All That It Takes by Nicole Deese ~ Book Review

 

About the Book

Book: All That It Takes

Author: Nicole Deese

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: April 5, 2022

When the ever-cautious Val Locklier finally agrees to a cross-country move with her nine-year-old son to take a job with her best friend, Molly, everything she had planned for the future unravels within the first week. After pushing aside her anxieties about renting an apartment from Molly's twin brother, whom she barely knows, she accepts an invitation for an elite filmmaker's mentorship. Caught between her insecurities and new possibilities, she feels completely unprepared for the challenges ahead.

Pastor Miles McKenzie returns home from abroad to discover that not only does he have an intriguing new tenant living upstairs, he's been banished to a ministry on life support. Disillusioned and restless, he pursues a relationship with Val without stopping to consider the timing or asking God to direct his steps.

As Val struggles to stop hiding behind the camera and Miles wrestles with shattered expectations, they'll find that authentic love and sacrifice must go hand in hand.

 My Thoughts 

I absolutely loved this story. This was my first story by this author and I am so glad I was sent this book for review because now I am hooked and I must read her other books especially the one previous to this one so that I can know the storyline of the other characters in the story. No worries though this one can be read as a stand alone as I did not feel like I was missing out on anything. 

The author does an excellent job at making the characters human and extremely relatable. Like these people could be people you are friends with or encounter in everyday life. Valerie is definitely an insecure woman. She is a single mom and trying to make it on her own without the help of her parents despite how much she loves them. She takes a big step in her life by moving and meets the ever charming Miles. Miles has his own struggles. He is running away from the true calling God has put upon his life but has put blinders on what that calling is. He is trying to make it his way and that is just not going to work. Haven't we all been there before? When you are trying to tell God what is going to happen. He must truly chuckle at us when we try to do that.

 I loved the characters Rev and Trisha. They both had a gentle way of bringing forth the truth to Miles and letting him see what direction God wanted him going. Again very relatable as I know personally God sends people into your life to make sure you are truly seeing what HE wants you to do. 

Of course there is romance in this story and I absolutely loved it. It may seem that it moves a bit fast but you have to understand that these characters have already previously met in the first book (despite this not being a series") and the pacing throughout it was executed perfectly. Miles is definitely swoon-worthy despite his flaws (thank goodness he has his come to Jesus moment! LOL). I also loved the way that the author handled Valerie's faith journey. She really grew and saw personally how God was moving through her. 

Overall I thought this story was fantastic! I think you would enjoy it as well. I will say that the topic of abortion is a key point in the storyline and the author handled perfectly. 

My Rating: 5 Stars/Loved it!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher Bethany House. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About the Author

Nicole Deese's sixteen humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels include the 2017 Carol Award-winning A Season to Love. Her 2018 release, A New Shade of Summer, was a finalist in the RITA Awards, Carol Awards, and INSPY Awards. When she's not working on her next contemporary romance, she can usually be found reading one by a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Inland Northwest. She lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two rambunctious sons, and princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.

To learn more, visit www.nicoledeese.com