(and see Nicole's #Giveaway below!
A brand new paperback of Before I Called You Mine!)
NICOLE'S REVIEW:Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese takes readers on the difficult and rewarding journey to international adoption complete with the pain, heartbreak, and joy that adoptive parents often experience. The author’s own background of adopting her daughter internationally adds authenticity to the story.
Lauren Bailey, a single first grade teacher, has felt a calling toward international adoption for many years. She is finally matched with a young child from China just as she meets the man that she might be destined to spend her life with. However due to Chinese adoption laws, a couple must be married for two years before adopting. With the complications in her life, how can Lauren make the difficult decision to choose between the two?
As a teacher myself, I could completely relate to the parts of storyline taking place in the school, the day-to-day activities, and the personalities of the teachers. Nicole Deese described the school environment and the nuances of the various teachers perfectly.
Along with the developing romantic relationship in Before I Called You Mine, the novel focuses on Lauren’s desire to adopt and her strained relationship with her family who are not supportive of her decision. Readers who have experienced adoption in their families will find this novel extremely poignant and authentic. If you are looking for a book with a light romantic thread that focuses on real-life decisions that are often messy and difficult, then this is the book for you.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
KIM'S REVIEW:
I
loved this story!!! Seriously, I really loved everything about it, the
characters, the wonderful storyline, the writing style, the secondary
characters - everything!! I did not want this story to end. Nicole Deese
is now my newest auto-buy author!
While
I really liked both Lauren and Joshua, Joshua was my absolute favorite
character from Before I Called You Mine. I loved his sense of humor and
his heart! He was so caring and patient and giving. He was just what
Lauren needed at just the right time.
I
also really enjoyed the storyline. It was so different and so
interesting. I didn’t want to put this story down and hated to see it
end. I cannot wait to see what Nicole Deese brings us next!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Back Cover Blurb:
Lauren Bailey may be a romantic at heart, but after a decade of matchmaking schemes gone wrong, there's only one match she's committed to now--the one that will make her a mother. Lauren is a dedicated first grade teacher in Idaho, and her love for children has led her to the path of international adoption. To satisfy her adoption agency's requirements, she gladly agreed to remain single for the foreseeable future; however, just as her long wait comes to an end, Lauren is blindsided by a complication she never saw coming: Joshua Avery.
Joshua may be a substitute teacher by day, but Lauren finds his passion for creating educational technology as fascinating as his antics in the classroom. Though she does her best to downplay the undeniable connection between them, his relentless pursuit of her heart puts her commitment to stay unattached to the test and causes her once-firm conviction to waver.
With an impossible decision looming, Lauren might very well find herself choosing between the two deepest desires of her heart . . . even if saying yes to one means letting go of the other.
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:
Buy Before I Called You Mine at Amazon
Buy Before I Called You Mine at Christianbook.com
Author Bio:
Nicole Deese's (www.nicoledeese.com) eight humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels include the 2017 Carol Award-winning A Season to Love. Her 2018 release, A New Shade of Summer, was a finalist in the RITA Awards, Carol Awards, and INSPY Awards. Both of these books are from her bestselling Love in Lenox series. When she's not working on her next contemporary romance, she can usually be found reading one by a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two rambunctious sons, and princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.
GIVEAWAY:
NICOLE IS PROVIDING A BRAND NEW PAPERBACK OF BEFORE I CALLED YOU MINE to one random winner in the U.S.
See our Rafflecopter to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I've always been intrigued by adoption. Some of my church friends are trying to adopt internationally as well.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to reading Before I Called You Mine! I have heard such great things!
ReplyDeleteI'm a little over halfway through this book and I can tell you, it's blowing me away! Nicole Deese is a new-to-me author and she has me completely enamoured with this novel and her captive writers voice. It has ALL the feels and deep emotions, things I love most in a book. I'd put her right up there with Bethany Turner.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reviews Nicole & Kim. This is beautifully written & my new "favorite" writer :-)
Thanks Trixi! This was such a wonderful book. I agree, Bethany Turner’s books are pretty amazing too. 🙂
DeleteI've heard so much about this book! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI've not read anything by Nicole, but this sounds really good. As someone who married later in life myself, I'm sure I can relate to Lauren and her dilema.
ReplyDeleteHappy Book Birthday, Nicole! Sounds like a must read.
ReplyDeleteSounds good. Terrific cover.
ReplyDeleteSound like an interesting book! Can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteI can’t wait to read your book. I have a daughter-in-law who was adopted. I know the blessings and hardships of adoption. Sounds like you really put your heart in it. Having experienced it, I’m sure you just what your book needed. I look forward to reading your books. Blessings
ReplyDeleteWould love to read your book on this delicate topic, and win a print copy, especially since you are a new-to-me author. Thank you for this opportunity to enter a giveaway! Lual Krautter Email: krautter12ATbresnanDOTnet
ReplyDeleteI only know of a couple of people who have done international adoptions. I think this would be quite interesting, especially since the adoptive mom is still single.
ReplyDeleteperrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
Perrianne Askew
This sounds like a fun book!
ReplyDelete