Loved this book! As a former foster mom and a person who actually lived in China and visited babies in orphanages, this book hit close to home. This book tackles the tough journey to adoption and the reward waiting at the end.

"Before I Called You Mine" is an emotional read that will stay with me for such a long time. Nicole has a talent for writing and creating characters that you will fall in love with and feel as if you are on this journey with them, experiencing all their emotions alongside them.
Lauren has been waiting for this call from the adoption agency for so long. However, she was not anticipating meeting someone in the meantime, someone whom she feels herself falling for, falling in love with, but it has happened with Joshua. Lauren and Joshua grew up in such vastly different families and as they each experience the other's life, their eyes are open and their hearts are becoming more intertwined. Yet, this leads to more soul searching and difficult decisions being made.
This is a book that I struggle with even trying to describe, as when I was reading it, I was really experiencing the story. The characters all became so real, their emotions so real and I felt as if I was a part of this story. I could easily picture the characters and loved how the scenes just came to life in my mind. Lauren was broken in so many ways and yet she could find healing through the various individuals in her life through teaching her students, time with her best friend, time with Joshua and his family. Christmas with the Avery family was one of my favorite parts of the book. This is a beautiful story from start to finish of relationships, love, sacrifice, and healing and one that I highly recommend!

It will tear at your heart strings:
What an amazing book! It made me want to laugh, cry, binge read and yet wish I could suspended time as I never wanted it to end. I enjoy stories that involve children especially when as in the case of this book, they are portrayed age appropriately. I felt the author portrayed the adoption journey accurately and sympathetically and the fact that she has first hand experience was clearly evident.
Joshua is adorable and I could relate with Lauren who found herself falling for his charm and endearing qualities even though she tried her best to resist. You could really feel her dilemma and how she felt torn between her feelings for Joshua and her desire not to jeopardize her adoption application.
The overarching themes of hope, trusting in God's perfect plan and being willing to step out in faith at the Lord's prompting are ones that we can all relate to and learn from. I can't wait to read more by this talented author.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Before I Called You Mine is a wonderful story. I laughed, cried, and pondered the heroine's dilemma the whole time I was reading. I was wondering what I would do if I was in the same situation. Lauren is a precious heroine. I loved her and wanted to be her bestie. The hero, Joshua is amazing. I was thinking that if he could jump off the pages and be a real person, he would be the guy I'd want to marry my granddaughter. Sigh, he was that sweet and considerate, and loving. Perfect hero. This is a wonderfully inspiring book. I highly recommend.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. This is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars

When I was growing up, we had a saying that we reserved for only the best--best books, best movies, best experiences, etc. We'd come across one of those things and instead of merely saying we loved it, we'd say, "I laughed. I cried. I was moved beyond my years." Granted, sometimes the expression was a little tongue in cheek, but as I was reading Deese's Before I Called You Mine, that's the saying that kept running through my mind.

I laughed.
I cried.
I was moved beyond my years.

This book was, at times, as heartbreaking as it was delightful. I laughed and I cried. (They were tear-less cries of anguish, sure, but if I were a crier, I'd have been swimming in salt water during at least one particular moment in the book.) It was as these pages literally reached out and gripped my heart, squeezing squeezing squeezing only to let me go for a quick breath before another round. It was the kind of gut-wrenching tension that you know will all be worth it in the end, but while you're reading those emotional scenes/chapters, all you can think is that you're ready for it to be done with so you can get back to the rainbows and unicorns.

Spoiler Alert: It really is worth it.

I've read everything Deese has written. I've enjoyed every single book. But this--this was a whole new level of greatness. From chapter one to the author's note in the back, Deese bared her soul into the words on each page and you could tell. You could feel it. And it was an amazing experience. I truly was moved beyond my years.

A quick soapbox moment before I move on: Joshua was the perfect hero. It's not often I'll devour a book and say I liked reading about a seemingly perfect character because perfection isn't realistic. But he was geeky, charming, tenderhearted, and despite his lack of obvious flaws, he shot right to the top of my list of book boyfriends. He just seemed like the kind of guy anyone would want to know, and I loved that about him. And you know... there really are people like that in the world. They may not always look perfect, act perfect, or have it all together, but there are good people wearing dinosaur shirts or inflatable turkey costumes with smiles that will not fade no matter what, and I no longer believe they need to have serious flaws to resolve in order to be celebrated in books. So THERE!

I digress.

Before I Called You Mine had more vulnerable moments and more heart and more character and more hope and more humor than anything I've read in a long time. And I'm super grateful for having been given the opportunity to experience this story and these characters.

Lauren Bailey is your average girl with a desire to follow God's plan for her life, wherever that may take her. It's easy to think that as a single woman but will she feel the same when Joshua walks into her life? While this story has a Hallmark romance, Deese brings depth and realness as the reader follows a tender adoption journey filled with love, hope and heartbreak. During times of trials, it's easy to wonder if you're following God's will or if you've managed to slide off the path and miss His timing? I appreciated the honest look at Lauren's heart as she experiences such trials and her willingness to continue to be obedient to what she feels the Lord has called her to do, even if it means she may not have the happy ever after she wants.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This book follows the life of Lauren Bailey a 1st grade teacher in her early thirties. Lauren had her trials of bad dates and relationships, but the one thing she always longed for is having a child of her own. She eventually took matters into her own hands and applied to adopt a young child from china as a single woman. Once the contract was signed, she had to stay single for two years to be able to adopt, which at the time was no problem, until a new substitute teacher arrives. I loved following Lauren navigate her life choices through her faith in god and her friends who become family. Would love to see this book turned into a movie!

This was a really great book! I’d never read anything by this author, but the reviews of her upcoming book were good enough to tempt me to read it for review.

The characters were so real! I could well understand the dysfunction in Lauren’s family. And Joshua’s family was one we’d all love to belong to! Lauren’s journey to adoption, coupled with falling in love, seemed feasible to me, a woman who was single well into my thirties! Lauren’s friend group and adoption support group seemed ideal (though of course we all know this is a work of fiction.)

I appreciated the faith element in the story as well. I will be adding this one to our church library.

Thanks to the publisher and net galley for letting me read this title in exchange for an honest review.

Before I called you Mine
Wow! This book was fantastic! I was hanging on every chapter and completely invested until the conclusion. The circumstances of this story gave me a variety of emotions. I was completely rooting for these characters and their situation! I think the author did a great job of highlighting real to life situations of discerning God’s will and knowing His plan for your life even when things are hard. The characters in this book have the absolute best chemistry. Their banter is flirty and fun and I couldn’t get enough of Joshua! I’m not going to give any spoilers, but I will say that this book will keep you hooked until the final pages. This book was well balanced in romance, faith elements, and had a unique plot that will tug at readers hearts! I absolutely would recommend it to contemporary romance fans!

Read. This. Book. It is that good. I could not put it down no matter how late it was. Every moment between Joshua and Lauren had me feeling all the feels and routing for them the entire time. Joshua was such a patient man and was always willing to do what Lauren needed. I think I have a little bit of a book crush on him.
I had a friend go through the international adoption process and this book captures it perfectly, both the highs and the lows.
Read this book. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

I received an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

‘God’s way is rarely easy, but it’s always better than mine.’

Lauren Bailey is committed to international adoption and has agreed to remain single, per the agency’s requirements. After all, she has had enough failed relationships. But then Joshua Avery shows up as a substitute teacher in the school she teaches at. Lauren doesn’t want to like him, but it surely seems as if God has placed him in her path. Will Lauren before to choose between the very deepest desires of her heart? Would God do that to her?

Nicole Deese once again pulls out all the stops with an emotionally charged novel that had me fighting tears more than once. What a precious and God honoring story. Recommended.

*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions in this review are my own.

The book got me feeling all the feels!!!

I was surprisingly taken away by this book completely. Before I called you mine is a beautifully written story about love, loss and the hardest decisions in life.

Lauren has made the choice to adopt from overseas and start her own little family. She has sworn off dating as she has committed to do this as a solo mother. Until she meets Joshua. Now she is faced with some of the hardest decisions she will ever have to make in her life.

I absolutely fell in love with Joshua. He is sweet and caring and pretty much any woman's dream. For me he made this book all the more special. I loved his interactions with Lauren and how selfless he was throughout the whole book.

I was a little worried the spiritual aspect was going to take over a little to much, not being very religious myself. But this was not the case at all. I feel it added a nice sweetness to this book and really enhanced the story line.

This book, as cliche as it sounds really was a roller coaster of emotions. It was full of highs and lows and really opened your eyes to maybe viewing the world in a new light. I can easily get caught up in a soppy romance but this book had the perfect balance of love, whilst still being believable.

I laughed, I cried, I could not put this down. I would love to see where this book would lead to in a second installment.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.

Excuse me while I first wipe the tears from my eyes. This book just hit me in the heart, in such a good way. A few things that first drew me into this book include the fact that it is a clean, sweet, Christian romance and that is centers around adoption. My word, I just absolutely love Joshua Avery. He is hilarious, sweet, and charming. This book literally had me laughing out loud at some parts and, while I enjoy humor in books, I don't often actually laugh out loud. Usually it's more of a chuckle in my head. The chemistry between Lauren and Joshua is undeniable, in my opinion. From the start, I was rooting for them.

A few of my positive points here. I felt like this was a realistic timeline. I have said this before in some of my reviews of other books, but I have such a hard time connecting to some romance books where the characters meet and fall in love like within 2 days and are married within a month. Sometimes the writing makes it feel natural for a quick timeline, but other times it feels rushed and forced. I did not get that here. Also, there was no "there is a misunderstanding which could easily be figured out if the characters would JUST TALK!" moment. Like geez, communication people! But again, I didn't get that here. I felt like the issues keeping Joshua and Lauren apart felt real and raw. Lauren has such a passion, heart, and desire for adoption. She needs to remain unmarried to adopt based on all the documentation she signed. Even after meeting Joshua and just wanting to snatch him up for life (because who wouldn't?!), she knows she needs time to focus on her soon to be child, who is already going to have so much to work through. While it breaks both hearts, Joshua let's it happen because he supports her! Like come on, what a dude.

My only downside is lack of an epilogue because I just crave a look into the future. Whether it be to see the main character's wedding or having a baby together. When I read a good book, I just want more! So I guess even my downside is actually a compliment because it means I wanted to keep reading.

Overall, highly recommend! Especially if clean romances and Christian fiction are your jam. You will literally be sighing over this book from start to finish.

I received a free copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you to Nicole Deese and team for allowing me to be part of the launch team for this book. It was amazing.

Oh my goodness. This book. These characters. My heart. After swiping the last page, I wanted to go back to the beginning to savor this amazing story all over again. Joshua is THE BEST kind of hero. He’s goofy and kind and patient and unassuming and stable and just so extremely selfless. And the character arc that we go through with Lauren...her self discover and struggle and honest doubts when plans don’t turn out the way she thought they would...yeah, I think we all can relate to that right there.
Ugh. I have all these feelings about this book and these characters and their journey and I can’t put them into words because nothing I say can do it or them justice except to say that I love LOVE love!!! this book.

This novel is the story of a single woman's journey toward adoption, the unexpected appearance of a potential husband in her well-orchestrated plans and the emotional turmoil that ensues.
I am not sure how to effectively articulate my feelings for this book. I loved every minute of it, cried more often than I ever have while reading a romance and reaching the end was a bittersweet moment because I just didn't want it to be over.
Reading Nicole's writing is a remarkable experience. I don't have any personal experience with international adoption, and yet I felt like the character's emotions and experiences were my emotions and experiences. From the beginning of the book, the author pulls us in with her incredible ability to tell a compelling story. Her writing is gorgeous and her character development is rich and complex. It's challenging to craft a romance novel from only the heroine's point of view and yet reading this book from just Lauren's point of view is what makes it so amazing.
Lauren is far from perfect and her flaws, doubts and fears form the foundation for a great character journey. The hero is funny and charming and a delight from the minute he walks onto the page.
For those of us who've eagerly anticipated Nicole's next book, I can confidently say Before I Called You Mine is worth the wait. I'd give ten stars if I could.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions stated here are my own.

Have you ever had the feeling or passion to do something so beyond your comfort zone, even when others around you are questioning why you’re doing it?
This is what Lauren was striving to do and yet, things didn’t seem to go as she planned.
I loved this story because I related to the characters in this book. I work in a school, and so many of the images in this book left me feeling connected. I totally understood the desire to teach and the love of reading that the main characters had. There was also, drama from family dynamics, and times of sadness, which will touch your heart. As well as, some cute quirky dialog through texts, and sweet romance, which will leave you with warm fuzzies.
The one thing I don’t have personal experience with is adoption. In this book, the main character has a strong desire to adopt a child from China. The book covers all the many regulations and paperwork which can feel overwhelming. In addition, the long waiting period for things to happen. I have watched family members and a few friends go through this process which seemed to take a long time. However, I know that each of these families would tell you how precious the time was and how blessed they are now to have that child in their lives.
The author, Nicole Deese, has put so much of her heart in this book. I knew about this book before it came out and was really looking forward to reading it.
I highly recommend you pick this book up and read it. It just might change your way of looking at things.
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

With a to-die-for hero, a winsome heroine and a deep look at the dreams we foster, large and small, "Before I Called You Mine" is a treatise on hope. I loved how Deese pours her soul into a message close to her own heart. The ache of loss and uncertainty, of waiting and moments of despair are ones so universal, the reader can transpose any similar moment in their own life experience onto Lauren's journey.


This is very much overt Christian fiction and will resonate most deeply with readers for whom this is their core belief. Yet, it is never preachy; rather it meets at the intersection of faith and doubt where the loudest voice is not what seems to be constantly sought yet the small, still voice in the intervals between. Lauren's path will be familiar to so many while her struggles and human moments allow you to recall similar trajectories in your own lives: be they spiritually charged or not.


I loved the constant sense of humour even in the moments of pressure and despair. And...because this bears repeating... I love, love, loved the hero. What a gent he is. A modern knight who is at once confident and meek, patient and persistent. Deese crafts a brilliant balance and weaves a love story out of friendship, a family out of sadness.


I encourage readers to take their time with this book: for though it is a lovely romantic comedy with some absolutely wonderfully whimsical moments ( dinosaurs!), it is also a deep dive into the expectations we put on faith and prayer and the posits we make for the world to align with our timing. It ensures that we recognize that often the beauty in our best laid schedules happens in the in-betweens. The hurdles. The slivers of love that peek in the cracks and flourish fully when we surrender our own resolves.


Fantastic book!


(Also shared on Twitter and Instagram)

BEFORE I CALLED YOU MINE is the first novel I have read by by NICOLE DEESE and it most certainly will not be the last. What a truly delightful book, bittersweet in parts, amusing in others, and with a strong Christian message.
We are reminded that God's way is perfect and that He will lead and guide us into His perfect plan for our lives if we trust Him to do so.
Lauren Bailey is a well loved first grade teacher who feels the Lord has called her to adopt a Chinese orphan, forgoing any chance of a romantic attachment. When she meets dinosaur loving sub teacher Joshua Avery her life gets more exciting and extremely complicated.
I really love the characters and the sensitive way the author deals with the subject of adoption.
I'm not going to tell you any more about the story as I do not want to spoil things for you.
The book is beautifully written and is one that I will definitely read more than once, for pure enjoyment.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely loved this book! The author put so much of her heart into it, I could tell as I read, that she had personal experience with this issue.
Lauren Bailey has always wanted to be a mother and she is almost there, with her adoption of a child from China. The problem is that she is falling for Joshua Avery. And the adoption application was based on her being a single mom. She now has to choose and sacrifice one of her dreams.
This was a beautiful book, full of highs and lows. It is hilarious at times and heart wrenching at other times.
There are many lessons in faith and living it out with unbelievers as well as believers.
I recommend it highly.
I received a complimentary copy through Net Galley but the opinions are entirely my own.

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh, my, gosh! Can you tell I was super excited that Nicole Deese was releasing a new book? I've been a fan of hers since I read the  Love in Lenox series.

Did the book live up to all the anticipation? Oh, yes, let me count the ways:




MY REVIEW

First, if you don't fall in love with Joshua while you are reading this book, then you are not human.

With immense sensitivity and grace, Deese tackles the subject of motherhood, international adoption, and family with great insight and heartfelt emotion. This book is one of those you don't easily forget and will leave you changed. There are laugh-out-loud moments and heart-wrenching, tear-inducing moments which meld together in a beautiful symphony to form a story that reflects the heart of God, His calling on our lives and His unconditional, adoptive, agape love.

Be warned, you won't be able to put this one down.

I received a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through Netgalley. My opinions are my own.