Before I Saw You

::From the back of the book::
Folks are dying fast as the ash trees in the southern Indiana town ravaged by the heroin epidemic, where Jaycee Givens lives with nothing more than a thread of hope and a quirky neighbor, Sudie, who rescues injured wildlife. After a tragedy leaves her mother in prison, Jaycee is carrying grief and an unplanned pregnancy she conceals because she trusts no one, including the kind and handsome Gabe, who is new to town and to the local diner where she works.

Dividing her time between the diner and Sudie’s place, Jaycee nurses her broken heart among a collection of unlikely friends who are the closest thing to family that she has. Eventually, she realizes she can’t hide her pregnancy any longer―not even from the baby’s abusive father, who is furious when he finds out. The choices she must make for the safety of her unborn child threaten to derail any chance she ever had for hope and redemption. Ultimately, Jaycee must decide whether the truest form of love means hanging on or letting go.


::My Thoughts::
Gripping, heart wrenching, emotional, angry, happy, breathless...
Those were just a few descriptions of how you will feel when reading this book. Honestly this book took me on an emotional roller coaster.
This book came in the perfect year because things like drugs, abuse, poverty, etc., that is all here and now. Right in our day and age. I think readers will definitely be able to appreciate that this book describes very real life in some areas!
Drugs are a very real epidemic in the world today. Sadly there are also women living within these worlds unable to get out even if they do not do the drugs themselves. Children living with parents who put drugs first, unimaginable tragedies happening because drugs are coming before children, young men and women that live in drug filled neighborhoods and cannot move due to income issues, and it is a sad but harsh truth in the world today.
Jaycee is an extremely strong character. I felt her pain so much while reading this book. At times my heart felt so heavy for her. Even though Jaycee is a fictional character the author brings her to life, and I believe there are probably some women out there today that can relate to Jaycee. Jaycee led a very hard life and seen nothing much but tragedy. She forged ahead on her own and did everything she could to keep on the right path. Growing up with a mother who put drugs ahead of her own children, losing a brother whom she loved with all her heart, getting into a relationship to feel love but only getting abuse in turn, and then having her life turned upside down when she realizes she is pregnant by a highly dangerous man.
Thank goodness for Gabe. I believe he balanced this book out nicely, and honestly it shows that sometimes people come into our lives who may help us tremendously. People we wouldn't expect to have, but that are really God sent. They come into our lives for a reason. I believe Gabe was definitely that person to Jaycee. I also love the fact that Gabe and Jaycee are two totally different people with completely different backgrounds and it shows that you cannot judge someones character by their looks or upbringing.
This is truly a book about redemption, salvation, and honestly TRUST in God. I could not figure out what would happen in this novel next. This is not an easy read honestly. It was hard to get through some parts because at times I wanted to leap into the pages and shake some sense into some of these characters, and ask what was wrong with them??? There are other times I wanted to just wrap some of the characters in a hug. That's how well written these characters are. They come to life within the pages.
And despite everything Jaycee had been through she showed amazing courage and selfless love.
I highly recommend this book, and I appreciate the raw honesty this book brings. Even though this is a fictional book it deals with very real issues in the world today.




::My Rating::
5/5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟



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::Product Details::

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (June 5, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1496409566
• ISBN-13: 978-1496409560
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.