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Together With You
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?
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?
331 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2015
46 people are currently reading
955 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Bylin
48 books495 followersIf someone had told me twenty years ago that I'd be the author of 20 books, I'd have fallen off my chair. I’m still amazed to see my novels on Goodreads, Amazon, and occasionally the shelves at Walmart.
More than anything, I delight in telling stories that tackle tough issues with faith and compassion. One my most challenging books, Together With You, won the RWA FHL Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary Romance. I was equally thrilled when The Two of Us made it to the shelves in Target as part of the "Target Recommends" program.
Before writing contemporaries, I wrote westerns for Harlequin Historical and Love Inspired Historical. The LIHs are clean reads. The Harlequin Historicals (no brown banner like the LIHs) were written for the mainstream market. They have Christian themes but gritty content. Some readers won’t care for the language and love scenes. (If you want to know why I wrote them, the story is on my website.)
My two most recent books are independently published. When He Found Me and A Gift to Cherish are a mix of romance and women’s fiction and part of The Road to Refuge series. These stories are particularly close to my heart.
My husband and I now make our home in Lexington, Kentucky, but I’m a California girl at heart. I hope you enjoy my books! For more information, visit https://www.victoriabylin.com
More than anything, I delight in telling stories that tackle tough issues with faith and compassion. One my most challenging books, Together With You, won the RWA FHL Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary Romance. I was equally thrilled when The Two of Us made it to the shelves in Target as part of the "Target Recommends" program.
Before writing contemporaries, I wrote westerns for Harlequin Historical and Love Inspired Historical. The LIHs are clean reads. The Harlequin Historicals (no brown banner like the LIHs) were written for the mainstream market. They have Christian themes but gritty content. Some readers won’t care for the language and love scenes. (If you want to know why I wrote them, the story is on my website.)
My two most recent books are independently published. When He Found Me and A Gift to Cherish are a mix of romance and women’s fiction and part of The Road to Refuge series. These stories are particularly close to my heart.
My husband and I now make our home in Lexington, Kentucky, but I’m a California girl at heart. I hope you enjoy my books! For more information, visit https://www.victoriabylin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
February 15, 2017
by Andrea Renee Cox
The premise for Together with You sounded promising, but I was disappointed by the first chapter. I didn't realize this book focused on the child that came from an affair. Yes, life is messy, but that doesn't mean I want to read about such promiscuity. Still, I tried to keep an open mind. While I enjoyed parts of this book (the innocent relationship between Taylor and Kyle, the growth and maturity of Eric, and the marine-life angle), it really came off as a dissertation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and its various acronyms and relations. It also morphed into a thick debate on religion for the back third of the novel, which annoyed me simply for the fact that the nonbeliever was so pushy that his way was correct and the girl should just forget her morals and marry a nonbeliever. I couldn't buy into that, especially when he said he respected her faith. If he did, he wouldn't have pushed for her to go against a core piece of it.
I appreciate the author's heart for special-needs children. It's clear that Ms. Bylin cares deeply for them. A lighter touch on the material would have been more enjoyable to read, but I thought she did well creating the character of Penny. Very eye-opening and delightful, though challenging, girl.
I would try another of Ms. Bylin's books to see if a different theme lent itself better to her style of writing.
This is my unbiased and honest opinion.
The premise for Together with You sounded promising, but I was disappointed by the first chapter. I didn't realize this book focused on the child that came from an affair. Yes, life is messy, but that doesn't mean I want to read about such promiscuity. Still, I tried to keep an open mind. While I enjoyed parts of this book (the innocent relationship between Taylor and Kyle, the growth and maturity of Eric, and the marine-life angle), it really came off as a dissertation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and its various acronyms and relations. It also morphed into a thick debate on religion for the back third of the novel, which annoyed me simply for the fact that the nonbeliever was so pushy that his way was correct and the girl should just forget her morals and marry a nonbeliever. I couldn't buy into that, especially when he said he respected her faith. If he did, he wouldn't have pushed for her to go against a core piece of it.
I appreciate the author's heart for special-needs children. It's clear that Ms. Bylin cares deeply for them. A lighter touch on the material would have been more enjoyable to read, but I thought she did well creating the character of Penny. Very eye-opening and delightful, though challenging, girl.
I would try another of Ms. Bylin's books to see if a different theme lent itself better to her style of writing.
This is my unbiased and honest opinion.
April 10, 2015
I am so blown away by this book! I don't even know where to begin --- or what to say. It's a book about imperfect people - especially Ryan. He didn't believe in God. He had an affair resulting in the birth of his daughter --- born with FASD - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. His marriage ended as a result of the affair and his daughters mother was killed in a car accident --- leaving him to raise his five year old special needs daughter. He doesn't have a clue how to relate to or handle his daughter or his two sons. That's where Carly enters the picture. She becomes the nanny
I know it sounds like a horrible storyline, but it's not. Sure, mistakes were made, resulting in the end of a marriage, death of a mother, but God had a plan --- for all of them. You will fall in love with Ryan - yes, even with all of his past mistakes - and Carly. Penny, the daughter, taught me so much about FASD. Although a secondary charactor, I loved Carly's dad. His strength and wisdom - a preacher from Kentucky.
The storyline will keep you turning pages. The romance is pure. Sweet. It evolved. You felt the chemistry. Appreciated Carly's faith. The ending - when God got ahold of Ryan - Wow! The epilogue was --- well, sigh worthy!
Highly recommended. I really don't think you'll be disappointed with this book. It was that good ---
I know it sounds like a horrible storyline, but it's not. Sure, mistakes were made, resulting in the end of a marriage, death of a mother, but God had a plan --- for all of them. You will fall in love with Ryan - yes, even with all of his past mistakes - and Carly. Penny, the daughter, taught me so much about FASD. Although a secondary charactor, I loved Carly's dad. His strength and wisdom - a preacher from Kentucky.
The storyline will keep you turning pages. The romance is pure. Sweet. It evolved. You felt the chemistry. Appreciated Carly's faith. The ending - when God got ahold of Ryan - Wow! The epilogue was --- well, sigh worthy!
Highly recommended. I really don't think you'll be disappointed with this book. It was that good ---
May 12, 2020
I read Until I Found You by this author a few years back and enjoyed it so much that I promptly bought a stack of her books. I’ve had a hard time finding contemporary fiction I like and I was so impressed by the other one I made a wrong assumption about this one also being just as great, so I went in with too many expectations.
First off, it’s a romance between a Christian and a non-Christian and I wasn’t expecting that. Furthermore, after a serial killer suddenly kills a neighbor of hers, she moves in? Much page time goes into telling that “nothing happened” but they continue to play with fire as their attraction grows. This is something that is contrary to my beliefs and a situation I will never be okay with in a fictional novel, that a fictional guy and gal would live together before marriage, especially when they are both attracted to each other. (Back cover copy compares it to Sound of Music...no. There were other servants present in that situation.)
Second, the other major driver of the story is a love-child who has FASD. While I fully agree that this condition deserves attention, it cheapens the impact when the cause is completely misrepresented. Did the author not research or did she choose to ignore the facts? A one-night drunk is not going to hurt any baby in a woman who does not habitually drink or often drink to excess. A woman who gets drunk and sleeps with a guy “accidentally” is not going to wake up with an FASD baby. It takes drunkenness and habitual drinking for the cellular structure to damage a growing child. Approaching the issue with scare tactics is only going to scare women into thinking they are going to have a crippled child as the result of one night’s intoxication and that has never been the case. Scare stories of this sort are more likely to result in worried mothers aborting children for fear of disability (as some uninformed doctors have been known to advise).
I really wanted Carly to make better choices and forgive herself for a small event from her past, and I wanted Ryan to repent and get his life right, so I continued reading even with these major issues. It’s a feel-good ending and everything is hunky-dory in the end, so at least the ending was good.
One other comparatively minor gripe: Ryan is attempting to stop smoking. Carly’s father is referred to as “he might be a preacher, but he’ll be the first to sit down and give you a cigar and smoke along with you” and I felt that sent a really weird message. Sure enough, when Carly’s father shows up, Ryan stops trying to quit smoking and subsequently smokes “hundreds” of cigars with him while getting his life right. I don’t like it when books portray influential characters encouraging another character to make unhealthy choices and to continue addictions.
First off, it’s a romance between a Christian and a non-Christian and I wasn’t expecting that. Furthermore, after a serial killer suddenly kills a neighbor of hers, she moves in? Much page time goes into telling that “nothing happened” but they continue to play with fire as their attraction grows. This is something that is contrary to my beliefs and a situation I will never be okay with in a fictional novel, that a fictional guy and gal would live together before marriage, especially when they are both attracted to each other. (Back cover copy compares it to Sound of Music...no. There were other servants present in that situation.)
Second, the other major driver of the story is a love-child who has FASD. While I fully agree that this condition deserves attention, it cheapens the impact when the cause is completely misrepresented. Did the author not research or did she choose to ignore the facts? A one-night drunk is not going to hurt any baby in a woman who does not habitually drink or often drink to excess. A woman who gets drunk and sleeps with a guy “accidentally” is not going to wake up with an FASD baby. It takes drunkenness and habitual drinking for the cellular structure to damage a growing child. Approaching the issue with scare tactics is only going to scare women into thinking they are going to have a crippled child as the result of one night’s intoxication and that has never been the case. Scare stories of this sort are more likely to result in worried mothers aborting children for fear of disability (as some uninformed doctors have been known to advise).
I really wanted Carly to make better choices and forgive herself for a small event from her past, and I wanted Ryan to repent and get his life right, so I continued reading even with these major issues. It’s a feel-good ending and everything is hunky-dory in the end, so at least the ending was good.
One other comparatively minor gripe: Ryan is attempting to stop smoking. Carly’s father is referred to as “he might be a preacher, but he’ll be the first to sit down and give you a cigar and smoke along with you” and I felt that sent a really weird message. Sure enough, when Carly’s father shows up, Ryan stops trying to quit smoking and subsequently smokes “hundreds” of cigars with him while getting his life right. I don’t like it when books portray influential characters encouraging another character to make unhealthy choices and to continue addictions.
July 8, 2015
This is an emotionally-charged story that had my gut wrench and heart hurt as Dr. Ryan Tremaine finds himself in a situation no parent wants to ever be in; hearing the PA scream there is a Code Adam and you see them lock the mall doors. The author masterfully invites readers into this characters’ family drama which reveals the good, the bad and the messy.
Ryan is trying to cope with the fact that the affair he had destroyed his family and created a precious little girl that suffered from FASD. Penny is five years old and on the outside looks perfect in every way; but on the inside she doesn’t see things, feel things or process anything like everyone else.
Carly Mason is a store manager of a toy store and goes through the required procedures of a Code Adam drill; when she spots Penny. The little girl is in the process of melting down when her father and two siblings find her. Carly recognized the signs of FASD and knew how to deal with the situation she starts to hum. Ryan hears her hum, “Amazing Grace! He didn’t believe in God, but he knew the words to the old hymn. His mother had been quietly faithful in the face of his father’s intellectual pride, and she’d taken Ryan to church until he was old enough to protest.” He watched as Penny relaxed. It worked to his surprise. Ryan then tries to hire Carly to be Penny’s nanny on the spot. He had been thru 4 nannies just that week. No one understood his little girl.
Carly prays about the situation and talks to her dad. Her heart goes out to this little one and feels she can help. She was a social worker who studied this syndrome in college and interned at a facility that helped girls like Penny.
Penny is still trying to figure out what the last nanny said to her when Carly shows up. The nanny had asked her to “make her bed.” Penny said to herself, “Make it do what?” Things like that happened all the time. She didn’t care about making her bed, whatever that meant, but she cared a lot about a place called heaven Aunt DeeDee said her mother was there.” And Penny wanted to see her mom.
Ryan is determined to be a better father than he’s been in the past. He’s made some big mistakes and is trying to make things right and pay for those sins. He wanted to have this be the best summer together ever. Dr. Ryan Tremaine is determined to complete a long list of goals he has for his family. He wants to make great memories and connect with this kids on a deeper level.
The bible states that they will know we are Christians by our love. Carly brings a love and understanding to Penny, Ryan and his two teen boys that has been missing. They feel united for the first time. I liked how the author shows how relationships take time effort and need to be intentional to work well.
“Ryan knew Carly was a Christian, but what exactly did that mean? Hands off until marriage? No one he knew lived that way, but he had to admit, there was a time for self-control…Ryan came from a world where adults chose their own moralities.”
Carly says to Ryan, “It’s just that you and I don’t see things the same way.”
“What things?”
She looks at him, “Almost everything! ..they were back to the faith issue – her belief that human beings made mistakes and needed a savior and his belief that he controlled his own destiny. Carly wasn’t ready to talk to Ryan about Penny and how she was going to explain heaven to this little one without talking about her faith.
This author does a brilliant job of showing life from both perspectives without being preachy! Loved that! This is a gripping story of a man who is willing to fight for his family; who’s trying to learn from his mistakes and might even think about forgiving himself and others. Carly is determined to do the right thing in hard times; wanted to head home to her small town in Kentucky once she completed her education. She wanted to show the love of God to those she met; is ready forgive others but forgiving herself was more challenging.
This author doesn’t beat around the bush with tough topics like, FASD and how it’s preventable, people make mistakes but it doesn’t have to define them, pre-material sex, affairs, existence of God, death, forgiveness, love and the fact that relationships take time, effort and can’t be rushed. We are all a work in progress.
This story was captivating on so many levels. My heart ached for this family as they tried to put the pieces back together. They almost come unglued by a well-meaning Aunt DeeDee who is not a team player. This author shows the nitty-gritty of how life isn’t easy but also shows it’s important to keep the main thing the main thing. This is the first novel I’ve read by this author it won’t be the last. There are a few surprised for readers too! I highly recommend this novel for a great read and one that would be wonderful for a book club pick.
Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsored by publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
Ryan is trying to cope with the fact that the affair he had destroyed his family and created a precious little girl that suffered from FASD. Penny is five years old and on the outside looks perfect in every way; but on the inside she doesn’t see things, feel things or process anything like everyone else.
Carly Mason is a store manager of a toy store and goes through the required procedures of a Code Adam drill; when she spots Penny. The little girl is in the process of melting down when her father and two siblings find her. Carly recognized the signs of FASD and knew how to deal with the situation she starts to hum. Ryan hears her hum, “Amazing Grace! He didn’t believe in God, but he knew the words to the old hymn. His mother had been quietly faithful in the face of his father’s intellectual pride, and she’d taken Ryan to church until he was old enough to protest.” He watched as Penny relaxed. It worked to his surprise. Ryan then tries to hire Carly to be Penny’s nanny on the spot. He had been thru 4 nannies just that week. No one understood his little girl.
Carly prays about the situation and talks to her dad. Her heart goes out to this little one and feels she can help. She was a social worker who studied this syndrome in college and interned at a facility that helped girls like Penny.
Penny is still trying to figure out what the last nanny said to her when Carly shows up. The nanny had asked her to “make her bed.” Penny said to herself, “Make it do what?” Things like that happened all the time. She didn’t care about making her bed, whatever that meant, but she cared a lot about a place called heaven Aunt DeeDee said her mother was there.” And Penny wanted to see her mom.
Ryan is determined to be a better father than he’s been in the past. He’s made some big mistakes and is trying to make things right and pay for those sins. He wanted to have this be the best summer together ever. Dr. Ryan Tremaine is determined to complete a long list of goals he has for his family. He wants to make great memories and connect with this kids on a deeper level.
The bible states that they will know we are Christians by our love. Carly brings a love and understanding to Penny, Ryan and his two teen boys that has been missing. They feel united for the first time. I liked how the author shows how relationships take time effort and need to be intentional to work well.
“Ryan knew Carly was a Christian, but what exactly did that mean? Hands off until marriage? No one he knew lived that way, but he had to admit, there was a time for self-control…Ryan came from a world where adults chose their own moralities.”
Carly says to Ryan, “It’s just that you and I don’t see things the same way.”
“What things?”
She looks at him, “Almost everything! ..they were back to the faith issue – her belief that human beings made mistakes and needed a savior and his belief that he controlled his own destiny. Carly wasn’t ready to talk to Ryan about Penny and how she was going to explain heaven to this little one without talking about her faith.
This author does a brilliant job of showing life from both perspectives without being preachy! Loved that! This is a gripping story of a man who is willing to fight for his family; who’s trying to learn from his mistakes and might even think about forgiving himself and others. Carly is determined to do the right thing in hard times; wanted to head home to her small town in Kentucky once she completed her education. She wanted to show the love of God to those she met; is ready forgive others but forgiving herself was more challenging.
This author doesn’t beat around the bush with tough topics like, FASD and how it’s preventable, people make mistakes but it doesn’t have to define them, pre-material sex, affairs, existence of God, death, forgiveness, love and the fact that relationships take time, effort and can’t be rushed. We are all a work in progress.
This story was captivating on so many levels. My heart ached for this family as they tried to put the pieces back together. They almost come unglued by a well-meaning Aunt DeeDee who is not a team player. This author shows the nitty-gritty of how life isn’t easy but also shows it’s important to keep the main thing the main thing. This is the first novel I’ve read by this author it won’t be the last. There are a few surprised for readers too! I highly recommend this novel for a great read and one that would be wonderful for a book club pick.
Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsored by publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
April 10, 2015
Rating: 5 stars.
Well, that was quite a ride! I stayed up until 3 am to finish so I obviously could not put it down. Full review to come.
UPDATE: 04/09/2015
{About the Book}
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 Review} With Spoilers!
Like I've said before I sat down to write this review, WOW!! This book was am absolute page turner from the very first page. The story begins with Ryan at the mall with his children and all of a sudden his youngest, Penny goes missing. She is eventually found at a toy store by our main character Carly. Carly has a past she has not dealt with yet. A past that has kept her from doing what she was called to do. However, she still has faith. Faith that she will be able to get past it. Ryan is the opposite of her, he has no faith. In the story Ryan describes himself as more of an agnostic than an atheist. Ryan also has a past. He had an affair with led to the birth of his daughter Penny, who has FASD-Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and ended his marriage. Penny's mother was killed in a car accident leaving Ryan to care for Penny. Ryan and Carly eventually have to come together to help care for Penny and all her special needs. Through everything Ryan and Carly find themselves falling for each other, but Carly is keeping Ryan at bay because he is not a believer.
I was wondering where Victoria was going to take this book, but once I got to the end I was highly satisfied. It was a page turner from the beginning and I really did stay up until almost 3 am to finish. I really enjoyed Ryan and even more and more as the story went on. Carly was a wonderful character, flaws and all. Oh boy--can we just talk about Ryan's conversion scene at the end of the book!! It was amazing and I cried while reading it. It was fantastic! If you looking for a great romance book for Spring or Summer...you should get this book!
Well, that was quite a ride! I stayed up until 3 am to finish so I obviously could not put it down. Full review to come.
UPDATE: 04/09/2015
{About the Book}
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 Review} With Spoilers!
Like I've said before I sat down to write this review, WOW!! This book was am absolute page turner from the very first page. The story begins with Ryan at the mall with his children and all of a sudden his youngest, Penny goes missing. She is eventually found at a toy store by our main character Carly. Carly has a past she has not dealt with yet. A past that has kept her from doing what she was called to do. However, she still has faith. Faith that she will be able to get past it. Ryan is the opposite of her, he has no faith. In the story Ryan describes himself as more of an agnostic than an atheist. Ryan also has a past. He had an affair with led to the birth of his daughter Penny, who has FASD-Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and ended his marriage. Penny's mother was killed in a car accident leaving Ryan to care for Penny. Ryan and Carly eventually have to come together to help care for Penny and all her special needs. Through everything Ryan and Carly find themselves falling for each other, but Carly is keeping Ryan at bay because he is not a believer.
I was wondering where Victoria was going to take this book, but once I got to the end I was highly satisfied. It was a page turner from the beginning and I really did stay up until almost 3 am to finish. I really enjoyed Ryan and even more and more as the story went on. Carly was a wonderful character, flaws and all. Oh boy--can we just talk about Ryan's conversion scene at the end of the book!! It was amazing and I cried while reading it. It was fantastic! If you looking for a great romance book for Spring or Summer...you should get this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2015
This novel pulled me in from the very first page and didn't let me go. Victoria Bylin is a new-to-me author, but I look forward to seeing what else she has written.
From their first scene together, Carly and Ryan are perfect together, even when they're butting heads. Both of them are flawed and hurting, but their characters came alive to me as a reader, springing to life off of the page. Their love story is sweet, genuine, and authentic, growing slowly but surely.
Before reading this book, I was not aware of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, but I feel like I learned quite a bit about it during my reading.
5 stars for a sweet, thought-provoking romance.
(I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.)
From their first scene together, Carly and Ryan are perfect together, even when they're butting heads. Both of them are flawed and hurting, but their characters came alive to me as a reader, springing to life off of the page. Their love story is sweet, genuine, and authentic, growing slowly but surely.
Before reading this book, I was not aware of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, but I feel like I learned quite a bit about it during my reading.
5 stars for a sweet, thought-provoking romance.
(I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.)
April 27, 2015
This book drew me in from the very first page.
I felt that Ryan and Carly were portrayed realistically and I liked them as individuals. Together they were better than they were alone. Both Ryan and Carly have mistakes from their past that limit their ability to move on in life.
Ryan had an affair that resulted in a child with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). The affair ended his marriage. His daughter, Penny, is a hand full. I couldn't help fall in love with her character. She has so much to give, but is often misunderstood.
The book begins with Penny missing in a mall. He entrusted her care to his son from his marriage. It soon becomes apparent that his family is in crisis. This is where Carly comes in. She has the knowledge and the love to bring this family off of the brink and help them love and accept each other.
This book didn't have instant love, but it did have instant attraction. The major theme of the book is about forgiving yourself from past mistakes and trusting God. Ryan is agnostic, but Carly has a deep love and faith in her Savior.
I enjoyed this book and I am grateful to Bethany House for providing me with a review copy.
I felt that Ryan and Carly were portrayed realistically and I liked them as individuals. Together they were better than they were alone. Both Ryan and Carly have mistakes from their past that limit their ability to move on in life.
Ryan had an affair that resulted in a child with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). The affair ended his marriage. His daughter, Penny, is a hand full. I couldn't help fall in love with her character. She has so much to give, but is often misunderstood.
The book begins with Penny missing in a mall. He entrusted her care to his son from his marriage. It soon becomes apparent that his family is in crisis. This is where Carly comes in. She has the knowledge and the love to bring this family off of the brink and help them love and accept each other.
This book didn't have instant love, but it did have instant attraction. The major theme of the book is about forgiving yourself from past mistakes and trusting God. Ryan is agnostic, but Carly has a deep love and faith in her Savior.
I enjoyed this book and I am grateful to Bethany House for providing me with a review copy.
July 8, 2024
Carly Mason, a Kentucky girl escaping her mistakes by doing her graduate work in California, hears a “missing child” announcement over the PA system in the mall where she works and when she finds Penny she finds a family that needs her. Penny’s dad Ryan is struggling to help his children adjust to their new situation as a divorced family – and Penny is the reason for that divorce. Or, rather, the affair Ryan had with Penny’s mom who recently passed away. He has his sons for the summer, and Penny full-time (despite the best efforts of Penny’s aunt who wants Penny for herself) … and very little left of his sanity.
To complicate matters even further, Penny suffers from a mild form of FASD – fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. While in this story, Penny’s character does not show signs of the most severe form of FASD, her behavioral issues pose great challenges for her father and the nannies he tries to employ. Fortunately for Ryan Tremaine, God ushered in Carly Mason at just the right time – whether or not either of them acknowledged His assistance!
The first book I read of Ms. Bylin’s – Until I Found You – had me swooning from the romance. I even developed a book-boyfriend crush on Nick Sheridan, the hero in that book. I mean, seriously, this line: “Nick Sheridan had the posture of a soldier, the ease of a cowboy, and the daring of a pirate.” Can you blame me??? In Together With You, the love story was more subtle, sorta crept up on me a little more slowly. Both books, however, feature honest, realistic looks at Christians (“veteran” and “newbie”) just trying to figure out how to live this whole Jesus life while dodging the speed bumps of life. No sugar coating, no “too good to be true” here. I felt right at home with these characters because I could see myself in them – making mistakes, losing my temper, wanting to just throw in the towel and give up. What keeps Ms. Bylin’s characters going is the same Strength that keeps me going – the redeeming grace of Jesus, the mercies that are new every morning, the faithfulness that is indeed great.
Bottom Line: I loved Together With You by Victoria Bylin! Great story, characters I instantly fell in love with, and a plot rich with themes of real-life struggles, God’s redemption of messy situations (even the ones we’ve caused for ourselves) and accepting God’s forgiveness. Plus it features my beloved Lexington, Kentucky & the hymn I walked down the aisle to at my wedding (Be Thou My Vision) plays an important role in a wedding in the book too!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
To complicate matters even further, Penny suffers from a mild form of FASD – fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. While in this story, Penny’s character does not show signs of the most severe form of FASD, her behavioral issues pose great challenges for her father and the nannies he tries to employ. Fortunately for Ryan Tremaine, God ushered in Carly Mason at just the right time – whether or not either of them acknowledged His assistance!
The first book I read of Ms. Bylin’s – Until I Found You – had me swooning from the romance. I even developed a book-boyfriend crush on Nick Sheridan, the hero in that book. I mean, seriously, this line: “Nick Sheridan had the posture of a soldier, the ease of a cowboy, and the daring of a pirate.” Can you blame me??? In Together With You, the love story was more subtle, sorta crept up on me a little more slowly. Both books, however, feature honest, realistic looks at Christians (“veteran” and “newbie”) just trying to figure out how to live this whole Jesus life while dodging the speed bumps of life. No sugar coating, no “too good to be true” here. I felt right at home with these characters because I could see myself in them – making mistakes, losing my temper, wanting to just throw in the towel and give up. What keeps Ms. Bylin’s characters going is the same Strength that keeps me going – the redeeming grace of Jesus, the mercies that are new every morning, the faithfulness that is indeed great.
Bottom Line: I loved Together With You by Victoria Bylin! Great story, characters I instantly fell in love with, and a plot rich with themes of real-life struggles, God’s redemption of messy situations (even the ones we’ve caused for ourselves) and accepting God’s forgiveness. Plus it features my beloved Lexington, Kentucky & the hymn I walked down the aisle to at my wedding (Be Thou My Vision) plays an important role in a wedding in the book too!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
April 26, 2015
My, oh my! This is not your typical romance. When I began reading the book, I was actually unsure of how much I would be able to connect with, or even like, the hero of the book. Ryan is coming from a place of so much hurt, has caused so much pain to those in his life, carries enormous guilt, and has no belief in God at all. But I loved the path that he walked through this story and I quickly realized that I desperately wanted things to work out for him and his family. His journey (as well as the heroine’s) is not easy or smooth. There is much work to be done to heal this family and help this little girl.
The heroine of the novel, Carly, is so knowledgeable and caring. She has the skills necessary to help with his daughter Penny, who has special needs. The whole family is in crisis when Carly arrives and she is such a huge help to them all. But, this book is definitely not a rainbow and roses type of story. There are some serious issues to get through and things do not just fall into place. I could hardly set this book down for want of knowing what happened next!
One of the things I really enjoyed in Together with You is that the reader gets to experience the story from Ryan’s, Carly’s, and even Penny’s perspective. It was simply amazing to read her thoughts and see what she was struggling with. Then, I had to sit back and watch the adults scramble to figure out what was wrong or what she needed. My eyes were really opened to what children who suffer with Fetal Alcohol Effects and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are up against.
This story was superb and the first that I have read by this author. I look forward to reading more of her books. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
The heroine of the novel, Carly, is so knowledgeable and caring. She has the skills necessary to help with his daughter Penny, who has special needs. The whole family is in crisis when Carly arrives and she is such a huge help to them all. But, this book is definitely not a rainbow and roses type of story. There are some serious issues to get through and things do not just fall into place. I could hardly set this book down for want of knowing what happened next!
One of the things I really enjoyed in Together with You is that the reader gets to experience the story from Ryan’s, Carly’s, and even Penny’s perspective. It was simply amazing to read her thoughts and see what she was struggling with. Then, I had to sit back and watch the adults scramble to figure out what was wrong or what she needed. My eyes were really opened to what children who suffer with Fetal Alcohol Effects and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are up against.
This story was superb and the first that I have read by this author. I look forward to reading more of her books. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
July 20, 2021
A warning to those sensitive souls who cannot stomach graphic violence: this is probably not the book for you.
This book reminded me why I stay almost exclusively in historical fiction. While I know that the violence that plays a role in this book (murder, rape, etc) has always happened, I do believe it was less... casual, if not less prevalent. Therefore, my chances of stumbling upon a book with a subplot of *SPOILER* teen drug-related serial rape/beatings/murder (where the child is only discovered because his mother finds his "trophy" and inadvertantly turns her kid in to the police) are much less. Even worse, it seemed to serve no purpose but to force the heroine into living at her employer's house against her better judgement. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I wanted to know how their story ended, but I just couldn't finish it. A little more than halfway through and I was already having trouble sleeping. In the end, it wasn't worth it.
On a side note, I was wondering why Ryan kept saying that was just as responsible for Jenna's drinking during the pregnancy. I definitely could be wrong here, but I thought FASD was caused by continual drinking during a pregnancy, not just on the night of conception. In fact, I'm not even sure how drinking that one time would have any effect on the baby- to begin with, it can take days to get pregnant. Unless they carried on their relationship, while regularly drinking heavily (which did not seem like the case), this just didn't make much sense.
This book reminded me why I stay almost exclusively in historical fiction. While I know that the violence that plays a role in this book (murder, rape, etc) has always happened, I do believe it was less... casual, if not less prevalent. Therefore, my chances of stumbling upon a book with a subplot of *SPOILER* teen drug-related serial rape/beatings/murder (where the child is only discovered because his mother finds his "trophy" and inadvertantly turns her kid in to the police) are much less. Even worse, it seemed to serve no purpose but to force the heroine into living at her employer's house against her better judgement. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I wanted to know how their story ended, but I just couldn't finish it. A little more than halfway through and I was already having trouble sleeping. In the end, it wasn't worth it.
On a side note, I was wondering why Ryan kept saying that was just as responsible for Jenna's drinking during the pregnancy. I definitely could be wrong here, but I thought FASD was caused by continual drinking during a pregnancy, not just on the night of conception. In fact, I'm not even sure how drinking that one time would have any effect on the baby- to begin with, it can take days to get pregnant. Unless they carried on their relationship, while regularly drinking heavily (which did not seem like the case), this just didn't make much sense.
June 24, 2015
Carly Mason is an ex-social worker with a history in helping kids with fetal alcohol effects. When she finds little five year old Penny Tremaine in the stuffed animal shop where she now works at, she is determined not to get involved. But something about Penny tugs at Carly’s heart.
When Ryan, Penny’s handsome father, offers Carly a job as Penny’s nanny, Carly is shocked! She except, albeit rather reluctantly. But soon she is a part of the family., having been accepted not only by Penny, but Ryan’s sons, Kyle and Eric as well as Ryan himself.
When disaster strikes this family that Carly has grown fond of...maybe she even loves them...will she, with the strength of the Lord, be able to keep them from falling apart?
This book… oh my word. I cannot express in word how drawn into it I was. As the author’s bio says, it did have a Sound of Music feel to it. I am a SoM fanatic, so this book hooked me!
I honestly had little knowledge of Fetal Alcohol Effects before reading this book and it was a real eye opener to see how much these kids, and in the case of the story, there parents struggle.
I give this book a four star review! I loved it, but the fact that Carly fell in love with a non-believer and still had a happy ending made me go “eh?” just a little. That doesn’t usually happen and heartbreak can come from falling in love with non-believers. I definitely say this book is for older teens (+15). Otherwise, great book!
I was given this book from the Book Club Network for my honest review, which I have given.
When Ryan, Penny’s handsome father, offers Carly a job as Penny’s nanny, Carly is shocked! She except, albeit rather reluctantly. But soon she is a part of the family., having been accepted not only by Penny, but Ryan’s sons, Kyle and Eric as well as Ryan himself.
When disaster strikes this family that Carly has grown fond of...maybe she even loves them...will she, with the strength of the Lord, be able to keep them from falling apart?
This book… oh my word. I cannot express in word how drawn into it I was. As the author’s bio says, it did have a Sound of Music feel to it. I am a SoM fanatic, so this book hooked me!
I honestly had little knowledge of Fetal Alcohol Effects before reading this book and it was a real eye opener to see how much these kids, and in the case of the story, there parents struggle.
I give this book a four star review! I loved it, but the fact that Carly fell in love with a non-believer and still had a happy ending made me go “eh?” just a little. That doesn’t usually happen and heartbreak can come from falling in love with non-believers. I definitely say this book is for older teens (+15). Otherwise, great book!
I was given this book from the Book Club Network for my honest review, which I have given.
April 24, 2015
My first takeaway from this book was how much one person can make a difference! Carly makes a huge difference in the lives of so many people in this book, and her own life is changed in the process by the end of the book! As others have stated, a young girl goes missing in a shopping mall in the beginning of the book and she finds her way into Carly's store. Penny suffers from Fetal Alcohol Effects and I really learned a lot about this disorder throughout the book. I give high marks to the author for her research and bringing this to our attention! Penny's father is Ryan and he is so complex! I really enjoyed his character! He's made a lot of mistakes but he is trying so hard to make up for them and be a better person & father. He recruits Carly to be Penny's nanny and by doing so, changes his entire family & himself. Carly is also haunted by some mistakes in her past but is determined to take care of Penny better than she did another girl. In the process, she falls in love with Ryan's family and helps them heal from a lot of past baggage. She also falls in love with Ryan but he doesn't believe in God and that's the very foundation of her life so she's stuck in a difficult place! As Ryan and Carly join forces to help Penny, battle with a meddlesome aunt and other issues, maybe they can solve their dilemma!!!
I received this book from the publisher for an honest review, which I have done.
I received this book from the publisher for an honest review, which I have done.
May 16, 2015
"Together With You" by Victoria Bylin, is a very sweet novel. It is a contemporary romance filled with family and faith. From this book I learned a lot about FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, the disease that the five year old (Penny) main character has.
Penny just wants her deceased mommy back, and she will do whatever she can to be with her, she doesn't understand that heaven isn't a place she can just go to. With her limited understanding of reality and her heart filled with love for her Mom, Penny desperately wants to return to her old life. The life that didn't involve older brothers, a Dad, a nanny and a new home.
Dad, Ryan, knows he has messed up big time. But he wants to do right by all three of his children. He writes up a list of things that he wants to do with his kids, different ways to reconnect with them. But it isn't until he hires Carly as a nanny that he begins to learn how to really love, communicate and understand his children.
This is a wonderful story of love and forgiveness. It emphasizes how
we have to forgive ourselves for our past mistakes, move on, and leave the guilt behind. We must learn to live with the choices we have made. Victoria Bylin handles these serious issues with gentleness and humor creating a great, clean novel that is filled with information about God's grace, family, FASD and meeting the needs of others.
I received this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.
Penny just wants her deceased mommy back, and she will do whatever she can to be with her, she doesn't understand that heaven isn't a place she can just go to. With her limited understanding of reality and her heart filled with love for her Mom, Penny desperately wants to return to her old life. The life that didn't involve older brothers, a Dad, a nanny and a new home.
Dad, Ryan, knows he has messed up big time. But he wants to do right by all three of his children. He writes up a list of things that he wants to do with his kids, different ways to reconnect with them. But it isn't until he hires Carly as a nanny that he begins to learn how to really love, communicate and understand his children.
This is a wonderful story of love and forgiveness. It emphasizes how
we have to forgive ourselves for our past mistakes, move on, and leave the guilt behind. We must learn to live with the choices we have made. Victoria Bylin handles these serious issues with gentleness and humor creating a great, clean novel that is filled with information about God's grace, family, FASD and meeting the needs of others.
I received this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.
January 16, 2016
Together With You by Victoria Bylin
Carly Mason is a long way from home in more ways than being in LA instead of her small town in Kentucky. She ran away from her past but it seems to have caught up to her when an Adam Alert sounds in the mall she works at. The small girl changes everything for her.
Dr. Ryan Tremaine is at the end of the rope. He's trying to make up for all his past failures...and failing at it. He has his special needs daughter and two teenage sons and he's just not sure how to be the father they need, but he's trying. And then he finds the perfect woman to help Penny, he just has to make her see she's perfect for the job.
I loved this story. I never stopped to think about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome before. This story brings the preventable syndrome to life through Penny and those who care for her. It also shows the struggles between two people unevenly yoked in faith. I felt the characters came to life and it was enjoyable watching the changes in them.
**Received from Bethany House Publishing for an honest review
justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2011/08...
Carly Mason is a long way from home in more ways than being in LA instead of her small town in Kentucky. She ran away from her past but it seems to have caught up to her when an Adam Alert sounds in the mall she works at. The small girl changes everything for her.
Dr. Ryan Tremaine is at the end of the rope. He's trying to make up for all his past failures...and failing at it. He has his special needs daughter and two teenage sons and he's just not sure how to be the father they need, but he's trying. And then he finds the perfect woman to help Penny, he just has to make her see she's perfect for the job.
I loved this story. I never stopped to think about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome before. This story brings the preventable syndrome to life through Penny and those who care for her. It also shows the struggles between two people unevenly yoked in faith. I felt the characters came to life and it was enjoyable watching the changes in them.
**Received from Bethany House Publishing for an honest review
justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2011/08...
May 31, 2016
Was craving a good contemporary romance read, and that's exactly what I got. Two thumbs up! :D
August 3, 2019
This was a well written story with characters I got invested in. Very heavy in Christian elements, and I prefer a lighter touch. Ryan’s conversion was this lightning bolt moment that strained credulity. Maybe it would’ve worked better if Ryan was a character that had left his faith behind, but not so much as a character who didn’t even believe a God exists.
I like how the family evolved with Carly’s guidance. It was interesting that the author created a main character who had an affair, resulting in a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and a divorce. He’s trying to connect with his teenage sons, and has had custody of his disabled daughter for 6 months. The kids were real characters, not just background or comedic relief.
I like how the family evolved with Carly’s guidance. It was interesting that the author created a main character who had an affair, resulting in a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and a divorce. He’s trying to connect with his teenage sons, and has had custody of his disabled daughter for 6 months. The kids were real characters, not just background or comedic relief.
April 7, 2020
Romance, clean, contemporary; Christian faith themes
Carly and Ryan's story was heartfelt, emotionally honest, hurting, and healing, along with being a sweet romance. There were a few moments that felt a bit forced re the faith elements, or a little to quick to turn, but still overall a good read for me. Carly seemed just a bit stilted in how she worked with the family and Ryan, and others (almost too know it all). But that being said, it was nice to see how well she was able to heal and help Ryan, his sons, and daughter. Some sweet romantic moments, but more in the fall sort. They always seemed to not communicate well with one another and misunderstand. Still a lovely HEA, the problems still there, but family, and with each other.
Sweet romance, a few nit-pick things for me as a reader and reviewer, but still an overall fun read.
Carly and Ryan's story was heartfelt, emotionally honest, hurting, and healing, along with being a sweet romance. There were a few moments that felt a bit forced re the faith elements, or a little to quick to turn, but still overall a good read for me. Carly seemed just a bit stilted in how she worked with the family and Ryan, and others (almost too know it all). But that being said, it was nice to see how well she was able to heal and help Ryan, his sons, and daughter. Some sweet romantic moments, but more in the fall sort. They always seemed to not communicate well with one another and misunderstand. Still a lovely HEA, the problems still there, but family, and with each other.
Sweet romance, a few nit-pick things for me as a reader and reviewer, but still an overall fun read.
July 8, 2021
4.5 stars. Good characters, realistic problems and good plot.
I learned a bit about FAS because of little Penny.
Some of the romance prose made me cringe so couldn’t make this a five star .. but there’s much to like and learn here.
My first book by this author .. I hope to read more !
I learned a bit about FAS because of little Penny.
Some of the romance prose made me cringe so couldn’t make this a five star .. but there’s much to like and learn here.
My first book by this author .. I hope to read more !
April 6, 2015
This was sent to me from Bethany House for review - this did not influence my thoughts in any way shape or form.
Together With You follows Carly Mason who is working on her grad degree in California focusing on fetal alcohol syndrome in children. Having worked with people diagnosed with this syndrome before, she takes one look at Penny Tremaine and instantly feels her heart reach out to her. Penny's father is Dr. Ryan Tremaine whose affair that brought him Penny broke his marriage and he's now trying to juggle work and being a single parent to three kids. When he meets Carly, he knows that she'd be the perfect nanny for Penny and her loving nature might also help in reaching out to his two older sons, particularly his middle child Eric. However Carly refuses, haunted by something that happened in the past when she became too close to a child. Ryan insists and Carly eventually accepts, but the more time he spends around her, the more he finds himself falling for his child's caretaker.
Okay, so it's pretty obvious that this is employer/employee romance to some extent but in this case, I don't even care because it's too damn cute. The relationship between Carly and Ryan is really fragile and they both fight the attraction so hard for different reasons, but on top of their romantic relationship, they're just great friends. Ryan's kind of uptight and stressed and you get to see Carly work her magic and really nurture both him and his family. Speaking of family, I adore the Tremaines. The eldest son is your typical strong and faithful child who is always someone you can count on. Eric, the middle one, on the otherhand is a handful, but he just wants to be heard. Seeing him unfold from being a silent moody kid to someone who has a passion of things, who basically comes alive.
Moving on from how adorable and warm/fuzzy this book makes me, it also addresses a syndrome that I've never read in a book before. I knew FASD existed because you learn it in health class, but I never got to "experience" it firsthand, even if that experience came through the pages of a book. It was really enlightening and just mind opening to how to deal with children, how to be strict with them, but still show that you love them. Penny is really an amazing girl and just seeing her throughout this book, understanding new things and growing is just a really amazing experience.
A bit more on Penny, she's such a simple child and I mean that in the best way possible. She likes this simple, muted colors, soft sounds, but she has an imagination that rivals any artist. Every time she laughs, I swear the whole book laughs with her and everyone's faces instantly brightens. She doesn't understand how much impact she has on the people around her, but she really does and she's the center focus of the whole story.
Our main character is obviously Ms. Carly Mason. She's this woman who is full of faith, love, fire, and literally has a heart bigger than the sun. Reading about her interacting with the Tremaines and how she struggles to hold back because of past experience even though she wants to just give all she can offer to the broken family really says something about her as a person. She also has some crazy incredible patience and heart because if I were to be completely honest with you, I don't think I could keep calm for the whole book.
Then there's Dr. Ryan Tremaine. He's your broken soul who likes his life organized and is kind of in shock that everything is slowly falling apart. Throughout the process of the story, you get to see him heal and really become a father rather than being an outside spectator. He becomes part of the family, learns to loosen up around his kids, and let God take control for a bit.
This review is getting a bit lengthy and I apologize that my thoughts are kind of all over the place but I'm almost done! Like I just mentioned, God plays a pretty big part in this story especially in regards to Ryan's life. There's this emphasis on healing through His grace and forgiveness even when you can't forgive yourself, in Ryan's case for cheating on his wife. There's also an emphasis on the relationship between a father and his daughter. First and foremost there's Ryan and Penny whose relationship makes you literally want to grab your dad and hug him. Penny starts by calling Ryan Dr Tremaine and as their relationship grows the names go from Dr. Tremaine to Dr. Daddy to just Daddy. There's also Carly's relationship with her father and it's one built on trust and guidance. Finally, there's the relationship between the characters and God or as Penny likes to call Him: Dr. God. All these relationships just bring the unique and abounding aspect of love that a father has for his child.
Alright, I'm finished with my jumbled thoughts. To summarize that long mess up there, this book is so heartwarming and fun to read. I can almost guarantee it'll make you smile at some point in the novel, so pick it up and see what you think!
Read my reviews at:http://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com/
Together With You follows Carly Mason who is working on her grad degree in California focusing on fetal alcohol syndrome in children. Having worked with people diagnosed with this syndrome before, she takes one look at Penny Tremaine and instantly feels her heart reach out to her. Penny's father is Dr. Ryan Tremaine whose affair that brought him Penny broke his marriage and he's now trying to juggle work and being a single parent to three kids. When he meets Carly, he knows that she'd be the perfect nanny for Penny and her loving nature might also help in reaching out to his two older sons, particularly his middle child Eric. However Carly refuses, haunted by something that happened in the past when she became too close to a child. Ryan insists and Carly eventually accepts, but the more time he spends around her, the more he finds himself falling for his child's caretaker.
Okay, so it's pretty obvious that this is employer/employee romance to some extent but in this case, I don't even care because it's too damn cute. The relationship between Carly and Ryan is really fragile and they both fight the attraction so hard for different reasons, but on top of their romantic relationship, they're just great friends. Ryan's kind of uptight and stressed and you get to see Carly work her magic and really nurture both him and his family. Speaking of family, I adore the Tremaines. The eldest son is your typical strong and faithful child who is always someone you can count on. Eric, the middle one, on the otherhand is a handful, but he just wants to be heard. Seeing him unfold from being a silent moody kid to someone who has a passion of things, who basically comes alive.
Moving on from how adorable and warm/fuzzy this book makes me, it also addresses a syndrome that I've never read in a book before. I knew FASD existed because you learn it in health class, but I never got to "experience" it firsthand, even if that experience came through the pages of a book. It was really enlightening and just mind opening to how to deal with children, how to be strict with them, but still show that you love them. Penny is really an amazing girl and just seeing her throughout this book, understanding new things and growing is just a really amazing experience.
A bit more on Penny, she's such a simple child and I mean that in the best way possible. She likes this simple, muted colors, soft sounds, but she has an imagination that rivals any artist. Every time she laughs, I swear the whole book laughs with her and everyone's faces instantly brightens. She doesn't understand how much impact she has on the people around her, but she really does and she's the center focus of the whole story.
Our main character is obviously Ms. Carly Mason. She's this woman who is full of faith, love, fire, and literally has a heart bigger than the sun. Reading about her interacting with the Tremaines and how she struggles to hold back because of past experience even though she wants to just give all she can offer to the broken family really says something about her as a person. She also has some crazy incredible patience and heart because if I were to be completely honest with you, I don't think I could keep calm for the whole book.
Then there's Dr. Ryan Tremaine. He's your broken soul who likes his life organized and is kind of in shock that everything is slowly falling apart. Throughout the process of the story, you get to see him heal and really become a father rather than being an outside spectator. He becomes part of the family, learns to loosen up around his kids, and let God take control for a bit.
This review is getting a bit lengthy and I apologize that my thoughts are kind of all over the place but I'm almost done! Like I just mentioned, God plays a pretty big part in this story especially in regards to Ryan's life. There's this emphasis on healing through His grace and forgiveness even when you can't forgive yourself, in Ryan's case for cheating on his wife. There's also an emphasis on the relationship between a father and his daughter. First and foremost there's Ryan and Penny whose relationship makes you literally want to grab your dad and hug him. Penny starts by calling Ryan Dr Tremaine and as their relationship grows the names go from Dr. Tremaine to Dr. Daddy to just Daddy. There's also Carly's relationship with her father and it's one built on trust and guidance. Finally, there's the relationship between the characters and God or as Penny likes to call Him: Dr. God. All these relationships just bring the unique and abounding aspect of love that a father has for his child.
Alright, I'm finished with my jumbled thoughts. To summarize that long mess up there, this book is so heartwarming and fun to read. I can almost guarantee it'll make you smile at some point in the novel, so pick it up and see what you think!
Read my reviews at:http://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com/
April 15, 2015
Enjoyable Romance
I’d only read one of Victoria Bylin’s books (a Love Inspired Historical) when I requested this one, so I wasn‘t sure what to expect from a contemporary novel. I found that I really enjoyed it, though it did leave me with a few mixed emotions.
Victoria does an excellent job of bringing all of the characters to life and definitely made the Tremaines realistic. I was quickly engrossed in the story and didn’t want to put it down. I’m honestly not sure what drew me in so easily, other than her writing. The plot is a little unusual, with the care of one of the children, but otherwise, we all know how it’s going to end. Despite that, I found myself turning pages late at night, wanting to know what was going to happen next. She also does a wonderful job with the descriptions, using all of our senses at different times to paint a picture of the setting.
Carly Mason is an interesting heroine and I fell in love with her quickly. She is so sweet and kind with Penny, even though it’s hard at times, and she gives her heart away so easily - I almost wanted to warn her to protect it. She is definitely realistic though, with good days and bad days, failings and fears. Though she is a Christian and believes God has forgiven her for her mistakes, she is still tied to them by her inability to forgive herself. She has doubts and questions, she doesn’t like the pat answers people have given her - I loved that about her. It made her come alive for me, because she isn’t perfect. I also loved that she stood up for what she believed, even though her faith may not have been that strong at first.
Ryan Tremaine was a harder character for me to like, perhaps because he is so real. He isn’t like your typical Christian fiction hero - he has some pretty big failings. He has addictions he battles, failures that keep him chained, and doubts that try to bring him down. He isn’t much of a prize when we first meet him, though he’s trying so hard to be worthy. I think that’s where I started to like him - when we saw behind his façade to the hurting, angry, confused man he really is. He doesn’t know what to do anymore, though he wants so badly to be there for his kids. He wants to make up for past mistakes, even though he can’t. Despite his own beliefs, he still respected Carly’s - that’s where I fell in love with him. He put her first.
Now for the mixed emotions part. The romance was definitely realistic, to the point I became a little uncomfortable at times. Ryan, being an agnostic, writes the attraction off as “nature,” Carly just tries to avoid it and not become anymore involved than she already is. There are definitely sparks, some flirty comments, and Victoria shows them both struggling to control it. They have a very blunt conversation about premarital sex and where they both stand on the matter. That was a bit awkward for me, though I did appreciate seeing Carly stand her ground, despite the attraction between them. There are some thoughts they both have throughout that kind of touched that gray area of “possibly inappropriate,” for Christian fiction. On one hand, I have to applaud Ms. Bylin for staying the course and pushing me a bit out of my reading comfort zone. She wasn’t being raunchy or coarse, simply truthful. On the other hand, I wouldn’t recommend this book to someone who is very conservative.
I also appreciated the realism of the spiritual side. Carly’s faith drives her view of relationships and life in general, but she also has doubts and questions. I rather liked how the author handled them, giving them full impact and allowing me to feel them with Carly. My only negative comment here, is that Ryan’s “conversion” was rather abrupt. It’s kind of thrown into the ending as a way to remove the final obstacle in their relationship. I would have liked there to have been a bit more build up to it, though it would have drawn the story out more, I think it would have had more of an impact. As it is, it felt rather helter-skelter.
I found the epilogue a nice edition, as it rounds out the rather abrupt ending. It is a little longer than some and neatly pulls together any lingering loose ends, while also giving us a glimpse into the characters’ future.
Overall, I would say I enjoyed this book - it was a delightful way to spend a few hours - though I don’t imagine I’ll be reading it again.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
I’d only read one of Victoria Bylin’s books (a Love Inspired Historical) when I requested this one, so I wasn‘t sure what to expect from a contemporary novel. I found that I really enjoyed it, though it did leave me with a few mixed emotions.
Victoria does an excellent job of bringing all of the characters to life and definitely made the Tremaines realistic. I was quickly engrossed in the story and didn’t want to put it down. I’m honestly not sure what drew me in so easily, other than her writing. The plot is a little unusual, with the care of one of the children, but otherwise, we all know how it’s going to end. Despite that, I found myself turning pages late at night, wanting to know what was going to happen next. She also does a wonderful job with the descriptions, using all of our senses at different times to paint a picture of the setting.
Carly Mason is an interesting heroine and I fell in love with her quickly. She is so sweet and kind with Penny, even though it’s hard at times, and she gives her heart away so easily - I almost wanted to warn her to protect it. She is definitely realistic though, with good days and bad days, failings and fears. Though she is a Christian and believes God has forgiven her for her mistakes, she is still tied to them by her inability to forgive herself. She has doubts and questions, she doesn’t like the pat answers people have given her - I loved that about her. It made her come alive for me, because she isn’t perfect. I also loved that she stood up for what she believed, even though her faith may not have been that strong at first.
Ryan Tremaine was a harder character for me to like, perhaps because he is so real. He isn’t like your typical Christian fiction hero - he has some pretty big failings. He has addictions he battles, failures that keep him chained, and doubts that try to bring him down. He isn’t much of a prize when we first meet him, though he’s trying so hard to be worthy. I think that’s where I started to like him - when we saw behind his façade to the hurting, angry, confused man he really is. He doesn’t know what to do anymore, though he wants so badly to be there for his kids. He wants to make up for past mistakes, even though he can’t. Despite his own beliefs, he still respected Carly’s - that’s where I fell in love with him. He put her first.
Now for the mixed emotions part. The romance was definitely realistic, to the point I became a little uncomfortable at times. Ryan, being an agnostic, writes the attraction off as “nature,” Carly just tries to avoid it and not become anymore involved than she already is. There are definitely sparks, some flirty comments, and Victoria shows them both struggling to control it. They have a very blunt conversation about premarital sex and where they both stand on the matter. That was a bit awkward for me, though I did appreciate seeing Carly stand her ground, despite the attraction between them. There are some thoughts they both have throughout that kind of touched that gray area of “possibly inappropriate,” for Christian fiction. On one hand, I have to applaud Ms. Bylin for staying the course and pushing me a bit out of my reading comfort zone. She wasn’t being raunchy or coarse, simply truthful. On the other hand, I wouldn’t recommend this book to someone who is very conservative.
I also appreciated the realism of the spiritual side. Carly’s faith drives her view of relationships and life in general, but she also has doubts and questions. I rather liked how the author handled them, giving them full impact and allowing me to feel them with Carly. My only negative comment here, is that Ryan’s “conversion” was rather abrupt. It’s kind of thrown into the ending as a way to remove the final obstacle in their relationship. I would have liked there to have been a bit more build up to it, though it would have drawn the story out more, I think it would have had more of an impact. As it is, it felt rather helter-skelter.
I found the epilogue a nice edition, as it rounds out the rather abrupt ending. It is a little longer than some and neatly pulls together any lingering loose ends, while also giving us a glimpse into the characters’ future.
Overall, I would say I enjoyed this book - it was a delightful way to spend a few hours - though I don’t imagine I’ll be reading it again.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 3, 2015
Together with you - forever
"Don't judge a book by its cover." It is the case with my recent read, Together with You by Victoria Bylin. I don't know much about Ms. Bylin's books since this is the first time I read one of her books.
First off, I wasn't too thrilled about the cover. I wouldn't expect this type of cover for an inspirational fiction. And after reading the book, the cover still doesn't resonate well with me to illustrate the story line. True, it is characterize as an inspirational romance fiction, but I see this cover more for a secular theme. Plus, I don't think the romance part was the main focus or rather, it is a focus, but I think family is the main theme throughout the book. This is where I must say, Ms. Bylin did an excellent job. The plot was intriguing throughout, and it was the plot synopsis that I've decided to overlook the cover, and give the book a try. One phrase that caught my attention was, "Known for her realistic and engaging characters, Victoria Bylin delivers an emotion-packed story reminiscent of The Sound of Music, one that reminds us all to believe in the power of faith and love." The Sound of Music is one of my favorite movies/story and I was immediately drawn to it. Boy, was I glad I did. I enjoyed it so much, I finished it in one sitting, and stayed up past my bedtime to finish it.
Ms. Bylin did a wonderful job in providing readers a plot that was convincing, intriguing and captivating. She interlace the often complicated subjects of forgiveness and grace with a medically complicated subject as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) profoundly and candidly. It gives me, as a reader more knowledge (basic as it is) of what FASD is and the struggles it presents to the patient and their family and friends. Ms. Bylin, through this story beautifully illustrates the conflicts one has with forgiveness, not only for believers, but for non-believers as well. It is forgiveness that relates not only for and/or to others, but also to self and to God. Sometimes, you might not even see it. Sometimes, it's beyond the surfaces as Ms. Bylin applied into the story line of one of the main characters.
As to the characters, Ms. Bylin's development of both major characters, Carly and Ryan was done smoothly and at a good pace. I like Carly, and I understand her fears and her struggles. As to Ryan, it took a little longer because of his past mistakes. However, his strive to make things right with his family and his love for his children tugged at my heart. vPenny, the little girl that no one seams to understand (except Carly), is a pleasant surprise. She has FASD and the author's use of Penny's own narration was a good addition for us to understand what she's thinking. This is a story worth your time, it certainly worth mine and I believe it's one of those that I will read again. The ending was a good ending for all characters involve, but it was the process of how each one was broken, for a lack of a better term that gives readers, like myself the satisfaction of a good read and able to learn something.
I love this book, in all, but there are flaws. As mentioned beforehand, I don't think the cover was a good fit and there are several typos - a handful. It's easy to overlook, so not a big deal. This is only why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
And last (besides note below), but not least, Ms. Bylin's "A Note From the Author" further confirmed my interest in her as an author and her books, either her previous or her future books. "There are two things I hope readers take away from FASD aspect of Together With You. The first is that FASD is 100 percent preventable. If you're pregnant, don't drink. If you think you might become pregnant, don't drink. No child should sustain what's essentially a traumatic brain injury in its mother's womb. The second takeaway is that no one is perfect. No matter where we fall on the spectrum of humanity, we all need forgiveness, love, and the grace of our heavenly Father." (p330-331). Amen to that.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House for an honest review.
"Don't judge a book by its cover." It is the case with my recent read, Together with You by Victoria Bylin. I don't know much about Ms. Bylin's books since this is the first time I read one of her books.
First off, I wasn't too thrilled about the cover. I wouldn't expect this type of cover for an inspirational fiction. And after reading the book, the cover still doesn't resonate well with me to illustrate the story line. True, it is characterize as an inspirational romance fiction, but I see this cover more for a secular theme. Plus, I don't think the romance part was the main focus or rather, it is a focus, but I think family is the main theme throughout the book. This is where I must say, Ms. Bylin did an excellent job. The plot was intriguing throughout, and it was the plot synopsis that I've decided to overlook the cover, and give the book a try. One phrase that caught my attention was, "Known for her realistic and engaging characters, Victoria Bylin delivers an emotion-packed story reminiscent of The Sound of Music, one that reminds us all to believe in the power of faith and love." The Sound of Music is one of my favorite movies/story and I was immediately drawn to it. Boy, was I glad I did. I enjoyed it so much, I finished it in one sitting, and stayed up past my bedtime to finish it.
Ms. Bylin did a wonderful job in providing readers a plot that was convincing, intriguing and captivating. She interlace the often complicated subjects of forgiveness and grace with a medically complicated subject as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) profoundly and candidly. It gives me, as a reader more knowledge (basic as it is) of what FASD is and the struggles it presents to the patient and their family and friends. Ms. Bylin, through this story beautifully illustrates the conflicts one has with forgiveness, not only for believers, but for non-believers as well. It is forgiveness that relates not only for and/or to others, but also to self and to God. Sometimes, you might not even see it. Sometimes, it's beyond the surfaces as Ms. Bylin applied into the story line of one of the main characters.
As to the characters, Ms. Bylin's development of both major characters, Carly and Ryan was done smoothly and at a good pace. I like Carly, and I understand her fears and her struggles. As to Ryan, it took a little longer because of his past mistakes. However, his strive to make things right with his family and his love for his children tugged at my heart. vPenny, the little girl that no one seams to understand (except Carly), is a pleasant surprise. She has FASD and the author's use of Penny's own narration was a good addition for us to understand what she's thinking. This is a story worth your time, it certainly worth mine and I believe it's one of those that I will read again. The ending was a good ending for all characters involve, but it was the process of how each one was broken, for a lack of a better term that gives readers, like myself the satisfaction of a good read and able to learn something.
I love this book, in all, but there are flaws. As mentioned beforehand, I don't think the cover was a good fit and there are several typos - a handful. It's easy to overlook, so not a big deal. This is only why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
And last (besides note below), but not least, Ms. Bylin's "A Note From the Author" further confirmed my interest in her as an author and her books, either her previous or her future books. "There are two things I hope readers take away from FASD aspect of Together With You. The first is that FASD is 100 percent preventable. If you're pregnant, don't drink. If you think you might become pregnant, don't drink. No child should sustain what's essentially a traumatic brain injury in its mother's womb. The second takeaway is that no one is perfect. No matter where we fall on the spectrum of humanity, we all need forgiveness, love, and the grace of our heavenly Father." (p330-331). Amen to that.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House for an honest review.
June 21, 2015
When I first heard of Victoria Bylin's debut novel, Until I Found You, I jumped at the chance to read it because I love debut novels. It was so extremely good (read my review here) that when I was given the opportunity to read her second book, Together With You, I jumped at the chance.
Carly Mason is an ex-social worker, working as a manager in a toy store while going to school for her PhD. in Social Welfare. When the story begins a young girl with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) has been reported missing somewhere in the mall. When Carly hears the "Code Adam" over the Mall PA system she finds herself going back in time when one of her charges ran away and still hasn't been found. At a heightened alert she begins the Code Adam protocol in her store and finds Penny, a young girl who matches the Code Adam description. Soon Penny's father, ophthalmologist Dr. Ryan Tremaine shows up with his two sons to claim Penny.
While talking with Carly, Dr. Tremaine explains to her that Penny suffers from FASD, but before he can explain what it is, Carly explains it to him. Dr. Tremaine is in need of a nanny. Someone who understands Penny's disorder would be icing on the cake. He asks her to come for an interview and at first Carly tells him no. But she soon changes her mind and accepts the interview.
This book explains a lot about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the reader is shown what the outcome can be and how children need be handled. Ms. Bylin treated the subject with sensitivity and care.
Ms. Bylin created very believable characters and I found myself wanting to reach out and hug little Penny. I know Ms. Bylin did her research and wouldn't be at all surprised if she observed children with FASD over a period of time.
This story was about forgiveness, trust, and learning to believe and trust in God. While it is a love story between Dr. Tremaine and Carly, it is also a love story between Dr. Tremaine and his kids. There is also a small suspense thread in the early part of the book.
If you enjoy a good contemporary inspirational novel you will love this one.
On a 5-Star scale = 5 Stars!!!!!
I would like to thank Bethany House for my free copy of Together With You. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.
Carly Mason is an ex-social worker, working as a manager in a toy store while going to school for her PhD. in Social Welfare. When the story begins a young girl with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) has been reported missing somewhere in the mall. When Carly hears the "Code Adam" over the Mall PA system she finds herself going back in time when one of her charges ran away and still hasn't been found. At a heightened alert she begins the Code Adam protocol in her store and finds Penny, a young girl who matches the Code Adam description. Soon Penny's father, ophthalmologist Dr. Ryan Tremaine shows up with his two sons to claim Penny.
While talking with Carly, Dr. Tremaine explains to her that Penny suffers from FASD, but before he can explain what it is, Carly explains it to him. Dr. Tremaine is in need of a nanny. Someone who understands Penny's disorder would be icing on the cake. He asks her to come for an interview and at first Carly tells him no. But she soon changes her mind and accepts the interview.
This book explains a lot about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the reader is shown what the outcome can be and how children need be handled. Ms. Bylin treated the subject with sensitivity and care.
Ms. Bylin created very believable characters and I found myself wanting to reach out and hug little Penny. I know Ms. Bylin did her research and wouldn't be at all surprised if she observed children with FASD over a period of time.
This story was about forgiveness, trust, and learning to believe and trust in God. While it is a love story between Dr. Tremaine and Carly, it is also a love story between Dr. Tremaine and his kids. There is also a small suspense thread in the early part of the book.
If you enjoy a good contemporary inspirational novel you will love this one.
On a 5-Star scale = 5 Stars!!!!!
I would like to thank Bethany House for my free copy of Together With You. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.
April 6, 2015
Ophthalmologist Dr Ryan Tremaine has a problem. Not only has he promised his ex-wife that he’ll look after their two sons for the summer while she’s on a short-term missions trip, but he’s also recently taken custody of Penny, his five-year-old daughter from the affair that ended his marriage. And Penny is a problem: she has FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and her behaviour has already run off three nannies.
Carly Jo Mason is working at the Animal Factory while completing a PhD specialising in the prevention of FASD. A chance meeting with Penny and Ryan leads to a job offer: as Penny’s new nanny. Carly is initially reluctant to get involved because of her own personal history of working with FASD children, but is persuaded to take the job … and ends up more involved than even she had anticipated.
I thoroughly enjoyed Until I Found You, Victoria Bylin’s first contemporary novel for Bethany House, and I enjoyed Together With You even more. The plot, driven largely by Penny’s issues as a special needs child, was a unique combination of entertaining and educational. I also liked the way the Christian elements of the plot were dealt with, particularly the conflict between Carly and Ryan, and the sympathetic and non-judgemental way FASD was dealt with.
The characters were excellent, and it was good to see the stuffy and barely competent Dr Tremaine loosen up a bit as the plot progressed. The minor characters were also excellent, even Penny’s Aunt Denise, who wants to have custody of Penny for herself. It’s clever writing when the viewpoint character dislikes another character, yet the writing manages to get across a degree of sympathy for that ‘unlikable’ character.
One word of warning: if the cover puts you off because it’s a little too cliché romance, think again. While Together With You definitely has a strong romance plot, it’s just as much a story about the consequences of bad choices, the difficulties in raising a child with special needs, and truly understanding God’s forgiveness. Recommended.
Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Carly Jo Mason is working at the Animal Factory while completing a PhD specialising in the prevention of FASD. A chance meeting with Penny and Ryan leads to a job offer: as Penny’s new nanny. Carly is initially reluctant to get involved because of her own personal history of working with FASD children, but is persuaded to take the job … and ends up more involved than even she had anticipated.
I thoroughly enjoyed Until I Found You, Victoria Bylin’s first contemporary novel for Bethany House, and I enjoyed Together With You even more. The plot, driven largely by Penny’s issues as a special needs child, was a unique combination of entertaining and educational. I also liked the way the Christian elements of the plot were dealt with, particularly the conflict between Carly and Ryan, and the sympathetic and non-judgemental way FASD was dealt with.
The characters were excellent, and it was good to see the stuffy and barely competent Dr Tremaine loosen up a bit as the plot progressed. The minor characters were also excellent, even Penny’s Aunt Denise, who wants to have custody of Penny for herself. It’s clever writing when the viewpoint character dislikes another character, yet the writing manages to get across a degree of sympathy for that ‘unlikable’ character.
One word of warning: if the cover puts you off because it’s a little too cliché romance, think again. While Together With You definitely has a strong romance plot, it’s just as much a story about the consequences of bad choices, the difficulties in raising a child with special needs, and truly understanding God’s forgiveness. Recommended.
Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
April 15, 2015
This is the first book I've read by this author and it was a very emotional, well-written book. Told from the perspective of Carly, Ryan and sometimes Penny, this book takes it's readers on a story of love, guilt, confusion, and ultimately redemption and forgiveness.
Carly becomes the nanny for Penny, a 5-year-old girl who has recently lost her mother to an accident and is living with a father she has just met. Penny also suffers from Fetal Alcohol Effects. Ryan also has his two sons from his failed marriage living with him for the summer - boys he barely knows because he's been such a workaholic in the past. Ryan is hoping Carly can help him with his SOS list to connect with his children over the summer. Carly is a believer, but Ryan is not... and he has no interest in God.
This was a very good book. The characters were deep and their struggles were real. Ryan and Carly were both very broken people. Even Carly with her faith in God has a lot of very real struggles. My only real issue with the book was the love story between Ryan and Carly. On Carly's side, I was frustrated with how attached she allowed herself to become for a man who was not a believer. She just couldn't let it go no matter how wrong she knew it was and I just got really annoyed by it.
Other than that, I enjoyed the way Ryan tried so hard to connect with his family and right his past wrongs the best he could, how Carly was so awesome with the kids and how Carly and Ryan conducted themselves with integrity throughout (even though I was annoyed with her far-gone interest in him, I could appreciate that she didn't ACT upon it.)
Definitely worth the read and gives the reader a lot of food for thought about FASD and God's grace.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.
Carly becomes the nanny for Penny, a 5-year-old girl who has recently lost her mother to an accident and is living with a father she has just met. Penny also suffers from Fetal Alcohol Effects. Ryan also has his two sons from his failed marriage living with him for the summer - boys he barely knows because he's been such a workaholic in the past. Ryan is hoping Carly can help him with his SOS list to connect with his children over the summer. Carly is a believer, but Ryan is not... and he has no interest in God.
This was a very good book. The characters were deep and their struggles were real. Ryan and Carly were both very broken people. Even Carly with her faith in God has a lot of very real struggles. My only real issue with the book was the love story between Ryan and Carly. On Carly's side, I was frustrated with how attached she allowed herself to become for a man who was not a believer. She just couldn't let it go no matter how wrong she knew it was and I just got really annoyed by it.
Other than that, I enjoyed the way Ryan tried so hard to connect with his family and right his past wrongs the best he could, how Carly was so awesome with the kids and how Carly and Ryan conducted themselves with integrity throughout (even though I was annoyed with her far-gone interest in him, I could appreciate that she didn't ACT upon it.)
Definitely worth the read and gives the reader a lot of food for thought about FASD and God's grace.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.
November 28, 2016
Together With You is the second book I have read by Victoria Bylin, and I enjoyed it much more than Until I Found You. Unfortunately, I had let my apathy for Until I Found You cloud my judgement of Victoria Bylin and her writing. I am glad I gave her a second chance because I enjoyed this novel of family healing, second (and maybe third and forth) chances, love, and children with special needs.
Carly has worked with children and teens with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) before. But she left that life after a mistake cost a young girl her safety. When Dr Ryan Tremaine, a young dad with three children, one of whom has FASD, asks her to be their nanny, Carly's first response is a firm no. But the father's desperation and cold aloofness towards his children and the family's general meltdown at her workplace convince her that this is a family who could use her help and love. Carly works with little Penny on boundaries, helps the older boys understand their sister and grow within their own interests, and shows Dr Tremaine how to connect with his children. She fills a hole Ryan didn't even notice they had. But Carly's belief in God, forgiveness, and a pure life are vastly different to Ryan's own beliefs.
This book covers so much and had so much more in it than I was expecting. Carly is a loving and kind character, but hard on herself, especially regarding her mistakes when working with teens with FASD. This book certainly is realistic about life and human weaknesses. Ryan is no saintly hero. He is upfront about his many mistakes, including an affair that led to Penny's conception and her resulting exposure to alcohol. Carly and Ryan have many differences and obstacles that prevent them from following their growing attraction.
This book is honest and realistic about the complications of love, family and life.
Find more reviews on my blog Madison's Library.
Carly has worked with children and teens with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) before. But she left that life after a mistake cost a young girl her safety. When Dr Ryan Tremaine, a young dad with three children, one of whom has FASD, asks her to be their nanny, Carly's first response is a firm no. But the father's desperation and cold aloofness towards his children and the family's general meltdown at her workplace convince her that this is a family who could use her help and love. Carly works with little Penny on boundaries, helps the older boys understand their sister and grow within their own interests, and shows Dr Tremaine how to connect with his children. She fills a hole Ryan didn't even notice they had. But Carly's belief in God, forgiveness, and a pure life are vastly different to Ryan's own beliefs.
This book covers so much and had so much more in it than I was expecting. Carly is a loving and kind character, but hard on herself, especially regarding her mistakes when working with teens with FASD. This book certainly is realistic about life and human weaknesses. Ryan is no saintly hero. He is upfront about his many mistakes, including an affair that led to Penny's conception and her resulting exposure to alcohol. Carly and Ryan have many differences and obstacles that prevent them from following their growing attraction.
This book is honest and realistic about the complications of love, family and life.
Find more reviews on my blog Madison's Library.
May 14, 2015
"Together With You" is a beautifully written story that not only celebrates the love that can blossom between a man and a woman, but the love story that takes place when God pursues us and we finally surrender to his love. Victoria Bylin has done a great job at weaving together a number of different story lines, from the relationship that develops between Carly and Ryan, to the painful mistakes that each have made in their pasts, to the fetal alcohol effects that Penny is living with. As a social worker who works with children with FAE myself, I can testify that Bylin has done an excellent job at realistically portraying Penny with her disability and showing how difficult it can be for parents to learn to handle the behaviours that accompany it. I loved how Bylin gives us glimpses into Penny's mind and perspectives, adding a real uniqueness to this story. But as I already hinted, I think my favourite part of the story is how everything collides in Ryan's life to bring him to the end of himself and discover that God is real. I won't go into more details about how that exactly occurs, but I can tell you that this is quite a read! All in all, this is an incredibly heart-warming read that will no doubt have readers battling tears as they watch the scenes unfold. This story truly has it all - realistically drawn characters, scenes that will have you racing through the pages with bated breath, and spiritually rich moments. And those who love happy endings should definitely add this book to their collection!
This is the first story written by Victoria Bylin that I have read - but it certainly won't be the last. I enjoyed this story from start to finish, and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
This is the first story written by Victoria Bylin that I have read - but it certainly won't be the last. I enjoyed this story from start to finish, and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
April 4, 2015
This is a heartwarming and memorable Christian Contemporary novel with characters that are well developed and extremely likeable. As a matter of fact, this author does such a great job with character development that I found myself secretly rooting for the handsome ophthalmologist, Dr. Ryan Tremaine, even though he has a history of divorce due to having an affair and fathering a child out of wedlock. Together With You is most definitely not your cookie cutter Christian romance, so if you’re looking for perfect people with a perfect life, you should just move along. However, if you enjoy a story with real life like characters who make mistakes and are in need of a Savior’s grace and forgiveness, you will adore this story.
The cast includes Dr. Ryan Tremaine, as previously mentioned and his three children. Kyle is 16 and just a good and kind young man. Eric is 13 and struggling to find his fit in the family. Finally, there is Penny, Dr. Tremaine’s precious 5 year old daughter from his extramarital affair who has fetal alcohol effects. Because Penny has special needs, Dr. Tremaine needs a nanny who understands her. This brings us to Carly Mason, a kind and caring 28 year old preacher’s daughter from Kentucky. So, there you have it. The makings for a story that will absolutely make you contemplate what you believe to be right while captivating your heart. It makes for a wonderful read that I wholeheartedly recommend.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
The cast includes Dr. Ryan Tremaine, as previously mentioned and his three children. Kyle is 16 and just a good and kind young man. Eric is 13 and struggling to find his fit in the family. Finally, there is Penny, Dr. Tremaine’s precious 5 year old daughter from his extramarital affair who has fetal alcohol effects. Because Penny has special needs, Dr. Tremaine needs a nanny who understands her. This brings us to Carly Mason, a kind and caring 28 year old preacher’s daughter from Kentucky. So, there you have it. The makings for a story that will absolutely make you contemplate what you believe to be right while captivating your heart. It makes for a wonderful read that I wholeheartedly recommend.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
April 25, 2015
When I saw this title on NetGalley, I knew I wanted to read it. I'll admit that the cover attracted me too. :)
This is a meaty sort of book. Yes, it has a developing romance but nothing is really acted upon until the end of the book. Ryan and Carly are attracted to each other from the beginning but there are some major issues that separate them.
Ryan and Carly are really opposites as to where they are in life. Ryan is a bit older than Carly with teenage sons from a first marriage, and a daughter from an affair he had. He is trying to make up for his mistakes and be a good father to his children but he is in a bit over his head. His daughter suffers from FAE (fetal alcohol effects) and needs extra special care and attention. It's a lot for one single dad to handle. Ryan needs Carly so badly.
I loved Carly. She is smart and capable but very soft and human too. She loves with her whole heart. She was easy to connect with.
Like I said, this book has some meat to it. Real life complications are everywhere in this book. The author does a great job of balancing things so the book doesn't ever feel too heavy. This is also a Christian fiction book so there is talk about God.
I really liked this book. I read through it quickly and became invested early on. I'll be looking for more books by this author!
My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for allowing me to read and review titles for them via NetGalley.
This is a meaty sort of book. Yes, it has a developing romance but nothing is really acted upon until the end of the book. Ryan and Carly are attracted to each other from the beginning but there are some major issues that separate them.
Ryan and Carly are really opposites as to where they are in life. Ryan is a bit older than Carly with teenage sons from a first marriage, and a daughter from an affair he had. He is trying to make up for his mistakes and be a good father to his children but he is in a bit over his head. His daughter suffers from FAE (fetal alcohol effects) and needs extra special care and attention. It's a lot for one single dad to handle. Ryan needs Carly so badly.
I loved Carly. She is smart and capable but very soft and human too. She loves with her whole heart. She was easy to connect with.
Like I said, this book has some meat to it. Real life complications are everywhere in this book. The author does a great job of balancing things so the book doesn't ever feel too heavy. This is also a Christian fiction book so there is talk about God.
I really liked this book. I read through it quickly and became invested early on. I'll be looking for more books by this author!
My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for allowing me to read and review titles for them via NetGalley.
March 9, 2016
My attention was grabbed right off the bat when the background to Ryan's daughter Penny was explained. I didn't expect his character to be so flawed, but at the same time I admired his resolve and determination to be a better father and improve his family dynamics as best he could. I also didn't expect there to be such a huge focus on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. I definitely learned some new things in that regard. It was a brilliant move by the author to have a few scenes from Penny's point of view since it gave me a deeper understanding of her thought process. Carly could have come across as too happy and perfect, but instead she showed depth, compassion, intelligence, and even inner conflict. I felt like the emphasis on the relationship and interactions between the children and adults overshadowed the romance, and the foundation of friendship Ryan and Carly built was glossed over during the time lapses. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, because I did- this book is excellently written, but I did miss that aspect of Ryan and Carly's relationship. The drama is somewhat gritty but the characters' reactions and struggles come across as realistic and true-to-life.
(Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
(Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
June 29, 2015
Together with you
5 stars out of 5
Contemporary romance
WOW. W.O.W. What a powerful story! As I looked around at the people around me in church this morning, and as I think of other friends whose adopted children have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, I want them all to have a Carly in their life. On their side. The parents are probably a little like Denise, or even perhaps a bit like Dr. Ryan. I want to make each of them read this book because of the things I saw in it. The funny thing is, that is not the biggest issue addressed in the story. Forgiveness is. Not only the forgiveness we seek from God, or even each other. But forgiving ourselves. The truth Carly Jo had to face, and I think many of us do is to forgive ourselves. And why is that so hard?
I guess you will need to read the book to find out if it applies to you, or if you get something else out of it. No one is perfect and we all need the grace, love and forgiveness that comes from God.
Thank you to Nuts About Books and BethanyHouse publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I was given a free book in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required. The opinions are my own.
5 stars out of 5
Contemporary romance
WOW. W.O.W. What a powerful story! As I looked around at the people around me in church this morning, and as I think of other friends whose adopted children have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, I want them all to have a Carly in their life. On their side. The parents are probably a little like Denise, or even perhaps a bit like Dr. Ryan. I want to make each of them read this book because of the things I saw in it. The funny thing is, that is not the biggest issue addressed in the story. Forgiveness is. Not only the forgiveness we seek from God, or even each other. But forgiving ourselves. The truth Carly Jo had to face, and I think many of us do is to forgive ourselves. And why is that so hard?
I guess you will need to read the book to find out if it applies to you, or if you get something else out of it. No one is perfect and we all need the grace, love and forgiveness that comes from God.
Thank you to Nuts About Books and BethanyHouse publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I was given a free book in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required. The opinions are my own.
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