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Sovereign Love #3
The One Who Sees Me
IS GOD SOVEREIGN OVER MISTAKES AND FAILURES?
Heather Osborne’s past consisted of partying, drugs, and thriving on the attention of men… until her cycle of pain and rejection brought her to the feet of Jesus. For four years, she has been struggling to shake off her demons, and when her business fails, she returns home to start a marketing internship. But Heather gets more than she bargained for when she is assigned to work with the handsome son of the CEO.
Emmanuel Madu, the managing director of Madu Health, is not sold on his father’s plan for him to take over the family business. When he is coerced to supervise the new marketing intern, he accepts it for fear of disappointing his father. But when the red-haired, green-eyed intern walks into his life and challenges his cowardice, their budding friendship forces Emmanuel to reassess his values and convictions.
When Heather starts developing feelings for Emmanuel, she finds herself torn between returning to her old habits and fighting to embrace her new life of faith in God. And with time running out for Emmanuel, he must decide whether to continue living in his father’s shadow or break up his family by walking away.
The One Who Sees Me, book three in the Sovereign Love series, is an uplifting standalone novel about forgiveness and learning to take comfort in the sovereign goodness of a loving God who sees all our struggles.
Heather Osborne’s past consisted of partying, drugs, and thriving on the attention of men… until her cycle of pain and rejection brought her to the feet of Jesus. For four years, she has been struggling to shake off her demons, and when her business fails, she returns home to start a marketing internship. But Heather gets more than she bargained for when she is assigned to work with the handsome son of the CEO.
Emmanuel Madu, the managing director of Madu Health, is not sold on his father’s plan for him to take over the family business. When he is coerced to supervise the new marketing intern, he accepts it for fear of disappointing his father. But when the red-haired, green-eyed intern walks into his life and challenges his cowardice, their budding friendship forces Emmanuel to reassess his values and convictions.
When Heather starts developing feelings for Emmanuel, she finds herself torn between returning to her old habits and fighting to embrace her new life of faith in God. And with time running out for Emmanuel, he must decide whether to continue living in his father’s shadow or break up his family by walking away.
The One Who Sees Me, book three in the Sovereign Love series, is an uplifting standalone novel about forgiveness and learning to take comfort in the sovereign goodness of a loving God who sees all our struggles.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2023
47 people are currently reading
1579 people want to read
About the author
Joan Embola
7 books431 followersJoan Embola is a UK-based Cameroonian-Nigerian Christian author who aims to share God's love one word at a time. She writes books about diverse characters whose hope-filled stories point to the sovereign love and goodness of God in our broken world. She is a qualified Physician Associate and also the founder of Love Qualified, a ministry dedicated to encouraging others to experience the sovereign love of the one true God who has qualified us to be His beloved ones. She is a passionate lover and teacher of God’s word, and she shares this passion on her YouTube channel, blog, and podcast. When she’s not writing or curled up with a book, you’ll find her watching movies, YouTube videos, or making memories with her family and friends.
You can connect with her at www.joanembola.co.uk and on instagram, YouTube, her blog, and her podcast. Join her newsletter to stay up to date with new releases and more book news.
You can connect with her at www.joanembola.co.uk and on instagram, YouTube, her blog, and her podcast. Join her newsletter to stay up to date with new releases and more book news.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 25, 2025
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
-Ephesians 2:8-9
“The One Who Sees Me” is the third book in the Sovereign Love series and my personal favourite of the series. I liked The One Who Knows Me, I enjoyed The One Who Loves Me but I absolutely adored this.
“I’m a new creation.” I blurt out the words from the first Bible verse I ever memorized. I need it to be true—especially right now. I can’t go back. I refuse to go back. “Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person.” I repeat the words to myself. “The old life has gone. A new life has begun.”
We first met Heather Osborne in the first book when she was an angry, spiteful girl but now she’s grown into a level-headed woman who is seeing a therapist, reconciling with her dad and strengthening her relationship with God. Though her dream was to start her own business, when her start-up fails, she finds herself going back home to start an internship at Madu Health.
I have to admit that I was most excited for Heather’s story compared to everyone else’s. She was not a very nice person in the first book but reading about how much she’s grown, is still growing and doing everything she can to keep growing, was one of my most anticipated character arcs. I loved her storyline, especially her struggle in forgiving the one person she blamed for her acting out. Forgiveness is one of my favourite themes to follow and this book approached it beautifully.
Once a family, always a family, and you never let family down; that’s my dad’s favorite quote.
Emmanuel Madu is the eldest son of Chijioke Madu, the chief executive officer of Madu Health, and though he currently runs the marketing team, he is preparing to take over his father’s seat once he retires. But that isn’t what he wants. His dream is to take over his mother’s charity organisation but ever since her death, he’s struggled to speak up for himself. He keeps pushing forward the transfer of power but his father is determined to hand over the company once the marketing team is done with their current project.
Emmanuel was a wonderful character to follow. Having been born in a christian family, Emmanuel already had a strong foundation in his relationship with God but ever since his mother’s death, he’s struggled with maintaining that relationship. Though he still believed in God, he started: not reading his bible, not going to church, missing bible study with his sister and declining his friends’ invitations to christian events but once he met Heather and saw how dedicated she was in keeping that relationship, he stops giving excuses and dedicates his time.
The romance was adorable. They had me kicking my feet. It was a sweet friends to lovers relationship that had me praying, “God, where is my man?” (
I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. This marks one of the few romance books I’ve given five stars and with how rigidly I rate books, this is high praise
“I’m a new person. Saved. Redeemed. Sanctified.”
July 15, 2023
First thing's first, Miss Embola, I need that egusi soup recipe, pretty please?
Ok so, I read the first two books in this series last year and I have been *patiently* waiting for Heather's story ever since. Just like now I'll be waiting for Olanna's story which I'm super excited about. I fell in love with her while reading TOWSM and I imagine I'll love her even more in her own book.
As for Heather, she struggled a lot in her past, and her struggles aren't over in this book either, but she's learning to deal with them with God's help. She's also seeing a therapist and you can really see her progress from the start of the book till the end. I'm so so proud of her.
She and Emmanuel didn't start off on the right foot, but they were both dealing with their own issues. I like how they didn't rush into anything, relationship wise, it was a slower burn and felt natural.
They're perfect for one another, while Emmanuel helps Heather deal with her past, she helps him be confident enough to finally speak his mind and stand up for himself.
This book didn't shy away from some darker topics which were handled with grace. I also appreciate the warning at the start, reminding us to take a breather and pray when we feel the need to. Which is what I did after one specific chapter, hoping nothing bad would happen to Heather, and luckily Emmanuel was there to save the day. GO EMMANUEL!!!
Like the previous books, this one is rich in culture. I LOVED the Nigerian wedding, and the fact that Amara had to plan three ceremonies...I get it. My relatives did two, a civil one and a traditional/church one and I know lots of people who do two. But three, SHE MUST'VE BEEN SO STRESSED.
And I also went and looked up things I didn't already know (like the soup at the start, looks so yummy) and the Igwe song. I am actually certain I heard it before, but I'm not sure where. Either way, it's going on my playlist.
This series is really making me want to learn Yoruba and Igbo, they both sound beautiful and the glossary that's included in the book is helping me learn new words. I got a good 80 years left in me (being ambitious here, my family tends to live long), I'm sure I can learn something!!
Oh yes yes, I wanted to mention, this book (like the previous two) can be read as a standalone, but do yourself a favour and read the series in order, it's even more fun that way. Because we get updates on the two couples that came before, since they're all friends, so it's nice to see how they're doing now.
*Thank you to the amazing author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Ok so, I read the first two books in this series last year and I have been *patiently* waiting for Heather's story ever since. Just like now I'll be waiting for Olanna's story which I'm super excited about. I fell in love with her while reading TOWSM and I imagine I'll love her even more in her own book.
As for Heather, she struggled a lot in her past, and her struggles aren't over in this book either, but she's learning to deal with them with God's help. She's also seeing a therapist and you can really see her progress from the start of the book till the end. I'm so so proud of her.
She and Emmanuel didn't start off on the right foot, but they were both dealing with their own issues. I like how they didn't rush into anything, relationship wise, it was a slower burn and felt natural.
They're perfect for one another, while Emmanuel helps Heather deal with her past, she helps him be confident enough to finally speak his mind and stand up for himself.
This book didn't shy away from some darker topics which were handled with grace. I also appreciate the warning at the start, reminding us to take a breather and pray when we feel the need to. Which is what I did after one specific chapter, hoping nothing bad would happen to Heather, and luckily Emmanuel was there to save the day. GO EMMANUEL!!!
Like the previous books, this one is rich in culture. I LOVED the Nigerian wedding, and the fact that Amara had to plan three ceremonies...I get it. My relatives did two, a civil one and a traditional/church one and I know lots of people who do two. But three, SHE MUST'VE BEEN SO STRESSED.
And I also went and looked up things I didn't already know (like the soup at the start, looks so yummy) and the Igwe song. I am actually certain I heard it before, but I'm not sure where. Either way, it's going on my playlist.
This series is really making me want to learn Yoruba and Igbo, they both sound beautiful and the glossary that's included in the book is helping me learn new words. I got a good 80 years left in me (being ambitious here, my family tends to live long), I'm sure I can learn something!!
Oh yes yes, I wanted to mention, this book (like the previous two) can be read as a standalone, but do yourself a favour and read the series in order, it's even more fun that way. Because we get updates on the two couples that came before, since they're all friends, so it's nice to see how they're doing now.
*Thank you to the amazing author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
February 25, 2024
The One Who Sees Me is a beautiful story of forgiveness, family, and faith.
It’s the third book in the Love Sovereign series but it can easily be read as a standalone (although I highly recommend reading the whole series if you enjoy this one because they’re all good) and you’ll be able to follow along just fine.
This book greatly ministered to my heart and I couldn’t help but be convicted at times when it comes to the theme of forgiveness.
This line hit me so hard, it’s one of my favorites. 🥹
"How can I claim to believe in a merciful God when I don’t even try to love like Him?"
I adore the Love Sovereign series and I think Heather is the one MC I relate to the most. I love her character arc so much. She went through a lot and it was refreshing to see a new Christian navigating her walk with Jesus and battling temptation.
“Instead of putting a heavy emphasis on sin itself, keep your eyes on God. He has given us freedom from sin and freedom to live a righteous life.”
I also enjoyed watching Emmanuel’s arc as well, often I found myself relating to him a bit as well. If you struggle with being a bit of a people pleaser and striving after that Audience of One, check this book out to see how one character grapples with the same thorn in his flesh.
Emmanuel and Heather together was beautiful to see, the obstacles they were up against, together and individually. I've never read a workplace romance before but I really like how this one was written!
As always I love the godly friendships Embola writes in her stories, the wonderful support system that both MCs both have in their friends and family was delightful to see.
I highly recommend this to those who love edifying clean Christian romance novels, who may be a new Christian, and who like to see different cultures in stories (like Nigerian rep). The glossary was also much appreciated.
I had the lovely opportunity of beta-reading this book a couple of months ago and have been given a free arc. I must say it was amazing to see the new nuances and I love this story 10x more! This review is voluntary and these thoughts are my own.
As always I look forward to reading the next Embola book and cannot wait to see what's in store for a certain pair of characters. :)
It’s the third book in the Love Sovereign series but it can easily be read as a standalone (although I highly recommend reading the whole series if you enjoy this one because they’re all good) and you’ll be able to follow along just fine.
This book greatly ministered to my heart and I couldn’t help but be convicted at times when it comes to the theme of forgiveness.
This line hit me so hard, it’s one of my favorites. 🥹
"How can I claim to believe in a merciful God when I don’t even try to love like Him?"
I adore the Love Sovereign series and I think Heather is the one MC I relate to the most. I love her character arc so much. She went through a lot and it was refreshing to see a new Christian navigating her walk with Jesus and battling temptation.
“Instead of putting a heavy emphasis on sin itself, keep your eyes on God. He has given us freedom from sin and freedom to live a righteous life.”
I also enjoyed watching Emmanuel’s arc as well, often I found myself relating to him a bit as well. If you struggle with being a bit of a people pleaser and striving after that Audience of One, check this book out to see how one character grapples with the same thorn in his flesh.
Emmanuel and Heather together was beautiful to see, the obstacles they were up against, together and individually. I've never read a workplace romance before but I really like how this one was written!
As always I love the godly friendships Embola writes in her stories, the wonderful support system that both MCs both have in their friends and family was delightful to see.
I highly recommend this to those who love edifying clean Christian romance novels, who may be a new Christian, and who like to see different cultures in stories (like Nigerian rep). The glossary was also much appreciated.
I had the lovely opportunity of beta-reading this book a couple of months ago and have been given a free arc. I must say it was amazing to see the new nuances and I love this story 10x more! This review is voluntary and these thoughts are my own.
As always I look forward to reading the next Embola book and cannot wait to see what's in store for a certain pair of characters. :)
May 10, 2023
I received an eARC for review
Give this book a try and you won’t regret it!
Even though this is the third book from the Sovereign Love series, The One Who Sees Me is the first book that I have read from the series. I appreciated the fact that I was able to enjoy the story as a standalone even though the main characters from the previous books were loosely included.
This book for me got everything right! The funny thing is that contemporary romances are not a genre that I usually enjoy, but it was impossible to not fall for these characters and their stories. The switching of povs added to the beauty of the story and was not disorientating. Deep cultural appreciation shone through and I loved the addition of the glossary and name pronunciation guide. The painful stories of the characters were treated with compassion and the Bible was not used to guilt the characters into ignoring their pain, instead it was part of their healing journey from the pain. The topics truly spoke to me and as someone who is on a healing journey, I found this book to be just what I needed. The romance between Emmanuel and Heather showed what a Godly relationship should look like. Their relationship was adorable, had boundaries, was in alignment with God’s plan for their lives and God was truly the center of it. From the title of this book, The One Who Sees Me, to the story within, this book radiates hope and gives assurance that no matter what you have been through God sees you,loves you and wants you to enjoy a wonderful future in Him.
Joan Embola has officially got a new fan and I am sooo excited to read the first two books of the series and whatever comes next!
Give this book a try and you won’t regret it!
Even though this is the third book from the Sovereign Love series, The One Who Sees Me is the first book that I have read from the series. I appreciated the fact that I was able to enjoy the story as a standalone even though the main characters from the previous books were loosely included.
This book for me got everything right! The funny thing is that contemporary romances are not a genre that I usually enjoy, but it was impossible to not fall for these characters and their stories. The switching of povs added to the beauty of the story and was not disorientating. Deep cultural appreciation shone through and I loved the addition of the glossary and name pronunciation guide. The painful stories of the characters were treated with compassion and the Bible was not used to guilt the characters into ignoring their pain, instead it was part of their healing journey from the pain. The topics truly spoke to me and as someone who is on a healing journey, I found this book to be just what I needed. The romance between Emmanuel and Heather showed what a Godly relationship should look like. Their relationship was adorable, had boundaries, was in alignment with God’s plan for their lives and God was truly the center of it. From the title of this book, The One Who Sees Me, to the story within, this book radiates hope and gives assurance that no matter what you have been through God sees you,loves you and wants you to enjoy a wonderful future in Him.
Joan Embola has officially got a new fan and I am sooo excited to read the first two books of the series and whatever comes next!
June 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I like the way in which God’s love is shown and the way his relationship with each character is shown! This was an easy read and I love the way God also spoke to me through it!
May 30, 2023
I was so excited and happy as I went through the third book of the series "The One who sees me " . It's so inspiring to see how God transforms the life of Heather and makes everything right , like it's just to prove that God sees us and what we go through we just have to let him in. Indeed we are his BELOVED . I really pray for anyone struggling with faith and self esteem to take a grab of this book it's worth it , not forgetting the love they share and how they go through it in the godly way indeed this is a book to read .
More wins and more grace to the author .
More wins and more grace to the author .
September 17, 2023
Love love love!
Joan Embola introduced me to Christian Romance and her series was the first ones I fell in love with.
The faith, the relationships, the romance. You can tell she adds pieces of herself in each of her books from including her culture to major life events.
Please please please give her books a chance! They will raise your standards even high, give you hope, and empower your faith as you read ❤️
Joan Embola introduced me to Christian Romance and her series was the first ones I fell in love with.
The faith, the relationships, the romance. You can tell she adds pieces of herself in each of her books from including her culture to major life events.
Please please please give her books a chance! They will raise your standards even high, give you hope, and empower your faith as you read ❤️
September 6, 2024
As the other books from the series this one was also phenomenal... beautiful story, loved the fact that we get to see Heather happy...
I think that every Christian girlie who loves romance should read all of them, because that is how you set standards for yourself
I think that every Christian girlie who loves romance should read all of them, because that is how you set standards for yourself
April 21, 2025
This was probably my favorite book of the series so far. I took interest in Heather from book 1 and I was so glad to learn from her journey of healing and forgiveness. Manny also had some maning up to do ( pun intended 😂😂) Had me teary eyed as well
September 28, 2024
THIS WAS MY FAVOURITE ONE FROM THE SERIES SO FAR!!!!! Friends to lovers??? Count me in. I just found Heather and Emmanuel such relatable characters. And they are so inspiring with all that they’ve been through in their lives and they still trust God 100%. Their little romance was so cute, I hope they get married by book 4👀
August 11, 2023
J’ai trop aimé cette romance chrétienne, elle est simple et parfaite.
January 22, 2025
LOVE LOVE LOVE! I was so excited when I first saw the cover and I knew it would be Heathers book. I was excited to see how God would turn her from the angry, broken girl she was in book one to a strong woman of God and her journey was a beautiful one to see. The relationship between her and Emmanuel grew so beautifully and it was a joy and a blessing to read. This book made me so emotional. I cannot relate to many of the struggles that Emmanuel and Heather faced, but watching the way God never gave up on them resonated a lot with me. He truly never gives up on His children. We are His beloved creation.
April 8, 2025
This was such a good read. It was my first time reading a Christian romance novel and I loved every moment in this book, it was not boring or cringe and I related to the characters so much especially Emmanuel. I loved how it portrayed the struggles that beginner Christians or Christians in general face. E.g temptations, forgiveness, Identity
This book drew me closer to God as I became more aware of his presence and knowing that he can help me through anything in life. Thank you Joan for your obedience 🙏❤️ for it is has and keep on touching people's lives. May the Lord bless you abundantly.
This book drew me closer to God as I became more aware of his presence and knowing that he can help me through anything in life. Thank you Joan for your obedience 🙏❤️ for it is has and keep on touching people's lives. May the Lord bless you abundantly.
November 28, 2025
I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I meditated and was edified. This book was a whole experience and journey. I absolutely adore Emmanuel and Heathers relationship and individual growth, the relationship was clearly born out of Christ and I loved how realistic the struggles of being a Christian daily was portrayed. My favourite out the Sovereign Love series so far, so excited to read the fourth!!
No complaints, I adored this story🥺
No complaints, I adored this story🥺
November 22, 2024
A beautiful love story between one individual battling childhood hurt/unforgiveness & another individual battling people pleasing. With hearts open to God's wonder working power, they grow together, building each other up & those around them. It's a refreshing read that'll leave you smiling and with a reminder of God's love and grace.
October 20, 2023
I enjoyed Heather's story! It's a good reminder that God sees us and accepts us when we come as we are! I loved that it touches on common issues in the society and ways we can work through them.
Well done Joan👏🏾 now I'm patiently waiting for Olannas story😁
Well done Joan👏🏾 now I'm patiently waiting for Olannas story😁
May 11, 2024
I loved the book and the entire book series. You know those things God wants you to see in certain time of your life? This book was definitely. I had been putting off reading it for a while, and it felt right this year. God is good.
June 16, 2024
AMAZING BOOK RUN AND BUY THIS BOOK
I love how this book expresses a past of a girl who struggles with so much pain ,hurt,sin, but was forgiven by the grace of God and Jesus helped her change her life around for the better
I love how this book expresses a past of a girl who struggles with so much pain ,hurt,sin, but was forgiven by the grace of God and Jesus helped her change her life around for the better
December 8, 2024
Amazing book! Seeing Heather grow from the first book to now is just inspiring! I love how the author puts real situations that people go through and how the Lord is with you and can help you through anything!
April 7, 2025
It was refreshing to read a novel where the characters were faith driven and believed in God. It was a good story, with a powerful testimony, from Heather, to her mother. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. I will admit it got a little cheesy in the last three chapters, too much “baby” and “aww”, sorry. But it was a good and quick read.
August 3, 2023
I loved this one! This story is an amazing story of second chances, healing and restoration. Thanks Joan❤
July 18, 2024
not one, not two and not even three but God is still in the business of multiple chances! thank you Father <3
August 15, 2025
Awesome book!
January 25, 2025
THIS BOOK WOW!!! This book is so good the way Heathers issues and past trauma was written was so relatable. As Christian’s navigating childhood trauma and unforgiveness is very awkward but the way this was written it was like Heather was me. Her and Emmanuel are so cute together I love them soooo much. El Roi- the one who sees me is such a fitting title, this book made me see how the Lord sees me and helps me even when I’m unaware. Also potentially cried LOL
October 15, 2023
More!!!! I need more stories from this author on the lives of these 3 characters or new ones! It’s so funny because once I got to Heather’s story I thought why do these friends remind me of Penny Proud, Dijonay Jones, and Zoey Howzer Christian versions of course! In my top 3 books for 2023.
January 25, 2025
Another beautiful and inspiring story from Joan!! 10/10 highly recommend.
Read
June 6, 2023The one who sees me. The realization of this truth is so beautiful. God sees us. He sees our struggles, he sees our weaknesses and we are not alone.
I was excited to read about Heather. Her journey has been beautiful to read, from being the angry roommate to becoming a young lady who is driven, determined, and growing in faith.
This series keeps getting better and better. Sensitive topics such as substance misuse, human trafficking, parent abandonment, and references to domestic abuse are treated in this book. The author did a great job treating these topics well and reflecting hope in Jesus.
At a point in the story, I wished I could hug Heather and encourage her. The redemption was beautiful to read. We don't need to keep running from those struggles. God is present to help us get through them. To forgive deep hurt is not easy. Only God can help you let go. It's amazing how God works things out if we just trust Him.
Emmanuel Madu! Hero!
We often feel inadequate or scared to follow the path God is leading, all we need is to step out in faith. God has seen the end from the beginning. It's amazing how God brought the right person for his project, at the right time. I loved reading how God also used Emmanuel for Heather.
The cultural references were so fun to read. I was also glad to attend Amara's wedding and introduce Heather to a Nigerian party. The bond of friendship between Amara, Teyanna and Heather is also admirable. We all need good, Godly friends to hold us accountable.
My main takeaway from this book is
-God sees me.
-Trust God and walk in His purpose. He will supply all that is needed.
-Healing from hurt is not easy but God is always there to help.
- Be vigilant, because temptations will come when we let our guard down or when we are frustrated.
-Have good, Godly friends who can also hold you accountable.
So many lessons in this book. Thank you Joan for allowing God to use you. This series has really blessed me. I'm really excited for the next one!
I received a copy from the author. All opinions are mine.
I was excited to read about Heather. Her journey has been beautiful to read, from being the angry roommate to becoming a young lady who is driven, determined, and growing in faith.
This series keeps getting better and better. Sensitive topics such as substance misuse, human trafficking, parent abandonment, and references to domestic abuse are treated in this book. The author did a great job treating these topics well and reflecting hope in Jesus.
At a point in the story, I wished I could hug Heather and encourage her. The redemption was beautiful to read. We don't need to keep running from those struggles. God is present to help us get through them. To forgive deep hurt is not easy. Only God can help you let go. It's amazing how God works things out if we just trust Him.
Emmanuel Madu! Hero!
We often feel inadequate or scared to follow the path God is leading, all we need is to step out in faith. God has seen the end from the beginning. It's amazing how God brought the right person for his project, at the right time. I loved reading how God also used Emmanuel for Heather.
The cultural references were so fun to read. I was also glad to attend Amara's wedding and introduce Heather to a Nigerian party. The bond of friendship between Amara, Teyanna and Heather is also admirable. We all need good, Godly friends to hold us accountable.
My main takeaway from this book is
-God sees me.
-Trust God and walk in His purpose. He will supply all that is needed.
-Healing from hurt is not easy but God is always there to help.
- Be vigilant, because temptations will come when we let our guard down or when we are frustrated.
-Have good, Godly friends who can also hold you accountable.
So many lessons in this book. Thank you Joan for allowing God to use you. This series has really blessed me. I'm really excited for the next one!
I received a copy from the author. All opinions are mine.
October 10, 2023
THE STORY
Heather has been through a lot. After her mom abandoned her and her father when she was only eight, she ended up in a downward spiral of substance abuse and bad relationships. She got back on her feet after her college roommate helped her find Jesus, but now she's stuck in another bad spot. Her small business went under, forcing her to move back home - where her mother's reappearance is threatening to drag her back into the emotional darkness of her past.
Emmanuel is from a traditional Nigerian family. His father founded a successful company, which Emmanuel is expected to take over soon. But Emmanuel isn't sure that's what he wants - his heart is being pulled in another direction, towards the charity work that his mother was deeply invested in until her recent death. It's even harder for Emmanuel to figure out what the right thing to do is, because not only is he without his mother, but he's fallen away from his Christian faith ever since her death.
When Heather takes an intern position at Emmanuel's company, neither of them expect to fall for one another. Both are distracted by their family situations, and Emmanuel does his best to keep the new hire at arm's length while he figures out what to do. But he's drawn to Heather's strong faith, and Heather starts to open up to him about the pain in her life.
THE ROMANCE
These two are so cute together. Since this is a workplace romance, we get to see both Heather and Emmanuel in their elements, doing their jobs both together and apart. The way they connect with each other feels organic and smooth - they go from coworkers to friendly acquaintances to friends to something more, all over conversation and collaboration.
Both characters are Christian, and this informs their dating. They go to Bible study together and the narrative provides frequent reminders of the guardrails they have established to have the type of relationship they believe is right.
FAITH ELEMENTS
This is probably one of the Christian romances I've read with the strongest Christian flavor throughout. Both romantic leads are Christians, and their faith attracts them to one another. They attend church and Bible study together, and their reflections on Scripture are included in the narration. While Emmanuel feels that Heather helps draw him back toward church, he was never that far from God.
Christianity is also present in the subplots and side characters. The power of faith to help reconcile families is front and center, as is a story of Heather's faith helping her overcome her addictions. She sees a therapist who is more like a spiritual counselor and gives her directly faith-based advice. All the side characters are Christian and discuss things with each other from that perspective.
The specific Christianity in this story has a very evangelical bent. There are references to substitutionary atonement and elements ofup purity culture. In a few instances, when characters pray, they 'hear back' from the Divine in words or with some kind of direct guidance.
MY THOUGHTS
Okay, the first thing I loved about this book was just how hard it goes with the details and specifics. I've said before that I don't like when characters in books have jobs that are super vague - here, the company they work at is a very specific type of healthcare marketing company. And then there's Heather's cat, and Emmanuel's houseplants, and the bakery across the street from their offices.
The story is set against such a rich backdrop that everything feels completely genuine and it's so much fun to get to know the characters and their world.
Nowhere is this more evident than with Emmanuel's Nigerian culture. The food, the clothes, the wedding traditions, even specific instances of the Igbo language - it's fascinating and drew me even deeper into the world. When I was a teacher, I taught Things Fall Apart, which is set amongst the Igbo people, so it was really cool to get to revisit that culture in another novel.
I also really appreciated how loud and proud the book was about being a Christian romance. It definitely wasn't just a clean romance where a character occasionally mentions prayer - this book knows where it's coming from, and it sets up a compelling love story completely within a specific, contemporary Christian culture.
I did find that the depictions of Heather's substance abuse recovery were a bit superficial. Cravings for cigarettes are a narrative stand-in for her addiction, but in my experience, it's uncommon for a recovering addict to consider cigarettes equivalent to drugs or alcohol. We don't learn much about Heather's time as a drug and alcohol user or her experiences with substances.
Instead, the focus seems to mostly be on the fact that she had casual sex or dated men who used her and treated her with disrespect. This kind of "sex as self-harm" type of behavior is definitely serious and traumatic, but not exactly interchangeable with substance use as it seems here. The narrative's and character's attitude about sex in this context is also very wrapped up in the evangelical theology of the book.
In the third act of the book, Heather has a slight relapse into alcohol use, which snowballs into [spoilers] her being drugged and kidnapped into an apparent human trafficking scheme. This felt to me like a very abrupt shift in the book's overall tone and stakes. It's mostly a sweet workplace romance, then has there's this brief interlude of extreme danger, which is the vehicle for the characters to cement their relationship and overcome the challenges to them being together. I thought the plot would have been fine without that - there's enough drama with their families and workplace and everything.
You can probably tell from the length of this review that I had a lot of thoughts about this book - most of them good! It really gives you a lot to chew on, both theologically and in terms of the story.
Heather has been through a lot. After her mom abandoned her and her father when she was only eight, she ended up in a downward spiral of substance abuse and bad relationships. She got back on her feet after her college roommate helped her find Jesus, but now she's stuck in another bad spot. Her small business went under, forcing her to move back home - where her mother's reappearance is threatening to drag her back into the emotional darkness of her past.
Emmanuel is from a traditional Nigerian family. His father founded a successful company, which Emmanuel is expected to take over soon. But Emmanuel isn't sure that's what he wants - his heart is being pulled in another direction, towards the charity work that his mother was deeply invested in until her recent death. It's even harder for Emmanuel to figure out what the right thing to do is, because not only is he without his mother, but he's fallen away from his Christian faith ever since her death.
When Heather takes an intern position at Emmanuel's company, neither of them expect to fall for one another. Both are distracted by their family situations, and Emmanuel does his best to keep the new hire at arm's length while he figures out what to do. But he's drawn to Heather's strong faith, and Heather starts to open up to him about the pain in her life.
THE ROMANCE
These two are so cute together. Since this is a workplace romance, we get to see both Heather and Emmanuel in their elements, doing their jobs both together and apart. The way they connect with each other feels organic and smooth - they go from coworkers to friendly acquaintances to friends to something more, all over conversation and collaboration.
Both characters are Christian, and this informs their dating. They go to Bible study together and the narrative provides frequent reminders of the guardrails they have established to have the type of relationship they believe is right.
FAITH ELEMENTS
This is probably one of the Christian romances I've read with the strongest Christian flavor throughout. Both romantic leads are Christians, and their faith attracts them to one another. They attend church and Bible study together, and their reflections on Scripture are included in the narration. While Emmanuel feels that Heather helps draw him back toward church, he was never that far from God.
Christianity is also present in the subplots and side characters. The power of faith to help reconcile families is front and center, as is a story of Heather's faith helping her overcome her addictions. She sees a therapist who is more like a spiritual counselor and gives her directly faith-based advice. All the side characters are Christian and discuss things with each other from that perspective.
The specific Christianity in this story has a very evangelical bent. There are references to substitutionary atonement and elements ofup purity culture. In a few instances, when characters pray, they 'hear back' from the Divine in words or with some kind of direct guidance.
MY THOUGHTS
Okay, the first thing I loved about this book was just how hard it goes with the details and specifics. I've said before that I don't like when characters in books have jobs that are super vague - here, the company they work at is a very specific type of healthcare marketing company. And then there's Heather's cat, and Emmanuel's houseplants, and the bakery across the street from their offices.
The story is set against such a rich backdrop that everything feels completely genuine and it's so much fun to get to know the characters and their world.
Nowhere is this more evident than with Emmanuel's Nigerian culture. The food, the clothes, the wedding traditions, even specific instances of the Igbo language - it's fascinating and drew me even deeper into the world. When I was a teacher, I taught Things Fall Apart, which is set amongst the Igbo people, so it was really cool to get to revisit that culture in another novel.
I also really appreciated how loud and proud the book was about being a Christian romance. It definitely wasn't just a clean romance where a character occasionally mentions prayer - this book knows where it's coming from, and it sets up a compelling love story completely within a specific, contemporary Christian culture.
I did find that the depictions of Heather's substance abuse recovery were a bit superficial. Cravings for cigarettes are a narrative stand-in for her addiction, but in my experience, it's uncommon for a recovering addict to consider cigarettes equivalent to drugs or alcohol. We don't learn much about Heather's time as a drug and alcohol user or her experiences with substances.
Instead, the focus seems to mostly be on the fact that she had casual sex or dated men who used her and treated her with disrespect. This kind of "sex as self-harm" type of behavior is definitely serious and traumatic, but not exactly interchangeable with substance use as it seems here. The narrative's and character's attitude about sex in this context is also very wrapped up in the evangelical theology of the book.
In the third act of the book, Heather has a slight relapse into alcohol use, which snowballs into [spoilers] her being drugged and kidnapped into an apparent human trafficking scheme. This felt to me like a very abrupt shift in the book's overall tone and stakes. It's mostly a sweet workplace romance, then has there's this brief interlude of extreme danger, which is the vehicle for the characters to cement their relationship and overcome the challenges to them being together. I thought the plot would have been fine without that - there's enough drama with their families and workplace and everything.
You can probably tell from the length of this review that I had a lot of thoughts about this book - most of them good! It really gives you a lot to chew on, both theologically and in terms of the story.
July 5, 2023
This book was so so good. I loved how we get to see them both struggling with certain sins and neither of them get it right first time but they continue to put their trust in God and they are able to overcome it. It’s a great encouragement.
I can’t wait for the fourth book! Olanna’s story is already so interesting.
I can’t wait for the fourth book! Olanna’s story is already so interesting.
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