If Not for You is another really good book by Debbie Macomber. It ties to Last One Home and A Girl's Guide to Moving On. I enjoyed seeing some familiar characters in this new book from those previous ones, and loved meeting the new ones.

Beth Prudhomme is new to Portland, Oregon and is convinced by her friend to attend a dinner in order to meet a man the friend believes she will like. Sam Carney is not at all her type, and the dinner is very uncomfortable for both of them. As they both hurry off to put an end to the excruciating night, Beth's car is hit in view of Sam. He rushes to her and provides what comfort and assistance possible while waiting for help. Once Beth is taken to the hospital, he is unable to keep himself from visiting and checking on her.

These two become unlikely friends, and soon both realize they want something more from one another. Coming from very differing backgrounds, Beth and Sam have more in common than expected, and they enjoy each other's company. They have to decide if they have something together that is worth overcoming their differences and standing strong in the face of disapproval from Beth's family.

This book had great, likable characters, and a very pleasing storyline. It was quick and fun to read. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

OMG! I loved this book. I really read fast about Sam and Beth. Soooo good! I'm so glad I didn't have to wait til March to read.

Couldn't put this one down. A different view on how a relationship can develop slowly due to unforeseen circumstances. The pitfalls of getting involved and opening yourself up to the pain of rejection. Growing up and standing up for yourself. And ultimately learning that not every time you meddle will things turn out the way you want.

Another great read by Debbie Macomber.. with characters that you can't help but love.
Was excited to get a pre-release copy from net galley.

Im a big fan of Debbie Macomber. I could not put this book down. the story and the characters all jumped out at me!!!

I received an advanced copy from netgalley.
So glad I did.
I love Debbie Macomber. She has a way with developing her characters. You want to learn more about them. You care about them. This book was a quick easy read.
Beth had an over controlling mother, Beth moves to a different town to try live on her own. She's an adult and can do this. She gets a job, a place to live, meets friends..
Beth and Sam were set up on a blind date. What seemed to be complete opposites- the date just didn't work.
I don't want to give way to any spoilers.
The story is built on love and kindness. How you can see a person one way but then really get to know them and things change.
I recommend this book.

Once again Debbie Macomber hits it out of the park. She takes the reader on a journey that is unforgettable.
I was provided with a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beth Prudhomme and Sam Carney are talked into a blind date by mutual friends. It doesn't go well. They are total opposites. As Beth is driving away she is involved in a terrible car accident that Sam witnesses. He rushes to her aid and since she is new in town and knows few people he feels compelled to show up at the hospital to support her. Before he knows it he is there every day having long talks with Beth and they discover they may not be so different after all. The problem could be Beth's Mother. Beth left town to get away from her and she will definitely not approve of Sam.

Sam is a caring compassionate man with issues in his past. Beth is just getting out from under her Mothers thumb and finally standing up for herself. Their relationship is slow to develop and you can't help but root for them. I liked Sunshines story. My only negative was the ending, it was a bit abrupt, it just stopped. There could have been another chapter for me, it felt incomplete. I almost downgraded my rating to a 3 1/2 because of the ending. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Great author and a good love story. I hope there will be more to this story. I thought there should be more closier with the daughter. I will recommend it to our patrons.

You can't judge a book by its cover or people by how they look. Under the long hair and tattoos is a very surprising warm & caring person. Standing up to your mother is hard, but Beth has to live her own life which includes the man she loves, even if her mother doesn't approve. There's also an additional twists of car accidents & the riff between sisters that has torn the family apart for years. Love conquered after many twists & turns.

Debbie Macomber has a knack for creating characters and a storyline that draws a reader in. So it is no surprise that she accomplishes it in this book. It is a classic tale of prim and proper meeting rough and rugged. A car accident leads two unlikely people on a journey through the highs and lows of a relationship. I thoroughly enjoyed this book but my one criticism is in the treatment of Jake's backstory. He has a child who turns out to be a music prodigy but he can't have a relationship with her. It's frustrating to receive a tantalizing tidbit and no more. My hope is that this story is the start of a new series and the many unanswered that I have will be answered.

Debbie Macomber never disappoints, this book was a true love story from start to finish

If Not for You, Debbie Macomber’s latest entry in her New Beginnings series, is a sweet tale of romance and catharsis which interweaves several different characters, their lives and relationships. 

The two main characters, Beth Prudhomme and Sam Carney, are invited for an awkward “set-up” dinner by Beth’s friend, Nichole. Both are basically alone; Beth having recently moved to Portland and Sam still not over a devastating loss following a heart wrenching breakup many years past. They don’t connect at dinner, but when Sam witnesses a horrific car accident involving Beth later that night, he feels compelled to follow her to the hospital, and that marks the true beginning of their relationship. Throughout her long recovery, Sam is there and their relationship deepens. Also offering support, is Beth’s aunt, Sunshine, who had moved to the West Coast following the breakup of her engagement roughly 30 years earlier. Sunshine is a very successful artist and I enjoyed reading about her. I would love to be able to see her paintings as described. One in particular was very intriguing. 

This is a book that is character/relationship driven. Though the relationship between Beth and Sam is the primary focus of the book, there are several other threads that carry a similar theme of catharsis. Beth left Chicago to escape her overbearing and controlling mother. After the move, Beth is the very essence of the proverbial butterfly as she slowly leaves her cocoon behind and spreads her wings. In doing so, Beth has more than one run-in with her mother, as she works hard to establish her independence. Her relationship with Sam is just one point of contention as her mother “knows best.” There is no little irony to be found when Beth later meddles in others’ relationships, much as her mother might have done. Other relationships also evolve as the book progresses, which I will not go into in detail for fear of giving too much away. . 

While not a classic, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it. Once engaged, I found it difficult to set aside. The warmth, heart and gentle lessons found in this book are typical of Debbie Macomber, and that is never a bad thing. 

I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions stated are solely my own.

Another fantastic book by Debbie Macomber. She has such an uncanny ability to bring characters to life and make me care about them. I was sad to finish the last page and say goodbye to these wonderful people.

Being a huge fan of Debbie Macomber, I was super excited when this showed up for grabs on NetGalley! And let me just say I was definitely not let down! Great writing with a good plot and some familiar characters.

5 stars!

She never disappoints. Another very sweet story, including characters from her previous books. I wish she gave more updates on them as well.

Hooked Again, Although I will always love Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy -- I think this just may be the best Debbie Macomber novel yet. I loved the characters and how they grew, overcoming their hurts and limitations, and fighting their fears to attain their dreams, their hearts desires. This is good enough to read again, and I will..

If Not For You
Debbie Macomber
Available: March 21, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Third in the New Beginnings series, If Not For You is probably the weakest of the books so far. It seems like a re-hashing of the second book in the series since they both have the same premise (upper class woman falling in love with a blue-collar man). The anticipated showdown and drama between Beth and her mother, Ellie, never really comes to fruition and it is a real let down. I was expecting Ellie to be more of a witch with a B, but she was all bark and absolutely no bite.
What I loved: Nothing in particular, but it is still a sweet, gentle love story that it expected of Ms. Macomber’s writing.
What I didn’t love: The bumps in the road of love for Sam and Beth were just that – little hiccups. I was hoping for more drama to make the inevitable reunion all that sweeter.
What I learned: People can take Classical Music as an elective in high school?
Overall Grade: B-

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This is the love story of two unlikely to make it work people. As you read, you realise that is true, it's very unlike that they will last, and that is not only because they come from different backgrounds, but because they are so immature, childish, and over-exaggerating that only in a romance could they make it work. Happy reading!

I tried to come to this novel unhindered by the fact that is was romance, and women's fiction, and chick lit. I had read a Debbie Macomber before, and it had been a cute read. This time around, yes, there were some things that I did like about this novel, such as:
* The main character was OK, I liked the way she ended up in a new city, namely Portland, OR.
* There were some mildly funny scenes
* I especially liked the story of Sunshine and Peter, mostly Sunshine's character. Probably the most likeable and down to earth character.
* Although it wasn't a gripping novel, I was still curious how things will turn out, despite the air of predictability it had.

And sure enough, there were things I did not like, nor did I think believable. They certainly read like something you'd see happening in a movie or a novel like this, despite the characters' remarks that such things don't happen to them, but only in fiction.
* Sam was immature, a teenager-like character who wanted to appear in control of his life. Despite his bad past and hurtful situations, he over-exaggerated mostly everything.
* Beth was a fix-everything kind of person, and I agreed with Sam's harsh observations that she shouldn't mingle in everyone's lives. But of course! everything she did works out just fine in the end. Convenient!
* Their love story is that of two teenagers. I am sorry, but I was not impressed. Overly infatuated with one another. Had it not been for that accident, there wouldn't be a story to tell, and maybe it would have been for the best. Harsh, I know, but I was not goo and aww over their love.
* At some point there seemed to be an unnecessary repetition: the author mentioned Sunshine and Ellie's rift in relationship, and twice she compared it with the large gap of the Grand Canyon. We got it the first time. Another thing, when Beth told Sam about her talk to Peter, Sunshine's first love, he offered his opinion and she told him about her opinion about Sunshine's ex-lover. Some chapters later, Beth brings up the same discussion and acts as if this is fresh news, despite talking about the same man before.

I am always overly judgmental when it comes to romance, but I am sure those who are fans of this genre will like this novel. For me it was an OK read, easy for a lazy day around the house. The fans of Debbie Macomber will surely appreciate it come March, I am sure. It's cute and darling, and it gives you warm feelings.

It's a Debbie Macomber book so you start out with the premise that it's going to be a great read. Debbie does not disappoint! The storyline is compelling, you want to finish the book to see how everything ends. The characters are reminiscent of real people and you can identify with them easily. I enjoyed the relationship that Beth and Sam shared and you could feel the love they have for each other. If you can actually feel emotion from a story, I say that's a well written book! The side story of Sunshine and Peter was a nice addition to the book also and also kept you reading to find the outcome. All in all this is a very sweet, clean novel that is enjoyable to read.