What do you think?
Rate this book
It's a Love Story: From Happily to Ever After
Human beings love to be loved. And we love to fall in love. As children we pour our love into our pets and our friends. As teenagers we fall in love with musicians and actors and the boy whose locker is next to ours. As we mature, we long for romantic love that will last a lifetime. Sacrificial love, unexplainable love, familial love, desperate love. Love songs and love stories. Clearly we were created with the longing for love ingrained in our souls.With lots of wit and a bit of wisdom drawn from a lifetime of falling in love, Lincee Ray invites you to an unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own, you'll discover alongside her that there is only one who can ever truly fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts. And he made us to be part of a divine love story.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2019
58 people are currently reading
1301 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
April 24, 2019
Special thank you to Lincee Ray and Revell for gifting me with an advance copy to review as part of the book launch team.
"Don’t hesitate. Rise up. Serve. Make a difference."
“Until we reunite with our Maker face-to-face, we’ll settle for substitutes to satiate our longing. Romantic movies and poetic story lines will fill us with faith. Gorgeous lyrics will fill our ears with hope. And intentional relationships with our families and friends will fill our hearts with love.”
I adore Lincee Ray for so many reasons I could never list them all here -- same as I do Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson. I really and truly want to be BFFs with them. That being said, Lincee’s writing style is my absolute favorite kind of writing to read. She’s very witty, but there’s substance to each memory she reflects upon and each story she tells. Just as with her first book, I devoured this book in a few short days -- and if my people would have left me alone, I would have devoured it in one sitting. That’s how much I love this book and love Lincee Ray! If you haven’t checked out her podcast, I highly recommend that as well!
"Don’t hesitate. Rise up. Serve. Make a difference."
“Until we reunite with our Maker face-to-face, we’ll settle for substitutes to satiate our longing. Romantic movies and poetic story lines will fill us with faith. Gorgeous lyrics will fill our ears with hope. And intentional relationships with our families and friends will fill our hearts with love.”
I adore Lincee Ray for so many reasons I could never list them all here -- same as I do Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson. I really and truly want to be BFFs with them. That being said, Lincee’s writing style is my absolute favorite kind of writing to read. She’s very witty, but there’s substance to each memory she reflects upon and each story she tells. Just as with her first book, I devoured this book in a few short days -- and if my people would have left me alone, I would have devoured it in one sitting. That’s how much I love this book and love Lincee Ray! If you haven’t checked out her podcast, I highly recommend that as well!
February 14, 2021
I have followed Lincee's blog, I Hate Green Beans, for a long time and thoroughly enjoy her podcasts. As I read the book I could hear her voice and her Mama's. At times the book was a little too preachy for me but the rest was delightful.
May 8, 2019
I really enjoy Lincee Ray’s writing style. Her personality shines through and I find it hilarious, thoughtful, and delightful. She’s not afraid to admit that she has “mentally dated” fictional characters and she is real and vulnerable in the telling.
This book looks at many different things we love from the serious to the silly and shows how they all are a reminder of the greatest love. “When we say ‘I love Dr. Pepper,’ that really and truly is part of our love story as human beings who were made in the image of God. Because those feelings of love…all reflect the very essence of who He is…Although we’ll never be wholly fulfilled this side of heaven, love lives in our hearts and souls to remind us that day is coming” (location 106).
I realized a few things while reading this book. 1) I am grateful I don’t have a cat leaving headless presents on my step. 2) There are a few rom com movies that I missed and really need to check out. 3) Some people have really horrible break-up stories. 4) God is gracious in giving us so many things, including His Son, that point to His eternal love for His children.
I would recommend this book. It made me laugh out loud and smile throughout. Thank you to Revell for providing me with an e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This book looks at many different things we love from the serious to the silly and shows how they all are a reminder of the greatest love. “When we say ‘I love Dr. Pepper,’ that really and truly is part of our love story as human beings who were made in the image of God. Because those feelings of love…all reflect the very essence of who He is…Although we’ll never be wholly fulfilled this side of heaven, love lives in our hearts and souls to remind us that day is coming” (location 106).
I realized a few things while reading this book. 1) I am grateful I don’t have a cat leaving headless presents on my step. 2) There are a few rom com movies that I missed and really need to check out. 3) Some people have really horrible break-up stories. 4) God is gracious in giving us so many things, including His Son, that point to His eternal love for His children.
I would recommend this book. It made me laugh out loud and smile throughout. Thank you to Revell for providing me with an e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Read
May 6, 2019This is my first time reading by Lincee Ray, and it was not at all what I expected. From the description, I was thinking that It's a Love Story: From Happily to Ever After would be about our love for romance and longings to be known and cherished, and how that points to our deeper need for God. In reality, this book is more like stories from the author's life. And a lot of said stories didn't seem to have much to do with romance or faith. Some were funny. Some unfortunate. Some sarcastic. Many had to do with how she loves "oldies" music, dancing, and movies such as The Notebook.
It's a Love Story was an interesting read. It told a lot about Lincee Ray, including a little bit about her divorce, which was very sad. But I can't say I really get her sense of humor (sarcasm and such), and some of the content surprised me. Still getting butterflies from remembering her first kiss with some random guy ... All the hot men in favorite movies (most of which contain sexual content, I believe) ... Her love of the film, Dirty Dancing, and the hip shaking and whatever they do ... Screaming crazily at the concert of a "boy band" you used to crush on when you were a teen ... You haven't lived until you've smoked and drank on your last day of a mission trip? She talked some about romance and wanting to be married again, but it mostly had to do with hoping to fall in love with a really hot guy while grocery shopping or something. Hmm. I don't know. I just wasn't feeling a lot of it.
In the end of the book, Lincee Ray did touch on longings and loving to love pointing to our need for a relationship with God, which is the only relationship that can truly fulfill us. But, overall, I didn't feel that the rest of the book backed that up. That's my personal reaction. Maybe you would feel differently. It wasn't at all what I thought I had picked up, and I don't think I will be reading anymore from this author.
I received a copy of It's a Love Story: From Happily to Ever After from Revell Publishers. This review is honest and all my own.
It's a Love Story was an interesting read. It told a lot about Lincee Ray, including a little bit about her divorce, which was very sad. But I can't say I really get her sense of humor (sarcasm and such), and some of the content surprised me. Still getting butterflies from remembering her first kiss with some random guy ... All the hot men in favorite movies (most of which contain sexual content, I believe) ... Her love of the film, Dirty Dancing, and the hip shaking and whatever they do ... Screaming crazily at the concert of a "boy band" you used to crush on when you were a teen ... You haven't lived until you've smoked and drank on your last day of a mission trip? She talked some about romance and wanting to be married again, but it mostly had to do with hoping to fall in love with a really hot guy while grocery shopping or something. Hmm. I don't know. I just wasn't feeling a lot of it.
In the end of the book, Lincee Ray did touch on longings and loving to love pointing to our need for a relationship with God, which is the only relationship that can truly fulfill us. But, overall, I didn't feel that the rest of the book backed that up. That's my personal reaction. Maybe you would feel differently. It wasn't at all what I thought I had picked up, and I don't think I will be reading anymore from this author.
I received a copy of It's a Love Story: From Happily to Ever After from Revell Publishers. This review is honest and all my own.
June 11, 2019
Lincee Ray’s new book it’s a Love Story is a wonderfully encouraging book with devotion style stories that will remind you of God’s love. Each chapter is a little bit of real life, mixed up with tender emotions and memories and through it all you see God’s goodness.
Lincee is a talented author who writes from her heart. Her stories are honest and good and they will help you to see the good all around you and maybe not take it for granted. Lincee writes in a way that you quickly get drawn into her stories and feel like you are a part of the fun!
Lincee focuses on our desire to be loved and through her book she writes about ways she has felt loved by those around her and in specific seasons of her life. So often life just moves so fast past us, that we fail to notice the people around us who are loving us day in and day out.
it’s a Love Story is a great book to help the reader slow down and savor the love in their life. Love can come from a variety of different, unexpected places and can be missed if you don’t look for it!
NOTE : I was offered a copy of it’s a Love Story in exchange for an honest review.
Lincee is a talented author who writes from her heart. Her stories are honest and good and they will help you to see the good all around you and maybe not take it for granted. Lincee writes in a way that you quickly get drawn into her stories and feel like you are a part of the fun!
Lincee focuses on our desire to be loved and through her book she writes about ways she has felt loved by those around her and in specific seasons of her life. So often life just moves so fast past us, that we fail to notice the people around us who are loving us day in and day out.
it’s a Love Story is a great book to help the reader slow down and savor the love in their life. Love can come from a variety of different, unexpected places and can be missed if you don’t look for it!
NOTE : I was offered a copy of it’s a Love Story in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2019
We all love to hear a good love story. Whether it is about children loving puppies or older couples that have been married for 70 years, these happy stories keep us going through the challenges of life. It's a Love Story by Lincee Ray is full of her love stories through the years.
It's a Love Story shares many personal stories from Ray's life throughout the book. She also shares a few heartaches in her quest for love. She shares about how she grew up as Johhny Ray's daughter in a small town full with a few escapades and stories that made me giggle out loud. . .She also shares about going to Africa a ministering to the children and obeying God in love to serve Him by serving the least of these. This book is full of both stories that will make you smile or laugh out loud and there were a few that brought a tear to my eyes. Ray is definitely not boring and has a way with words that evoke a variety of emotions. At the same time, she also has a way of causing me to reflect on my own life and how I love others and love them for Jesus. Do I do it well? In between she throws in some fluffy stuff for those who love movies and a good love story on the screen. In It's a Love Story, Ray weaves each story together to create a book that fills a few empty places in each reader.
I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
It's a Love Story shares many personal stories from Ray's life throughout the book. She also shares a few heartaches in her quest for love. She shares about how she grew up as Johhny Ray's daughter in a small town full with a few escapades and stories that made me giggle out loud. . .She also shares about going to Africa a ministering to the children and obeying God in love to serve Him by serving the least of these. This book is full of both stories that will make you smile or laugh out loud and there were a few that brought a tear to my eyes. Ray is definitely not boring and has a way with words that evoke a variety of emotions. At the same time, she also has a way of causing me to reflect on my own life and how I love others and love them for Jesus. Do I do it well? In between she throws in some fluffy stuff for those who love movies and a good love story on the screen. In It's a Love Story, Ray weaves each story together to create a book that fills a few empty places in each reader.
I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
May 13, 2020
I’ve loved Lincee’s writing since one of my friends introduced me to her Bachelor recaps at I Hate Green Beans about 10 years ago. I thought the setup of this book was great with each chapter being about something different that she loves. I also may have belted out I Know You By Heart from the Beaches soundtrack while driving one day because of one of the stories in her book. 😀 Since we’re about the same age, there were a lot of things that she talked about in the book that brought back memories from my younger years. It was a keeper and I’d recommend it!
April 29, 2019
I loved Why I Hate Green Beans, so when I saw that Lincee Ray had written a new book, I knew I had to read it!
It definitely did not disappoint! This book covers all sorts of love, from family to friends to partners to fictional. Some chapters were absolutely hilarious, and some made me burst out crying in a pedicure chair!
If you are looking for a fun, witty read, I definitely recommend It’s a Love Story.
It definitely did not disappoint! This book covers all sorts of love, from family to friends to partners to fictional. Some chapters were absolutely hilarious, and some made me burst out crying in a pedicure chair!
If you are looking for a fun, witty read, I definitely recommend It’s a Love Story.
April 19, 2019
Lincee is my favorite blogger/podcaster who got her start recapping “The Bachelor” episodes. She uses her wit and humor in this book about all things “love story” as she walks you through what you can learn from romantic comedies and pop culture’s messages about love, as well as what she has learned about love from Jesus. I laughed out loud sometimes, cried sometimes, but loved every bit of it. If you’re a child of the 80’s or 90’s, you will enjoy all the movie, music and toy references.
February 28, 2023
I finished a non-fiction book! I'm not a big fan of non-fiction, but a personal goal this year was to give more a try. The unique, fun voice of this author made this book enjoyable. The chapters didn't seem to tie in well with each other, making the overall flow a bit choppy. I do plan to read her first book though. 2.8/3
April 16, 2019
As I read this book I started jotting down connections I had to pop culture references or other funny antidotes the author Lincee referred to. There were funny similarities to ACL injuries I managed in high school, a love for NKOTB and Torchy’s Tabos, and more than a few pop culture references that pointed to exact experiences littering my teenage years, As I laughed my way through her words I felt seen in a kind of intimate way....like getting a text from a best friend - someone else like me!
And just when I had decided that the book was a fun quick read, she hits with some beautiful gospel related truths that caused me to tear up and feel lots of feelings. I loved the last chapters the most as she tied it all together to our love for God.
I loved that Lincee was able to write a book that tied my love of such similar maybe “trivial” things together to the love of our Savior. As I’ve been studying and immersed in scripture this Holy Week, reading and reflecting on the love He gives me I love the author’s reminder that His love is perfect, eternal, and when coupled with faith and hope will probably be the only way any of us survive.
Thank you to Lincee for her humor, candor, and ultimately for pointing to Jesus while she kept me laughing, crying and connecting it all together.
(I did receive an Advanced Readers Copy of this book, but the opinions are my own.)
And just when I had decided that the book was a fun quick read, she hits with some beautiful gospel related truths that caused me to tear up and feel lots of feelings. I loved the last chapters the most as she tied it all together to our love for God.
I loved that Lincee was able to write a book that tied my love of such similar maybe “trivial” things together to the love of our Savior. As I’ve been studying and immersed in scripture this Holy Week, reading and reflecting on the love He gives me I love the author’s reminder that His love is perfect, eternal, and when coupled with faith and hope will probably be the only way any of us survive.
Thank you to Lincee for her humor, candor, and ultimately for pointing to Jesus while she kept me laughing, crying and connecting it all together.
(I did receive an Advanced Readers Copy of this book, but the opinions are my own.)
May 3, 2019
So good! Do yourself a favor and get the audio version so you can hear Lincee read it with all the appropriate pauses and reflections!
April 17, 2019
You'll laugh, you might tear up, you'll be reminded of some of your favorite love stories, you'll giggle, you'll wipe away another tear, and then you'll laugh again. From love story, to love of all things in your life, to the reminder that there is only One ultimate love story that matters, this book needs to be on your bookshelf!
May 31, 2019
I adore Lincee Ray's writing style. It's infectious, and always keeps me glued to the page of whatever story she's currently telling. I read (and loved) Why I Hate Green Beans last year, and when I heard she had a new book coming out, I knew I needed it in my life.
I wasn't entirely sure what this one was going to be about, other than that it was being touted as a love story from start to finish. I was so pleasantly surprised when I first picked this up to discover that it's Lincee's love story; it's a tribute to all the things she's loved over the years that have made her into the person she is now.
The reader is taken on a roller coaster ride with this one from start to finish as we live all of Lincee's happiest and not so happiest moments right along with her. From her first great love, Logan from the Baby Sitters Club, to the pets that stole her heart to her first experiences with dates and heart aches. I laughed, I cried, I was thankful that I didn't have any of the horrendous breakups that are mentioned throughout the heartache chapter, and I loved how much of this book is devoted to pop culture since it's something that Lincee Ray is known for caring a great deal about.
In typical Lincee fashion, you get many chapters that are hysterically, laugh out loud funny. You also get the many chapters that showcase the importance of serving others, the downside to trusting your heart to someone else, and the reality that prayers are not always answered instantaneous. And it make take a bit of a journey before you're clearly seeing the path that God has meant for you to be on.
Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, the last few chapters came long that showcase the importance of faith and a relationship with Jesus Christ, and the truth behind the fact that we all need love in our lives, but without the love of Jesus, nothing will every truly fulfill or sustain us.
And can I just mention that I'm known for throwing the beautiful line "These mashed potatoes are so creamy" from While You Were Sleeping into plenty of casual conversations, so it made me laugh out loud to hear Lincee Ray talk about doing this as well.
I can't possibly recommend this enough you guys, and I highly suggest picking a copy up for yourself, you won't regret it!
Thanks so much to Revell and Lincee Ray for providing a complimentary copy of this novel for me to read and review as part of the Revell Reads blogger program.
Quoteables:
"It was a privilege to walk in each of their shoes. I learned that loving someone well means serving that person well too."
"I never wear my emotions on just my sleeve. I take a bath in my feelings and walk around flinging them at anyone who will listen."
"He created the heavens and the earth. He created me too. I am my Beloved's and He is mine."
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Revell) as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.
I wasn't entirely sure what this one was going to be about, other than that it was being touted as a love story from start to finish. I was so pleasantly surprised when I first picked this up to discover that it's Lincee's love story; it's a tribute to all the things she's loved over the years that have made her into the person she is now.
The reader is taken on a roller coaster ride with this one from start to finish as we live all of Lincee's happiest and not so happiest moments right along with her. From her first great love, Logan from the Baby Sitters Club, to the pets that stole her heart to her first experiences with dates and heart aches. I laughed, I cried, I was thankful that I didn't have any of the horrendous breakups that are mentioned throughout the heartache chapter, and I loved how much of this book is devoted to pop culture since it's something that Lincee Ray is known for caring a great deal about.
In typical Lincee fashion, you get many chapters that are hysterically, laugh out loud funny. You also get the many chapters that showcase the importance of serving others, the downside to trusting your heart to someone else, and the reality that prayers are not always answered instantaneous. And it make take a bit of a journey before you're clearly seeing the path that God has meant for you to be on.
Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, the last few chapters came long that showcase the importance of faith and a relationship with Jesus Christ, and the truth behind the fact that we all need love in our lives, but without the love of Jesus, nothing will every truly fulfill or sustain us.
And can I just mention that I'm known for throwing the beautiful line "These mashed potatoes are so creamy" from While You Were Sleeping into plenty of casual conversations, so it made me laugh out loud to hear Lincee Ray talk about doing this as well.
I can't possibly recommend this enough you guys, and I highly suggest picking a copy up for yourself, you won't regret it!
Thanks so much to Revell and Lincee Ray for providing a complimentary copy of this novel for me to read and review as part of the Revell Reads blogger program.
Quoteables:
"It was a privilege to walk in each of their shoes. I learned that loving someone well means serving that person well too."
"I never wear my emotions on just my sleeve. I take a bath in my feelings and walk around flinging them at anyone who will listen."
"He created the heavens and the earth. He created me too. I am my Beloved's and He is mine."
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Revell) as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.
June 13, 2019
*I received It’s a Love Story from Revell in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
If I could write a letter to Lincee Ray, it would read something like this:
Dear Lincee- fellow lover of rom-coms, pop culture, and all things Disney,
I too quote Clueless, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and The Holiday on the regular. I have a Friends quote for every situation. In middle school I sported a “I Love Jake Ryan” t-shirt. I have made many a mix tape burned to CD’s (previously recorded straight from the radio on to a casette tape) that I still occasionally jam to on long drives. Maybe I have also imagined dating every main male hero in pretty much every book I have ever read. I even weirdly had a crush on cartoon Max from a Goofy movie- but that’s a whole other story… Can we be besties?!
Remember last year I praised Lincee’s first book, I Hate Green Beans?And dare I say this one is even better?! I read this book in its entirety in ONE DAY. I shirked my adult responsibilities and let my child dine on Pop Tarts while I laughed out loud so much that tears streamed down my cheeks. Cried real tears when reading about Lincee’s love for serving, her sweet Daddy, and when she talks about Mary, the Mother of Jesus. It’s a rare gem to find a book that will make you shed multiple types of tears…
This book feels like a conversation with your best friend. A note passed back in forth in homeroom. A windows down, sing at the top of your lungs road trip with your favorite person. Cold sweet tea on a hot summer day. I could go on and on… It’s so relateable and hilarious and touching and sweet. It will make you feel a slew of emotions, and you will close the last page with a smile on your face.
If you need a light read this Summer- this book is for you. You’ll devour it. And you’ll cry- so break out the tissues for both the happy and the sad tears. You’ll also want to go watch all of your favorite movies on repeat. I’m going to ship it off to my best friend so she can share in the experience.
Have you ever read a book that made you laugh and cry, and makes you have all of the nostalgic feelings? Flashing back to all of your childhood favorite memories? If not, go grab It’s a Love Story. You won’t be disappointed.
If I could write a letter to Lincee Ray, it would read something like this:
Dear Lincee- fellow lover of rom-coms, pop culture, and all things Disney,
I too quote Clueless, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and The Holiday on the regular. I have a Friends quote for every situation. In middle school I sported a “I Love Jake Ryan” t-shirt. I have made many a mix tape burned to CD’s (previously recorded straight from the radio on to a casette tape) that I still occasionally jam to on long drives. Maybe I have also imagined dating every main male hero in pretty much every book I have ever read. I even weirdly had a crush on cartoon Max from a Goofy movie- but that’s a whole other story… Can we be besties?!
Remember last year I praised Lincee’s first book, I Hate Green Beans?And dare I say this one is even better?! I read this book in its entirety in ONE DAY. I shirked my adult responsibilities and let my child dine on Pop Tarts while I laughed out loud so much that tears streamed down my cheeks. Cried real tears when reading about Lincee’s love for serving, her sweet Daddy, and when she talks about Mary, the Mother of Jesus. It’s a rare gem to find a book that will make you shed multiple types of tears…
This book feels like a conversation with your best friend. A note passed back in forth in homeroom. A windows down, sing at the top of your lungs road trip with your favorite person. Cold sweet tea on a hot summer day. I could go on and on… It’s so relateable and hilarious and touching and sweet. It will make you feel a slew of emotions, and you will close the last page with a smile on your face.
If you need a light read this Summer- this book is for you. You’ll devour it. And you’ll cry- so break out the tissues for both the happy and the sad tears. You’ll also want to go watch all of your favorite movies on repeat. I’m going to ship it off to my best friend so she can share in the experience.
Have you ever read a book that made you laugh and cry, and makes you have all of the nostalgic feelings? Flashing back to all of your childhood favorite memories? If not, go grab It’s a Love Story. You won’t be disappointed.
June 17, 2019
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
About the Book:
Human beings love to be loved. And we love to fall in love. As children we pour our love into our pets and our friends. As teenagers we fall in love with musicians and actors and the boy whose locker is next to ours. As we mature, we long for romantic love that will last a lifetime. Sacrificial love, unexplainable love, familial love, desperate love. Love songs and love stories. Clearly we were created with the longing for love ingrained in our souls.
With lots of wit and a bit of wisdom drawn from a lifetime of falling in love, Lincee Ray invites you to an unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own, you'll discover alongside her that there is only one who can ever truly fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts. And he made us to be part of a divine love story.
My Review:
If any of you are looking for love or have found it or maybe have given up on it, this is the book for you. Lincee Ray writes the sweetest things regarding our Father. she ties in her life and the situations she has been in and sometimes they are heartbreaking moments and sometimes they are down right hilarious. She has quickly became one of my favorites and to top it all off we are friends on Facebook. I know y'all are jealous! I know we could be really good friends in real life, too.
There are just too many of her life examples to name which is my favorite. Even though she may not know it, she handles each one with a lot of grace and she teaches us that even in the moment we can be courageous for the Lord and loved by Him, more than we could ever imagine.
From the first page of Lincee's latest writing, "It's a Love Story" she will have you laughing your tail off. Not only do we benefit from her wit and charm, we benefit from God's teachings in it all. This book is a class act and deserves to be recognized for it.
Fantastic beach read, for sure!
About the Book:
Human beings love to be loved. And we love to fall in love. As children we pour our love into our pets and our friends. As teenagers we fall in love with musicians and actors and the boy whose locker is next to ours. As we mature, we long for romantic love that will last a lifetime. Sacrificial love, unexplainable love, familial love, desperate love. Love songs and love stories. Clearly we were created with the longing for love ingrained in our souls.
With lots of wit and a bit of wisdom drawn from a lifetime of falling in love, Lincee Ray invites you to an unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own, you'll discover alongside her that there is only one who can ever truly fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts. And he made us to be part of a divine love story.
My Review:
If any of you are looking for love or have found it or maybe have given up on it, this is the book for you. Lincee Ray writes the sweetest things regarding our Father. she ties in her life and the situations she has been in and sometimes they are heartbreaking moments and sometimes they are down right hilarious. She has quickly became one of my favorites and to top it all off we are friends on Facebook. I know y'all are jealous! I know we could be really good friends in real life, too.
There are just too many of her life examples to name which is my favorite. Even though she may not know it, she handles each one with a lot of grace and she teaches us that even in the moment we can be courageous for the Lord and loved by Him, more than we could ever imagine.
From the first page of Lincee's latest writing, "It's a Love Story" she will have you laughing your tail off. Not only do we benefit from her wit and charm, we benefit from God's teachings in it all. This book is a class act and deserves to be recognized for it.
Fantastic beach read, for sure!
April 29, 2019
SUPERB!
I had never even heard of Lincee Ray until a few weeks ago. I know - I live under a rock or something, right? I can relate to her storytelling on so many levels! It’s A Love Story From Happily to Ever After is the type of book that grabs you from the first paragraph and won’t let you’ve read the last sentence. Trust me, you’ll really want to read it in one sitting, too! Ray is relatable and an excellent storyteller. You will feel as though you’re sitting on your couch talking to your best friend! I kept wanting to pick up the phone and call her and discuss certain points in the book! She writes on subjects that matter to all of us and here are some examples - Fur and Feathers (Animal Love), Young Love, Love Beyond the US Border, Fake Vision of Love, ‘Tis the Season, The Soundtrack of My Life, You’ve Got a Friend in Me and my personal favorite, Mary, Did you Know? She’ll having you laughing and crying because she’s hysterical and because you just might see yourself somewhere on these pages!
As Ray tells you her own personal Love Story, she encourages each reader to recognize their own Love Story - the people and the places that are the pillars where the reader feels safe. Where the reader’s heart is known without having to say a word and a place where their heart feels at peace when they’re there.
While she writes with a great deal of humor, Ray always brings you back to the main thing and that is the BEST Love Story in everyone’s life:
“When I feel adrift, unchosen, without a rose or a fairy-tale ending, I’m reminded of a deeper truth: God is my portion forever. Although my flesh and heart may fail, He is my strength. Psalm 73 gives me the assurance that I am enough. He chose me. He loves me. ... I hear the lyrics of love in this psalm of acceptance, and my heart beats to the rhythm of being in sync with someone who totally gets me.”
I was provided an ARC of this book by Revell and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
I had never even heard of Lincee Ray until a few weeks ago. I know - I live under a rock or something, right? I can relate to her storytelling on so many levels! It’s A Love Story From Happily to Ever After is the type of book that grabs you from the first paragraph and won’t let you’ve read the last sentence. Trust me, you’ll really want to read it in one sitting, too! Ray is relatable and an excellent storyteller. You will feel as though you’re sitting on your couch talking to your best friend! I kept wanting to pick up the phone and call her and discuss certain points in the book! She writes on subjects that matter to all of us and here are some examples - Fur and Feathers (Animal Love), Young Love, Love Beyond the US Border, Fake Vision of Love, ‘Tis the Season, The Soundtrack of My Life, You’ve Got a Friend in Me and my personal favorite, Mary, Did you Know? She’ll having you laughing and crying because she’s hysterical and because you just might see yourself somewhere on these pages!
As Ray tells you her own personal Love Story, she encourages each reader to recognize their own Love Story - the people and the places that are the pillars where the reader feels safe. Where the reader’s heart is known without having to say a word and a place where their heart feels at peace when they’re there.
While she writes with a great deal of humor, Ray always brings you back to the main thing and that is the BEST Love Story in everyone’s life:
“When I feel adrift, unchosen, without a rose or a fairy-tale ending, I’m reminded of a deeper truth: God is my portion forever. Although my flesh and heart may fail, He is my strength. Psalm 73 gives me the assurance that I am enough. He chose me. He loves me. ... I hear the lyrics of love in this psalm of acceptance, and my heart beats to the rhythm of being in sync with someone who totally gets me.”
I was provided an ARC of this book by Revell and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
May 7, 2019
Title: It's A Love Story
Author: Lincee Ray
Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Memoir, Humor, Sequel
Plot: If Hollywood is any reliable indicator, we all love a good love story. If there is rain, a tall dark handsome hero and chocolate thrown in, all the better! We could spend our whole lives surrounded by things we love, enjoying the people we love and doing the activities we love.
So why don't we? We enjoy those things for a reason and they make us happier than other things. Why not own up to the factor that we are addicted to Cadbury eggs and can only watch The Bachelor in our fuzzy socks? Those things that we love make us who we are and ultimately, the ability to love these things comes from the One who loved us so much that He gave the ultimate sacrifice. Trying to fill that void inside with cookies and concert tickets is a temporary band-aid for the true love we are all looking for. But until we get that unconditional love, we can at least enjoy those other void-fillers.
Likes/Dislikes: I enjoyed I Hate Green Beans quite a lot more than I expected to so I got very excited to see a second book by Ray. This book doesn't go on about The Bachelor in fine detail; instead, it covers lots of things that Ray loves. Concerts on summer nights, fishing with her niece, watching humanity come together after a horrific hurricane and the simple joy of a classic Disney princess movie. All of these little pieces make up Lincee Ray and prompt us to examine the little pieces that make us up. We might be over the moon for brownies or enjoy walks by the beach with amazing sunsets in the background. We were designed with the ability to love because our God loves us and wants us to be able to love. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more by Lincee Ray.
Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level
Date Reviewed: May 7th, 2019
I received a copy of this book courtesy of Revel Bloggers for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions in the above review are my own.
Author: Lincee Ray
Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Memoir, Humor, Sequel
Plot: If Hollywood is any reliable indicator, we all love a good love story. If there is rain, a tall dark handsome hero and chocolate thrown in, all the better! We could spend our whole lives surrounded by things we love, enjoying the people we love and doing the activities we love.
So why don't we? We enjoy those things for a reason and they make us happier than other things. Why not own up to the factor that we are addicted to Cadbury eggs and can only watch The Bachelor in our fuzzy socks? Those things that we love make us who we are and ultimately, the ability to love these things comes from the One who loved us so much that He gave the ultimate sacrifice. Trying to fill that void inside with cookies and concert tickets is a temporary band-aid for the true love we are all looking for. But until we get that unconditional love, we can at least enjoy those other void-fillers.
Likes/Dislikes: I enjoyed I Hate Green Beans quite a lot more than I expected to so I got very excited to see a second book by Ray. This book doesn't go on about The Bachelor in fine detail; instead, it covers lots of things that Ray loves. Concerts on summer nights, fishing with her niece, watching humanity come together after a horrific hurricane and the simple joy of a classic Disney princess movie. All of these little pieces make up Lincee Ray and prompt us to examine the little pieces that make us up. We might be over the moon for brownies or enjoy walks by the beach with amazing sunsets in the background. We were designed with the ability to love because our God loves us and wants us to be able to love. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more by Lincee Ray.
Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level
Date Reviewed: May 7th, 2019
I received a copy of this book courtesy of Revel Bloggers for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions in the above review are my own.
April 30, 2019
"Our need to feel loved is ingrained in our souls. It's been that way since the beginning."
In this new book from Lincee Ray we are reminded about the different kinds of love. There is love for our animals, love for our parents, love for our friends, love for our children and of course romantic love. The author is very funny but she also has a knack for getting to the heart of the matter and she uses pop culture as a way of illustrating her points. I enjoyed her references to the 80s and 90s and I knew about the movie Dirty Dancing and Bonnie Raitt's Total Eclipse of the Heart but I was born in an earlier generation so I found myself thinking about the Beach Party movies with Frankie and Annette and Unchained Melody from the Righteous Brothers and recalling the emotions associated with each of them.
Yes, there is a lot of humor in It's A Love Story and I often found myself laughing out loud while reading this book but the author also makes some powerful observations and she liberally uses God's Word as she talks about her faith. In the conclusion Ray reminds us of the ultimate love story. God "wanted to show the quintessential act of love. So He sacrificed His Son". (p. 195)
If you enjoy a book with humor you will want to read It's A Love Story but if you want both a fun and a thought-provoking book, you MUST read It's A Love Story!
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Revell Publishing and these thoughts are my own.
In this new book from Lincee Ray we are reminded about the different kinds of love. There is love for our animals, love for our parents, love for our friends, love for our children and of course romantic love. The author is very funny but she also has a knack for getting to the heart of the matter and she uses pop culture as a way of illustrating her points. I enjoyed her references to the 80s and 90s and I knew about the movie Dirty Dancing and Bonnie Raitt's Total Eclipse of the Heart but I was born in an earlier generation so I found myself thinking about the Beach Party movies with Frankie and Annette and Unchained Melody from the Righteous Brothers and recalling the emotions associated with each of them.
Yes, there is a lot of humor in It's A Love Story and I often found myself laughing out loud while reading this book but the author also makes some powerful observations and she liberally uses God's Word as she talks about her faith. In the conclusion Ray reminds us of the ultimate love story. God "wanted to show the quintessential act of love. So He sacrificed His Son". (p. 195)
If you enjoy a book with humor you will want to read It's A Love Story but if you want both a fun and a thought-provoking book, you MUST read It's A Love Story!
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Revell Publishing and these thoughts are my own.
July 13, 2019
Have you heard of Lincee Ray? I had too, but had never visited her blog or read her previous book “Why I Hate Green Beans”. Her new Christian Living release from Revell, “It’s a Love Story: From Happily to Ever After” sounded so cute that I decided to give it a try without much knowledge about its author - and I’m glad I did!
“We all love to be loved. And we love to fall in love.” With these words, Lincee invites her readers on an “unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. . . As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own”. From a trip down the memory lane of childhood pets to a discussion of the phenomenon of Hallmark Christmas movies starting right after Labor Day, the chapters in this book will invariably make you laugh or cry - or both.
“It’s a Love Story” is a sweet, often hilarious and sometimes nostalgic book that will be a delightful summer read for women of all ages. Ultimately, the best aspect of Lincee’s writing is that it points to the greatest love story of all time - the divine love story of Jesus, the only One who can fulfill our deepest longings for love. And when an author can weave this truth into a story filled with laughter and memories, well, I’m guessing you won’t want to miss it. :)
I received this book courtesy of Revell Publishing, in participation with a Revell Reads Blog Tour. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
“We all love to be loved. And we love to fall in love.” With these words, Lincee invites her readers on an “unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. . . As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own”. From a trip down the memory lane of childhood pets to a discussion of the phenomenon of Hallmark Christmas movies starting right after Labor Day, the chapters in this book will invariably make you laugh or cry - or both.
“It’s a Love Story” is a sweet, often hilarious and sometimes nostalgic book that will be a delightful summer read for women of all ages. Ultimately, the best aspect of Lincee’s writing is that it points to the greatest love story of all time - the divine love story of Jesus, the only One who can fulfill our deepest longings for love. And when an author can weave this truth into a story filled with laughter and memories, well, I’m guessing you won’t want to miss it. :)
I received this book courtesy of Revell Publishing, in participation with a Revell Reads Blog Tour. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
April 29, 2019
For anyone who refuses to give up on love.
Reading Lincee’s book (and blog) feels like you’re listening to a friend. I can’t tell you how many times I wished Lincee was sitting right next to me so I could tell her that I share her love of bad boy Donnie Wahlberg, endlessly hopeful Hallmark movies (her story pitches for future Hallmark Christmas classics are spot-on!) and a perfectly curated playlist.
I am admittedly not in the same place with my faith as Lincee is, so there were a few parts I struggled to relate to (but wished I could - I’m hoping to get there!) and that is the only reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5. Nonetheless, she and I are kindred spirits. We’re in a class of hopeless romantics who love cheesy rom-coms, and will never give up on the dream of finding our own Johnny Castle, Noah Calhoun, or Jake Ryan. But until we do, Lincee reminds us that we can revel in a lot of different kinds of love - the love of, and for, parents, friends, siblings, nieces or nephews, and countless others who touch our lives. Because as Hugh Grant says in Love Actually, “If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.”
Reading Lincee’s book (and blog) feels like you’re listening to a friend. I can’t tell you how many times I wished Lincee was sitting right next to me so I could tell her that I share her love of bad boy Donnie Wahlberg, endlessly hopeful Hallmark movies (her story pitches for future Hallmark Christmas classics are spot-on!) and a perfectly curated playlist.
I am admittedly not in the same place with my faith as Lincee is, so there were a few parts I struggled to relate to (but wished I could - I’m hoping to get there!) and that is the only reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5. Nonetheless, she and I are kindred spirits. We’re in a class of hopeless romantics who love cheesy rom-coms, and will never give up on the dream of finding our own Johnny Castle, Noah Calhoun, or Jake Ryan. But until we do, Lincee reminds us that we can revel in a lot of different kinds of love - the love of, and for, parents, friends, siblings, nieces or nephews, and countless others who touch our lives. Because as Hugh Grant says in Love Actually, “If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.”
August 8, 2019
It's a Love Story
From Happily to Ever After
by Lincee Ray
Revell
Christian
Pub Date 30 Apr 2019
I am reviewing a copy of It’s A Love Story through Revell and Netgalley:
In It’s A Love Story Lincee Ray reminds us that as human beings God created us to be loved and we love to be loved. As children we pour out that love to our friends, our family and our pets. When we are teenagers we start to fall in love with musicians, actors, and boys in our class. As we mature we hope to find love and romance in a lifelong relationship. She tells us how Sacrificial love, unexplainable love, familial love, desperate love. Love songs and love stories. All of these show us that we were created to love, that it is in fact ingrained in our souls.
Lincee Ray invites you into this celebration and love, telling us stories of her own encounters with love, from first crushes, to the love you find in God. She encourages us too to think about our own love stories, with people and most importantly she reminds us to think about the love of God.
I give It’s A Love Story, five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
June 5, 2019
Human beings love to be loved. And we love to fall in love. As children we pour our love into our pets and our friends. As teenagers we fall in love with musicians and actors and the boy whose locker is next to ours. As we mature, we long for romantic love that will last a lifetime. Sacrificial love, unexplainable love, familial love, desperate love. Love songs and love stories. Clearly we were created with the longing for love ingrained in our souls.
With lots of wit and a bit of wisdom drawn from a lifetime of falling in love, Lincee Ray invites you to an unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own, you'll discover alongside her that there is only one who can ever truly fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts. And he made us to be part of a divine love story.
This is a sweet read about Life &Love. This book is full of cute stories about kids and people falling in love. This was a very nice read and I'm looking forward to reading more from LIncee Ray.
With lots of wit and a bit of wisdom drawn from a lifetime of falling in love, Lincee Ray invites you to an unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own, you'll discover alongside her that there is only one who can ever truly fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts. And he made us to be part of a divine love story.
This is a sweet read about Life &Love. This book is full of cute stories about kids and people falling in love. This was a very nice read and I'm looking forward to reading more from LIncee Ray.
June 11, 2019
This book was so fun! I loved going along with her as she traveled down memory lane, remembering crushes and favorite songs and incredibly embarrassing moments! Her chapter on some of her favorite romantic comedies was wonderful and I totally agree that Hollywood needs to step it up and make some good romantic comedies again! I'm also obsessed with Hallmark Christmas movies and really Hallmark movies in general so her ideas for possible Christmas movies were hilarious but I think also doable. I loved the breakup stories; there are truly some awful, rude, weird people out there. Her stories about serving in Africa and Cuba were inspiring and I could relate to her visit to the Holy Land as I visited there a couple years ago and it was truly incredible! Most of all, I liked her reminder that we were made for love, specifically God's love, and we'll only be fulfilled in Him. I highly recommend this book if you like hilarity and books about some of your favorite things!
I received this book from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
I received this book from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
April 22, 2019
“It’s a Love Story” by Lincee Ray had me laughing, thanking God for all the little things I love in my life, and remembering where I feel at home.
“When we say ‘I love Dr Pepper,’ that really and truly is part of our love story as human beings who were made in the image of God. Because those feelings of love — for people or places or things — all reflect the very essence of who He is. The squishy feeling is for Him. I believe we were created with this specific longing ingrained in our souls that can be fulfilled only by the One who loves us most. I wrote this book to encourage anyone reading to recognize that feeling. Although we’ll never be wholly fulfilled this side of heaven, love lives in our hearts and souls to remind us that day is coming. And it will be glorious.” – Lincee Ray in “It’s a Love Story”
I especially loved the chapters on serving others and how we don’t have enough romantic comedies these days. And I’ll never hear Black Eyes Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” the same. That’s what Lincee does. She takes a pop culture reference and makes it relevant to a bigger picture and more entertaining than it would be otherwise. Plus, like me, she’d choose Pacey Witter over Dawson Leery any day.
But she does conclude with the greatest love story there is. We were separated from God long ago when Adam and Eve wandered and sinned in the garden. But God loved us so much he sent his Son as our sacrifice so we could know God, who is love. It’s a Love Story where there’s no surprise ending even though it’s still being written.
“Until we reunite with our Maker face-to-face, we’ll settle for substitutes to satiate our longing. Romantic movies and poetic storylines will fill us with faith. Gorgeous lyrics will fill out ears with hope. And intentional relationships with our families and friends will fill out hearts with love.” – Lincee Ray in “It’s a Love Story”
Reading acknowledgments is one of my favorite parts of books. Weird, I know, but, y’all, Lincee has the very best acknowledgments. For this book, she dedicates love songs to her people, so it reads like a playlist. Well done.
April 23, 2019
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Revell for the free book in exchange for an honest review.
I started following Lincee’s blog after my sleep-deprived, newborn mothering self got suckered into The Bachelor one night while holding a sleeping baby. I keep watching mostly so I can understand Lincee’s recaps, because they are hysterical.
This book was a great follow-up to her first, Why I Hate Green Beans. It’s not just about romantic love, but also about places and experiences we love. A good chunk of the book details some of her more humiliating moments in life, and as someone who cannot leave the house without an embarrassing experience taking place, I am ALL about that. She also included many poignant moments of faith and gospel truth.
Lincee’s brand of humor is something we all need more of. My favorite chapter in the book was a list of her plot ideas for future Hallmark Christmas movies. I have been laughing for days. Such a great, lighthearted read with solid truths sprinkled throughout.
I started following Lincee’s blog after my sleep-deprived, newborn mothering self got suckered into The Bachelor one night while holding a sleeping baby. I keep watching mostly so I can understand Lincee’s recaps, because they are hysterical.
This book was a great follow-up to her first, Why I Hate Green Beans. It’s not just about romantic love, but also about places and experiences we love. A good chunk of the book details some of her more humiliating moments in life, and as someone who cannot leave the house without an embarrassing experience taking place, I am ALL about that. She also included many poignant moments of faith and gospel truth.
Lincee’s brand of humor is something we all need more of. My favorite chapter in the book was a list of her plot ideas for future Hallmark Christmas movies. I have been laughing for days. Such a great, lighthearted read with solid truths sprinkled throughout.
April 30, 2019
“The squishy feeling is for Him.”It's a Love Story: From Happily to Ever After
For the second time I am blessed to read a book from Lincee Ray that literally brings all the roller-coaster emotions of childhood to womanhood to the table with a giant dose of humor at the forefront! She endeared herself to me with her first book and now I am forever a fan. From teenager to adult she gives us her experiences as if we were reading her own journal. I winced along with her pain during all the knee injuries, laughed and cried at the mission trip excursions and her sweet love for her Dad. The way she weaves the movie and musical references feel so much like the fabric of my own life. This book is a heart warming must-read for women of any age. We all long for a love that is just not going to be complete until we see our Lord.
May 13, 2019
I LOVED Lincee Ray’s first book Why I Hate Green Beans. Throughout her first book I found myself laughing until I cried as her gut-wrenching humor caused me to FLY through the pages. So, when I saw that she had written another book, this one on the topic of love, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read it.
Lincee shows us her 80’s roots in this love story to music, crushes, celebrities, pets and much more. I love that Lincee took a non-traditional approach to giving us a love story and injected her famous humor while remaining vulnerable and down-to-earth. This entertaining book continues to appeal to a wide audience, and while not quite as hilarious as her first (the music references were lost on me) her hilarious personality continues to shine through in her easy to read, enjoyable writing style.
*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Lincee shows us her 80’s roots in this love story to music, crushes, celebrities, pets and much more. I love that Lincee took a non-traditional approach to giving us a love story and injected her famous humor while remaining vulnerable and down-to-earth. This entertaining book continues to appeal to a wide audience, and while not quite as hilarious as her first (the music references were lost on me) her hilarious personality continues to shine through in her easy to read, enjoyable writing style.
*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
April 29, 2019
You will laugh and cry your way through Lincee's newest book. If you've read her Bachelor recaps for years, you will not be disappointed. If not, well you should start. Her first book I hate Green Beans was wonderful and this one is even better. I read it in one sitting. Lincee is relatable, honest, hilarious, smart, quick, and has a down-home way of speaking and addressing her readers that makes you wish you were her best friend. Her hilarious life stories and frank honesty provide hope for the woman who's life might not have turned out exactly the way she planned. Her triumphs and tragedies are shared with such love and hope with maybe a little embarrassment so that it makes your own experiences feel normal. I thoroughly enjoyed It's a Love Story and can't wait to read whatever she shares next.
April 29, 2019
You will laugh and cry your way through Lincee's newest book. If you've read her Bachelor recaps for years, you will not be disappointed. If not, well you should start. Her first book I hate Green Beans was wonderful and this one is even better. I read it in one sitting. Lincee is relatable, honest, hilarious, smart, quick, and has a down-home way of speaking and addressing her readers that makes you wish you were her best friend. Her hilarious life stories and frank honesty provide hope for the woman who's life might not have turned out exactly the way she planned. Her triumphs and tragedies are shared with such love and hope with maybe a little embarrassment so that it makes your own experiences feel normal. I thoroughly enjoyed It's a Love Story and can't wait to read whatever she shares next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews