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No Substitute
First loves never last . . . except when they do.
When Amy Welsh returns to Goose Bay as a substitute teacher, she has no intention of seeing Quentin Macmillan, the man who once left her waiting in the rain clutching her suitcase and dreaming of becoming his wife.
Seventeen years later, his teenage daughter shows up in Amy’s class with plans to reunite her widowed father with the woman he has always loved. When the assignment is forgiveness and healing, will this young teacher pass the test?
When Amy Welsh returns to Goose Bay as a substitute teacher, she has no intention of seeing Quentin Macmillan, the man who once left her waiting in the rain clutching her suitcase and dreaming of becoming his wife.
Seventeen years later, his teenage daughter shows up in Amy’s class with plans to reunite her widowed father with the woman he has always loved. When the assignment is forgiveness and healing, will this young teacher pass the test?
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2012
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Susan Diane Johnson
2 books6 followersSuzie Johnson has won several awards for her inspirational novels (writing as Susan Diane Johnson), including the Maggie, Lone Star, Heart of the West, and Beacon awards, as well as finaling in the Touched by Love, Finally A Bride, Linda Howard Award for Excellence, and Virginia's Fool For Love contests. She is a member of ACFW, RWA, and is a cancer registrar at her local hospital. The mother of a wonderful young man who makes her proud every day, she lives with her husband and little kitten on an island in the Pacific Northwest. And although the beaches are rocky instead of sandy, lined with Madronas and Evergreens instead of Palm trees, and the surf is much to cold for wading, it is still the perfect spot for writing romantic fiction.
You can visit her blog, Suzie's Writing Place at http://suzieswritingplace.blogspot.com/.
also publishes under the name Suzie Johnson
You can visit her blog, Suzie's Writing Place at http://suzieswritingplace.blogspot.com/.
also publishes under the name Suzie Johnson
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 5, 2013
Amy Walsh has returned to her home town of Goose Bay, Washington, for the first time in seventeen years, covering maternity leave for the English and journalism teacher. One of her brightest students is Shayna Macmillan, who she finds is the daughter of Quentin Macmillian, the high school sweetheart who abandoned her with no explanation and married his beautiful best friend instead. Shayna has been paired with Bradley Baxter for a journalism assignment, and her father is angry when he finds out—angry enough to visit the teacher and demand she change the assignments. He’s shocked when he realises the teacher is Amy Welsh, his one-time love.
The Amazon blurb says: “When Amy Welsh returns to Goose Bay as a substitute teacher, she has no intention of seeing Quentin Macmillan, the man who once left her waiting in the rain clutching her suitcase and dreaming of becoming his wife. Seventeen years later, his teenage daughter shows up in Amy's class with plans to reunite her widowed father with the woman he has always loved.”
Don’t you love it when the blurb gives away half the plot? I actually hadn’t read the blurb before reading the book, so I thought best part about the novel was trying to work out the motivation for Shayna’s actions, because they didn’t seem in character. When the big reveal came at the end, it was a surprise to me, and it explained Shayna’s actions nicely. But it won’t be a surprise to anyone who’s read the blurb.
Amy is thirty-four going on eighteen, and I’m wasn’t convinced she had the emotional distance to see Quentin as the man he is today rather than the boy he was seventeen years ago. One minute she’s determined never to trust a man or let Quentin anywhere near her heart, the next she's flirting, going on a date with him or kissing him (and not just a peck on the cheek). Even when she was convinced she was seeing the man, not the boy, I felt she was being led by her teenage emotional self, not her adult self.
But Amy wants to know why Quentin never turned up that last night, and it seems that every time they are about to have ‘the conversation’, they put it off (and those plans kept going awry). Why not just say it?
I was expecting a different reason, so No Substitute scores a plus for the element of surprise, but when the Big Reveal came, I wasn’t convinced. It didn’t seem logical. I didn’t find it realistic that a man who is supposed to be intelligent couldn’t come up with another solution. I understand that it was supposed to cement him in our minds as being noble and loyal, but it came across to me as controlling, because that is how I had seen him acting throughout the novel, particularly in relation to his daughter. He certainly wasn’t an example of Christian forgiveness in action.
On the plus side, the writing was good and the minor characters, Shayna and Brandon, were excellent—real teenagers who I could believe. Amy, Quentin and Shayna are all Christians, and I thought the spiritual aspects and the underlying theme of forgiveness were handled well, without being preachy. A solid debut novel with several layers and a nice mix of funny and serious.
Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.
The Amazon blurb says: “When Amy Welsh returns to Goose Bay as a substitute teacher, she has no intention of seeing Quentin Macmillan, the man who once left her waiting in the rain clutching her suitcase and dreaming of becoming his wife. Seventeen years later, his teenage daughter shows up in Amy's class with plans to reunite her widowed father with the woman he has always loved.”
Don’t you love it when the blurb gives away half the plot? I actually hadn’t read the blurb before reading the book, so I thought best part about the novel was trying to work out the motivation for Shayna’s actions, because they didn’t seem in character. When the big reveal came at the end, it was a surprise to me, and it explained Shayna’s actions nicely. But it won’t be a surprise to anyone who’s read the blurb.
Amy is thirty-four going on eighteen, and I’m wasn’t convinced she had the emotional distance to see Quentin as the man he is today rather than the boy he was seventeen years ago. One minute she’s determined never to trust a man or let Quentin anywhere near her heart, the next she's flirting, going on a date with him or kissing him (and not just a peck on the cheek). Even when she was convinced she was seeing the man, not the boy, I felt she was being led by her teenage emotional self, not her adult self.
But Amy wants to know why Quentin never turned up that last night, and it seems that every time they are about to have ‘the conversation’, they put it off (and those plans kept going awry). Why not just say it?
I was expecting a different reason, so No Substitute scores a plus for the element of surprise, but when the Big Reveal came, I wasn’t convinced. It didn’t seem logical. I didn’t find it realistic that a man who is supposed to be intelligent couldn’t come up with another solution. I understand that it was supposed to cement him in our minds as being noble and loyal, but it came across to me as controlling, because that is how I had seen him acting throughout the novel, particularly in relation to his daughter. He certainly wasn’t an example of Christian forgiveness in action.
On the plus side, the writing was good and the minor characters, Shayna and Brandon, were excellent—real teenagers who I could believe. Amy, Quentin and Shayna are all Christians, and I thought the spiritual aspects and the underlying theme of forgiveness were handled well, without being preachy. A solid debut novel with several layers and a nice mix of funny and serious.
Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.
December 6, 2012
I really enjoyed reading No Substitute, a fun and light hearted reunion romance between childhood sweethearts Amy and Quentin. Amy returns to Goose Bay, hoping to get past her teenage infatuation with Quentin once and for all. She never knew the real reason why their teen romance ended and Quentin married someone else so soon after she left town. Quentin’s teenage daughter is in Amy’s class, and she sets in motion a plan to push her father and Amy together.
Amy and Quentin are fascinating characters who deal with situations that challenge their faith. Amy grows in her faith as she rediscovers Goose Bay and her love for Quentin. He is a lovable hero who is doing his best to raise his teen daughter on his own. We see Quentin’s faith in action and his willingness to forgive in difficult and challenging situations. A very cute duck named Rufus also features in the story, set in Washington State. I highly recommend this book to those looking for an entertaining and inspiring Christian romance with a forgiveness theme.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
Amy and Quentin are fascinating characters who deal with situations that challenge their faith. Amy grows in her faith as she rediscovers Goose Bay and her love for Quentin. He is a lovable hero who is doing his best to raise his teen daughter on his own. We see Quentin’s faith in action and his willingness to forgive in difficult and challenging situations. A very cute duck named Rufus also features in the story, set in Washington State. I highly recommend this book to those looking for an entertaining and inspiring Christian romance with a forgiveness theme.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
July 8, 2013
Firstly thanks to the author for my copy.
This is a sweet romance. In this book we see Amy teaching back in the town she went to high school. Her high school sweetheart broke her heart and is still living in the town. She is teaching his daughter Shayna who asks her on the on the first page is it true you use to date my father. Her father Quentin wants to talk to Amy about Shayna. I found the story interesting and was curious to know why Quentin broke her heart. I enjoyed the interaction between Amy and Quentin and also Shayna. I found the book easy to read as it flowed well and did enjoy the outcome. Look forward to reading more of Susan's books. If you like inspirational romance I am sure you will enjoy this book.
This is a sweet romance. In this book we see Amy teaching back in the town she went to high school. Her high school sweetheart broke her heart and is still living in the town. She is teaching his daughter Shayna who asks her on the on the first page is it true you use to date my father. Her father Quentin wants to talk to Amy about Shayna. I found the story interesting and was curious to know why Quentin broke her heart. I enjoyed the interaction between Amy and Quentin and also Shayna. I found the book easy to read as it flowed well and did enjoy the outcome. Look forward to reading more of Susan's books. If you like inspirational romance I am sure you will enjoy this book.
December 20, 2012
What's not to love about this book? It's true love (high school sweethearts) given a second chance after 17 years. Plus a duck named Rufus! Love and forgiveness - with trust issues thrown it - best describes this book. Don't be fooled into thinking its going to be predictable. Sure, there were a few things I saw coming, but there were just as many that went a completely different direction. I also felt the connection between Quentin and Amy. Quick - because you want to keep reading to see how it all ends - easy, feel good book! I hope the author writes more books just like this one.
September 24, 2019
"I'm going to be straight with you, I was not a fan of this novel. Now I'm going to put my professional hat on and TRY to nicely explain to you my view point about it. Yet, it can be hard to do so without ranting a bit so if you want to skip this section that’s okay.
1.5 out of 5 stars. A woman goes back to the town she lived in as a teen in hopes of overcoming her past and the man who left her behind. Yet, what she finds is a yearning for more still … will she get what she yearns for or finally move on with her life.
Though I did root for the main characters, Amy & Quentin, to get back together and their romance to flourish, I was not a fan of this novel. Therefore, if you are looking for a bunch of positives to read about stop this review here..."
Read more of this review and TWO TEASERS here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2019/09/what-was-i-thinking-no-substitute-by.html
1.5 out of 5 stars. A woman goes back to the town she lived in as a teen in hopes of overcoming her past and the man who left her behind. Yet, what she finds is a yearning for more still … will she get what she yearns for or finally move on with her life.
Though I did root for the main characters, Amy & Quentin, to get back together and their romance to flourish, I was not a fan of this novel. Therefore, if you are looking for a bunch of positives to read about stop this review here..."
Read more of this review and TWO TEASERS here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2019/09/what-was-i-thinking-no-substitute-by.html
June 16, 2016
"No Substitute" by Susan Diane Johnson is a title from White Rose Publishing, which is a division of the Pelican Book Group. I think that I've never read anything from White Rose before, so this was a new experience to see what their offerings were like. There are several free e-books offered on one of Pelican Book Group's webpages, so I'll have to check some of those out sometime in the future. What confused me was that the name of this publishing group is very similar to Pelican Publishing, which is a different entity that has the familiar pelican logo on its books. Pelican Book Group, however, publishes solely Christian imprints which mainly focus on fiction, whereas, Pelican Publishing publishes titles belonging to several different genres in fiction and non-fiction.
In "No Substitute," Amy Welsh, is a (wait for it...) substitute teacher who is covering for another educator who is on maternity leave. She finds herself teaching a class which Shayna MacMillan is enrolled in. Shayna is not just any girl: she is the daughter of Amy's ex-boyfriend, Quentin, a man who Amy has never been able to let go in her heart.
Quentin, a widower, can't believe that Amy Welsh is back in town. She's the woman who has always owned his heart, and if he can get a second chance with her, he's going to take it. However, Amy is reluctant to pick things up with him again. She left town years before when she found out that Quentin had married another girl three months after he and Amy were supposed to elope when they were teens. Taking on the job in her hometown, Goose Bay, is a necessity since Amy can't find any teaching jobs elsewhere. The short term position is also giving her a chance to take time out to make a decision whether or not to accept a marriage proposal from Jared Parker, a man who is waiting for her answer in Issaquah, Washington, where Amy had built a life for herself since leaving Goose Bay.
Amy and Quentin are thrown together when Quentin requests her help in monitoring Shayna's interactions with a teenage boy, Bradley Baxter, whom Quentin does not approve of. Quentin is feeling inadequate to the task of raising a daughter who is growing up too quickly in his eyes. Spending time together draws our two protagonists together, but Amy still harbors anger and distrust towards Quentin. Why did he refuse to elope with her seventeen years ago even though he claimed to have loved her then, yet turn around and marry another girl so soon after his refusal to marry Amy?
I'd probably categorize this story as one where the protagonists are separated by a misunderstanding, circumstances beyond either's control, and secrets which Quentin does not feel that he can share without hurting his daughter or Amy. After reading the whole story, I wish that I could pick Quentin's brain over a few things. Without giving too much away, I understand why Quentin refused to elope with Amy, and I can confirm that he did love her then. However, I also don't understand why he didn't do a similar type of soul searching with the Lord over the question of whether or not he should have married the other girl as he did over whether or not to elope with Amy. From the novel, it seemed that he agonized with the Lord over doing the right thing with Amy, but we don't really hear whether he struggled in prayer with the Lord over marrying the second girl. Perhaps he did, and we, as readers, could make that assumption, but the vagueness over this point niggles me a bit.
The other thing that I wondered as I read the novel was why Quentin thought that he could actually continue to put off answering Amy's questions about what happened in the past, because we know that he will need to do it sooner or later if he truly wants to be with her. I kept thinking, "The truth will set you free! The truth will set you free!" If Amy loves him, she'll get over it and forgive him, even if she needs time to take it all in. However, Quentin is a man in denial: he knows what he needs to do, but he's afraid to lose her when he tells her. The irony is that he's going to lose her for sure if he doesn't tell her.
It's probably no surprise for you to know that I have a soft spot for stories that involve teachers. I enjoyed reading "No Substitute," although at times, I wanted to strangle both protagonists at certain points for their stubbornness. You already know about what I thought about Quentin, but I haven't mentioned much about Amy. I liked her character. As a former teacher, it was a bit amusing to read about her experiences in school, because yes, kids sometimes act like the way they are described in the book. They can be silly, sassy, smart alecky, sly, fun, and fragile, although, probably not all at the same time. I liked Amy's patience with both students and adults (in other words, parents, and namely Quentin), but I wanted to shake her shoulders when her anger and hurt got the better of her when Quentin finally got around to talking to her about the past. Her reactions are not surprising, and it lent to the drama, but I was thinking, "Come on, Amy...he's finally going to tell you everything after putting you off for sooooooo looooonnnnnnggggggg...and you're going to walk out on him before I can find out what he's going to say!"
As I mentioned before, I liked reading "No Substitute." I'd consider reading more from Susan Diane Johnson in the future.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of "No Substitute" by Susan Diane Johnson from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
This review also appears on my blog at:
http://whatiscbreading.blogspot.ca
In "No Substitute," Amy Welsh, is a (wait for it...) substitute teacher who is covering for another educator who is on maternity leave. She finds herself teaching a class which Shayna MacMillan is enrolled in. Shayna is not just any girl: she is the daughter of Amy's ex-boyfriend, Quentin, a man who Amy has never been able to let go in her heart.
Quentin, a widower, can't believe that Amy Welsh is back in town. She's the woman who has always owned his heart, and if he can get a second chance with her, he's going to take it. However, Amy is reluctant to pick things up with him again. She left town years before when she found out that Quentin had married another girl three months after he and Amy were supposed to elope when they were teens. Taking on the job in her hometown, Goose Bay, is a necessity since Amy can't find any teaching jobs elsewhere. The short term position is also giving her a chance to take time out to make a decision whether or not to accept a marriage proposal from Jared Parker, a man who is waiting for her answer in Issaquah, Washington, where Amy had built a life for herself since leaving Goose Bay.
Amy and Quentin are thrown together when Quentin requests her help in monitoring Shayna's interactions with a teenage boy, Bradley Baxter, whom Quentin does not approve of. Quentin is feeling inadequate to the task of raising a daughter who is growing up too quickly in his eyes. Spending time together draws our two protagonists together, but Amy still harbors anger and distrust towards Quentin. Why did he refuse to elope with her seventeen years ago even though he claimed to have loved her then, yet turn around and marry another girl so soon after his refusal to marry Amy?
I'd probably categorize this story as one where the protagonists are separated by a misunderstanding, circumstances beyond either's control, and secrets which Quentin does not feel that he can share without hurting his daughter or Amy. After reading the whole story, I wish that I could pick Quentin's brain over a few things. Without giving too much away, I understand why Quentin refused to elope with Amy, and I can confirm that he did love her then. However, I also don't understand why he didn't do a similar type of soul searching with the Lord over the question of whether or not he should have married the other girl as he did over whether or not to elope with Amy. From the novel, it seemed that he agonized with the Lord over doing the right thing with Amy, but we don't really hear whether he struggled in prayer with the Lord over marrying the second girl. Perhaps he did, and we, as readers, could make that assumption, but the vagueness over this point niggles me a bit.
The other thing that I wondered as I read the novel was why Quentin thought that he could actually continue to put off answering Amy's questions about what happened in the past, because we know that he will need to do it sooner or later if he truly wants to be with her. I kept thinking, "The truth will set you free! The truth will set you free!" If Amy loves him, she'll get over it and forgive him, even if she needs time to take it all in. However, Quentin is a man in denial: he knows what he needs to do, but he's afraid to lose her when he tells her. The irony is that he's going to lose her for sure if he doesn't tell her.
It's probably no surprise for you to know that I have a soft spot for stories that involve teachers. I enjoyed reading "No Substitute," although at times, I wanted to strangle both protagonists at certain points for their stubbornness. You already know about what I thought about Quentin, but I haven't mentioned much about Amy. I liked her character. As a former teacher, it was a bit amusing to read about her experiences in school, because yes, kids sometimes act like the way they are described in the book. They can be silly, sassy, smart alecky, sly, fun, and fragile, although, probably not all at the same time. I liked Amy's patience with both students and adults (in other words, parents, and namely Quentin), but I wanted to shake her shoulders when her anger and hurt got the better of her when Quentin finally got around to talking to her about the past. Her reactions are not surprising, and it lent to the drama, but I was thinking, "Come on, Amy...he's finally going to tell you everything after putting you off for sooooooo looooonnnnnnggggggg...and you're going to walk out on him before I can find out what he's going to say!"
As I mentioned before, I liked reading "No Substitute." I'd consider reading more from Susan Diane Johnson in the future.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of "No Substitute" by Susan Diane Johnson from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
This review also appears on my blog at:
http://whatiscbreading.blogspot.ca
June 26, 2014
A nice quick read. It deals with how one needs to learn to love
themselves and accept whom they are in order to make the
changes to have succeed in life and live a happy existence.
The story totters between the past and present love life of Amy
Welsh and Quentin Macmillian. Both are well developed
characters with a chemistry that is undeniable.
They were high school sweethearts. They were to meet to run
away together but Quentin left Amy sit never showing up.
Amy’s family moved from Goose Point the next day. Soon after
Quentin married his best friend, Karen.
Now 17 yrs later, Amy moves back as a substitute teacher for an
English and Journalism teacher on maternity leave. What a
Surprise to find Shayna Macmillian daughter of Quentin in her
class!!! The last thing Amy would have expected.
Why did Quentin leave her stranded? Why did he marry Karen
so soon after she left? Why did Karen die? What is going on
with his daughter and a boy Quentin had to fire? Why is Quentin
company losing bids? What going to happen to Rufus the duck
Who provides humor to the story? Was Karen a substitute for
Amy in Quentin’s heart?
Besides being a light read…the theme of forgiveness and faith
abounds throughout the story.
I received this book from book fun.org. My opinion is my own.
themselves and accept whom they are in order to make the
changes to have succeed in life and live a happy existence.
The story totters between the past and present love life of Amy
Welsh and Quentin Macmillian. Both are well developed
characters with a chemistry that is undeniable.
They were high school sweethearts. They were to meet to run
away together but Quentin left Amy sit never showing up.
Amy’s family moved from Goose Point the next day. Soon after
Quentin married his best friend, Karen.
Now 17 yrs later, Amy moves back as a substitute teacher for an
English and Journalism teacher on maternity leave. What a
Surprise to find Shayna Macmillian daughter of Quentin in her
class!!! The last thing Amy would have expected.
Why did Quentin leave her stranded? Why did he marry Karen
so soon after she left? Why did Karen die? What is going on
with his daughter and a boy Quentin had to fire? Why is Quentin
company losing bids? What going to happen to Rufus the duck
Who provides humor to the story? Was Karen a substitute for
Amy in Quentin’s heart?
Besides being a light read…the theme of forgiveness and faith
abounds throughout the story.
I received this book from book fun.org. My opinion is my own.
July 6, 2014
No Substitute is the second book by Susan Diane Johnson that I have read. Loved them both. This book is well written with well developed characters including Rufus the duck. I really enjoyed reading this wonderful and lighthearted romance story that includes trust, forgiveness, betrayal, faith and love.
Amy Walsh and Quentin MacMillian were teenagers in love and planned to tun away and get married. She waited and waited for him to pick her up but he never came. Heart broken she left town the next day with her parents. After 17 years she returns to Goose Bay to be a substitute teacher and discovers Quentin's daughter is in her class. One reason to come back was to end her feelings for Quentin and move on with her life. However his daughter has plans to get her widowed father and Amy back together. They find that they do still care of each other.
Quentin whose wife passed away is trying to be the best father he can to his daughter Shayna. He wants to tell Amy why he left her waiting all those years ago and explain why he married so soon after they broke up.
There is a lot going on in this story that I haven't touched on as I do not want to reveal to much.
I recommend this book.
I received this book from bookfun.org for my honest opinion and review.
Amy Walsh and Quentin MacMillian were teenagers in love and planned to tun away and get married. She waited and waited for him to pick her up but he never came. Heart broken she left town the next day with her parents. After 17 years she returns to Goose Bay to be a substitute teacher and discovers Quentin's daughter is in her class. One reason to come back was to end her feelings for Quentin and move on with her life. However his daughter has plans to get her widowed father and Amy back together. They find that they do still care of each other.
Quentin whose wife passed away is trying to be the best father he can to his daughter Shayna. He wants to tell Amy why he left her waiting all those years ago and explain why he married so soon after they broke up.
There is a lot going on in this story that I haven't touched on as I do not want to reveal to much.
I recommend this book.
I received this book from bookfun.org for my honest opinion and review.
June 8, 2014
No Substitute is a sweet story about past hurts and taking hold of the chance to forgive and be forgiven. I found this book to be very enjoyable and easy to read. All of the characters were well-written and interesting, and the main characters had some big issues in their past to work through before any future together could be possible.
Amy Welsh carries around a lot of emotional baggage and old hurts from when she lost her first love, Quentin, to another girl. Seventeen years later, she still doesn’t understand what went wrong and has never been able to move on to loving anyone else. Quentin feels horrible about how things ended years ago, but also has hope that there could be a chance to find love with Amy again.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Christian contemporary fiction. The romance is sweet, the characters are likeable, and it is a satisfying read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network, in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
You can read this review on my blog at:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...
Amy Welsh carries around a lot of emotional baggage and old hurts from when she lost her first love, Quentin, to another girl. Seventeen years later, she still doesn’t understand what went wrong and has never been able to move on to loving anyone else. Quentin feels horrible about how things ended years ago, but also has hope that there could be a chance to find love with Amy again.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Christian contemporary fiction. The romance is sweet, the characters are likeable, and it is a satisfying read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network, in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
You can read this review on my blog at:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...
June 25, 2014
Trust:forgive;repeat often.
Amy Welsh is a permanent substitute in her high school home town. She has returned to see if she has purged her high school boyfriend from her heart. It quickly becomes obvious Quentin Macmillan is still in possession of her heart, and he has feelings for Amy as well. However, he deeply hurt Amy 17 years ago and Amy cannot quite overcome that monumental issue. Quentin also has a teenage daughter in Amy's class. This leads to all kinds of complications in Amy and Quentin's relationships. Can Amy trust Quentin with her heart this time around? What secrets are threatening to destroy Amy and Quentin's relationship? What secrets are others around them, such as his daughter and employees hiding? Will Amy and Quentin let God's forgiveness overflow into others' lives, or will others' actions forever victimize them?
This was a fun read,but very frustrating to have Amy vacillate so much in her feelings. However, she IS of the female persuasion!!
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review.
Amy Welsh is a permanent substitute in her high school home town. She has returned to see if she has purged her high school boyfriend from her heart. It quickly becomes obvious Quentin Macmillan is still in possession of her heart, and he has feelings for Amy as well. However, he deeply hurt Amy 17 years ago and Amy cannot quite overcome that monumental issue. Quentin also has a teenage daughter in Amy's class. This leads to all kinds of complications in Amy and Quentin's relationships. Can Amy trust Quentin with her heart this time around? What secrets are threatening to destroy Amy and Quentin's relationship? What secrets are others around them, such as his daughter and employees hiding? Will Amy and Quentin let God's forgiveness overflow into others' lives, or will others' actions forever victimize them?
This was a fun read,but very frustrating to have Amy vacillate so much in her feelings. However, she IS of the female persuasion!!
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2014
Amy and Quentin are high school sweethearts who meet again 17 years later when Amy becomes a substitute teacher at Quentin’s daughter school. Can they forgive each other for the past? Can they make their way back to each other?
This is a very sweet book, that I enjoyed very much. Amy and Quentin are very likeable people and I was rooting for them to reunite. This was a very easy, pleasurable read and I highly recommend it. Add this book to a cup of tea and a porch swing in the rain – a wonderful afternoon!
I received this book from bookfun.org for my honest review
This is a very sweet book, that I enjoyed very much. Amy and Quentin are very likeable people and I was rooting for them to reunite. This was a very easy, pleasurable read and I highly recommend it. Add this book to a cup of tea and a porch swing in the rain – a wonderful afternoon!
I received this book from bookfun.org for my honest review
August 18, 2014
This was a great book. I have actually known someone this happened to...but different ending.
This book deals with young love lost. Then rediscovered years later. There is forgiveness, pain, distrust, love, grudges all tangled together. It was wonderful to see how God works to untangled all these negatives. We just need to have an open heart to listen and obey.
I would definitely read other books by this author. Her style is different from other books which I really like. It was a welcome change.
I was given this book free from bookfun.org for my honest review.
This book deals with young love lost. Then rediscovered years later. There is forgiveness, pain, distrust, love, grudges all tangled together. It was wonderful to see how God works to untangled all these negatives. We just need to have an open heart to listen and obey.
I would definitely read other books by this author. Her style is different from other books which I really like. It was a welcome change.
I was given this book free from bookfun.org for my honest review.
April 25, 2016
A truly beautiful novel about love and forgiveness.
Amy has decided to return to where she grew up to finally put Quentin in the past so she can move on with her life. She has returned as a tutor for the journalism class and one of her students is Quentin's daughter who he believes is being led astray by a male student in the class. He decides to enrol Amy in the hunt to see if this is actually happening.
I loved this story and read it in one sitting. It was beautifully told and I am going to follow up this author and see what else she has written.
ARC from NetGalley
Amy has decided to return to where she grew up to finally put Quentin in the past so she can move on with her life. She has returned as a tutor for the journalism class and one of her students is Quentin's daughter who he believes is being led astray by a male student in the class. He decides to enrol Amy in the hunt to see if this is actually happening.
I loved this story and read it in one sitting. It was beautifully told and I am going to follow up this author and see what else she has written.
ARC from NetGalley
September 9, 2014
No Substitute is a great read by Susan Diane Johnson. It is a short, enjoyable story of a substitute teacher who runs into an old relationship. It deals with how to forgive and be forgiven. The story line is old but is given a fresh life and a bright perspective. There is definitely plenty of romance with the baseline of trust building, and faith.I can't wait to read more from this author.
I received this book from the publisher and the Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received this book from the publisher and the Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.
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