Review: Running Into You - Devine Family Series #1

Running Into You book cover on blue background

Happy release day! It's such a treat to be able to enjoy Canadian-authored books, especially when there are Easter eggs hidden in the book! Running Into You was such a fun book to read on a road trip, where I was able to complete it while travelling between provinces 🚗

Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content to be aware of: self-forgiveness, references to yoga and luck

Book Synopsis

Can a car accident possibly change your life for the better?

On the last day of school, Julie is looking forward to a break from her work as a second-grade teacher.

But when she and her brother get into a car accident, her world turns upside down in an instant. Julie is caught up in trying to forgive the other driver for what happened. And when sparks fly between Julie and Noah, who was also involved in the crash, she also has to figure out how to forgive herself for her role in the accident.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

Running Into You, the first book in the Devine Family Series, is a lovely summer book that explores the question of what it means to truly forgive and though unreferenced, how God can turn things around into good things for us as believers. I really enjoyed how the author was able to get into the mind of Julie and demonstrate how she felt at different times during her journey of forgiveness. I also liked how Noah provided support without overstepping his boundaries, making their relationship tender and edifying as they learn to trust in God for what's next for them.

The Devine family is such a delight that I'm grateful we will get to see more of them in subsequent books. Courtney Westerhof writes truly vibrant family scenes that make you feel like you're at the dinner table with them. Additionally, the other supporting characters shine as they help Julie and Noah through the aftermath of the car accident. For those wondering what love springing from a less than auspicious start could look like and how God can bring redemption from such a beginning, this is the book for you.

Book Summary

Format of book: 📖
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendation: 👍

Comments

Review: The Biblio Diet

Over the years, I've had the joy of reading many books on health and nutrition, partly a product of some studies I've done on it and also due to personal interest. As a result, I'm always intrigued when there is a Christian perspective on this subject. I'm grateful that I learnt about The Biblio Diet by Jordan Rubin and Dr. Josh Axe after having previously read Eat Dirt by Dr. Josh Axe. Many thanks to Worthy Books for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis In this breakthrough book, New York Times bestselling authors and nutrition experts Jordan Rubin and Dr. Josh Axe offer a simple and holistic plan for building strength, health, and longevity. Based on the ancient wisdom of the Bible and confirmed by modern science, The Biblio Diet’s intuitive and easy-to-follow plan invites you to experience a breakthrough in the health of your entire family by learning to eat and live God’s way. In this book, y...

Review: All the Suspects on Campus - A Christie Club Mystery #1

As soon as I saw the premise for All the Suspects on Campus by Heather Day Gilbert , I knew that I had to read the first book in the Christie Club Mystery series . And what a delight this book is with the characters brimming to life with their own quirks and a plot that takes you all over the place! It doesn't release until January 26, 2027, but I'm certain that there will be much fanfare leading up until that time and beyond for mystery aficionados. Many thanks to Harlequin Books and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : This book is published under the Love Inspired Trade imprint; however, there is little faith content included. There is also a brief reference to the metaphysical. Book Synopsis A secret library. A murdered colleague. Can professor Jo Blue Oliver use her love of Agatha Christie to solve a case? Jo Blue Oliver, an outspoken English professor at a small West Virgin...

Reader Identity

The more I share my book thoughts and reviews, the more amazed I am at how many readers there are out there and just how many people enjoy talking about the books they're reading. Quite frankly, I'm blown away by the notion that there are people actively wanting to adopt the persona of being a reader, whereas I remember growing up, it was stigmatized as either boring or 'nerdy'. I used to cringe when I was in a position where I was asked to share about my hobbies as reading seemed to generate a sort of response where others would murmur about how they didn't know that people did that for fun. To be fair, this might have been some of the social circles or settings I've been a part of over the years, but I think reading has generally become more mainstream now. Thankfully, I can let people know that I spend almost all of my free time reading (amongst other things), and others don't seem to bat an eye anymore. While I have seen some content that discourages peo...