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4.0
Before I Called You Mine
ByPublisher Description
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.
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.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesBefore I Called You Mine Reviews
4.0
“I absolutely adore this book, and getting to know Lauren and Mr Joshua Avery 😭🫶 This book was a first for me by Nicole Deese— and I absolutely had no clue what to expect. I will say it took me over a week to finish just because it was so emotionally heavy, but it was such a great book. Also despite knowing this was an adoption story— I didn’t quite realize the title didn’t just correlate for just before when Lauren and Joshua got together— but the entire time before she got her baby. I loved this book so much, just only wished there was more time of Lauren and Joshua together before the ending. I definitely recommend this book!”
“Wow wow wow. This book was incredible. I absolutely did not realize how deep the plot would be. The character development is amazing. I loved that the FMC is so pure-intentioned but not perfect, I loved the window we got inside her process and journey throughout this book. The MMC is absolutely unforgettable, so sweet, so thoughtful, and SO funny. I adored this, and I rarely read modern-day romances. There is just so much to unpack. This book has all of the feels with such an impactful story. I loved the development of the side characters on top of what we saw from the MCs. So good! 11/5 stars.
•••
My only personal critique is that I wish the kissing was a little less detailed. It felt kind of unnecessary because this book sets you up to adore the main couple and their relationship, but it felt like this threw me a little bit and though it was sweet, isolates young Christian teens or anyone struggle with lust from reading what a beautiful story this is if they’re trying to stay away from makeout scenes (which is my typical preference). It felt like this book could have absolutely painted a stunning picture of family, restored relationships, the calling of God, and the healthy marriages sprinkled throughout the book without adding in the longing and the no-self-control that was occasionally happening.
Still an absolutely masterful story. I love that the author and her husband have some personal experience with this particular calling (trying to be careful of no spoilers).”
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