Heartwarming faith filled read follows three main characters in small town Kansas, new-to-town Youth Pastor Jase Edgar, spunky Lori, and ex-Amish weaver Kenzie.

Jase Edgar is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his fiancé, he feels like a fraud answering their call alone. He is welcomed warmly, I loved Merlin and Leah, and how everyone helps him feel at home.

Lori, while she is outgoing, struggles with the pain of a distant father and a troubled upbringing. I love that she is a supportive friend, and willing to lend a hand, always bringing her infectious enthusiasm to the table.

While Kenzie's faith has flourished away from the Amish community, her heart aches for the family that she left behind. I admired her heart for others, and how she has kept modest habits. She loves her family fiercely, and is a great friend to Lori.

This is a small town set read with engaging characters, more of a gentler read, where more of the conflicts are internal, with strong themes of faith. I loved how the author portrays people who are Christians, but still struggle with doubting and not having all the answers in an honest and relatable way.

Overall, a well written heartwarming read, filled with faith, and heart-tugging characters. Definitely recommend for people who like excellent faith fiction with a gentler pace, and sweet romance.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Jase Edgar and his fiancee had their whole lives ahead of them when she is killed in a tragic car accident. In the process of moving forward in spite of his sadness and disillusionment, Jase takes a new job as a youth pastor in Bradleyville, Kansas.

Told from multiple points of view, the author weaves together a story of redemption and healing.

The take on the Amish from Kenzie's point of view is not typical and very interesting. The relationships are beautiful and supportive, and the struggles the characters are going through are varied: grief, health issues, food addiction, foster care, humility, honesty...

There is a small mystery that is not hard to sort out, but it was still fun to watch it unfold. If you are looking for a story to be encouraged and find hope, this is a great book for you.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Water Brook/Random House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a sweet story of two flawed people that find each other and redemption. Jase, a struggling youth minister and Lori, a church custodian with issues of her own, find each other when Lori's friend, Kenzie enlisted their help. Kenzie is a former Amish woman that finds a beautiful diamond ring. Jase has secrets from his past that makes him feel he isn't worthy to be this church's youth minister. Lori has eating issues and anger at her father. These three souls come together to find out they are worthy of love from each other and from God. We can learn a lot from this story and the redemption we can find in God. And there's a little mystery thrown in as well.

From This Moment by Kim Vogel Sawyer proves yet again why she is a number one author in the realm of Christian fiction. With heart and truth, she lays bare the souls of people and the love of God for them. In #FromThisMoment, we meet Kenzie, Jase, and Lori, three young adult friends who are discovering God's path for them. Kenzie was raised Amish, but left before being baptized when she discovered the grace that comes freely through Jesus. Lori is her dear friend and coworker who struggles with weight and self esteem issues. Jase is the new youth minister at their church, but since the death of his fiancé, he has found it hard to believe that God has a plan for him. As the three get to know each other and help each other, they will all find that God is in the little things. He is in the every day things. He is in the doubts and the hopes and the worries and the joys. And only He can fill them up as they discover what His plan is for their lives. Told with her usual grace and style, Kim Vogel Sawyer's latest novel will bring smiles and tears, hope and joy. Most of all though, it will bring the truth of God's grace: the best gift of all.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the chance to read this story. One of my favorites of the year so far. All my opinions are my own.

Newly hired youth pastor Jase Edgar is looking for a fresh start in Kansas. Growing up in foster care and then loosing his fiancé in a tragic accident, Jase isn't so sure how he feels about a life in ministry anymore. Can he really lead the youth when he feels so far from God himself?

Lori Fowler is dealing with her own difficult past. After her mother dies, Lori lives with her abusive father and struggles to accept the Lord's unconditional love. When her friend, Kenzie, discovers a lost engagement ring, the two set out to find the rightful owner, never suspecting that it's someone close to them.

From this Moment was a bit of a slow start. There's essentially three interwoven storylines developing at once and it took some time for the author to get it going. However, I did like how Kim Vogel Sawyer both all three of these unique characters together and formed their stories to show a beautiful story of community. All three are struggling with parts of their past, broken relationships, that leave them searching for truth. Though each of their struggles are unique, their sincerity knits them together.

Pro's:
*Jase's uncertainties about God were particularly honest and relatable.
*The three perspectives seemed to balance each other well.
*Sawyer did a good job of developing three distinct character voices.
*There was a bigger twist at the end that I didn't quit expect.

Con's:
*Some details seemed unnecessary and out of place.
*Kenzie was a bit hopeless at times.
*There was a tone of preachiness that popped up one in awhile and didn't quite fit.

All in all it was a decent book. At times it was a little slow, but it always picked up. It was nice to read a Christian fiction book where romance wasn't the main focus. And it was interesting to see how the same root struggle manifested in unique ways in all their lives. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Will I read it again anytime soon? I'm not sure. But it was decent and if you enjoy wholesome encouraging reads, this one may be for you.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

There were some things that I really liked about this novel and some things that fell flat for me. The story was definitely a slow build and I struggled with that a bit. I did feel that the pace helped add to the feeling of a small town in the middle of America.

I liked that one of the main characters, Lori, was not the typical heroine that you find in most stories. She had self worth issues that were compounded by eating issues. I felt frustrated with her, at times, as she had her sights set on the new minister, and her actions left me annoyed.

Kenzie was a sweet character, yet having grown up Amish, she struggled to truly fit in and had problems letting go of some of the traditions she grew up with.

I enjoyed reading about Jase the most. His character had so much depth. By the end of the story, he had come so far from where he started. His crisis of faith extended throughout most of the book and he had a lot of heartache to work through.

I am a big fan of romance and I just did not feel it with this story. There was a romance subplot that only firmed up in the last chapter of the novel. I didn’t feel the connection or attraction between the two characters and it felt rushed at that point. However, I was extremely impressed with Jase’s address to the church at the end of the book, when he explained all that he had been through. The spiritual truths he imparted were the best part of the book for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this contemporary story about how God works hard things together for good and how He weaves friendships together through ways that aren't always the most straightforward way. This was a happy ending story that was fairly predictable but enjoyable.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a truly talented author. I've never found a book of hers that I haven't liked, and From This Moment is no exception.

From This Moment is a story of redemption and learning to trust God in all situations. This story features three young adults who attend the same small town church. Youth pastor, Jase Edgar has done his best to leave his painful memories behind and start a new life in the middle of nowhere. But how can he teach a group of teenagers about the goodness of God when he isn't even sure if he believes anymore? Quilt shop employee and newly-appointed church custodian, Lori Fowler, is immediately drawn the handsome new pastor. She's spunky and fun, but she's fighting her own battles with an eating disorder and knowing her worth. Her friend and co-worker, Kenzie Stetler, left her Amish years before when she found a true relationship with Jesus. Her secret ministry brings her a beautiful diamond ring and the search for the owner of the ring leads her on a journey she never expected.

I really enjoyed From This Moment On! The author weaves together a beautiful story of God's love and the plan He has for each characters' life, alongside a good dose of mystery and romance. Each of the characters struggles with some very relatable and realistic issues. That said, as someone who has struggled with eating disorders, I will add a cautionary note that those with eating disorders may be triggered by Lori's story.

Those who enjoy inspirational contemporary fiction won't want to miss From This Moment!

*I received a complimentary copy of From This Moment through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

This author never disappoints. Well told story of young adults who are starting their lives in a small town, each with their own set of problems to work through. They end up helping each other to do so, growing in the process. A lot of excellent advice for anyone planning on becoming a youth pastor. Excellent Christian faith scripture and lessons applied.
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#FromThisMoment #NetGalley

From This Moment is a very well written inspirational romance. Very touching plot with great character dynamics. I highly recommend this book.

This is a fun read. A little mystery, suspense and just a touch of romance kept me reading until late at night. Kim Vogel Sawyer added a few plot twists which prevented me from guessing correctly how the book would end. The characters are well written and I was able to picture the setting vividly through her description.

I was provided an ARC copy by #WaterbrookMultnomah via NetGalley. I did not receive any compensation and the views expressed are my own.

I have read other books by Kim Vogel Sawyer with enjoyment and looked forward to reading From this Moment, her latest release. The story highlighted that God deeply cares for and is intimately acquainted with his children, which resonated with me.
Unfortunately, I found the story very slow-moving with uninteresting characters—the love story between Jase and Lori passionless.

I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC for this, my honest review.

This is a strong Christian novel with a touch of romance. The main themes are grief, self acceptance, anger, and starting over. Recommend.

I really enjoyed this sweet story. Merlin and Leah were adorable and reminded me of my pastor and his wife when I was a child. I liked the intersecting stories of Jase, Lori and Kenzie and the paths their lives took in the book. I also liked the realistic feelings and emotions the characters had. Some of the characters were facing hard things and their struggles weren't glossed over. They were dealt with realistically. Just a lovely story all around and a quick, easy read-and listen! The audio version was very good. Great read!

I received the hard copy of this book from the publisher and purchased my own audio copy. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Heartbreak, Struggles, Life... This Book Might be Fiction but it’s Full of Stories of God’s Faithfulness! I loved the stories of faith shared in this book! So many wise words built in! Throw in a lost and found item and it made for an amazing book you won’t want to miss reading!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

Nothing wrong with this book, it just wasn't for me. It is most definitely a strongly Christian Fiction story, which is fine, but I guess it was a little too preachy for me.

Jase is moving to Kansas to start a job as a youth pastor. He is starting over after the tragic death of his fiancé.

Lori is a bubbly, but self-conscious gal in the congregation. She instantly crushes on Jase as soon as he moves into town, but her past keeps getting into her head, convincing herself she's not worthy of anyone.

Kenzi was Amish, but left the church when finding God in a new religion. She is a catalyst to help Jase and Lori come together as friends and maybe more?

I did not finish this one. I read about 1/4, skimmed another 1/4, then gave up. Just not my kind of book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Waterbrook Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a wonderful story about a man who thought he knew what God's plans for him were and struggled to trust Him after they were upended. He was honest with God about His doubts, which I liked about him. Jase moved to this small town and got to know some of the wonderful people that rounded out this story, including the pastor and his wife. While I liked Jase a lot, Lori was my favorite character. She was funny and joyful yet also struggled with emotional eating after her mom died when she was a preteen. Due to that and her father's verbal abuse, she suffered from insecurity and low self-esteem. I liked seeing the huge difference in her from how she was before realizing her problem, working on it and turning to God and after. An interesting aspect to the story is Lori's best friend Kenzie, a girl who grew up Amish but had left that religion when she discovered grace. She weaved items into works of art and they both work at a craft store. Kenzie really had a strong faith and was very humble. It seemed like I learned something from each person and their faith journey as they each had struggles. There were a few cute moments and I hope we get more of Kenzie's story in a future book as I want to know where she ends up. I highly recommend this story!

I received a kindle copy of this book free from Netgalley. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.

Jase struggled with grief over the death of his fiancée and had not yet been able to pull himself completely out of it. Combined with the pain over his broken childhood, he questioned the goodness of God, though not His existence. Ironically, at least in my opinion, he was just starting his new position as a youth minister at the start of this story. His journey back to a faith that had once been strong was lovely.

Lori's struggles made my heart ache for her. Her father had been anything but loving since her mom died. The pain she experienced from that and the insecurities caused by his cruel words had her feeling stupid, ugly, rejected, and unloved. Her pain exhibited itself through overeating. I loved seeing the difference in the way she perceived herself and the way Jase saw her. And the way that he and Kenzie were able to pray for her and lead her to better choices. Learning that the Holy Spirit enables us to overcome temptation was life-changing for her, not in an unrealistic she-never-struggled-again kind of way but showing how when we are tempted, we can call out to Him for help.

There were enjoyable secondary characters as well. Former-Amish Kenzie and the senior pastor, Merlin, also had their own stories to tell, each filled with hope and faith. I especially liked the way Kenzie saw that the Amish way of life focused on works instead of faith for salvation - and thus was wrong.

Having enjoyed the historical stories by Kim Vogel Sawyer even more than From this Moment, I still recommend it to readers who love Christian romance.

Growing up in the foster care system, Jase Edgar always dreamed of one day starting his own family. But his fiancée's untimely death shattered his plans. Moving to Kansas and serving as a youth minister should be a fresh start, but he can't seem to set aside his doubts about God's goodness long enough to embrace his new life.

Newly-appointed church custodian, Lori Fowler is battling her own challenges. Her strained relationship with her father and her struggles with overeating convince her she's not worthy enough for love. When an Amish weaver enlists their help locating the owner of a ring found among the donated clothing she uses as fabric, Jase and Lori find themselves drawn to each other. But will they be able to release the past and move forward from this moment into a joyful future?

My Thoughts: A wonderful book about God's healing. A wonderful story how a ring can bring two people together. God is good! This is a wonderful read.

I have been reading this author's book for a long time. I've read almost all of them.
In this one we have two wounded souls who have lost their way. One a youth minister whose fiancee has passed away and he is fiercely grieving her. The other a newly appointed church custodian is battling her own problems. Overwhelmed with them she feels she is not worthy of love.
Read how a missing ring bring these two together. I enjoyed the slow burn seeing these characters drawn to each other but can they let go of the past and welcome in love to their life?


February 23, 2021 publish date
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.