From the beginning to the end this book kept my attention and then left me wanting more. The family dynamics, loving friendship, children, and throw in a bit of romance, and you are in for a great read.
The emotions I felt, well, you want to smile with tears in your eyes, and warmth in your heart. I felt the author gave us the right characters all the way through, whether we are in the home of the mom who has adopted several children, or with the sister who is struggling with step children and her own daughter. Then the friend who stops her life to journey with her friend on a life changing trip to China.
How would you handle giving up on love for the dream of your life, what you feel God has placed on your heart, wow, this book is a roller coaster of love and friendship!

I received this book through the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Before I Called You Mine, Nicole Deese's new release is a complex, layered, and profoundly moving story. Her writing is so well done and thoroughly engaging. I read it once, which left me amazed, so loving it that I savored it a second time. And there is so much to enjoy: laugh out loud humor, understanding anew the educational benefits of being a reader, and the genuinely thoughtful Prince of a man that is Joshua, the hero of the story. I love stories that have their basis in reality, and while Nicole Deese's latest book is not autobiographical, it is rooted in her own international adoption experience.

But this story is about so much more than how God places orphaned children in families! It is a beautiful, slowly built yet compelling love story between two incredible characters who come to understand what it is to want God's best for the other. "Love isn't about instant gratification, it's about showing up for the journey and riding out all the twists and turns all the way...together."

This book will especially appeal to those with experience or contemplating an adoption path to building a family. As an adoptive mother myself, I know it is a journey that usually comes with the labor of uncertainty, long waits, and disappointments. However, adoption is also the result of a God-given, timed just right miracle bestowed from above. Nicole's latest, can't turn the pages fast enough novel, provides an example of just this.

I am thankful to Bethany House and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel, for this, my honest review.

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book for review, all opinions are my own*




I loved this book, I am completely in love with it.

This was a book that I started reading without knowing almost anything about the story and I really liked it because I could fall in love with the characters and with the story itself, I was reading.

This is a love story but not just love between two people but the love of all kinds, love between brothers, family, mother and children, friends, couple. For me, this book is about love.

But I admit that the reason for being so completely in love with this book is because I identify too much with the themes brought up, like teaching children (mainly by reading), because I am a teacher, adoption (because I really want to adopt in the future), friendship, family love.

The themes of this book are many and all treated with great sensitivity and tact.

It is a book with a Christian undertone but nothing that has bothered me and that I think makes the story less incredible.

As I have nothing bad to say and I don't want to say too much because I really think this is a book you should read knowing the minimum about it I end here telling everyone to read this book if you want to read a lake that warms the heart and makes you happy after reading.



THE BOOK IS OUT TOMORROW GO GET YOUR HAND ON IT!!!!

"But the two of us simply remained where we were, allowing the world to pass us by. No longer were we the ones barreling through the masses looking for the world to make space for us. We'd found it. Right here, beneath the branches of a Christmas tree."

Nicole Deese has created a masterpiece where hopes and dreams dance intimately with disappointments and faith. Told in Lauren's sweet, innocent, and tender first person voice, this beautiful story of international adoption explores the obstacles and rewards in adoption but also asks what the substance our faith is made of when unforseen circumstances roll our way. The author's writing is fluid and melodious, the dialogue is incredibly clever and witty, and the characters are oh-so-amazing.

Lauren and Joshua are opposites in many ways but their friendship is enviable, their flirting over text super sweet and cute. I'm sure I swooned along with Lauren when he first approached her at the school. Joshua is everything Lauren has ever wanted (he's definitely swoon-worthy with his intelligence, fun-loving personality, love of all things dinosaur, unwavering commitment to Lauren, and rock-solid faith) but he stands as a distracting obstacle in Lauren's determination to adopt as a single woman. I loved Gail, Lauren's friend and spiritual mother, who helped Lauren during her adoption journey as well as her faith journey.

This is a heart-tugging contemporary romance that will impact how you view the world. Be prepared with a box of tissues; Lauren's journey will bring a lot of tears but it will be unforgettable. I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Thank you to Bethany House for the free review copy. All opinions are my own. 

I loved this book. It tackled adoption, friendship, romance, and following God's will with such authenticity. Deese made this book feel like real life, and with the topics it covered, it worked perfectly. I felt the conflict along with the characters, and I just had to know what Lauren was going to decide to do. 

I loved Joshua's character. He was so fun to read about, especially the turkey and T-rex scenes. I also admired Lauren's character for her strong faith and really showing what it looks like to rely on God and the community around her for help with her decisions. The friendship that develops between these characters was also genuine. I so appreciated how the author handled the tough decision between them.

Why have I never read anything by Nicole before? I have no idea, but I have a new favorite contemporary romance author.
This book touched my heart so deeply. Starting with Nicole being a teacher (made me miss my classroom and kids), to Joshua’s fun-loving attitude.
The build up to their first kiss was spot on, the tension tangible in my heart.
And then the end…yes, I cried. I am a bit more sensitive these days but still, it was cry worthy. So, so good. The ending was perfection. And be sure to read the author’s notes at the end to give a bit more insight into the story and the meaning.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

This book was soooo good. Seriously, you do not want to miss out on this read. It needs to be on the top of your TBR pile. In fact, you can go ahead and put that book you reading now down and pick this one up. It’s that good.

I fully expect this book to hit all the awards as a finalist because the emotion in this story, the impact it has on your heart and your walk with God cannot be denied. This book had me from page one and didn’t let go. I’m talking major book hangover. There were so many scenes in here that either made me laugh, cry, or sigh.

Joshua Avery may be my favorite hero yet, which says a lot because I’ve been keeping my hero list pretty short. But this guy is so genuine and so funny that he convinced me he was a good guy before the heroine agreed with my assessment.

All in all, this book gets all the stars and deserves a place on every bookshelf known to man.

*I received an ARC copy from the publisher. My review was not required nor influenced.

This story was an emotional rollercoaster—in the best possible way. Be prepared to laugh, be prepared to cry, and be prepared to experience a whole lot of other emotions in between. But most of all, be prepared for a story that exemplifies the sacrificial nature of love and the beauty of submitting to God’s timing, even when it seems incomprehensible to us.

I’ve always found Deese’s characters to be immediately likeable, and Lauren and Josh were no exception. What’s more, Joshua Avery is a strong contender for the most memorable introduction award! His irresistible vitality is tempered by intelligence, an unassuming nature, and a well-grounded faith, which meant I only liked him more the better I got to know him.

While slightly more reserved in nature, Lauren’s anticipation was palpable from the first line of the story, and her journey will be achingly familiar to anyone who has struggled to understand God’s timing or wondered whether God was saying no to one dream and opening the door to another. Adoption is an emotionally wrought subject at the best of times, and Deese explores the entire spectrum through the pages of this story—not just Lauren’s joys and disappointments, but her motivations and desires and the way in which family and friendships have shaped her path.

Grab a few tissues and find a quiet place where you can read this uninterrupted, because you will find it difficult to pull yourself out of the story before you’ve turned the final page. And maybe even long after.

Such an emotional and beautiful story, bring tissues because you are going to need them through this book. It’s emotional but also uplifting, full of hope and joy too. This isn’t your average romantic read, but it’s special and more realistic due to this. I absolutely adored Joshua’s character, I loved Lauren but Joshua stole my heart. This is an amazing read, you won’t want to put it down, highly recommended

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I am breathless after this journey. Normally, I am crushing on the hero and thrilled at the end of a book when the happy couple overcomes all of their obstacles. Don't get me wrong, I was happy with the ending. But, there is a more important story line here. A story about following your calling, about not running away when that calling gets hard, about the abundant love and grace of God.

Lauren is a young woman who has set her path in life and has yet to find a partner to share in that path with her. She has a strong desire to be a mother and so pursues adoption as a single woman. Her journey takes her through challenges and obstacles that are at times heart-wrenching. This journey touched my heart and brought to mind times in my own life when God's hand was evident; when the events were so perfectly orchestrated that there was no doubt in my mind that He had led me through the challenges. This is such a beautiful story of connection that has touched my heart.

This book has been on my radar for a while now. It was a little different that what I expected but enjoyable nonetheless. Certain aspects of the story were emotional and deep. It's not your typical love story but it was really sweet. The story keeps you quite captivated as you continue reading to see how the story unfolds.

“There were too many variables, too many hearts at stake. Pressure built behind my eyes again. Why wasn’t there a snooze button I could press on my life? I needed more time!”

When Lauren Bailey, a single elementary school teacher in her early thirties, realizes her calling for to internationally adopt (as a single woman), she does everything she can- from saving money to joining adoption support groups... all the way to calling off romantic love indefinitely- to make that dream a reality. But when the substitute teacher across the hall, Joshua Avery, comes into her life, she begins to question her path.

This story is all about being strong and making brave choices. It’s not easy to figure out the right path, especially with so many obstacles and variables thrown right in front of you. And it’s especially difficult when you could have two right paths. We can’t ever know, in the moment, how our decisions will play out. Like Lauren, we just have to listen to our hearts and have faith.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this digital ARC of Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese. It was a beautiful story and I absolutely fell in love with the characters, especially Joshua. We all need a Joshua in our lives ❤️.

This heartwarming story comes out March 31, 2020. I highly recommend picking this one up!

Oh, my heart. This book is golden. I felt every high and low that Lauren felt in such a beautiful and bittersweet way. Her story is a great one and I'm so grateful Nicole has shared it with us. And Joshua is ALL OF THE RIGHT THINGS.

More than a romance or an adoption story, this book is an honest love letter to anyone who feels God urging them to trust Him regardless of what it looks like. I highlighted an exceptional amount of quotes, including this gem: "That maybe the very things I've been so afraid to say yes to all these years are the very things He wants me to trust Him with." Those words were so needed by this heart. I love it when Christian fiction entertains AND ministers.

Do NOT miss this one, friends. It's such a great book.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel via NetGalley courtesy of the publisher. All expressed opinions are my own.

I used to think it might be fun to be a school teacher to little kids, but when I got older, I decided that I didn't have the patience or creativity for it, and after homeschooling my kids for a week+ through this coronavirus, I know for sure it's not for me. I applaud those who can teach and who love it, just as Lauren and Joshua do.

Lauren is exactly the kind of teacher that every child dreams of having, just as she dreams of being a mother and of adopting a child from China. I loved the way this story shaped her character and allowed the reader to delve into her personal life. Of course, she's not perfect and her flaws endeared her even more to me.

Joshua, on the other hand, is quirky, hilarious, and has no qualms about being his true self. The way these two mesh into a strong friendship with inklings of chemistry stole my heart, especially as they faced massive decisions and sacrifices.

I was completely captivated by this perfect cover and the emotionally charged story within. Well done, Ms. Deese!

Content: adoption; mild romance; moderate religion

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

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!

“God doesn’t trick His children. He loves us, and everything He asks of us, or allows us to walk through, has a purpose.”

Oh the trials Lauren Bailey had to walk through in this lighthearted yet oh so tender novel by Nicole Deese. Lauren felt the call from God to leave the single life behind her and embrace the many obstacles of international adoption as a single parent. After meeting the adoptive family of one of her first-grade students years earlier, she knew this step was one she wanted to take, and it wasn’t too difficult a decision to make. With no real prospects for marriage or even a long-term relationship, Lauren easily traded the idea of loving a man for loving a child in need

But as the time came closer for a match, Joshua Avery walked into her life - or rather, into the classroom across the hall from hers. With his presence and newfound friendship, along with one adoption prospect falling through, Lauren began to question whether the call she heard from God was real or all in her head. Did God really want her to be a mother first before she was a wife?

Nicole Deese tackled hard questions and whirlwind emotions in Lauren’s character, a woman who grappled with the fact that her family was against her choice to become a Christian and therefore was afraid to tell them about the adoption journey she was on. I appreciated the way that the author brought reality to her characters, showing more than one side to both Lauren and Joshua alike. Her supporting characters were just as wonderful, each with their own quirks, trials, and successes.

I enjoyed the author's descriptions throughout the novel. They weren’t the typical “run of the mill” kind. And I don’t know how many times I literally laughed out loud while reading descriptions, thoughts, and interactions. I can honestly say that I am hooked on Nicole Deese’s writing style and am looking forward to reading more from her

God is ever-present throughout this novel, and the way the characters tackle ideas of Him is heartwarming. It’s obvious Lauren wants to do what is right by Him, and Joshua and his family have a strong relationship with the Creator. Yet others question His validity and at times Lauren’s faith

This is a book I will happily add to my bookcase, and one that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good contemporary Christian novel with a bit of romantic tension. I’d also recommend it to anyone thinking about adoption of any kind or even foster care.

*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers. Opinions are my own.

God places the lonely in families...Psalm 68:6

An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. Ancient Chinese Proverb

As this was my introduction to this author, I can only say I will be watching for more incredible stories! The story begins with Lauren, a wonderful first grade teacher, the kind you would wish your child would have. At 30 something, with no romance in sight, she has decided to concentrate on the international adoption she has been working on. Enter a substitute teacher in the other first grade classroom and her organized world is turned upside down.

There were so many wonderful things about this book, you simply have to read it for yourself. I found myself laughing, wiping tears, yelling at individuals and absolutely loving the whole thing. From disappointments to meeting an unexpected role model, the author weaves this cast of characters right into your heart. Every good story deserves a fabulous ending and you won’t want to miss that thread that never breaks.

I was privileged to read an ARC through Bethany House Publishers, Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

What a heartwarming story about international adoption and God’s timing. Before I Called You Mine will delight and entrance Christian romance readers. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable book that is at times uplifting as it is bittersweet.

Lauren longs to be a mother. She has been waiting for her international adoption application to go through for over a year. She has closed the door on dating and marriage, knowing she must remain single for her adoption options to be finalised. But just when a possible adoption match finally appears, she meets Joshua - a substitute teacher at her school, a tech whiz and son of the man who started her teaching career. He is funny, kind and she can’t help but be drawn to him. But if she follows her heart with Joshua, she will loose her chance to adopt a child who needs her.

This book it utterly beautiful. It is bittersweet. Just when one of Lauren’s greatest desires seems set to come true the other is taken from her. There is no right answer and we readers are easily drawn into Lauren’s dilemma.

Joshua is the perfect guy for this role. He is perfect for Lauren - funny, kids around, good with children, and really sweet. He is there for her, even when she has to be honest about their lack of a future. And he continues to show up for her. There are magical Christmas scenes, sweet not-dates, and family dinners.

This book will have you crying, as well as laughing. And maybe even wiping away happy tears. And for those wondering, there is a happy ending. It’s hard won, but very happy none the less.

My only complaint: the school librarian cameo. Seriously!?!?! We school librarians are stereotyped and abused in pop culture, are ignored and removed by governments and principals. As an author, please, I beg of you, please make any school librarian characters reflect the more accurate and wonderful role they play in school libraries, the colourful and fun joy they bring to the school library rather than casting them as outdated and bad at their job!!! That put me off the first part of the story. Once I got over my ire and sunk into the story, I really enjoyed the book, the characters and the heart this book has.

Before I Called You Mine is a delightful, heartwarming story about the power of your calling, the importance of family and accepting God’s timing.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

I'll be honest, I had a really hard time getting into this book....perhaps because so many other things in the world were requiring my attention as I was trying to read...but once I did, it was one that became difficult to put down. You have a woman who wants both a partner and a child, which is not unreasonable, but is forced to choose between the two. I felt like any decision was going to be the wrong one, but the author pulls it all together nicely. I do wish there were a few more chapters so that we could explore relationship dynamics further...

I wasn't prepared for how this book would effect me emotionally. It both warmed and broke my heart. I smiled and cried. My heart ached for these characters and squeezed with hope for them. It was a beautiful story and ended with goosebumps and a happy heart. I would have loved an epilogue though!