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Wheeler Family #3
A Love So Strong
In need of a wife, Pastor Marcus Wheeler was sure God would send him a good woman--anyone except Nicole Archer. Though she was kind and beautiful, she was far too young and unconventional to be a proper minister's wife. She couldn't possibly be the one for him. But the more time he spent with Nicole, the more he marveled at her strength and spirit. Nicole made juggling school and family responsibilities seem easy, yet Marcus knew he could help ease her burdens--and make her smile. Sometimes God's plan isn't what one expects....
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Arlene James
214 books88 followersArlene James has written romance for four decades, and has published 100+ novels. A mother of sons and now a happy grandmother to the brightest, most talented, and lovely of all granddaughters, she is finding her sixth decade to be great fun.
She and her very supportive husband of 45 years (whom she agreed to marry on their first date!) enjoy a busy social life and have visited much of the world. After calling Texas home for three decades, they now live in beautiful NW Arkansas.
Arlene grew up on a ranch in south central Oklahoma and still maintains strong ties in that area. She firmly believes that writing has afforded her the best of all possible means of earning a living, and credits a junior high school English teacher with proving to her that her dream of being an author was entirely achievable.
After 4 decades of deadlines and multiple-book contracts (for which she is deeply grateful), she is enjoying the ability to write exactly what she feels led to write on her own schedule.
She and her very supportive husband of 45 years (whom she agreed to marry on their first date!) enjoy a busy social life and have visited much of the world. After calling Texas home for three decades, they now live in beautiful NW Arkansas.
Arlene grew up on a ranch in south central Oklahoma and still maintains strong ties in that area. She firmly believes that writing has afforded her the best of all possible means of earning a living, and credits a junior high school English teacher with proving to her that her dream of being an author was entirely achievable.
After 4 decades of deadlines and multiple-book contracts (for which she is deeply grateful), she is enjoying the ability to write exactly what she feels led to write on her own schedule.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 5, 2020
Read in 2009 and 2020.
Rating: 5 Stars (Wish i could rate it 10 stars!!)
Review:
This was my 2nd time reading this book so since i hadnt read it in 11 years i thought id revist this story and im glad i did!!
I forgot how emotionally amazing this book is. Its about a 20 year old woman and her 9 year old brother who deal with their drunk and abusive father after their mother died of cancer 9 years before.
The plot setting and characters were so good and easy to get into. I loved how strong Nicole was and how she finally got a happen ending as well as her brother!!
Can't wait to read more by this author in the future!!!
Rating: 5 Stars (Wish i could rate it 10 stars!!)
Review:
This was my 2nd time reading this book so since i hadnt read it in 11 years i thought id revist this story and im glad i did!!
I forgot how emotionally amazing this book is. Its about a 20 year old woman and her 9 year old brother who deal with their drunk and abusive father after their mother died of cancer 9 years before.
The plot setting and characters were so good and easy to get into. I loved how strong Nicole was and how she finally got a happen ending as well as her brother!!
Can't wait to read more by this author in the future!!!
March 26, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book. A lot of what happened in this book happened to me when I was growing up my Father was an alcoholic and was verbally abuse toward me.
There are many reasons I enjoyed this book it made me realize that I needed to make a change for myself to be healthier. I don't drink alcohol, but I have other things I need to change and this book has been an inspiration to make me want to change.
There are many reasons I enjoyed this book it made me realize that I needed to make a change for myself to be healthier. I don't drink alcohol, but I have other things I need to change and this book has been an inspiration to make me want to change.
May 23, 2017
When I attended writing classes, one thing every speaker said was "Show, don't tell." This book fails miserably at that and I didn't make it very far in before I gave up.
June 1, 2017
Christian romance. For a pastor, he was pretty judgmental about Nicole's attire.
November 2, 2022
I liked this book's storyline. This book's storyline was sad 😔. I liked the Christian ✝️ theme in this story. I liked Marcus's character. I liked Nicole's character. I liked the ending.
November 8, 2025
This is a well-written Christian romance story.
May 30, 2011
Part of the Love Inspired Christian Romance series, James's A Love So Strong tells the story of Pastor Marcus Wheeler, whose sisters' stories were told in early books by James. Celebrating his 30th birthday, Marcus wonders when God will answer his prayer for a wife. At the same time he's thrown into the struggles of Nicole and Beau Archer, siblings suffering under the rule of an alcoholic father. Surely young and unconventional Nicole can't be a woman called to be a pastor's wife, but then why can't Marcus stop getting involved in her life?
Pretty predictable mediocre mass market paperback romance, but it was just good enough that I could play along and pretend the story was realistic, and, as is usually the case with cheap romance novels (classy or trashy), I got sucked in and had to read most of it in one sitting. The strong Christian ethic made me feel a little less guilty about my addiction to throwaway literature, but really this was a pretty average example of the cheap romance novel. If you like that sort of thing, you can have my copy, since this definitely not a a "must reread" genre for me.
Pretty predictable mediocre mass market paperback romance, but it was just good enough that I could play along and pretend the story was realistic, and, as is usually the case with cheap romance novels (classy or trashy), I got sucked in and had to read most of it in one sitting. The strong Christian ethic made me feel a little less guilty about my addiction to throwaway literature, but really this was a pretty average example of the cheap romance novel. If you like that sort of thing, you can have my copy, since this definitely not a a "must reread" genre for me.
September 5, 2013
Another predictable Love Inspired Larger Print. Pastor Marcus gets an unexpected birthday interruption in the form of Nicole Archer. Her unconventional style and youth make him uncomfortable and yet helping her with her brother Beau and her father are the right things to do.
February 13, 2013
Since i am a former 'Foster Mom',I would say this is a 'Tissue box' book. Really enjoyed the conclusion of the book.
May 16, 2016
I enjoyed this book but I thought the ending was too fast and too sweet.
June 28, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book. Nice clean wholesome romance story that would be suitable for any age.
December 19, 2008
Never actually read. I couldn't get past the first few pages. :)
June 7, 2014
Good book
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews