The Two of Us

After two broken engagements, nurse practitioner Mia Robinson is done with dating. From now on, she only trusts herself and God, and she's focused on her eighteen-year-old sister, Lucy, and caring for patients. Just as she applies to work for an international aid organization, a phone call from Lucy, who's pregnant and running off to marry her twenty-one-year-old boyfriend, throws a wrench into all of Mia's plans. 

Jake Tanner may have recovered from the physical injuries he sustained on the job as a police officer, but his heart has yet to heal from losing his former partner in the tragedy. He's poured himself into starting a camp for the sons of fallen officers and mentoring Sam, the adult son of his deceased partner, who's asked him to be his best man at his wedding. 
Mia is expecting a mess when she arrives to sort out the situation with Lucy, but she wasn't expecting Jake. And Jake, who can't help envying Sam and Lucy, doubts he'll ever experience their happiness for himself. But maybe Jake's courage and Mia's caring spirit are just what they need to bring them a lifetime of healing and a forever kind of love. . . .

Published August 8th 2017

 by Bethany House Publishers 


Available for Purchase:

AMAZON  BARNES & NOBLE  CHRISTIANBOOK
BAKER BOOK HOUSE

Meet the Author:

Known for her realistic, likable characters and vivid writing, Victoria Bylin delights in tackling tough subjects with respect and compassion. Together With You (Bethany House, 2016)  won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary Romance. Her books, both contemporaries and western historicals,have finaled in the Carol Awards, the RITAs, and RT Magazine’s Reviewers Choice Awards. A native of California, she and her husband now make their home in Lexington, Kentucky. They have two grown sons and are the proud grandparents of twin girls.

Connect Online:
WEBSITE  FACEBOOK  TWITTER  PINTEREST

My Thoughts:

I loved this book. The cover gives a hint at the incredible story inside.  

This story centers around two sisters.  One is responsible and hard working, the other is a little flighty with a heart of gold.  

Mia had responsibility thrust upon her at a young age.  She was a 20 year old college student when her mother passed away.  She couldn't let her only sibling go into foster care so she took on guardianship of a 10 year old.  Mia has always taken care of Lucy and some times tends to be overbearing, but it comes down to the fact that she loves her deeply. There have been two constants in her life, taking care of Lucy and her faith in God.  She doesn't make promises she can't keep, but most importantly she wants to follow where God leads her.  She has had her heart broken by two men she trusted with all her heart, but no more.  She has put men behind her and is focusing on her career.  I admire her determination to go after a dream.  With her last broken engagement she prayed God would open a new door for her and she plans to take advantage of the open door. 

Lucy has had only Mia in her life until while in college she met Sam.  He's a dream come to life.  She and Sam decide to get married because they rushed the honeymoon before the wedding and now are expecting a bundle of joy.  She loves Sam and knows this is the right decision even if she is only 18. After they are married, whether it was hormones or anxiety, she suddenly is feeling like she's not good enough for Sam or God.  She develops problems with her pregnancy and begins to wonder if this is God's punishment for she and Sam having premarital sex. She tries to rely on God, but tends to reach for Sam during difficult moments. 

I loved both characters immediately.  Lucy was young, but she has a heart of gold and always looks for the best in a person.  Mia is strong and responsible, but you can tell  what she wants more than anything is to be loved.  As each sister begins a new journey in their life each must face what they fear most.  For Mia it's trust and with Lucy it's faith.  Both characters meet challenges that each of us must face and to be honest this made them seem like real life women.   They dialogue is true to life and the issues they face are real.  

On another note, the author addresses many issues in this story and each are resolved realistically.  I loved how she incorporated Alzheimer's disease in a way that the reader could understand what families face when dealing with this horrible disease.  It's heart breaking to say the least.  

This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good, clean story or needs a good romance.  It brings elements of faith, love, trust and new beginnings.  

*I received this book from the author.  I was not required to write a review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Together With You

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

5 Stars

Book Description:

A Tender Contemporary Romance about Finding Unexpected Love
When a Lost Child warning blasts over the mall's PA system, toy store manager Carly Mason finds the little girl playing with a stuffed rabbit. Something about five-year-old Penny Tremaine is different. An ex-social worker, Carly recognizes that Penny suffers fetal alcohol effects, and a piece of Carly's own past suddenly confronts her. Never again will Carly become involved with a client. The risks are far too great. But something about Penny--and Penny's handsome father--tugs at Carly's heart. Before she has time to think it through, she agrees to a much-needed job as a nanny.
Dr. Ryan Tremaine knows he messed up his life. But this summer he will redeem himself. With his ex-wife remarried and on a trip far away, his two teenage sons and Penny are living under his roof full time. Ryan is dedicated to his sink-or-swim list, a plan to reconnect with his children. The first step: recruiting Carly Mason to be Penny's nanny.
Ryan never anticipated being so drawn to Carly, an attraction Carly seems to fight as much as he does. Could Carly be the missing piece that helps his family stay afloat, or will their blossoming romance only complicate things further?  

My Thoughts:

Wow, what a great book!!

This is a story about bad decisions, forgiveness, trust and faith.

As humans we are not perfect and make many mistakes, but we have to remember no sin is too big to be forgiven. 

The author brings us a wonderful, contemporary romance about learning to live with the choices we make.  We are introduced to two incredible characters that are easy to love.  Ryan and Carly are both good, strong people, but they have their flaws which makes them more real.  Carly is a very strong woman who is tethered to the past, but she is trying to learn from it instead of letting it define her as a person. There are times when she could give up or give in, but she turns to the Lord for direction.   Ryan, on the other hand, is the father of 3 and has a past mistake which he lets define him as a person.  Ryan does not believe in God and thinks religion is cult.  The story also addresses the issue of fetal alcohol disorders in great detail.  The author eloquently points out that education is the key to preventing it.  I love that this issue is addressed.  Not many people are familiar with it or realize how prevalent it is.  This is a beautiful story about a family in crisis that must deal with trust, forgiveness, and humor.  I would recommend this book to anyone. 

I received this from Netgalley for a honest opinion without bias as stated above. 

Meet the Author:

Known for her realistic, likable characters and vivid writing, Victoria Bylin writes both western and contemporary inspirational romance. Her next book, Until I Found You, hits the shelves in May 2014. Victoria's books have finaled in the ACFW Carol Awards, the Rita Awards and RT Magazine’s Reviewers’ Choice Awards. She and her husband currently live in Lexington, Kentucky and have two grown sons.

http://www.victoriabylin.com/