Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese takes readers on the difficult and rewarding journey to international adoption complete with the pain, heartbreak, and joy that adoptive parents often experience. The author’s own background of adopting her daughter internationally adds authenticity to the story.

Lauren Bailey, a single first grade teacher, has felt a calling toward international adoption for many years. She is finally matched with a young child from China just as she meets the man that she might be destined to spend her life with. However due to Chinese adoption laws, a couple must be married for two years before adopting. With the complications in her life, how can Lauren make the difficult decision to choose between the two?

As a teacher myself, I could completely relate to the parts of storyline taking place in the school, the day-to-day activities, and the personalities of the teachers. Nicole Deese described the school environment and the nuances of the various teachers perfectly.

Along with the developing romantic relationship in Before I Called You Mine, the novel focuses on Lauren’s desire to adopt and her strained relationship with her family who are not supportive of her decision. Readers who have experienced adoption in their families will find this novel extremely poignant and authentic. If you are looking for a book with a light romantic thread that focuses on real-life decisions that are often messy and difficult, then this is the book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Before I Called You Mine Reciew

I received this ARC from @netgalley Thank you for the opportunity to read this book it was incredible.

I’m going to be honest I really struggle with my spirituality. I grew up in a unique church that was my families entire life. It wasn’t a particularly positive experience, and it has made me so hesitant to explore my own spirituality. However, the love from God is undeniable in this new book by Nicole Deese.

Lauren is a first grade teacher with a huge heart. She’s constantly being set up on bad dates by her well intentioned sister but she can’t date anybody right now because she is in the process of adopting a child from China as a single woman. If she dates, she has to wait two years after being married to try and adopt again. So for now dating is off the table.

Everything is turned upside down when a new substitute teacher shows up, Joshua Avery. They have an immediate connection but Lauren feels she must constantly deny it. As her adoption journey starts to get more complicated, she struggles to understand what God has in store for her. She wonders why he sent a child and Josh at the same time, when she can’t have them both. With the help of her incredible community and her faith, Lauren becomes an incredible mother and begins to understand why she was sent what she was.

This book was romantic, spiritual, and overall so lovely. I fell in love with the characters and couldn’t put it down.

This was an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Star book! Preorder this book now! It releases March 31, 2020.

My six word review:
Love is what creates a family

Lauren Bailey has always dreamed of being a mother and with her application to adopt a child from China as a single mother is close within reach, she meets Joshua Avery, the substitute first grade teacher who is obsessed with all things dinosaur. As the two get to know one another, she slowly begins to fall in love with him, but with her adoption application stating she is adopting as a single parent, she fears she’ll lose her one dream she’s always wanted. Will she sacrifice one dream for another?
This book is a hopeful page-turner that will leave you wanting more.

I graciously received an advance e-copy from netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

Once I started this book I could hardly put it down, it was so good!
I loved Lauren! We all have a little of Lauren in us I think. We want to make a difference in the world and sometimes feel like we are stuck in one spot. God has a plan and we just have to trust Him and wait on His timing. Lauren was an amazing 1st Grade Teacher, her children loved her and respected her. The other teachers in the school knew how talented she was as well. The way Lauren cared for those around her is amazing and even though her family was not the kindest about her faith in God, Lauren never gave up her faith!
Joshua is simply the whole deal, from the moment we meet him we all will fall in love with him. He is the type of guy all girls dream of. He knows how to be funny and serious, has a tremendous faith in God and is compassionate. I think he should definitely be a teacher.
I loved how the story of Lauren and Josh wrapped together, at times I felt like I could hardly breath while reading. It was just such an emotional story! Adoption is so beautiful and just is written so beautifully in this book. It shows the highs and lows of the process and how hard it can be...but also how beautiful it can be as well.
Nicole is a new author to me but believe me I will be reading more of her books!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What an absolutely amazing story! This one is both inspirational and thought provoking.
It inspires me to reach out in a ways that might look impossible and just trust.

Lauren is such a special heroine. Her heart for children, her desire to follow God. I just loved her.
I also adored Joshua. He was the perfect hero.
I loved seeing their realness, their humanness and imperfections.
I enjoyed seeing how their relationship worked (or didn't).
I just loved this entire journey that Lauren was on, the journey of international adoption.
It is easy to tell that this is a journey that is very close to the author's heart.
This book deals with some hard issues that are all to real in our lives, in addition to the challenges of international adoption.
Lauren faces family difficulties, opposition to her Christian beliefs, opposition to her adoption, and other things that are difficult to process.
Joshua is the perfect friend, he is sympathetic, caring, and an all around good guy. I couldn't help but love him from the minute I met him.
The entire story is just beautiful. The author shows how God can take those difficult things in our lives and make it all come out just beautiful, if we learn to trust.

This is one of those books that is too beautiful, it's almost hard to really put into words a review that does justice to it. I'm fairly certain it will be one of my top reads for 2020.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

My response to this book is simply "wow"! This is my first Nicole Deese book, but definitely won't be my last. I learned of this book because it was recommended by an author that I know and love. And because it was about adoption, which is something I'm passionate about, I decided to check it out. I expected it to be good, but I didn't expect to be so drawn in. I found myself completely sucked in to Lauren's life. I went from laughing out loud to wiping away tears on a moment to moment basis. This was a lovely story about trying to find God's will as well as what happens when plans go horribly awry. With likable characters, witty banter, solid faith thread and great story line, this is one I'd recommend to all fans of Christian fiction. Special thanks to the publisher for an advanced ecopy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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

This was a beautiful book, a truly heartwarming story and I'm still thinking about it.

Lauren is a teacher with an enormous love for kids and that brings her to a path of International adoption. But then she runs to a complication, the fascinating substitute teacher in her school, Joshua.

Loved these two characters and the relationship they were forming. Lauren was an amazing and so well developed heroine, I could just feel her struggles as she tried to make the right decision. Joshua, well Joshua can be easily described as the most precious and perfect hero I've read about in a while. Honestly I want to marry him,

This book made me cry, it made me laugh. I felt for the characters, I cheered for them with every page. The writing was beautiful and the plot was solid with highly likeable realistic characters dealing with raw and real life struggles that will break your heart and then glue it back together.

This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last. I'm adding her books to my list.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is filled with humor, laughter and some tears. It approaches a subject that not everyone is familiar - adoption by a Single adult. Her journey is filled with faithful friends that support her and some difficult decisions. This is my first book by this author....I will be reading more!

I was provided an ebook for the launch team of this book but the comments are mine - I highly recommend this Christian Fiction for all ages.

What an amazing book! It was a very touching topic and the story has all the emotions! The characters are stellar! This is a book you won't want to miss and yes, it is that good!

I loved the Christian values and the fact the God plays an important part in this book. And I love that so much. But things are definitely not "perfect" in the lives of those in the book with some unhappy moments. Drama, a nice romance, and tender times. They are all there.

The adoption part of the book touched me and rang true, with the trials that go along with the processes. This is a must read. Purely wonderful!

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

This book drew me in from the first paragraph. I loved that Lauren's first glimpse of Joshua is of him pretending to be a dinosaur with his shirt pulled over his head. That scene made me fall in love with Joshua (and the book).

I loved that both characters were unique in their personalities and their interests. This is not your cookie cutter romance. The adoption theme was well woven through the entire story and will, I think, really speak to those that have gone down that path.

Before I Called You Mine had all the feels for me and will recommend it to my friends. A great clean love story with a happy ever after ending!

Get your tissues handy, because when you read Before I Called You Mine, you are going to need them. This story was absolutely beautiful!

In this story, we meet Lauren- a teacher who had been waiting in the adoption process to adopt a child from China as a single mom. And when it seems like she's so close to that dream that she'd felt God leading her to, her world is turned around when she meets Joshua--- the sub across the hall and the perfect romance novel hero. Truly, I can't imagine anyone not falling in love with this amazing character (and his family too).

This story truly touched me to my very core. While I have absolutely zero experience with adoption... I felt this story very much like I was in Lauren's shoes. This was in large part of course to the beautiful storytelling. You could certainly tell that the author had personal experience with this topic and that shined through and really made it more genuine. She drew us in and made us think about what we might do in Lauren's shoes. Beyond that though, haven't we all faced similar scenarios. No, perhaps not adoption... but most of us have likely had the experience where the plans that we had for our lives- plans that we thought were part of God's plans- seem to fall completely apart leaving us confused and heartbroken. I am going through this type of experience right now in the aftermath of losing a baby, and perhaps that also is why I so strongly felt for Lauren's character and why I think so many will love her story too. It's a beautiful story of God's amazing plans for us...and in His perfect timing too... all wrapped up in a beautiful romance that I couldn't get enough of.

If you love Christian romance, this is one book that you'll want to add to your TBR right away. It will pull at your heartstrings, make you think...and yes, even make you laugh a little too. This as the first book I've read from this author... and wow, what an introduction! I will certainly be looking for more in the future!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

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!

We may be only a couple of months into the year, but I can still wholeheartedly proclaim that Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese is going to end up being one of the best books I read the entire year. This beautiful story captivated me right from the start, and shattered my heart into a million tiny pieces. I know this story is going to stick with me for quite some time, and if you only have time to read a few books this year, then I can't possibly recommend enough that this be one of them.

I think readers everywhere are going to be able to sympathize with Lauren Bailey's story. While not everyone may have felt the call to internationally adopt a child, I'm pretty sure at one point or another, we've all felt called to do something from God. Lauren's story is the perfect illustration of the honest truth that following a call from our Heavenly Father is never guaranteed to be easy, but it's worth every hardship encountered along the way. For Lauren, trusting God during one of the hardest decisions of her life is challenging, but she can't deny His continued guidance towards the decision she knows she has to make.

Before I Called You Mine is truly a literary wonder. The story is heart wrenching, the writing is beautiful, and I honestly lost track of just how many passages throughout I ended up highlighting to save for later. I loved the emphasis on how family isn't just blood relations, and Lauren's support group ends up including many amazing people who've basically become part of her family in the process. I also have to say that I don't think there's a woman out there who's going to be able to pick up this book and not fall head over heals for Joshua Avery in the process. He's truly the most amazing book hero I've ever had the pleasure of reading about, and him and Lauren are now my number one book couple of all time. I love reading about healthy relationships where the couple is completely devoted to following His master plan for their lives, and Nicole Deese is a true mastermind at writing these kind of relationships.

I don't truly remember the last time a book impacted me as much as this one did, and I truly loved it from start to finish. I loved the emphasis on heavier topics, but also the fact that there were many humorous moments included without that I believe will have even the most cynical of readers cracking a smile at. I honestly can't recommend this heartwarming story enough, and it gets a perfect five star rating from me.

Thanks so much to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to advance read this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow. This book really tugged at my heart. Lauren's struggles--her desire to be a mother through adoption and fulfill her mission from God, her shaky relationship with her family, her instant connection with Joshua at what seems to be totally the wrong time, and her confusion about why her efforts to follow God's plan don't seem to be panning out--were so realistically written. I could really feel her heart as I read. There were such hopeful moments and such heartbreaking moments that I really wasn't sure how things were going to play out--but I love how they did play out (although I would have liked an epilogue with a scene a year or two in the future). While Lauren was dealing with heavy stuff, Joshua was such a breath of fresh air. He was just so funny and charming and the perfect male lead for this book.' This was just such an enjoyable book to read!
4.5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Such a beautiful love story with Christian faith intertwined. A very clean, inspirational romance between two very likeable characters. You will find yourself giggling and, then getting teary eyed.
I highly recommend you read Before I Called You Mine by author Nicole Deere.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed Before I Called You Mine. I had not read a book by Nicole Deese before this but I am so glad I did. The adoption story hit close to home for me and she handled it beautifully.

The love story is really sweetly done. We don't really get much of a physical description of Lauren. We know she is blond and something about her touched Joshua when he first met her but we don't really find that out until later. They're coming together is gently done and Joshua is just so wonderful. Reminds me a lot of my husband actually. No pressure and he is there when she needs him.

The adoption story is familiar and is not. Our own adoption story happened locally and my precious daughter was a baby when we met. I didn't have months to imagine her and prepare. I had a few hours. But love was instant and forever.

I look forward to more from Nicole Deese.

I don't often read fiction that I consider to be life-changing. But I think that reading Before Called You Mine truly changed something in me. It's a powerful story and I read most of it through misty eyes!

It's been five years since Lauren Bailey made her decision to pursue single motherhood through adoption. She's committed to remain single for at least two years after she brings her child home from China. It doesn't seem to be a problem since eligible men aren't beating on her door.

But just as Lauren's dream is about to come true, Joshua Avery walks into her life. He's everything she could want in her future...but she can't have him. She has no idea what God's plan could be, and will she be strong enough to wait for Him?

Ya'll, Before I Called You Mine is totally different from anything I've read before. It had me from the very first page, all the way to the end. Adoption is such a beautiful thing, and I loved seeing it from this viewpoint.

There was no way for me to guess what was going to happen as I read this book. There were so many moments that left me feeling weepy, and sometimes downright bawling!

My favorite part of this book was the message of God's plan for each of us. We can never know what it is, but we must trust His is better than ours.

I suppose this is classified as a romance, but I think it's much more than that. It's a beautiful story of strength and trust.

I've watched a few adoption stories take place on social media over the last couple of years. We always love to see the beauty of a family brought together by adoption. But most of us will never know the pain behind their smiles.

This is worth the read just to better understand the sacrifices of families who adopt. But Lauren and Joshua's story is so special, too.

This is an amazing debut novel. I cannot wait to read more from Nicole in the future!

“There were too many variables, too many hearts at stake. Pressure built behind my eyes again. Why wasn’t there a snooze button I could press on my life? I needed more time!”

When Lauren Bailey, a single elementary school teacher in her early thirties, realizes her calling for to internationally adopt (as a single woman), she does everything she can- from saving money to joining adoption support groups... all the way to calling off romantic love indefinitely- to make that dream a reality. But when the substitute teacher across the hall, Joshua Avery, comes into her life, she begins to question her path.

This story is all about being strong and making brave choices. It’s not easy to figure out the right path, especially with so many obstacles and variables thrown right in front of you. And it’s especially difficult when you could have two right paths. We can’t ever know, in the moment, how our decisions will play out. Like Lauren, we just have to listen to our hearts and have faith.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this digital ARC of Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese. It was a beautiful story and I absolutely fell in love with the characters, especially Joshua. We all need a Joshua in our lives ❤️.

This heartwarming story comes out March 31, 2020. I highly recommend picking this one up!

Oh, my heart. This book is golden. I felt every high and low that Lauren felt in such a beautiful and bittersweet way. Her story is a great one and I'm so grateful Nicole has shared it with us. And Joshua is ALL OF THE RIGHT THINGS.

More than a romance or an adoption story, this book is an honest love letter to anyone who feels God urging them to trust Him regardless of what it looks like. I highlighted an exceptional amount of quotes, including this gem: "That maybe the very things I've been so afraid to say yes to all these years are the very things He wants me to trust Him with." Those words were so needed by this heart. I love it when Christian fiction entertains AND ministers.

Do NOT miss this one, friends. It's such a great book.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel via NetGalley courtesy of the publisher. All expressed opinions are my own.

I used to think it might be fun to be a school teacher to little kids, but when I got older, I decided that I didn't have the patience or creativity for it, and after homeschooling my kids for a week+ through this coronavirus, I know for sure it's not for me. I applaud those who can teach and who love it, just as Lauren and Joshua do.

Lauren is exactly the kind of teacher that every child dreams of having, just as she dreams of being a mother and of adopting a child from China. I loved the way this story shaped her character and allowed the reader to delve into her personal life. Of course, she's not perfect and her flaws endeared her even more to me.

Joshua, on the other hand, is quirky, hilarious, and has no qualms about being his true self. The way these two mesh into a strong friendship with inklings of chemistry stole my heart, especially as they faced massive decisions and sacrifices.

I was completely captivated by this perfect cover and the emotionally charged story within. Well done, Ms. Deese!

Content: adoption; mild romance; moderate religion

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

I loved this story!!! Seriously, I really loved everything about it, the characters, the wonderful storyline, the writing style, the secondary characters - everything!! I did not want this story to end. Nicole Deese is now my newest auto-buy author!

While I really liked both Lauren and Joshua, Joshua was my absolute favorite character from Before I Called You Mine. I loved his sense of humor and his heart! He was so caring and patient and giving. He was just what Lauren needed at just the right time.

I also really enjoyed the storyline. It was so different and so interesting. I didn’t want to put this story down and hated to see it end. I cannot wait to see what Nicole Deese brings us next!

“God doesn’t trick His children. He loves us, and everything He asks of us, or allows us to walk through, has a purpose.”

Oh the trials Lauren Bailey had to walk through in this lighthearted yet oh so tender novel by Nicole Deese. Lauren felt the call from God to leave the single life behind her and embrace the many obstacles of international adoption as a single parent. After meeting the adoptive family of one of her first-grade students years earlier, she knew this step was one she wanted to take, and it wasn’t too difficult a decision to make. With no real prospects for marriage or even a long-term relationship, Lauren easily traded the idea of loving a man for loving a child in need

But as the time came closer for a match, Joshua Avery walked into her life - or rather, into the classroom across the hall from hers. With his presence and newfound friendship, along with one adoption prospect falling through, Lauren began to question whether the call she heard from God was real or all in her head. Did God really want her to be a mother first before she was a wife?

Nicole Deese tackled hard questions and whirlwind emotions in Lauren’s character, a woman who grappled with the fact that her family was against her choice to become a Christian and therefore was afraid to tell them about the adoption journey she was on. I appreciated the way that the author brought reality to her characters, showing more than one side to both Lauren and Joshua alike. Her supporting characters were just as wonderful, each with their own quirks, trials, and successes.

I enjoyed the author's descriptions throughout the novel. They weren’t the typical “run of the mill” kind. And I don’t know how many times I literally laughed out loud while reading descriptions, thoughts, and interactions. I can honestly say that I am hooked on Nicole Deese’s writing style and am looking forward to reading more from her

God is ever-present throughout this novel, and the way the characters tackle ideas of Him is heartwarming. It’s obvious Lauren wants to do what is right by Him, and Joshua and his family have a strong relationship with the Creator. Yet others question His validity and at times Lauren’s faith

This is a book I will happily add to my bookcase, and one that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good contemporary Christian novel with a bit of romantic tension. I’d also recommend it to anyone thinking about adoption of any kind or even foster care.

*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers. Opinions are my own.

God places the lonely in families...Psalm 68:6

An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. Ancient Chinese Proverb

As this was my introduction to this author, I can only say I will be watching for more incredible stories! The story begins with Lauren, a wonderful first grade teacher, the kind you would wish your child would have. At 30 something, with no romance in sight, she has decided to concentrate on the international adoption she has been working on. Enter a substitute teacher in the other first grade classroom and her organized world is turned upside down.

There were so many wonderful things about this book, you simply have to read it for yourself. I found myself laughing, wiping tears, yelling at individuals and absolutely loving the whole thing. From disappointments to meeting an unexpected role model, the author weaves this cast of characters right into your heart. Every good story deserves a fabulous ending and you won’t want to miss that thread that never breaks.

I was privileged to read an ARC through Bethany House Publishers, Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

What a heartwarming story about international adoption and God’s timing. Before I Called You Mine will delight and entrance Christian romance readers. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable book that is at times uplifting as it is bittersweet.

Lauren longs to be a mother. She has been waiting for her international adoption application to go through for over a year. She has closed the door on dating and marriage, knowing she must remain single for her adoption options to be finalised. But just when a possible adoption match finally appears, she meets Joshua - a substitute teacher at her school, a tech whiz and son of the man who started her teaching career. He is funny, kind and she can’t help but be drawn to him. But if she follows her heart with Joshua, she will loose her chance to adopt a child who needs her.

This book it utterly beautiful. It is bittersweet. Just when one of Lauren’s greatest desires seems set to come true the other is taken from her. There is no right answer and we readers are easily drawn into Lauren’s dilemma.

Joshua is the perfect guy for this role. He is perfect for Lauren - funny, kids around, good with children, and really sweet. He is there for her, even when she has to be honest about their lack of a future. And he continues to show up for her. There are magical Christmas scenes, sweet not-dates, and family dinners.

This book will have you crying, as well as laughing. And maybe even wiping away happy tears. And for those wondering, there is a happy ending. It’s hard won, but very happy none the less.

My only complaint: the school librarian cameo. Seriously!?!?! We school librarians are stereotyped and abused in pop culture, are ignored and removed by governments and principals. As an author, please, I beg of you, please make any school librarian characters reflect the more accurate and wonderful role they play in school libraries, the colourful and fun joy they bring to the school library rather than casting them as outdated and bad at their job!!! That put me off the first part of the story. Once I got over my ire and sunk into the story, I really enjoyed the book, the characters and the heart this book has.

Before I Called You Mine is a delightful, heartwarming story about the power of your calling, the importance of family and accepting God’s timing.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

I wasn't prepared for how this book would effect me emotionally. It both warmed and broke my heart. I smiled and cried. My heart ached for these characters and squeezed with hope for them. It was a beautiful story and ended with goosebumps and a happy heart. I would have loved an epilogue though!

This book was beyond amazing. I’m having difficulties putting it into words. These characters touches my heart ♥️ in a way I can’t explain. Author Nicole Deese has never been one to shy away from real-life experiences and this book does the same. I love this book and it’s made it in my top 10 reads of 2020.

Oh my. Before I Called You Mine was such an emotional read. You could feel for the heroine and her struggles with wanting to adopt...and all the complications that come with that. One moment in particular (which I won't go into detail about) had me aching for her.

I loved Joshua. Talk about an understanding hero. He was there for Lauren when she needed and seemed to know what to do/say.

All in all, Before I Called You Mine was very good and I recommend it!

*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.*

Nicole Deese has written a beautiful and touching story about one woman's adoption journey. Based on the author's dedication and "Author's Note" at the end of the book this book is very personal. I hope you will check it out.

When first grade teacher Lauren Bailey meets the dinosaur loving uber-creative substitute-who-is-actually-a-tech-developer Joshua Avery, she forgets for a minute that she is currently remaining single for a very good reason: to remain eligible to adopt internationally from China. This book follows her journey through many ups and downs as she navigates not only the adoption process, but learns how to trust God more deeply.

As I didn't know a ton about the specifics of adoption this book was very interesting. Adding in the many different elements that I don't find to be typical for this genre turned it into a home run. For example, Lauren's family relationships can best be described as strained; Joshua's dad was her inspiration for teaching and the fangirl parts are especially fun; the patience of Joshua is amazing - and everything is woven together in a unique, touching, and amusing way. There are some good LOL moments. It did not end how I expected and I liked it. It did not evolve as I anticipated either, but I liked that too. If you are looking for a well-written and unique topic book this will be a home run for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Waiting. I think that is what a lot of us are doing right now. The situation might look different for you than for me. Maybe you're stuck inside your home right now due to the coronavirus. Maybe you're waiting for travel restrictions to be lifted to take that amazing vacation you've been planning. Maybe you are just waiting to get through college so you can go find your dream job. Whatever the waiting is for, waiting is hard. I think I've shared in a previous post that my husband and I are trying to adopt. We have filled out tons of paperwork and passed our home study. Now we are just waiting. Waiting to receive the call that a child has been found for us. Sometimes, it seems that we will forever be in this stage of waiting, but God keeps reminding me that He will give us the right child he has for us, at the right time. I love this quote from Before I Called  You Mine by Nicole Deese because it is such a good reminder that God has a purpose for making us wait.

"Listen to me. Right now your child is sitting across the world in an orphanage, waiting for you, to. You may not know your child's name yet or what their face looks like when they laugh or cry, but God has already gone before you in this. He's already connected your heart to theirs in a way only He can. I know the wait can feel excruciating while on this side of things, but it's not in vain. There is purpose in the waiting"

So, whatever you may be waiting for, know that God does have a purpose for you and his plan is so much better than ours can ever be. And while you're waiting, if you want a good book to encourage and distract you, I highly recommend this one. :)

I loved this book, and it has probably become my new favorite book. I think the best word to describe it would be emotional.  I cried all the way through it. I really felt that I was going through the adoption with Lauren. Probably because in a way I am. Some things look different for me because we are doing a domestic adoption and she was doing an international adoption, but the emotions surrounding the adoption were the same. I cried because I was sad, happy, and just emotional with Lauren. I also laughed a lot because there was always humor at just the right places. I highly recommend Before I Called You Mine for anyone who enjoys contemporary romantic fiction or books that include adoption. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“We aren’t powerful enough to mess up God’s plan. Can we deny it? Yes. Can we delay it while we chase our own way? Absolutely. But sometimes our character needs time to catch up to our calling.”

This story had me feeling all the feels! I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster ride with Lauren, through the anticipation, excitement, and heartbreak she felt during her adoption journey. Ms. Deese did such a great job of introducing us to the characters, slowly letting us see more of their motivations and hearts, making them deeply engaging and relatable.

Joshua was such a swoon-worthy hero - seemingly a perfect match for Lauren, except for the timing of when they met, making her question God’s calling on her life. I loved that the story centered on adoption; that’s such an important topic to see portrayed realistically, especially in faith circles. It all added up to an engaging, impactful story that I finished the book in 48 hours; I just had to know what would happen! This was the first book of Nicole Deese’s I’ve read, but it definitely won’t be the last.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I've never read a book by Nicole Deese. I enjoyed this book, but I honestly didn't know that it was Christian Fiction, which I thought was a little misleading. I don't usually read Christian Fiction books., but liked the change. If I had known the genre before reading it I probably wouldn't have picked it up. Working in a library there are many people who would enjoy this and I look forward to recommending it.

The characters in the book are so likable and you fall in love with them while they are falling in love. It's the type of romance where no one does anything wrong, but their timing sucks.

For me I had a hard time putting this book down at first but as I was reading it , the farther that you get into it the more religion focused in gets and that kept distracting me while I was reading.
I think its a great book and wonderful, interesting story line but it wasn't something that I continued to think about after i finished. ,

This book was soooo good. Seriously, you do not want to miss out on this read. It needs to be on the top of your TBR pile. In fact, you can go ahead and put that book you reading now down and pick this one up. It’s that good.

I fully expect this book to hit all the awards as a finalist because the emotion in this story, the impact it has on your heart and your walk with God cannot be denied. This book had me from page one and didn’t let go. I’m talking major book hangover. There were so many scenes in here that either made me laugh, cry, or sigh.

Joshua Avery may be my favorite hero yet, which says a lot because I’ve been keeping my hero list pretty short. But this guy is so genuine and so funny that he convinced me he was a good guy before the heroine agreed with my assessment.

All in all, this book gets all the stars and deserves a place on every bookshelf known to man.

*I received an ARC copy from the publisher. My review was not required nor influenced.

Why have I never read anything by Nicole before? I have no idea, but I have a new favorite contemporary romance author.
This book touched my heart so deeply. Starting with Nicole being a teacher (made me miss my classroom and kids), to Joshua’s fun-loving attitude.
The build up to their first kiss was spot on, the tension tangible in my heart.
And then the end…yes, I cried. I am a bit more sensitive these days but still, it was cry worthy. So, so good. The ending was perfection. And be sure to read the author’s notes at the end to give a bit more insight into the story and the meaning.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

I am breathless after this journey. Normally, I am crushing on the hero and thrilled at the end of a book when the happy couple overcomes all of their obstacles. Don't get me wrong, I was happy with the ending. But, there is a more important story line here. A story about following your calling, about not running away when that calling gets hard, about the abundant love and grace of God.

Lauren is a young woman who has set her path in life and has yet to find a partner to share in that path with her. She has a strong desire to be a mother and so pursues adoption as a single woman. Her journey takes her through challenges and obstacles that are at times heart-wrenching. This journey touched my heart and brought to mind times in my own life when God's hand was evident; when the events were so perfectly orchestrated that there was no doubt in my mind that He had led me through the challenges. This is such a beautiful story of connection that has touched my heart.