Made for Each Other (Grandma Mandy Series Book 1) ‎ B07K7XT9XB

Grandma Mandy #1

by Karen Cogan

When Lissa arrives in New Mexico,, her grandmother is recovering from a mild illness so Grandma's young friend, Jason, picks Lissa up from the airport. Though Lissa's attraction to him is immediate, she refuses to be tempted into romance. with a man in a creative profession. She knows from experience that the insecurity of his job would cause her stress and she has worked too hard, even at the expense of a guilty secret, to achieve success and to be the only one making a living. Still, since they are brought together because of their mutual tie with Lissa's grandmother, Lissa finds it increasingly hard to deny her growing interest in him. Will she be able to ignore the attraction or will her heart lead her down the path of love?
Jason also experiences an instant attraction to Lissa. However, his experience with his previous career-obsessed girlfriend left him wary. Her devotion to her job often came before time to spend with him. Can he take the chance that Lissa will be different? Does she share his devotion to God? If he takes a chance with her, will she break his heart?

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Contemporary

256 pages, ebook

First published December 1, 2018

About the author

A native of Houston, TX, Karen spent her early years enjoying life along the Gulf Coast. After high school, she attended Texas A&M as well as the University of Houston where she obtained a
B.S. in early childhood education. She has written numerous articles and stories, books for children and novels for adults. She particularly enjoys writing contemporary and historical romance.
She now lives in the Southwest with her family and assorted pets. For more information go to https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Cogan/e/... or https://www.facebook.com/karencoganfa....

Reviews

[Rose Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a warm, small-town romance with sweet moments and a comforting tone, perfect if you’re looking for an easy, cozy read. The New Mexico setting and the bond between Lissa, Jason, and her grandmother add a heartfelt layer to the story, and Jason is a genuinely likable character whose sincerity really shines.

My biggest issue was Lissa. She was pretty annoying at times, especially with how over-the-top she was about finances and career status. I understand wanting stability, but her attitude toward Jason’s creative job made it hard to sympathize with her.

I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator had a pleasant voice and did a generally good job, there were several moments when I couldn’t tell which character was speaking because the voices weren’t very distinct. It didn’t ruin the story, but it was noticeable.

Overall, it’s still a cozy, easy read (or listen) with a gentle romantic vibe, just not without a few frustrations along the way.

[Karen Malley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of the developing relationship between a career-driven woman and a free-spirited artist. Grandma Mandy is the star of the show, however. She is a wonderful character, and I'm glad to see there is another book in the series which features her. The book focuses on the tension between two people with very different life goals. Lissa has many personal issues in the start of the book, but through living with and attending church with Grandma Mandy, she draws closer to God, and it is encouraging to see some of her attitudes change. There are some minor editing issues, but it is a sweet, clean read.

[MommyO · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story that has the faith of the characters woven throughout. Jason’s character is incredibly honest and lives his faith. Lissa’s faith, actions, and life goals are challenged by Jason which is just what she needs to find out what is really important in life. Grandma Mandy is also a wonderful, calming, character that is an intricate part of Jason and Lissa’s story.

After listening to this audio version of the book I truly liked the story, yet was a bit distracted by the pace and dialect of the narrator.

I received an advanced readers copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate writing bad reviews but this book was very hard to get through. I had a hard time reading more than a few pages at a time. The story itself was good but the writing was not. The people all had very little personality. It was also very VERY repetitive. Many paragraphs were simply copied and pasted. There were even errors in the storyline. The cookie bars. Was it a new recipe or were they “famous”? The worst section was towards the end where, in the middle of a chapter, an entire section was repeated, just a different way. It’s like no one proof read it.

[Patti Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome sweet story about a boy and a girl who meet according to God's plan even though they are not on the same page. Jason is a man of faith and lives his life with his faith on display. He is also a creative person with a job that is not as stable as most. Lissa is a very hard worker and is very career driven. They meet when Lissa comes to stay with her Grandma Mandy. They are drawn to each other but both have reservations about each other. They both have to decide if they are willing to trust God and each other so they can have their happy ever after.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet small town Christian romance. She's a hard working, independent woman. Wants to climb the corporate ladder. He's a free spirited artist. The title, "Made for Each Other." Huh?

A very enjoyable listen. I was gifted an audio version from the author through Story Origin. 5 stars for the narrator as well.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lissa is a geologist that is very career driven. When an opportunity for a career advancement comes, she finds herself staying with her grandmother. There she meets Jason a friend of her grandmother and a Christian. And the story evolves from there. I really enjoyed this story.

[Julie Juhl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made for Each Other by Karen Cogan, just wasn't for me. I had a very hard time reading it. It was a difficult book to finish sadly. The plot was ok but the writing wasn't.
I received a free copy of this book via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen Cogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contemporary Christian romance keeps readers engaged as they follow a big-city girl who comes to the small town to visit her grandmother and falls for a small-town boy. Will she be able to break free of the hold her demanding job had on her, or will she stay with the man she loves?

[patty sunderland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not very good

Was like it was written by a ten year old. And it was proof read very badly. Lots of duplication. Story line was just ok

[juanita dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made for Each Other

It's good to have goals but sometimes you have to let go and let God take control. He has the bigger picture.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovable story of acknowledging and accepting the right person for you at the right time and place, even if there are a lot of hindrances along the way!

[Nancy Holte · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line was ok, although somewhat predictable. If you plan to read it, I'd suggest printed version or e-book.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story

Love this sweet story. Grandma Mandy was so sweet and full of fun & wisdom. Looking forward to reading all of this series.

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Standalone Romance HEA

Lisa moves in with her grandma to help her out temporarily. When she arrives she is very goal oriented and worried about financial security. Jason is an artist and strong Christian. She tries to keep him in the friend zone due to his job and her plans to not stay in the area. Unfortunately, her grandma and Jason have other ideas and so does her heart. Will Lisa learn to put God before money? What caused her to be so worried about financial security? Whose plan succeeded?

I received an ARC via Story Origin. Review voluntarily given.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review and I can say that that is the only reason I finished the book. It was a struggle! The storyline did not flow and was flat.