Love Defined

Remnants #3

by Elizabeth Maddrey

Dreams Change. Plans Fail.

July and Gareth have reached the end of their infertility treatment options. With conflicting feelings on adoption, they struggle to discover common ground in their marriage.

Meanwhile, July's twin sister, June, and her husband, Toby, are navigating the uncertainties of adoption and the challenges of new parenthood.

How much stretching can their relationships endure before they snap?

Get your copy of the final installment of this Christian Women's Fiction series today to see how June, July, and their husbands find their way to peace.

Genres: Christian Fiction

197 pages, ebook

First published December 2, 2014

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Defined by Elizabeth Maddrey can be described as a gritty Christian novel that doesn't shy away from real life problems. It tackles the difficult subject of infertility and adoption with sensitivity. God also plays a central role, as the main characters are all practising Christians.
Sisters June and July (pronounced Julie) are both married, and desperately want their own children. However June cannot conceive, and July inspite of becoming pregnant through IVF, miscarries. Both couples begin to look into adoption. It is a road that can be wrought with challenges, and put stresses and strains on even the strongest marriage.
The novel also deals with the pitfalls of social media's so called 'support' groups, and highlights the possible dangers of venting one's feelings in the virtual world instead of talking to the people concerned. Christians are not immune from this problem.
Love Defined explores real people dealing with life's real problems. The church, and particularly, the pastor, are portrayed in a positive light - supporting and handing out wise, godly advice where it is needed. The Christian characters are realistically drawn, with individual character flaws that need to be worked through to resolve their situations.
I was blessed to receive a copy of Love Defined, and although it can be a hard read due to the sensitive nature of the themes covered, it was extremely well written. It was refreshing to read a novel that could so easily have been about a nonfiction situation, showing that just because one is a Christian, it does not make one immune to trouble and desperate situations. I will definitely be reading more by Elizabeth Maddrey.

[Teresa Kander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the perfect ending for story of June and Toby, and July and Gareth. It isn't a "happily ever after" fairy tale ending, but it was honest and realistic. Both couples were able to create a family, even if the experience wasn't quite what they had been hoping it would be. The relationship between the sisters was strained at times, but by the end of the book, they had found their way back to the closeness of twins. Gareth and July still have many of the same issues from the previous book, most especially the lack of open communication. Most of their friends and family members from the last two books are present, dealing with their own emotions regarding the couples' journey toward parenthood. I would love to read another story about the two families, set five or ten years in the future, to see how things have gone. :)

I was provided a free copy of this book to read and review, but all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Defined by Elizabeth Maddrey is the third and final book in the Remnants series. It concludes the story of June and July and their struggle with starting families. June and Toby have found out that they cannot have children biologically and delve into the world of adoption. July and Gareth have been trying IVF and have to decide what to do if they cannot have biological children of their own. Both couple’s relationships will be tested during these difficult times. They must remember to have faith, pray, keep open the lines of communication, and remember that they love each other. This is a lovely, heartwarming novel. I have enjoyed reading the Remnants series and look forward to more books by Elizabeth Maddrey. Love Defined will be out on December 2 and is available on Amazon.com for pre-order. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review. Happy Reading!

[Karen Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was really good. It concerned two sisters who were dealing with difficulties un birth. The way the author made each person feel in the story was unique. She even brought in afoption and the issues of adoptions. I really loved this book and would recommend to others. I was given a vopy of this book for an honest rebiew.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait for this book to be released! After reading of June and July's struggles to conceive after they both were married in "Faith Departed" and trying to find answers to their fertility issues in "Hope Deferred", this book definitely left me feeling satisfied with their stories. I loved how the story unfolded of June and Toby and their adoption. It showed how they had to truly rely on God when all else felt totally hopeless and gave me a better feeling as to how adoptive parents must feel going through 'the process'. For July and Gareth, their struggles were real. It was like a tug of war battle of emotions on both sides throughout the story. I was glad to see them come to a conclusion at the end of the book but still feel like there could be more told (another book, maybe?!). Overall, I felt totally satisfied after reading this book and felt like the stories of June and July were so amazing. When they were first mentioned in Maddrey's earlier series of books, I would have never thought a whole series could unfold of their own later on! Just shows you what a talented writer Elizabeth Maddrey is! :-)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! I enjoyed this final book in the series by Elizabeth Maddrey. Love Defined is just as compelling, and heartfelt as the first two books, and it was great getting to know the characters in even more depth. This story and the whole series is so good about letting the reader know about the issues surrounding infertility. I appreciated the insight into what is the best ways of dealing with women (and men) going through these situations, including miscarriage, and adoption, and ultimately, where ever couples are in their journey. The story also shows what not to say or do, so that you can keep from hurting people unnecessarily. I highly recommend it, since the story reads so smoothly and keeps the reader interested in what's going on in June and July's lives. Thanks to the publisher who provided a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Shari Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read
Love Defined, the third book in the Remnants series, finds twins June and July still seeking God’s best for their families. Finally accepting their issues with infertility, both women set out to define what a family looks like from their own perspective. The author does a good job of presenting the alternatives to bearing children and realistically looks at the feelings of both husbands and wives. Having walked in June’s and July’s shoes I could relate to their feelings about this tender issues. This book is a wonderful book for someone to read who struggles personally with the issue of infertility or for someone who knows someone who struggles with this issue. I highly recommend this book as well as the first two in this series. I received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying but realistic series conclusion

You really have to read all three books in this series. I'm not sure why it is not one book. That's the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars. The series on infertility is helpful for those who don't understand or know about the struggles involved. It is probably helpful to those in that journey too.

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, and the whole series, are well-written. I didn't really enjoy them, as infertility is a difficult subject. Also, I couldn't relate to most of the problems the main characters were dealing with. I think the book (and series) would be helpful for those who do have those problems.

[Megan Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Defined, the final piece of the Remnants trilogy by Elizabeth Maddrey, follows the harrowing ordeal of twin sisters' struggle with infertility and their quest to become parents. In the first book of the series, Faith Departed, June, July, and their husbands decide that now is the right time to start a family and assume that, like all the other couples around them, this plan will fall right into place according to their timing. When this doesn't happen for either of them, the sisters' faiths and marriages are shaken and tested. Their frustration and agony continues in the second book of the trilogy, Hope Deferred. In the third and final installment of the series, June and July's relationship as sisters is tried as they forge different paths, both struggling to decide what is best for their families. Do they accept and embrace a life with no children? What about adoption? What if adoption doesn't work out or they don't feel the desire to adopt? Do they seek out other possibilities? How do they trust God in the midst of so much pain, confusion, and heartache?

This is my favorite novel of the trilogy. Love Defined reveals, with such sensitivity and understanding, the heart-wrenching choices that must be made when, in the words of that great Scottish poet Robbie Burns, "the best laid plans of mice and men go awry." Not only are wives affected by the pain of infertility; husbands experience it acutely as well, but their feelings are too often minimized. Maddrey shows both sides of the coin, as June and July's husbands, Toby and Gareth, suffer differently but no less than the women. Enduring infertility is not for the faint of heart for women or for men.

Without giving anything away, the ending is beautiful--not because it's perfect, but because honesty and reality prevail. In the real world, even happy endings aren't spotless, and it's nice to see a Christian writer addressing this issue without sugar-coating or over-simplifying the complex issues and emotions involved. Infertility affects an entire community, not just the individual couple.

I highly recommend this book (and the entire trilogy) for anyone who has ever struggled or is currently struggling with infertility. This is also a wonderful read for anyone with a friend or family member currently enduring this painful process, as it might shed light on a situation that is tough to comprehend if you haven't gone through it.

[Lyndon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying conclusion to a touching - and sometimes difficult and challenging - trilogy dealing with the emotional, even controversial, issues of family planning, infertility, and adoption. While a bit heavy at times, the three books succeed in developing rich characters and an engaging plot. The novels follow the trials and travails of twins June and July (Julie) and their husbands and succeed in keeping the reader engaged in following their respective story lines. The couples' journeys intertwine, of course, but ultimately follow different paths as they each seek God's guidance for their lives. A heart-felt and very personal series by women's fiction and Christian romance author Elizabeth Maddrey. Four and a half stars. Recommended for those interested in stories that touch important issues for people of faith.

[Joyful · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Elizabeth Maddrey has done an excellent job writing this book on a subject close to my heart. Having experienced this path in life, the emotions of this story are real. The plot of infertility and how one must trust God while keeping the lines of communication open with God and your spouse while going through difficult and dark times is truly a must. I love that this author writes of the struggles of both couples and how they must work through the difficulties as an individual and as a couple coming to different conclusions. What a story - 5 star. I recommend this book to those who have gone through this and knows anyone going through it. Who doesn't? Thank you for giving me a copy for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great conclusion to this series.
Although the ending isn't a happily-ever-after, it's authentic and will resonate with readers, especially those who have struggled with infertility.
The characters really grew over the series even though July got on my nerves a lot this book. She was still real and probably represents how a lot of women feel while struggling with getting/staying pregnant.

Overall, it's a great series for those who have struggle in this area and those who love them.

[Wilani Wahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another powerful book in this series. I love the way the series ended. I fell in love with the characters and would love to see them again in future books. I loved the inspirational thread throughout this book and the series. Looking forward to reading other books by this great author.