This was such a great book. A great reminder that we cannot run from our past. It is very much a part of who we are. Lane and Ryan are characters that most of us can relate to. I love their journey to a deeper relation5

A heartfelt contemporary romance with a lot of depth! A driven career woman gets an urgent call to come home when her closest brother is in a terrible accident. This is a satisfying read that touches on difficult subjects like alcoholism, betrayal, dealing with bitterness and childhood traumas.

The characters were well developed, each with their own set of struggles rooted deeply in their childhoods. I found a lot to relate to in Lane as she finds herself back in her hometown, fighting off her insecurities and coming face to face with people who wounded her; finding the need to continue to prove herself "worthy" by striving so hard in her work. "She had no idea she was loved just the way she was." Her family didn't seem to help much, guilting her and criticizing. No wonder she left! I fell a little in love with Ryan, how he continually extends kindness and friendship to Lane, seeing the best in her, though she doesn't easily reciprocate. He was a positive to her negative. Truly a fixer-upper kind of guy just like his work projects. "He loved finding beauty in what others discarded...a metaphor for his own life." A good example of forgiving just as Christ forgives us.

Recommend to readers who enjoy Christian contemporary romances with realistic issues. 4.5 stars

Just look up is full of abundant life. It is a story of redemption, forgiveness, trust, healing of pasts and facing trials and tribulations. Lane ran away from her past by running away years ago who has to now come back to town and face her past and let GOD heal her. She once loved and was close to Brooks who had a past of his own 0 who needed his own healing 0 he also needed GOD to move in his life. Do they let GOD move in the lives? What happens with the two of them? Are they able to forgive?

This my first book I've read by Courtney Walsh, but it will definitely not be my last.

Forced to take time off her job in Chicago because her brother is in a coma, Lane Kelly reluctantly returns home to Harbor Pointe and the insecurities buried there. Apart from the busy life she's built for herself, Lane must face the sister who betrayed her trust, the family she's still bitter towards, and Ryan Brooks, one of her few friends growing up.

During their time taking care of her brother, Brooks gently questions Lane's life in Chicago, pointing out the flaws in her view of success and the phone that controls her identity.

Through Brooks' persistence and perspective on life, Lane comes to realize that her identity is not found in her awards and success at work, but in the unconditional love of God. She does not have to constantly strive to be more- being who God created her is enough.

Filled with relatable characters and a charming tourist town that I didn't want to leave, the novel is a touching tale of forgiveness, unconditional love, and the beautiful life God has given us if

Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh is the story of success interior decorator Lane Kelley. Lane is just about to give a critical presentation to land an account that is a dream come true to her Chicago-based career. Just as she is about to deliver the presentation, she learns the news of a family tragedy and has to rush home to Harbor Pointe, Michigan. Back home, Lane has to face the pain and rejection that led her to leave home years ago and never return. She also comes face to face with who she is and her self worth in God’s eyes. I highly recommend this book! I love how the author seamlessly tells a beautiful story well weaving in messages of hope and truth of who we are in God’s sight. It is the first book that I have read from this author and I look forward to reading many more. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The theme of this book is a timely one, and the author did a good job of reminding readers to look up and see what's going on around them.
The characters were intriguing and the plot was steady.
Overall, it's a fast, enjoyable read.

I was hearing some good things about this book and so I decided that I should pick it up and give it a read too! I'm sure glad I did. This book tackles some important issues of today and I felt like Courtney Walsh did a great job of making everything feel real.

Lane is an interesting character. In the beginning of the book we see Lane as she is now- fully engrossed in her work and locked up tight in herself. She is her own island. As the book progresses and Lane's story begins to fill in, we understand Lane a bit better, even if we don't agree with her choices. Lane lives her life with something to prove. She works hard and is one determined girl. (Determined is a nice word for stubborn. We use it a lot in my house.) Her transformation is gradual and slow but thanks to some persistent people, love really does conquer all.

Ryan is really a hero. Solid, kind and ever so patient. It's interesting to see the difference between Ryan and Lane, both of whom suffered with hurt, heartache and betrayal but because of choices they ended up in very different places. Lane hardened her heart and Ryan opened his up.

My take away feelings from this book? Put down the electronic devices and enjoy the moments you have with the people you love. Forgive. Be kind. Love well.

Content: mention of alcoholism, child neglect and abuse with no details, bullying, Christian Fiction

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh is a really cute, relevant book. It is a stand-alone and is my first by this author; I’ve been wanting to read something of hers after seeing so many of my favorite authors gush about her writings.
Lane Kelley is an interior designer who is very focused on her career and the company she’s involved in. She has worked to distance herself from her childhood hometown and make a name for herself in Chicago and the interior design industry. It’s all she thinks about, all she does, all she focuses on. She sleeps, eats, and breathes her career. It’s not until she receives a devastating phone call that her brother has been in a motorcycle accident that she slowly begins to wake up and look at those around her instead of being so solely focused on herself.
Ryan Brooks is Lane Kelley’s brother’s best friend, and was in the accident with him. He had a childhood crush on Lane, and when she comes back to town to check on her brother, he’s hit all over again by his attraction to her, and he determines this is his moment to try and win her heart. Will she be able to tear her eyes away from her phone and her thoughts away from work for long enough to notice him?
This is a sweet story that shares a good message about taking time away from your phone and paying attention to friends and family. It’s appropriate for all ages. I thought the plot moved along pretty well, albeit predictable, and I liked Ryan’s character. I will admit it was a lot harder to like Lane because she was SO focused on her phone for so much of the story that it look me a while to find a reason to feel compassion for her. But a note to those who feel the same way about Lane: stick it out. She does have some redeeming qualities and a backstory that will help you realize why she acts the way she does.
Thank you to Tyndale House publishers for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Sometimes I get so engrossed in a book that at the end I realize I don't know what to write for a review other than "I loved it!" So I actually went back and re-read this one so I could properly review it. And also because I just wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to Lane and Brooks and move on to another book yet!

I think I possibly loved it even more the second time. Mostly because the first time through I was so focused on Lane. I related to her in many ways because even though I didn't have the same exact struggles as her it did bring back some memories and made me realize how our pasts shape our futures. I loved her work ethic but I also loved how she learned to "look up" throughout the book.

The second time through I was able to appreciate Brooks even more. Don't get me wrong I loved him the first time but this time I was able to really fall in love with his character. He actually reminds me a lot of my husband. So patient. At one point he says "It'll be fine." and that is seriously my husband's line. He says it all the time to me. Probably because I tend to worry and stress.

I really enjoyed the romance in this story. It wasn't the main topic of the story but was a beautiful part of it. I really like relationships where the guy does the pursuing. And I love stories with flirting.

But mostly I loved the reminders in this book that the past shapes the present and the future. That sometimes there are things we shove into the back of our minds and try to forget. But that ultimately those things have made us who we are today. The good and the bad. I also love that forgiveness was prevalent throughout this book with more than one character. It is such a hard concept. But so freeing.

And more than anything I loved seeing characters overcome very difficult childhoods. I know it takes a lot to write a book with so much character depth and so much honesty and I really appreciated those qualities in this book. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series and a return visit to Harbor Pointe.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This was a pleasant surprise. When I read the description I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it. I ended up really liking it, A LOT! I think part of it is I related a great deal to Lane. Maybe not in as driven as she was in her career, but in her feelings about “going home.”

Lane was a complicated character who carried a lot of baggage, in her anger and hurt. I’m not going to say she didn’t have reason, but her story is a great reminder of the dangers of unforgiveness in one’s life.

The story was very good. It moved at a good pace. The author did a great job of giving you just enough of the backstory to keep you wondering and reading to find out the whole story.

Ryan was a great leading man. He had his own baggage to deal with, but he kept his focus on what mattered post, his friends. Some of the plot points with his situation were predictable but the author did a great job telling the story.

I hope to read more from this author.

Disclaimer: I did receive a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, I was not required to give a review and the opinions here are my own.

Just Look Up is a fantastic read! Perfect summertime, beachside enjoyment (though don’t limit yourself, truly; you could read it any time of year) that packs a punch with its spiritual one-liners that hit you right between the eyes.

I work in the city, and constantly see myself and others glued to our phones. (I may have tripped a few times; like I always say, I don’t need help falling, but can do just fine on my own.) I catch myself doing the same en route to the gym – and my jaw drops every time I see the mountains tinged pink by the sun. So the exhortation to just look up hit home in more ways than one!

Ryan and Lane are both endearing characters, and I enjoyed reading their journey. Walsh does a wonderful job at both character building and creating a sense of place; I truly felt present in Harbor Pointe every time I picked up the book. Definitely a winner, and recommended.

I really enjoyed this story, it is completely fiction but gives readers so much to think about. Ryan was definitely my favourite character, but I also really liked the Chloe, Lane’s assistant. I was drawn to Ryan right from the beginning; he had a difficult childhood with his mom leaving and an abusive alcoholic father but approaches life with positivity and cherishes relationships with others. He got to know Lane’s family in his teenage years after her father hires him at his shop. As a teen he had a crush on Lane, but they lost contact after he went overseas with the Army and she went to college.

Lane is career focused and glued to her phone, after being hurt by those who were suppose to love her she has set her focus on success thinking work can’t hurt her. However just as she is about to present the pitch she feels will get her the promotion she is aiming for a call comes from her family that her brother, Nate, has been in an accident. She hasn’t been home in a few years and has no desire to return to Harbour Point as it holds bad memories for her. But Nate is the one family member she was closest to and so she tries to set aside her feelings and returns home. Lane was easy to relate to, she struggles with self image and valuing herself. I was frustrated with the way that some of her family and town residents talked to her. I could understand why she has stayed away so long and why the hurt still feels so raw.

Ryan and Lane reconnect during Lane’s visit to Harbour Point and Ryan discovers he still has feelings for Lane. They begin to rebuild the friendship they once had with Ryan being an anchor for her during this stressful visit. Over time their friendship begins to turn into more, but can Ryan show Lane that she is worth so much more than how work defines her and can he get her to slowdown and appreciate the beauty that is in front of her. I loved his determination to help her.

This story will make you contemplate what really matters in your life. Do you spend too much time buried in work, your phone or the computer, or do you look up and cherish the beauty that surrounds you and the interactions you have with others? Where is your focus?

How many times in life do we get so focused on ourselves that we can't see what's really important? I know for me, it happens more often than I'd like it to. Lane is a very successful career woman, but an accident that leaves her brother in a coma sends her home--a place where she's never felt like she belongs. My heart cracked a little bit for Lane, even though at first, I didn't really understand why, especially because she's one of those powerful women who kind of intimidate me. As the book progressed, more of her story and feelings came to light and there are some pretty hefty reasons to why she feels as she does and why she doesn't come around. I found myself a little frustrated with her at times and wished she could get some help to move on and quit dwelling in the past. But those kinds of issues take a lot of time.

What good is a story without some romance? Ryan is Lane's brother's best friend and this man is tough. A former military man, he knows how to dig in and how to be completely committed to something, which shows time and again. From work to romance, this guy is a hard-working, persistent man--I couldn't help but to adore him.

There are some heavy issues that encompass this family. Family dynamics are always interesting, especially when some of the members don't even realize there's a problem. People handle things and show emotion in different ways and it's so easy to misinterpret true intentions. I was fully invested in watching Lane figure life out and become a butterfly.

The setting swept me away and the characters became life-like. There is some real meat to the story, along with a lovely, sweet romance and some fantastically written characters and situations. This is a book that stayed with me for a long time, as I came to feel a part of this community and this family, and I left feeling very satisfied. This is my first book by Walsh and it definitely won't be my last.

Content: mild romance (an implied intimate situation, kissing); mild-moderate religious elements.

*I received a copy, which didn't influence my opinion. All thoughts are my own.*

Are you so busy with your head down, answering emails, returning texts, checking your social media? Then I think you can relate to the main character Lane Kelley in this book. She is overworked, exhausted and then receives a phone call asking her to come home. A home she left behind years ago. Ryan Brooks and old friend comes back into her life while she is home challenging her to slow down and enjoy life a little more. She has to face the past and decide on her future as well. Her story evolves beautifully with well written characters and a few twists and turns. This is the first book I have read by Courtney Walsh and I will definitely be looking for her other books! All in all, a beautifully written story that so many of us can relate too.

I was so graciously gifted a copy of this book by Tyndale house for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and found it a great read. Once I started I could not put it down.
Ryan and Lane are great individual characters and I loved reading about them both alone and together as they restarted their friendship together. I really related to Lane with how she saw herself and it was great to see Ryan break down the walls she had put up.
Ryan is struggling to break free of his past, but he can't let go of it no matter how much he tries as he is such a caring guy. I loved reading about his relationship with his sister and nephew and you could tell that he didn't want his father or his messy upbringing to define him.
Both Ryan and Lane don't have perfect pasts which adds another layer to the story and the more you read it the more you love them and want them to follow their hearts.
The story wasn't really fast paced either so by the end of it, I felt I really knew Lane and Ryan well
It did not go in the direction that I thought it would and the story had so much depth to it.
A great read and can't wait to read Courtney Walsh's next book!

Just Look Up is a fabulous read. A new favorite for me by Courtney Walsh.

Lane is such a workaholic. Her work life is never turned off. She is always reachable and her phone is always accessible. Sound familiar? She lives and works in Chicago but is isolated from everyone. When her brother is in a serious accident she is forced to go home. The comments she gets are shocking. From the nickname she had as a kid, to her now weight. She has ran from here and stayed away. Ryan was helped tremendously by Lane's family growing up. His childhood was very tough as well. His dad is an alcoholic. He and Lane were always friends growing up. But when she left, she didn't keep in touch with Ryan either. This books has some tough issues and some great reminders. I love how the author dealt with them and how it helped me to think and be grateful. Such a well written book that not only was a good read, but a thought provoking read as well. Definitely a book worth reading in these tech driven, never unplugged times we live in.

I loved this story that is set in an idyllic small town. I was able to identify with both main characters and LOVED seeing the healing that took place in both of their lives.

I don't recall where I first hear the reminder that largely sums up the theme of Just Look Up: We are human beings, not human doings.

Lane Kelley, who I didn't much care for in the first third of the book, could be the poster child for a "human doing." Hiding years of hurt that have all but obliterated any happy memories of her childhood, Lane has immersed herself in her career to the exclusion of everything else, including her family.

When a tragedy forces her to leave work and head home, her awkward reunion with friends and family has her hiding behind her phone and her work, reinforcing her skewed belief that she doesn't fit in.

It'll take the handsome, flirtatious childhood/family friend Ryan Brooks to draw her away from her phone and her 24/7 work habits so that she can see all that she's been missing in her former home, her family, and her friends, including him.

Ryan's shameful past has brought him "home" to the same place Lane has fled. Watching the two of them piece together a tentative future the satisfies their hearts and fulfill their dreams is tantalizing fun.

Just Look Up is the reminder we all need to slow down a little, live in the present, and be, not do. A fun romance with heart and soul.

Just Look Up (2017) is a novel by Courtney Walsh. This book will release on July 4, 2017, and will come in all forms including eBook. The book is 416 pages in length. With a full-time job and a five-year old at home, this book took me two days to read. I received a copy of the eBook from Tyndale Publishing through NetGalley; all opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give this AMAZING novel 5+ STARS. This is a Contemporary Christian Romance.

This novel is AMAZING. In some ways, this was one of the hardest books I have read in a long time. This novel is told via the points of view of two uniquely damaged narrators: Lane and Ryan. Lane, is a tortured woman. Her past has hurt her so deeply she has done everything to keep ALL people at arm’s length including her family…especially her family. This novel was hard to read because it was like looking into a mirror. I know what it is like to do everything in my power to keep people out. I was born an introvert, so keeping people away is kind of part of my DNA, but because of a few truly awful bullies in my life and some excruciatingly rough moments, I learned to LOVE every corner away from the crowd where I could escape with a good book. I am the person who is so afraid of people I always have a ready excuse at hand just in case I need to escape. Lane escapes life through her work; if it’s not work related, she too always has ready excuses for avoiding everything. What I loved so much about Lane’s character is how realistic she is: her fears, her pain, the way she hides, the way she runs away, how she slowly, through God’s help, eases herself back into life — oh my goodness, so realistic.

Ryan Brooks is a phenomenal character. He is a good man. He is a God-fearing man. He acts his faith. Ryan had a tough life as a kid. His mother ran off when he was little, and he took it upon himself to protect his little sister from their abusive, alcoholic father. When he is a little boy, he has an encounter with Lane’s dad that changes his life forever. What I love about Ryan the most is that of all the characters in this book he should totally be the closed off character. His life growing up was hard: hunger, abuse, having to be the adult well before his time, etc. BUT, he doesn’t let these circumstances make him bitter and negative. He channels his experiences to make him a better man. I respect his character so much. Ms. Walsh did an excellent job with Ryan; he is beautifully and realistically written.

This novel also make a great point about disconnecting. The title is perfect: Just Look Up. That is part of Lane’s problem: she has become so “connected” to her social medias, to her cell phone notifications, to her emails, to her projects, that she never looks up anymore. Once she has been disconnected and weaned off of her phone for a month, she realizes all she has lost and all she has missed out on, and realizes she must make change. Such an excellent reminder. We are all connected these days, and in some ways it is really cool to be in touch with people around the world, but are these the right connections? Are people sitting next to us that we don’t really see anymore because we are too busy being “connected”? Do we need to look up? What are we missing out on?

Just Look Up is the first Courtney Walsh novel I have read…it will not be the last. Ms. Walsh is an amazing writer. This story is fast-paced, poignant, and genuine. Some of the moments in this book are so well written, I had to put the book down, take a step back, and gather my emotions before I could continue reading. Ms. Walsh’s ability to extract emotions from her readers is incredible. I truly felt things reading this novel that I hadn’t felt in a long time. It made me stop and remember the girl I used to be. It made me thank God for how far I have come. It made me laugh out loud. It made me cry several times. My heart broke for all Lane and Ryan had gone through. I had a visceral, emotional reaction to this novel. It was cathartic and a blessing. I cannot recommend this novel enough. When it comes out on July 4th, run to the book store and get a copy of this beautiful novel. You will not be sorry that you did.