Book Review: Before I Called You Mine

From The Back:

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.

My Reflections:
I am so in love with this book. A single woman yearning for her heart's desire to have a baby of her very own and start her little family...alone, single. Laureen Bailey has given up traditional ways of starting a family and looks towards international adoption. Time is ticking and she has waited oh so long for the call.

Joshua Avery enters into her life as a sub for the class next door. He is so sweet, kind, gentle and patient with Laureen as she struggles with her stubborn singleness and adoption rules. When she gets the call she is elated, yet torn. Will she choose love over God's chosen child for her or will she choose love and hope it is successful this time around. 

Having explored international and local adoption when we were struggling for five years of infertility the memories and heartbreak rushed back. This made the novel so much more meaningful to me.

I was delighted with the character development and genuine emotions displayed by all characters. I'm not sure such a sweet family can actually exist Joshua is lovely on so many levels, and his family is no different. Will Joshua have the strength to just walk away after he has finally met his soul mate?

All in all a perfect 10 out of 10 for me! I just fell in love with the town, characters and plot, it was so well played out, bravo Nicole Deese!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Nicole Deese

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...

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Book Review: Pelican Point

From the Back:

In the midst of life's storms, unexpected love is a beacon of hope.
A crumbling lighthouse is not part of the inheritance Army doctor Ben Garrison expects to claim when he journeys to Hope Harbor. Fresh out of the service, he wants only to unload the tower of bricks, decompress from years of treating battlefield trauma, and prepare to launch his civilian career.

Hope Harbor Herald editor Marci Weber has other ideas. She may not be a Hope Harbor native, but the small Oregon seaside town has become home--and she's determined to save the Pelican Point landmark.

Sparks fly as the two go head-to-head over the fate of the lighthouse. But when they start to cooperate, a different kind of fire ignites. Can Hope Harbor heal the hearts of these two romance-wary souls?

My Reflections:
Irene Hannon writes another unique story, filled with quirky characters set in the beloved town of Hope Harbour. This fourth book in the series can be read as a stand-alone, yet why would you? It delivers everything you would expect in a Contemporary romance, from action to balanced believable characters. 

I would rate this book to be PG 13 due to some more in-depth romance scenes, and some mild language usage.  I was not put off by it but some more discerning readers may find these elements too much of a distraction from the story. 

Dr. Ben returns home after a lengthy tour overseas an army surgeon. The trauma he has experienced has been enough to make Ben crave a slower pace. Needing to decompress from all he has witnessed Ben finds himself in Hope Harbor, to finalize the affairs of his late grandfather. His plan is to liquidate the assets and move onto a slower paced civilian practice. Things quickly fall apart when Ben finds out he has also inherited the towns crumbling old lighthouse. 
Marci Weber, determined, headstrong newspaper owner is determined to save the old landmark, and she will stop at nothing to save it! As Marci and Ben are thrown together in this dispute sparks fly and they are not all fire and ice. Will they be able to forge an amicable relationship or will the pillar of the community stand in their way?

One aspect of the story that didn't jell with me was the villain. He was bad enough and all but the reasons he had for his actions seemed a little too cliche. I don't like when people blame their actions on a mental illness, it doesn't sit well with me at all. it did serve its purpose in tying the story together. It did make for an interesting conclusion.

All in all a great read absolutely worth the time invested in the process. 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including One Perfect Spring, Hope Harbor, Sea Rose Lane, Sandpiper Cove, and Pelican Point, as well as Dangerous Illusions and the Private Justice and...

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