This definitely is a wonderful Christian Fiction, but not preachy at all. The cast of characters were authentic and all had flaws ( as we do ). Reading about them dealing with their own flaws and the flaws of others was so realistic. The changes Molly makes from the beginning of the book until end, felt so genuine. As you read, you can see and feel her grow.

Parts of the story seemed enjoyably predictable, but there were enough unexpected turns to make me want to keep reading to see where it was going to go. It moved at a pace that kept my attention from beginning to end.

The ending was what I wanted, but I am wishing for a sequel to see where Miles, Val, Wren, etc. are now.

All That Really Matters is such a precious book - Nicole Deese is no doubt a talented writer and once again has showcased that with this masterpiece of a book.

I really enjoyed how the characters were realistic and written with care. We see them deal with real life problems and follow along with the heartwarming and sometimes funny moments throughout this story.

I loved that Nicole highlighted foster care and definitely think she did a lovely job of it.

My absolute favorite quote from the book was:
"Rarely did I sit in the tension between my plans and God's, between my wants and His, my way and His. Instead, I'd become an expert at throwing all my best efforts at problems bigger than myself and finding detours of escape without ever stopping to ask for guidance."

It's those little gems like the above quote make this book the sparkling treasure it is!

If you are looking for your next read and would like something contemporary, fun, heartfelt, and centered on the important things in life - you should most definitely check this book out!l

***Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All views and opinions expressed in this review about the book are my own.***

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought the story was sweet and engaging. I appreciated that it contained some hard topics, but I felt like it approached them in a very readable way. It was uplifting to read a romance novel that was mostly clean and still captivating.

All That Matters is really about passion and pursuing things that matter to you the most. Molly's goal in life changes, and the author shows that it is okay to have a shift in priority. Does having social media influence make you a bad person? Molly shows she is not a fake person who puts money over morals, and yet can be successful behind the screen. The story is heartwarming, uplifting and most importantly, encouraging. 

It shows that everyone has struggles, and it is okay to say you need help. It is okay to admit that you do not know everything and be humble when you do know. The story may be in Christian fiction, but the entire book transcends religion into the realm of growing in the complicated world of today.

Overall, a great read. The words flow and Molly is easy to relate to, no matter what age you are. Definitely a good read.

Molly McKenzie is a beauty influencer. With a following of six hundred thousand, Makeup Matters with Molly is on the radar of big sponsors. But there is one hitch. She is being asked to show a human interest cause. Convinced that she is more than a pretty face, she approaches Silas Whitaker. He manages a house for young adults who have aged out of the foster system. He helps them transition to independent living. To say the first interview doesn't go well, is an understatement. Silas is put off by Molly, but Molly is determined to volunteer. She'll show them she isn't self centered!

This is a beautifully written story. The characters are deep and well written. You can't help but get involved in the lives of the residents of the Bridge. And Molly and Silas are so authentic you just want to cheer them on. The side characters are just as genuine, with hurts and insecurities. I love how the story builds and you feel the real depth of each person. Molly's optimism even when it seems all hope is gone. Faith playing a vital role.

Nicole Deese has written a five star novel. Her characters, dialogue, setting, everything about this book is captivating and engaging. This story is a heartwarming, clean story. I would highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was ah-mazing!! I absolutely loved the the beautiful story that is this book. To see the character growth of Molly, was such a fun journey, that you don’t see in many books. The secondary characters are awesome and I can’t wait to see these characters again in Nicole’s spring 2022 release. The ending was perfect and so well done. Quite simply, I loved this book! Don’t miss it!!!

Reviewing a book gifted to you by the publisher can be tricky. It's hard to know if you're going to love a book and who wants to give a negative review on a gifted book? Thank goodness that is 100% not a problem here because I can say without a doubt that this book is so good. I loved every last bit of this story. The friendship/romance between Molly and Silas was beautiful and genuine. Silas was one of my favorite male characters I have ever read about. This book nestled its way into my heart and its not going anywhere anytime soon. This book is full of good characters and strong relationships and interactions. I would recommend this book to anyone who is in the mood for an uplifting, heartfelt, clean romance. There was just so much goodness to this book. Easily five stars

I've seen Nicole Deese's name pop up as a contemporary Christian author, but this is the first book of hers that I've read. The summary sounded interesting, and I've found that I'm gravitating more toward contemporary Christian fiction lately, so I branched out. SO glad I did! I loved this book! As it is written from both Molly and Silas' points of view, you get a well-rounded perspective. Molly was such a likeable, fun character. She had her flaws, which made her relatable. Silas also had all of the great characteristics of an attractive hero. Physically and more. Both characters showed growth through the story, which in this genre includes spiritual growth. The way Molly was able to see past her own struggles and open her eyes to the needs of others was beautiful, and Silas was there supporting her journey while going on his own. The theme of forgiveness was central to the story, which is so relevant for today's readers. I would definitely recommend this book and I personally look forward to reading more of Nicole's work!



**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to give an honest review, which I did.**

I finished this book a few weeks ago, and it was the one that sparked my reading interest into overdrive again! Nicole Deese does fabulously with every book she writes, but I think they just keep getting better and better! As we are taken into the world of Molly, and the pretty opposite world of Silas, we are able to see how the characters develop into the best version of themselves. I laughed, I cried, I held my breath in anticipation. Nicole Deese has done a superb job of drawing us into a world that does a great job of allowing us to see different angles of situations that are a reality to many people.

My Review:
This book is a delightful, yet thoughtful, look at a young woman who is searching for something more, even though she doesn’t realize it at the time. Molly McKenzie’s beauty and outgoing personality has made her a very popular social media influencer. She’s grown her “Makeup Matters with Molly” brand into a very successful venture, and she’s poised to go even further. But she needs to portray herself as compassionate and benevolent in order to be considered for a television show. What she doesn’t realize is that as she works with the young adults in a transitional program for foster children, she needs them as much as they need her. Molly’s worldview begins to expand, and as she comes to know Silas, the program director, she begins to see that there’s so much more to faith than she ever realized.

There’s humor and a sweet romance in this entertaining story. I loved Molly from the very beginning, and following her journey to faith and love kept me “reading just one more chapter”. All the characters in this book are great, and the story finale had me cheering for Molly, Silas, and the teens. My only drawback—and it’s a small one—is that some details of Molly’s faith would have been a little bit more defined. But that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this book, and I know I’ll be reading this one again.

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

Well, I’m officially, once again obsessed with a Nicole Deese novel. I will admit I was nervous about this one, because it was honestly one of my top five most-anticipated reads for 2021, and because a lot of books I’ve been excited for have been missing the mark lately. But this one didn’t just meet my excessively high expectations, it exceeded them beyond my greatest hopes! I was dopey grinning my way through the whole book, wanting to just ignore the world and devour it any chance I got.
Let’s start with the characters, because lets be honest they can make or break a book. Molly was so much more than I thought she would be based on the synopsis. Yes, she was a girly girl who loved make-up and fashion but she had such a genuine caring heart and I ached for the way she felt like she didn’t fit into her family and the loneliness she experienced despite her social media fame. I absolutely loved seeing her discover the ways her gifts and talents could be used to help others and finding the connections she’d been seeking long before she even realized she needed them. She had such a bubbly magnetic personality and was one of those people you couldn’t help loving.
Now for Silas Whittaker (can we take a moment to once again appreciate this author’s hero naming magic ability?) I loved him so stinkin much! He was more on the serious side, especially when compared to Molly, but not to the extent of being a fuddy-duddy. His job required a level head and he was the perfect man for the job but he had a sense of humor that snuck up on you and made me laugh out loud several times! The way he saw potential in people before they even saw it themselves was incredible and the compassion he had was unmatched. He took his hard childhood and turned it into an amazing way of helping others. He was everything I could want in a hero!
And the two of them were absolutely perfect together! From their rocky first meeting, to working together, to friendship, to the beautiful more than friends, every step played out in perfect timing and I loved watching their relationship unfold. Their strengths and weaknesses complimented each other balancing out to make them a pretty unstoppable team that I was behind 100%!
I also loved getting to know the residents at the manor with their unique stories, the author really made you feel their pain and be totally rooting for them to overcome! Glo was such a hoot with her wisdom and wit and I also loved Molly’s brother Miles and her assistant, Val. The entire cast of characters was so well done!
In addition to the characters, I was so impressed with the way Deese handled the plot. She tackled the issue of teens who’ve aged out of the foster system with such skill and really gave an authentic view of the troubles they face. And I absolutely loved the way that every time I thought things were about to go down a certain way, a way that I didn’t want them to, she somehow flipped the script and turned the whole situation around to a way that had me cheering for the characters. Grace was given instead of judgement, listening instead of jumping to conclusions, and admitting fault instead of laying out excuses. I wish more books handled things this way because I’m here for it!
So, if you made it this far in my ramblings I will end by saying that this book was amazing from start to finish, it’s going on my favorites list, and you absolutely need to go read it!

What I Loved:
I admit, I picked up the book solely based on the beautiful cover. But, WOW, the story inside blew me away. There is an enemies to lovers storyline going on here but it’s way more than that. So much more! There’s great depth of relationships here. There’s a close-up look at the hurting youth among us who have grown up in and outgrown foster care. Deese does an amazing job weaving a variety of backgrounds together to create a powerful story on love, trust, faith, and forgiveness. I even found timely parenting advice nestled in this sweet novel.
I can’t say enough about this one and yet I find that I’m at a loss for words. Go read it. Trust me, you’re going to love it. It’s one is bound to tug on your heartstrings.

Rating and Recommendations: I’m giving All That Really Matters 5 stars. I highly recommend it to Christian contemporary fans, especially those looking for a deeper story.

~ I received a copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review or required to give a favorable one.

Molly McKenzie is a beautiful girl with an outgoing personality that has turned her blog about beauty tips into a six figure business. She is amazed at how many people subscribe to her blog. As her site grew large she hired a manager to help market her career. Her manager/boyfriend tells her about an opportunity to host a makeover show on tv for underprivileged kids. He suggests that she volunteer for a charity serving that type of kids to help her receive that job as host of the show. Silas Whittaker, the head of the charity turns down her request to volunteer as he feels she is too self absorbed and would not work out in the volunteer position. She returns to plead her case and Silas gives her a chance. She becomes very involved with the youth in the program and bonds closely with them. Silas is very impressed with her work with the clients. Silas snd Molly develop a relationship. He also comes to rely on her work with the girls in the program. Her time on the blog is neglected as she gets involved with the charity. Drama ensues with her manager and with the charity. I highly recommend this book.

I'm not 100% sure what I was expecting from All That Really Matters, but I do know that what I got was much more than what I had imagined. The depth of the story took me by surprise... in the best possible way.

When we first meet Molly, she's honestly not the most likeable character. As a beauty and fashion influencer, she seems to be only looking out for herself and her brand. Even when she seeks out a way to do good, it wasn't truly from the goodness of her heart. It was watching her transform throughout the story though that really made it the amazing book that it was. Little by little we see those pieces of perfectionism chipped away until we got to see the real Molly--- someone she'd even forgotten about. As someone who does earn an income via blogging and social media (though on a HUGELY smaller scale than seen in this book), I did find this part of the book rather intriguing... but whether we understand anything about that world at all, I feel like that desire to create the picture perfect image of ourselves can be an issue that we all struggle with, and perhaps can relate to Molly on some level on that.

In addition to being a great story of growth and discovering the person God had made her to be, this was a fantastic romance as well. While Molly might have taken a moment to grow on me, Silas seemed the perfect romance novel hero right from the start. I enjoyed seeing his passion for these foster kids he sought to help... and the chemistry between him and Molly was absolutely fantastic. I couldn't get enough. There was also just a slight hint of romance between a few side characters towards the end, and I found myself hoping that perhaps we'll see them again in a future book! I would love to see that played out!

Either way, this was a fantastic story and one that I would certainly recommend to anyone looking for a fantastic contemporary Christian romance.


**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Another good read by one of my new favorite authors, Nicole Deese. Mrs. Deese has a good handle on how social media can take over one's life. In All That Really Matters the main character, Molly, lives for her social media following. She lives her life pretty much by what she will post next online. As interesting as the romantic portion of this story was I found myself more interested in how her IRL (in real life) relationships suffered because she lived her whole life online and for what her online followers thought. That Molly was willing and able to change those dynamics which was refreshing. I'm not sure this would happen so swiftly in the world today.
So saying all that if you life contemporary fiction with a dash of romance that touches on some of today's topics I think you will enjoy In All That Really Matters.

In her latest book, Nicole Deese takes the reader into the complicated and nuanced world of social media influencing, while also tackling the struggles surrounding foster care youth. Amazingly enough, she manages to weave those things together in a story that is both lovely and insightful.

Molly McKenzie has built a successful online platform and loves helping women feel beautiful. She decides to volunteer with a local youth organization in order to build up her resumé, and meets the handsome program director, Silas Whittaker.

I was impressed by the way the author brought such depth to a character that could have easily been dismissed as shallow and self-centered. Molly McKenzie asks the questions that many of us have about our own self-worth and the ways that God is calling us to share our passions and talents.

Nicole Deese is a refreshing voice in the world of contemporary Christian fiction and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not even sure where to start.

Nicole Deese has this a.m.a.z.i.n.g ability to pull on readers’ heartstrings with a story that may look like it is all fluff but it is so much more, so deep, and so powerful.

The lessons in “All That Really Matters” are spot on in this age of social media and Deese did it in a way that showed just how vulnerable social media can leave you yet it also showed how social media can be a good thing.

Silas and Molly are just so adorable, together and apart. And let me say that I am so looking forward to Deese’s next book because of the main characters.

Recommendation 18+ due to two things though they were shown in a bad light as they should be.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Thank you to @netgalley and @bethanyhousefiction for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

All That Really Matters by @nicoledeeseauthor was such an unexpected joy! And- hello! Check out that cover!!! 😍

💄Molly McKenzie is a bubbly and successful Instagram influencer for all things beauty and fashion. She is projected to become even bigger with some strategic moves, including taking on a charitable cause at the suggestion of her manager/ boyfriend. Molly has always felt like the black sheep of her ministry focused family but takes the advice of her pastor brother to work with teens who have aged out of the foster care system.

💄Silas Whittaker is the program’s director and he is not impressed by Molly... at first. She begins to thaw his rough exterior as she genuinely connects with the young adults. Soon she is spending more time with Silas and the residents and her influencer business starts to suffer. Molly has to decide whether she still want to use her influence for beauty or if she can follow another calling.

💄I think we’ve all had experiences where we have to decide between doing something that is easy, popular, trendy, etc vs following your heart or your conscience to what you know deep down is right. All That Really Matters was a great story but lots of deeper messages- my favorite kind of book!
💄💄💄💄.💄/5

Thank you to Netgalley & Nicole Deese , for my copy of All That Really Matters, for an honest review. This is such an uplifting story about how we can seemingly have it all & still need to find out purpose. Molly McKenzie is an influencer, seems to have it all. She has a career heading in the right direction, money and a wonderful boyfriend/manager. She couldn’t think of a single thing she could want or need. Yet when her boyfriend suggest she looks into volunteer opportunity, she is not sure what to do. She reaches out to her brother, who is a pastor, and comes upon a summer program in need of mentors. How could she make this work? Does she have what it takes to be a mentor? When she meets the programs leader, Ian, she is even more scared of how she can fit ion. His expectations are so huge and she really has to commit to this. This is such a beautiful story about leaps of faiths, not giving up on oneself or others. How thinking we have it all can be totally wrong. As long as you have faith in yourself, there isn’t anything you can’t do. I loved the writing in this book. I enjoyed the characters abs the story. In the world we live in right now, who doesn’t want to read a heartwarming story. This was a four star read for me. I would read more books by Nicole Deese. I have recommended it to friends & family. I have shared on my Instagram page and reviewed on multiple sites.

All That Really Matters is an inspiring story of self discovery, second chances, and forgiveness . A story about selflessness faith and overcoming obstacles . I love how the characters developed and grow through out the story , how perfectly flawed and relatable they were, I can see myself in Molly , as I too have struggled with my belief.
.
This story follows Molly, a beauty influences who has made a name for her self in the industry. Molly has big dreams of making it to the top , so when an opportunity arise for her to grow her brand, Molly jump at the chance. On her way to 1 million followers , she’s presented with the opportunity to do some volunteer work , she expected to waltz in and take some video and pictures but what she got is a boss with an heart of Gold , a group or girls seeking connection and love and friendship in the staff of the manor.
.
She’s forced to take a hard look at her life styles and the direction she’s going in. This is a really great story and if love clean romance and faith based stories then this book is for you!