopt were beautifully portrayed. I was right there with her during every uncertainty, fear, joy and all the emotional upheaval of her current life. She hasn’t taken lightly any of the decisions she’s made and I loved her clear certainty of what God was telling her to do. Even during her doubtful times she could always come back to that confidence as a reminder to keep moving forward. Watching her maneuver through each step in front of her so carefully, prayerfully, yet each one feeling like a giant leap of faith…oh I got it. I have been in such a place myself, not with adoption but I still got it. I loved Jenna, Lauren’s bestie so, SO much for this very reason. Having people behind you, supporting you every step of the way? It’s a wonderful and necessary part of doing this life we’re given! Oh, and Joshua? Swoon. I could totally see why Lauren was such a goner for him! :D Their chemistry is felt in practically every scene they have. They are made for each other, they simply didn’t expect to find each other right now in the messy middle!
Ms. Deese’s heart shines through her writing in this story. It is so wonderfully obvious that she understands the heartache and beauty to be found in adoption, for she treats it with respect and love, acknowledging the hard that comes right along with the joy. All the while interweaving hope and pain and happiness into a delightful picture that makes sense only at the end, not always so much during the process. Which is simply true to life.
There are many words that could be said, but I think I’ll leave you with these. It’s a heart-full, big-smile, happy-sigh kind of story! And I totally think you should read it. So why don’t you? :)
**I received a complimentary copy via Bethany House. All opinions expressed are my own
I loved Lauren. Her heart and her clear calling to adopt were beautifully portrayed. I was right there with her during every uncertainty, fear, joy and all the emotional upheaval of her current life. She hasn’t taken lightly any of the decisions she’s made and I loved her clear certainty of what God was telling her to do. Even during her doubtful times she could always come back to that confidence as a reminder to keep moving forward. Watching her maneuver through each step in front of her so carefully, prayerfully, yet each one feeling like a giant leap of faith…oh I got it. I have been in such a place myself, not with adoption but I still got it. I loved Jenna, Lauren’s bestie so, SO much for this very reason. Having people behind you, supporting you every step of the way? It’s a wonderful and necessary part of doing this life we’re given! Oh, and Joshua? Swoon. I could totally see why Lauren was such a goner for him! :D Their chemistry is felt in practically every scene they have. They are made for each other, they simply didn’t expect to find each other right now in the messy middle!
Ms. Deese’s heart shines through her writing in this story. It is so wonderfully obvious that she understands the heartache and beauty to be found in adoption, for she treats it with respect and love, acknowledging the hard that comes right along with the joy. All the while interweaving hope and pain and happiness into a delightful picture that makes sense only at the end, not always so much during the process. Which is simply true to life.
There are many words that could be said, but I think I’ll leave you with these. It’s a heart-full, big-smile, happy-sigh kind of story! And I totally think you should read it. So why don’t you? :)
**I received a complimentary copy via Bethany House. All opinions expressed are my own
amnda527's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
anniejaneb's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book! Well written with great characters that I could really relate with, especially with the topic of adoption. Will be reading more from this author.
katie_chandler's review against another edition
3.0
A quick Christian romance read with an admirable hero.
I couldn’t help but think the family faith conflicts weren’t portrayed with enough empathy and the adoption process was a bit rosy.
I couldn’t help but think the family faith conflicts weren’t portrayed with enough empathy and the adoption process was a bit rosy.
kshea1's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
4.0
amyk2024's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I absolutely LOVED this book! It was heartwarming, romantic and so inspiring! The relationship between Joshua and Lauren felt so natural - so real. Where do I find my own Joshua? The message of trusting God was beautiful and really hit home for me. I had tears in my eyes throughout the story - it was so easy to feel all the emotions. Nicole Deese is a gifted writer and I absolutely need to read more of her books. Highly recommend!
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
BEFORE I CALLED YOU MINE is a novel about families—tightly-knit birth families, loving adoptive families, dysfunctional birth families, found families, single-parent families, struggling adoptive families, etc. This is primarily a romance, so Lauren's story follows a pretty predictable, happily-ever-after kind of path, but it does bring up some of the thorny issues that can come up with adoption and families in general. Although there is plenty of conflict to keep the book interesting, it's mostly a character-driven novel. Lauren is a warm, compassionate person whose life is devoted to nurturing the children in her classroom. While I didn't always understand all of her decisions, I liked her. I related to her as an adoptive mother and as a Christian woman trying to follow God's plan for her, even when it wasn't working out as perfectly as it should be! Lauren's relationships with her parents and sister are prickly, so she's "adopted" a group of people who are likewise warm, kind, and generous. They're a likable bunch, whose devotion to each other is palpable. Joshua is actually more likable than Lauren, but that's probably because other than being too silly sometimes, he's basically faultless. A few less-appealing characteristics would have helped make him a more believable character.
As far as plot goes, I would have liked more about Lauren's actual experience—especially the struggles—as a new mother. That part of the story seems rushed and unrealistically positive. (I mean, no matter how much experience Lauren might have had with children in a classroom, raising one is a whole different ball of wax, especially for a first-time mother and a child from a different country who has been raised in a completely foreign environment.) Other than that small complaint, Lauren's experience with adoption rings with authenticity, not surprising since Deese knows of which she speaks having gone through the process herself.
What I most like about BEFORE I CALLED YOU MINE is its clean, wholesome, faith-promoting vibe. I don't always love Christian fiction since it often gets too preachy and cheesy for my liking, but Deese handles the religious aspect of the story well. This novel probably has more God in it than other books I've read in the genre; it doesn't feel too heavy-handed though. At least not to me. Since I'm a religious person and I frequently have God-centric conversations with family and friends, those types of interactions in the book don't feel strange or forced to me. Unlike when I read dark, heavy mysteries and thrillers, this book left me feeling not just entertained but also uplifted, encouraged, and strengthened. I very much enjoyed it and will absolutely be picking up more novels by Nicole Deese.
As far as plot goes, I would have liked more about Lauren's actual experience—especially the struggles—as a new mother. That part of the story seems rushed and unrealistically positive. (I mean, no matter how much experience Lauren might have had with children in a classroom, raising one is a whole different ball of wax, especially for a first-time mother and a child from a different country who has been raised in a completely foreign environment.) Other than that small complaint, Lauren's experience with adoption rings with authenticity, not surprising since Deese knows of which she speaks having gone through the process herself.
What I most like about BEFORE I CALLED YOU MINE is its clean, wholesome, faith-promoting vibe. I don't always love Christian fiction since it often gets too preachy and cheesy for my liking, but Deese handles the religious aspect of the story well. This novel probably has more God in it than other books I've read in the genre; it doesn't feel too heavy-handed though. At least not to me. Since I'm a religious person and I frequently have God-centric conversations with family and friends, those types of interactions in the book don't feel strange or forced to me. Unlike when I read dark, heavy mysteries and thrillers, this book left me feeling not just entertained but also uplifted, encouraged, and strengthened. I very much enjoyed it and will absolutely be picking up more novels by Nicole Deese.