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Before We Begin: A Grace Church Series Novella
She’s looking for fun. He’s dreaming of forever.
Katie’s restless heart just needs one more distraction to survive the final weeks before graduation. A gifted photography student with a reckless streak, she’s counting the days until she can break free. No more family pressure, nothing tying her down. Soon it will be just her, a camera, and the open road. It sounds perfect.
Until Isaac walks in. Quiet, steady, and making her question everything.
A soldier recently returned from Iraq, Isaac didn’t expect much from his short assignment in Alaska. He certainly didn’t expect to find someone like Katie. She’s everything he’s not—wild and radiant, a burst of color in a world gone gray. Isaac dreams of a stable future, a family, a place to belong. Katie wants none of it. And yet neither of them can seem to walk away.
What begins as an unlikely friendship quickly grows into something more. Katie insists it’s casual. Just a few weeks. Just for fun. But Isaac wants something real. And as their connection grows, so does the ache of everything they cannot be.
Because sometimes, the right people meet at the wrong time.
And some goodbyes leave a mark you never forget.
A bittersweet, clean romance set in Alaska, Before We Begin is a beautiful story about timing, longing, and the one who almost was.
It is a standalone prequel to Before Grace, part of the award-winning Grace Church Series.
Katie’s restless heart just needs one more distraction to survive the final weeks before graduation. A gifted photography student with a reckless streak, she’s counting the days until she can break free. No more family pressure, nothing tying her down. Soon it will be just her, a camera, and the open road. It sounds perfect.
Until Isaac walks in. Quiet, steady, and making her question everything.
A soldier recently returned from Iraq, Isaac didn’t expect much from his short assignment in Alaska. He certainly didn’t expect to find someone like Katie. She’s everything he’s not—wild and radiant, a burst of color in a world gone gray. Isaac dreams of a stable future, a family, a place to belong. Katie wants none of it. And yet neither of them can seem to walk away.
What begins as an unlikely friendship quickly grows into something more. Katie insists it’s casual. Just a few weeks. Just for fun. But Isaac wants something real. And as their connection grows, so does the ache of everything they cannot be.
Because sometimes, the right people meet at the wrong time.
And some goodbyes leave a mark you never forget.
A bittersweet, clean romance set in Alaska, Before We Begin is a beautiful story about timing, longing, and the one who almost was.
It is a standalone prequel to Before Grace, part of the award-winning Grace Church Series.
- GenresChristian
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2025
103 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 6, 2025
An Alaska beginning
I would say this was a wonderful story about an army guy and an Alaska student. They met through a friend and became close friends till he had to go back to his home base, a wonderful story to read and very emotional.
I would say this was a wonderful story about an army guy and an Alaska student. They met through a friend and became close friends till he had to go back to his home base, a wonderful story to read and very emotional.
October 3, 2025
Cute, Clean, & Fun
This was a cute & playful story. I liked how the MMC & FMC interacted with each other. I did not like the ending though.
This was a cute & playful story. I liked how the MMC & FMC interacted with each other. I did not like the ending though.
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October 5, 2025What I didn't know before reading Before We Begin is that it's not a standalone Christian romance. Instead, it's the prequel for another novel, Before Grace.
While this was well-written with compelling characters, I read it under the mistaken impression that it was a romance. It's not :(
On the other hand, that was a good thing because while one of the characters was a Christian, the other was not.
While this was well-written with compelling characters, I read it under the mistaken impression that it was a romance. It's not :(
On the other hand, that was a good thing because while one of the characters was a Christian, the other was not.
October 14, 2025
Wonderful
I loved the book. Katie was an inspiration and easy to fall in love with Isaac but....read to find out why putting God first is always the right thing to.do
I loved the book. Katie was an inspiration and easy to fall in love with Isaac but....read to find out why putting God first is always the right thing to.do
September 22, 2025
Anna Daugherty’s Grace Church series is one of my favorite to read! The characters are true to life people you would meet as you go through your normal day. They are not perfect, have their own issues to deal with, and have you caring about what happens to them. The setting of Fairbanks, Alaska was a nice change of pace and the bantering between Katie and Isaac will have you chuckling. My heart ached for both of them as they fought personal demons and I was cheering them on to see where their relationship would go. A great prequel to Before Grace. You need to get lost in the pages of this story of relationships and God’s timing. It is a must read!
For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!
For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!
September 9, 2025
The fun and heartwarming prequel to Before Grace, which I already read. I loved spending time with Katie and Isaac again,and learning their back story. Great cast of characters. Great story! Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews