Typical Debbie Macomber title, a bit predictable, but an okay read. Preferred the supporting characters stories over the main characters.

Beth and Sam can’t stand each other when they first meet on a blind date. Then Beth has an accident leaving the date and Sam proves to be a true lifeline.

Great storyline, Very easy to follow. Loved all the characters Debbie does it again

This is an amazing book. I loved the plot and the character development. I felt drawn into the book. Like the other books from this author I felt a since of hope and comfort. Easy read with a deeper meaning. I highly recommend it

Beth Prudhomme has moved from Chicago to Portland hoping to put some space between her and her overbearing mother, and to reconnect with her favorite aunt. Beth gets set up on a blind date wit Sam Carney by their friends Nichole and Rocco. The blind date does not go well and both of them leave dinner as soon as they can. While sitting at a red light Sam watches as Beth is broadsided while making a left hand turn by a young girl who was busy texting. Sam gets out his truck and runs to Beth and holds her hand and talks to her until medical help arrives. Sam visits Beth everyday in the hospital where they slowly start falling in love as they talk and get to know each other.

A heart warming novel of opposites attract and overcoming obstacles. The characters were realistic and lovable although Beth was at times too much of a busy body for me. Their romance was straight-fortyward and engaging and the conclusion was logical and satisfying. Not many surprises but all in all a good read. Can be read as a standalone. Typical Debbie Macomber novel.

Beth and Sam are the most unlikely of couples - which is probably why their blind date was such a disaster. I loved this story, I just wish Beth's character would have been a little more mature in her actions.

Review: If Not for You by Debbie Macomber is a sensational story. Immediately she drew me into the tale. Realistic, entertaining, and believable. A story of love, forgiveness, and healing. A family torn to pieces over a relationship, is brought to life. Two sisters who need to forgive and move forward, a daughter who needs to live her own life, not her mother’s, and a man who needs to let go of his past and move forward.

The title If Not for You is perfect. It’s exactly the theme the novel portrays. If Not for You…neither one of the characters would be able to move on with their past. Anger, sadness, and regret. The book was one emotional journey after another. Debbie Macomber has a way with words. I felt every emotion as though it were my own. Each character had to deal with their issues on their own in their own time. It could take thirty years, or a month. But once they decided they were ready to let go…the healing process was beautiful.

Sam is a man who let a woman steal his heart and take away his soul. He created a beautiful yet smart daughter. But he can’t be a part of her life. The mother made sure of that. It’s because of that, that Sam won’t let any woman near his heart. Little did he know a plain woman like Beth would steal it and take him captive.

Beth is a woman who let her mother rule her entire life. She was done with that. Leaving behind her parents, she sets off on her own. Once there, she found a job and friends. Plus, her Aunt Sunshine is awesome. Soon, her whole life will change. One terrible blind date set up…and an accident later, Beth would be falling in love with Sam.

But that’s not all. If Not for You also has two sisters who have fallen for the same guy. Because of that they both ended up not taking to the other one. The damage was done…and one sister’s love life was destroyed forever. It will take a common interest before these two to reunite…and even then it will take a miracle.

Overall, If Not for You is the most interesting piece of literature that I have ever read. Sad, hilarious, and well-written. These characters had a way of tugging at my heart. Their tales combined made for one powerful read. I highly recommend this to all.

Books that meld together like this one and the previous ones written by the author is what make this such an enjoyable read. So often, we want to go back and see what's going on in the life of some of our beloved characters and Debbie Macomber let's us do that with this book. You start reading and realize the cast of characters are familiar. I loved that and will definitely be reading all the others that come out.

I was given an ARC from the publisher/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect anyone else's.

This was a first time read of this author for me. I was pleased with how the story flowed and captured you. I always felt like I was connected to Beth because she was a very relatable character. Over all I am happy with this book and plan on reading more of the authors work.

I have loved books that Debbie has written for many years. This one is no different. It is heartwarming, intriguing and a page turner! It's a book I want to run out and make all my friends read!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Beth's mother has always tried to run her life. At 25, Beth has finally had enough and is moving from Chicago to Portland, Orgeon, where her aunt Sunshine lives, to accept a job as a high school music teacher. When Beth gets set up on a blind date with Sam, they both immediately realize they have nothing in common and want the date over as quickly as possible. However, when Sam witnesses the car accident that injures Beth right after their date, he stays with her until the ambulance arrives and feels an unexplained need to continue to check on her, leading the two to grow closer.

Though this is book 3 in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors, but this was not her best book. The turn the book took 2/3 of the way through was ridiculous and unbelievable. It's not a bad book, but I expected more.

For some reason, I just couldn't jump into this book.

Sam, has a past that defines him, even 14 years later he refuses to date or be involved in a relationship. He's a mechanic, has some tattoos and a beard, and wears his hair in a ponytail. Beth, having recently moved to Portland from Chicago to escape her controlling Mother, comes from a different world than Same does. Her family has money, but she refuses to take a dime from them; wanting to earn her own way in life.

When Sam and Beth are set up on a blind date at a mutual friends home, he isn't nice to her, he completely makes up his mind about her by the second she introduces herself. He also thinks that she asked for the date, which was a last minute invite for dinner by both their friends. Beth is a good sport about the awful situation.

After the long, but uncomfortable dinner, they both leave at the same time. While Beth is sitting at the light waiting for a green, she didn't think that he was so bad. Next thing that happens, Beth is hit straight on by a teenager who was texting while driving, and was running a red light. The last thing Beth remembers is Sam holding her hand while help came.

So now Beth has broken ribs, a hip, and is stuck in the hospital for 6 weeks. Sam starts visiting her daily and a nice friendship develops. But he is skittish about dating, so he tries to pull back from her. Sam's insecurities and his thinking methods are so skewed, I spent half of the book annoyed with him.

He wants to date her, then he wants her to date other men. He can't make up his mind. I would have walked away from him if I was Beth.

I wouldn't say this is an enemies to lovers kind of story. it definitely is a story about two people who seemed along wrong for each other and didn't really care for each other, but because of an accident really come together a realize it isn't all about looks and hobbies. And that's what is so great about Debbie Macomber, she gets right to the heart of things and shares an entertaining heartfelt read.

Everyone likes a new beginning and sometimes you need a new beginning to bring hope where hope is not found.

Beth Prudhomme has moved to Portland Oregon from Chicago to live life without the control of her mother. She is now teaching music and spreading her wings. A good friend and co-worker suggests a blind date with Sam Carney. A rough and rugged man, a man that would not meet the approval of her mother. The date goes terribly wrong as they have nothing in common but as fate would have it, they are at the same intersection when a terrible accident takes Beth to the hospital and Sam becomes her protector. The accident brings them together but the chance for a new beginning keeps them together thru misunderstanding, fear, and a controlling mother.

A fun read that is relaxed without the in-depth character development that I like.

A Special Thank You to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Such a sweet read. Any book by Debbie is wonderful, especially this's one. You fall in love with the characters and feel like you're right there besides them!

Relationships are tricky, as many of us know. Another cliché, that opposites attract, also comes into play in Macomber's book If Not For You. The main characters, Beth and Sam, are both relationship shy based on their prior experiences. Beth has been sheltered much of her life, living in a way her mother has deigned appropriate. Sam was burned badly in a long term relationship, and as a result, rarely dates and never for substance. When the two meet on a blind date set up by mutual friends, there is no attraction at all, to the point that there was almost disdain.

Life however has its own agenda and the two meet again after Beth is critically injured in a car accident. The two come to rely on one another and get to know one another while Beth heals. The growing closeness surprises each of them and causes the two to reflect and determine what each one wants from life. Along the way, they face both typical dating ups and downs, in addition to some compounded by their baggage and the people in their lives.

Overall, I found the story enjoyable. However, I did not like the main female character as much as I wanted to. She is in her mid-twenties, is intelligent, while also indecisive and overly connected to her mother. Though Beth often complains or whines about it, she allows it to occur on a regular basis. I got very frustrated by Beth's overall inability to act like an adult, to not allow her mother's attitudes to dictate her life. Sam is more likable, though he too has unpleasant qualities such as being overly stubborn and narrow minded. I think that the book could be a little shorter and still tell the story, by taking out some of the drama.

If Not for You by Debbie Macomber is a wonderful story that will test your emotions and pull at your heart strings. I received a free copy of this delightful book free form Net Galley for an honest review. Beth Prudhomme moves from Chicago to Portland Oregon away from a over loving mother. Beth is a music teacher, Her life there is thrown a few twists and turns as they seem to intertwine with Sam Carney who pulls at her. The book follows the couple as they try to connect, and then Beth wants to disconnect, despite the feelings that she has for him Then thrown in a meddling mom(Ellie) who does think that Sam is not good enough for her daughter, that only the one she feels is good enough, is the right one for her daughter. I loved this book very much. I felt myself trying to understand both Beth and her mother Ellie. As a mom myself, I can see yes, you want the best for your children, but at the same time, you have to let them make their choices, live with those choices, and be there for them when they need you. Loved this book and another reason why I love Debbie Macomber.

This book was good but definitely not one of Macomber's best.

Beth just wants her own life away from her mother trying to pressure her into doing what she thinks is the "right thing." Now she's in Portland doing her best to live her own life. That is until a blind date leaves her in a car accident with the kind of person she never thought she could fall for at her side.

Sam doesn't understand why he's attracted to Beth. She's everything he never thought he could love but there's something about her that he can't deny.

I don't really recommend this book.

I'm a fan of most of Debbie Macomber's books, especially her Blossom Street series because of the central knitting theme it has. However, while I was reading this book, it really hit me how incredibly formulaic some of her character's love stories were. It wasn't just a genre or trope, either, but specifically for her novels: the two polar opposites who are extremely judgmental of each other for many very many, if any, concrete reasons, one of which is from a well off background, the other from a rougher or working class background, but who will obviously end up together in the end.

The main characters in this book, Sam and Beth, were harder to connect to than previous Macomber couples. Their attraction, after being set up on a blind date that neither wanted and being thrown together, quite literally, by an accident on the way home, seemed to happen really quickly with next to no foundation. I've seen instalove in young adult novels, but this really took it to another level.

Beth annoyed me at some points because on the one hand she kept "telling" the reader that she knew what her mother was like, the typical overbearing mother who thinks she knows what is good for her daughter no matter what the daughter says, but on the other hand she ignored classic warning signs like when Ellie, her mother, said "she was afraid this would happen" and upon being pressed for meaning says "never mind." That should have been a huge red flag because, not long after, a mother provided road block pops up. This was one of those moments like when you're watching a horror movie and shouting at the stupid person checking out the noise in the dark backyard, knowing only doom awaits.

Beth's aunt, Sunshine, was a cool character at first. She lived in Portland, the new town that Beth had moved to and was giving her as much support as she could while allowing her to be her own person. However, when Beth started meddling in her past and that became Sunshine's main story, I started to dislike where it was going. The painful memory of her past, an intense love with a man named Peter, was something that I wouldn't have minded being reconciled, but not to the extent that it went. Peter begs Sunshine to give up a once in a lifetime art trip to Italy because he doesn't have the funds to go, she goes anyway, and while she's gone he cheats on her with her sister.

When Sunshine comes back, Peter and Sunshine's sister say they're in love. That was bad enough, but to have the author write a story where Sunshine forgave him because she loved him so much and accepted him back as her love interest felt wrong for two reasons: 1) No. He cheated once and you can't trust him, especially since it was with someone so near to you. 2) The reconciliation/new relationship with the cheater is quite contradictory to almost all of Macomber's other books where the women leave cheating husbands/boyfriends who "swear they'll never do it again". This twist felt like a betrayal.

When the story began to end, Beth also came back with something that annoyed me and that was taking Sam to a piano recital. At the recital they saw Lucinda play, Lucinda being the daughter that Sam has never met and has no parental rights to due some thorny issues thirteen years ago. Beth should have known how painful this would be, but it never once occurred to her and that made her seem incredibly selfish to me, which is how Sam starts out when he gets mad at her for bringing him there. Of course by the end of the book he forgives her, so she never really suffers for her actions and I doubt she'll really learn, so what was the point? The whole Lucinda story felt cruel because there was no resolution,  one way or the other, by the end and Beth dredging it up when she knew Sam wouldn't want that felt horrid.

Overall the book lacked a lot of content. Most of it went by with nothing really happening and that, while at times relaxing and interesting if the story is character driven, was not the case here. If Not For You is one of the most disappointing Macomber books I've read yet.