Before I Called You Mine Synopsis
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.
Nicole Deese’s 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 these books are from her best-selling Love in Lenox Series. Her newest contemporary romance, Before I Called You Mine, from Bethany House Publishers has recently received a starred review from Booklist.
When Nicole’s not sorting out characters and plots of her own, she can usually be found reading near a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Pacific Northwest (most often while sipping on a sparkling water). She lives in small-town, Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two towering-over-her teen sons, and her princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.
Social Media
Website: https://www.nicoledeese.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicoledeeseauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoledeeseauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicoledeese
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6878628.Nicole_Deese
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nicole-deese
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Deese/e/B00BMRQOD2
My Rating: 4 Stars!
‘God’s way is rarely easy, but it’s always better than mine.’
Lauren Bailey is committed to international adoption and has agreed to remain single, per the agency’s requirements. After all, she has had enough failed relationships. But then Joshua Avery shows up as a substitute teacher in the school she teaches at. Lauren doesn’t want to like him, but it surely seems as if God has placed him in her path. Will Lauren before to choose between the very deepest desires of her heart? Would God do that to her?
Nicole Deese once again pulls out all the stops with an emotionally charged novel that had me fighting tears more than once. What a precious and God honoring story. Recommended.
*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions in this review are my own.
Giveaway Instructions:
Due to postage, giveaway is only open to the 48 contiguous states.
To enter, please leave a blog post comment, including:
Your full name
Your email in a non-spammy formula. For example: susan (at) yahoo (dot) com.
Your entry will not count if you do not follow the instructions. Contest ends Thursday, April 2, 2020. You will be notified via email. If no response within 48 hours, another name will be chosen. Thanks so much!
Praise for Before I Called You Mine
“A Carol Award-winner, as well as a RITA and Inspy nominee for her inspirational romance novels, Deese is also an adoptive parent, which shapes her latest novel. . . . Deese’s involving novel is full of genuine feeling and compelling challenges.”
Booklist starred review
“Nicole Deese will crack your heart wide open with this funny, tender, and brilliant story about a woman who finds herself forced to choose between two great loves. I could not put it down.”
Kara Isaac, RITA Award-winning author of Then There Was You
“Before I Called You Mine is Nicole’s finest work yet. Thoroughly engaging with charming characters you’ll want to call friends, an authentic emotional storyline that will touch every part of your heart, and, as expected, exquisite writing that will leave you captivated long after the book is finished.”
Tammy L. Gray, RITA Award-winning author
“A story about tough sacrifices, impossible choices, and the love that makes it all worthwhile, Before I Called You Mine is a captivating adventure of the heart that will stay with you–and maybe even change you–long after the final page.”
Bethany Turner, award-winning author of Wooing Cadie McCaffrey
“Beautiful, poignant, funny, and romantic–all wrapped into one heartwarming story. Deese knows how to spin a tale that makes you fall in love with the characters and feel like they’re friends. Before I Called You Mine will stay with you long after the last page.”
Christy Barritt, USA Today bestselling author
“With its unique right-love-wrong-timing premise, Before I Called You Mine is a novel that will keep readers ignoring their chores, reaching for their tissue boxes, and sighing with contentment. It’s fresh, soul-stirring, and wi
Simply Susan 
I haven’t read any of Nicole’s books yet but I hear a lot of positive talk about them. This sounds pretty good.
WordPress supplies you with our email address automatically, not like Blogger (which does not). here you go — duhpaynes at gmail dot com 🙂
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I didn’t know WP showed emails.
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They do to the blog owner.
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Where do I find them?
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There should be a menu on the left hand side and click on comments then on the right hand side of each comment is a User Info. At least it is in my WP.
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Love reading go your reviews. Have a list a mile long of good books to read. Loved seeing Christy Barritts review. She’s one of my favs. Will get this one for sure.
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I have not read any of Nicole‘s books either. But toyhave to choose between love and motherhood, what an unusual and difficult decision!
pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)con
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I’ve not yet had the pleasure of reading Nicole’s books. Thank you for the wonderful review and the chance to win a copy.
psalm103and138atgmaildotcom
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