Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Before I Called You Mine

GIVEAWAY
DEESE, NICOLE
BEFORE I CALLED YOU MINE

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 Review:

Well, I'm gobsmacked. I'm not sure how to review this book because there is so much I want to say but I can't without posting spoilers. Before I Called You Mine would definitely make for an inspiring book club read. So much to talk about with so many possible viewpoints...just wow!

This is so much more than a love story -- though it's an incredibly stirring one and Joshua makes the top ten on my bookish heroes list. But it's the foreign adoption angle that brings so much depth to this contemporary romance. And angst. Lots of tears too. Honestly, it felt like someone stuck a knife in my gut and twisted it slowly at one point. So, yes, I lived through every millisecond of this emotional roller coaster ride. Lots of angst but so much heart and hope too. And humour!

(Funny side note: I've been listening to books on my social distancing walks and I totally broke into heaving sobs when Deese unexpectedly skewered my heart. Ha -- there I was blocks away from home with my eyes streaming and my nose running as I choked out sobs that sounded like coughing. I looked like a walking advertisement for what to avoid in this COVID-19 world.)

So, reader beware. Read this one in the privacy of your own home -- with lots of tissues handy and some comfort chocolate and maybe a favourite teddy bear for extra solace.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Before I Call You Min, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 11 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

41 comments:

  1. Wow - this sounds like an amazing book! I really want to read this. This would be an impossible decision to make and I look forward to seeing how it plays out.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. It's such an emotional story! Good luck, rubynreba!

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  2. Sounds Awesome Going on My Wishlist for sure
    Thanks
    iamabho AT gmail DOT com 💜💙💜

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  3. I'm intrigued by the foreign adoption angle.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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    1. It's really interesting. Good luck, Jana!

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  4. I am certainly intrigued by this one!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  5. I loved Nicole's previous series and really want to read this book. She is an excellent writer.

    nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com

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  6. cool storyline. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  7. Wow, Kav, I can picture you walking/crying....now I just HAVE to read this book. Thanks for your giveaway!
    jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

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    1. lol -- it wasn't pretty. Good luck, Jackie!

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  8. I have heard such good things about this story. I'm really looking forward to reading it!

    dmandres5 at gmail dot com

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    1. It's definitely worthy of all the rave reviews. Good luck, Melissa!

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  9. I’ve heard and read so many positive things about this book. It’s definitely on my list! Looking forward to a really good read. Thanks so much for your review.

    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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  10. I'm commiserating with you Kav! This story gutted me too....so many feels in the whole book. When a story makes me ugly cry (in my own home, lol), it's that good. And I agree, this one is totally hard to review because there's so much to it. 💖

    I rate this as one of my top reads for 2020!! Deese is a new-to-me favorite author.

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    1. Obviously, I'm not entering! 😊 I think everyone needs to read this 💖

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    2. One last thing...I would put her writing up there with Bethany Turner. Lyrical, magical, entrancing and absolutely delightful!

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    3. Ha -- yes ugly cry -- there should be an ugly cry warning on the cover of books like this one. That way public humiliation can be avoided. :-) Love that you loved it too.

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  11. WOW! Just WOW!

    I have this book on my must read just waiting for the opportunity to read it. Now you've done when and made my desire to read this book go up and up the got to read meter. It sounds like a marvelous book! I love a story that has me feeling ALL my emotions - you know one of those wring me out and hang me out to dry type, total mentally and physically exhausted after reading it books. This sounds like it not only fit the bill - at present it IS the bill for all my wants and needs in a book.

    Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. This is definitely the kind of book you feel your way through. Good luck, Kay!

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  12. I've heard great things about Before I Called You Mine so it's on my want to read list. Thanks for your review and the giveaway.
    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  13. Wasn’t this just one of the very best. I agree lots of tissues needed. 💃💃

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  14. I already have a copy, so don't enter me, now I just have to read it. Sounds like a good one!

    patty

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    1. Ooohhhh -- you're in for a treat, Patty! Happy Reading!

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  15. OH!MY! KAV, Thank you for your amazing review.
    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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  16. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ladysnowangelphotos(at)gmail(dot)com

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  17. I have never read anything by her, but I keep hearing such good things about this book. Thank you so much for the review and giveaway. Like you, I have also been listening to audiobooks while walking. I will definitely take you advice on this one.

    mo1202007ATyahooDOTcom

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    1. It's made quite the splash, hasn't it? I love walking and I don't know why I hadn't clued into listening and walking before now. Wait...I know why -- because I always chat with people I meet and bet dogs and cats which is half the fun of taking a walk but now that I can't I have stories to keep me company. Yay! Good luck, Melissa!

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  18. I honestly had no idea that there was a romance in this story, as well. I had assumed it was just women's fic. I love women's fic, but I always want a little romance thrown in for good measure. SOLD!
    tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Yes -- a very unique romance. Good luck, Terrill!

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  19. I just read my first Nicole Deese book last month so I'm looking forward to picking this one up. The story sounds really interesting and like it might be a bit of a tear jerker.

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. No might about it. :-) At least, not for me. Good luck, Liz!

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