A lost ring brings together two wounded souls—a youth minister haunted by the past and a spunky church custodian—in this heartwarming romance from the bestselling author of The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow. “Kim Vogel Sawyer is an amazing storyteller who crafts each of her stories with page-turning excitement and rich character development.”—Tracie Peterson, bestselling author of the Golden Gate … author of the Golden Gate Secrets series
Growing up in the foster care system, Jase Edgar always dreamed of one day starting his own family. But his fiancée’s untimely death shattered his plans. Moving to Kansas and serving as a youth minister should be a fresh start, but he can’t seem to set aside his doubts about God’s goodness long enough to embrace his new life.
Newly-appointed church custodian, Lori Fowler is battling her own challenges. Her strained relationship with her father and her struggles with overeating convince her she’s not worthy enough for love. When an Amish weaver enlists their help locating the owner of a ring found among the donated clothing she uses as fabric, Jase and Lori find themselves drawn to each other. But will they be able to release the past and move forward from this moment into a joyful future?
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From This Moment by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a heartwarming and emotional novel. It is well-written with developed characters. The point-of-view switches between our main characters: Pastor Kraft, Jase, Kenzie, and Lori. We get to know each of them along with other members of the congregation. It gives us a chance to learn about their issues and struggles. From This Moment is an emotional novel. Jase is struggling with his faith after the loss of his fiancé, Rachel. Lori is a bubbly, friendly woman who still misses her mother. She deals with her problems by indulging in food. Lori is smitten with Jase from the moment she saw him. Kenzie may have left her Amish community behind, but she cannot give up everything she learned. When she finds a ring in donated clothing, Kenzie is determined to find the ring’s owner. Kenzie has not seen her family in years, and she misses them. I enjoyed getting to know each character as they worked through their struggles. From This Moment deals with love, acceptance, friendship, faith, humility, hope, and loss. We get to see God at work and what happens when we follow the path He has set out for us. We see that God truly does work in mysterious ways. I enjoyed reading this touching story. I especially liked the descriptions of Kenzie’s loom, the process of making the rugs, and how it made Kenzie feel. Kenzie’s brownie recipe is included. Kim Vogel Sawyer has given us a compelling story with From This Moment that you will not want to put down.
This book struck a real cord for me. It was a simple story or events that were common everyday events. A story of a new youth pastor in a new town and state, starting out, and having issues in his recent past that caused him anguish and caused him to feel perhaps a bit unworthy.
Lori and Kenzie are the female characters, both which have situations in their lives that caused them to have a difficult time to move on and progress in their lives. This was a really engaging story and although there were a few slower parts, it was still very beautifully written and made you want to continue reading to see how the difficulties would either be resolved or continued.
This was a very Christian oriented book which revolves around a church in Kansas and their members. Regardless of religious affiliation, you will still see how God is in control and that life’s paths are guided by Him.
I enjoyed this book very much.
I received an ebook copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts are my own.
Set in modern day Kansas, From This Moment is a captivating, inspiring narrative penned by a gifted storyteller. The characters are engaging and relatable. I could feel their struggles. The well-crafted plot flows smoothly at a steady pace, and multiple storylines mesh beautifully. The romantic element is heartwarming. Bits of humor and a little mystery add to the enjoyment of the story. Ms. Sawyer’s accurate portrayal of a small town church youth group brought back sweet memories of a time that was very important in my life. Faith flows naturally throughout the story. Relevant spiritual truths related to grace and God’s purpose and plans for each life are consistently and effectively conveyed. I enjoyed this book, and it left me wanting to know more about the characters in this small Kansas town.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
have been reading this author’s books for a long time. She pulls on the heartstrings here with a story that shows God’s incredible love and care for Hus children.
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley.
Jase Edgar who is a youth minister lost his finance in a car crash. He moves to Kansas to starts over. He struggles with his past being in foster care and shuffled around. He meets Lori Fowler who works in a quilt shop but due to the shop slowing down she takes a position at the church as a custodian. Lori struggles with her life. After she loses her mother her father becomes verbally abusive. This is a beautiful story of forgiveness and moving on. Will these two wounded souls be able to move on and find love. I love all of Kim Sawyer Vogel books and this was no different. Hard to put down till the book was read.
If you want great writing and a great story then please read Kim Vogel Sawyer, you will not be disappointed with any of her books. This one shows how a young man to find his way back to what he believes, its a journey that brings faith and happiness. I loved it and could not put it down.
YES, I recommend this Book!
From This Moment by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a beautifully crafted story of hope and new beginning. Have you ever wanted to start again? This story begins with such a thing, set in a small town. The characters in this book are so realistic, dealing with very real hurts. This only adds dimension to the story. I absolutely adored the author’s voice in this story. Her prose flows so smoothly and quickly sets the scene with just enough description. I think readers of inspirational fiction will love this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
A true delight:
Like one of Kenzie’s rag rugs, I liked how all of the characters and threads of the story came together in such a comfortable and comprehensive way. This book really resonated with me and I loved how Kenzie and Jase worked through their doubts and struggles, learning to fully surrender their own desires to the Lord’s will. My heart also went out to Lori and it was wonderful seeing her personal growth as she overcame her insecurities and challenges.
I loved the strong Christian message that was woven throughout, especially about allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us up and be our strength and comforter. All in all, this was a fabulous book that I highly recommend if you want to be encouraged and inspired.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Heartwarming faith filled read follows three main characters in small town Kansas, new-to-town Youth Pastor Jase Edgar, spunky Lori, and ex-Amish weaver Kenzie.
Jase Edgar is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his fiancé, he feels like a fraud answering their call alone. He is welcomed warmly, I loved Merlin and Leah, and how everyone helps him feel at home.
Lori, while she is outgoing, struggles with the pain of a distant father and a troubled upbringing. I love that she is a supportive friend, and willing to lend a hand, always bringing her infectious enthusiasm to the table.
While Kenzie’s faith has flourished away from the Amish community, her heart aches for the family that she left behind. I admired her heart for others, and how she has kept modest habits. She loves her family fiercely, and is a great friend to Lori.
This is a small town set read with engaging characters, more of a gentler read, where more of the conflicts are internal, with strong themes of faith. I loved how the author portrays people who are Christians, but still struggle with doubting and not having all the answers in an honest and relatable way.
Overall, a well written heartwarming read, filled with faith, and heart-tugging characters. Definitely recommend for people who like excellent faith fiction with a gentler pace, and sweet romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
There were some things that I really liked about this novel and some things that fell flat for me. The story was definitely a slow build and I struggled with that a bit. I did feel that the pace helped add to the feeling of a small town in the middle of America.
I liked that one of the main characters, Lori, was not the typical heroine that you find in most stories. She had self worth issues that were compounded by eating issues. I felt frustrated with her, at times, as she had her sights set on the new minister, and her actions left me annoyed.
Kenzie was a sweet character, yet having grown up Amish, she struggled to truly fit in and had problems letting go of some of the traditions she grew up with.
I enjoyed reading about Jase the most. His character had so much depth. By the end of the story, he had come so far from where he started. His crisis of faith extended throughout most of the book and he had a lot of heartache to work through.
I am a big fan of romance and I just did not feel it with this story. There was a romance subplot that only firmed up in the last chapter of the novel. I didn’t feel the connection or attraction between the two characters and it felt rushed at that point. However, I was extremely impressed with Jase’s address to the church at the end of the book, when he explained all that he had been through. The spiritual truths he imparted were the best part of the book for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I loved this contemporary-set book by Kim Vogel Sawyer!
Jase isn’t sure he believes in God since his fiance died in a car wreck. Can he find his way back to a loving God?
Lori has struggled her entire life after the death of her mother. She turns to eating to find the acceptance that she can’t seem to find anywhere else. Can she figure out how to break the cycle of self destruction before it’s too late?
Get lost in Jase and Lori’s story and see just how amazing God is!
I really enjoyed this sweet story. Merlin and Leah were adorable and reminded me of my pastor and his wife when I was a child. I liked the intersecting stories of Jase, Lori and Kenzie and the paths their lives took in the book. I also liked the realistic feelings and emotions the characters had. Some of the characters were facing hard things and their struggles weren’t glossed over. They were dealt with realistically. Just a lovely story all around and a quick, easy read-and listen! The audio version was very good. Great read!
I received the hard copy of this book from the publisher and purchased my own audio copy. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
Jase Edgar arrives in Bradleyville, Kansas from San Antonio and wonder what he’s gotten himself into. This doesn’t look like much of a town. He’s been hired as the new Youth Minister. Merlin and Leah Kraft and the Senior Minister and Wife, who are his bosses. He meets many of the youth, and other church members, but the ones we learn the most about are Kenzie and Lori. We also meet Leah’s sister Ruby, whom Kenzie and Lori work for. Tony and Eileen are Jase’s friend and minister, and Eileen is another of Leah’s sisters. Great story about the struggles a person goes through after losing a loved one, as well as struggles of acceptance. Both struggles as two of the main characters are well told and very easy to relate to. I loved all the main characters and their story is one that will bring you in quickly. Hard to put down story, that won’t let you down.
A complimentary copy was provided by Waterbrook via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
So far what I’ve read of Kim Vogel Sawyer are what I would term light and gentle reads. They’re usually just good stories that aren’t high on the angst and, for the most part, have pleasant characters, or at least characters that have valid reasons for their actions. I appreciate that this story doesn’t have any true antagonist, just some typical teens. Most of the trouble is of an inward nature, with each character dealing with their own personal issues – feeling God’s direction and battling with their own inner demons. From This Moment is actually the first contemporary story I’ve read by her, and for me, one of the better ones.
The cast of characters is easy to love. I enjoyed seeing all of the friendships play out. My favorite details were about Kenzie and her loom. She has such a neat talent. I also truly empathized with Lori and found her struggles with food and her body image to be realistic. While I don’t tend to eat my feelings, I’ve definitely had my moments, and if not food, have tried to fill voids with other things that were too much of a good thing (exercise, studying long hours, etc). I appreciated that her struggle addressed both the spiritual and practical aspect, since her problem was with overeating but also finding worth in herself. There are several secondary characters that color the story with life and warmth.
A few things made me laugh – like a teen saying he needed to “vamoose,” and a mid-twenties guy talk about his CD collection. I know I’m not one of the cool kids, but does that age group have CD collections anymore – of course, the strangest things are trendy and retro now, so what do I know? Those things took me out of the story a bit because they just didn’t come across as realistic for people their age. I also didn’t care for Lori’s goofy exclamations, but again, that could just be me.
Readers that prefer a lighter romance will be happy with this story, but also those looking for a happy ending will be satisfied. It definitely didn’t make me swoon, but not every story has to have that swoon factor to be a good one. Kim Vogel Sawyer fans are sure to enjoy this one!
Thank you to the publisher for the complimentary advanced copy of this novel; a positive review was not required.
Kim Vogel Sawyer has been on my top favorite author list for years now. I have read every single one of her books and have been eagerly waiting for her newest release, From This Moment. She knows how to touch the readers heart and feel the Grace of God, while crafting a beautiful story. This one is no different. I adored Jase and Lori and was interested in what would happen to them throughout. I had the whole book read in one sitting.
From This Moment would get one hundred stars from me if it were possible. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading faith filled Amish r0mance. It should not be missed.
I received an ebook copy of From This Moment from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
From This Moment is a heartwarming story by Kim Vogel Sawyer. As Jase begins his job as assistant pastor, he, Lori, and Kenzie form a strong bond of friendship. The author keeps the reader’s attention as she brings each of the three young adults through difficult issues–death, not only of a fiancée but the dream of a future in missions, family relationships, self-image, and a desire to share the gospel with loved ones. The story is a good reminder that we may have plans but God directs our steps. The characters are realistic and relatable, people I’d like to know in real life. I enjoyed the mystery of the lost ring and then there are Kenzie’s brownies which sound so yummy. Thank goodness the author included the recipe!! I’d love to have another book to find out more about what happens with the three friends. Readers who enjoy contemporary romance will not want to miss this one.
I received a complimentary book from Waterbrook and Multnomah Publishers and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
What a sweet story of finding love. With tortured pasts, the main characters have to rise above those years to see the good that could be in their lives.
When an odd circumstance draws them together in a way that neither expected – nor saw coming – the path they choose brings their hearts to that Y in the road where they will have to choose.
Great read. Expect a tear or two! Highly recommend the book.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book from WaterBrookMultnomah with no expectation in return. The above thoughts are my own.
DELIGHTFUL!
This is a wonderful inspirational book that demonstrates how God works in, around, over, through, because of and in spite of ALL our circumstances! It is the story of three young adults who find themselves in the same small church in Kansas. It was one of those friendships that was God-ordained, for such a time as this. They are three souls who have been battered by circumstances in their pasts but each are diligently working on a closer personal relationship with God. Jase is the youth minister who is dealing with his own doubts about God’s goodness after losing his fiancée in a tragic accident. Lori is the newly appointed church custodian with no self worth and terrible relationship with her father and compensates by overeating. Their friend Kenzie has left the Amish world and has come to live among believers. She is feeling very convicted to return to her family and share the Gospel but has to come up with a financial plan for a bus ticket.
Sawyer weaves a beautiful story of redemption in the lives of all three of these characters through an unlikely set of circumstances. Even though each of her characters has major flaws, she draws on their strengths and allows them to work together for a common goal and in the end, they each come away with a renewed faith. Also, Sawyer allows the characters to question God in some things and shows how God brings the right people in your life to encourage you and mentor you. I particularly enjoyed this book as I have worked in some type of youth ministry for the past 45 years.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by WaterBrook Publishers. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
A book that was touching and inspirational. A story that moved me greatly. Jase was heartbroken. He questioned his faith after experiencing a loss. He accepted a job as a youth minister in a small town. This move changed not only his life but also Kenzie’s and Lori’s.
The main characters all had to learn how to emotionally deal with their pasts. Everyone is different in how they handle loss or grief. Some find unhealthy ways to deal with their pain. This can lead to very serious consequences.
The book had some unexpected twists and turns which made the ending not as I expected it to. I loved it!!
A few Bible passages came to me as I read this book.
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV)
I received this book from WaterBrook & Multnomah to give a honest review.
Kim Vogel Sawyer excels at writing touching stories! There’s so much to love about this book: the sweet-but-hurting characters; the gut-wrenching pain that so accurately mirrors real life; the way that Sawyer draws you into the story from the very first page; and the perfect blend of inner turmoil and exterior broken-world issues that both helps you ponder deep spiritual issues while also mourning the reality of the world in which we live. These elements all work together to craft a setting and cast of characters that live on beyond the turn of the last page.
Which is one thing I loved about this book: the characters. I really loved Kenzie’s sincerity, Lori’s desire to learn and improve, and Jase’s search for truth. The general kindness among the entire cast added to the community element of the story.
As much as I enjoyed this story, though, and basically read it in a single sitting because I didn’t want to put it down, I have found myself pondering the structure of the story ever since – I think because I liked Jase, Kenzie, and Lori too much not to think through it all again. What I’ve realized is that there are a few plot holes that make the story feel a bit off-balanced – not necessarily in the this-is-real-life way but in the I-hope-there’s-a-sequel-coming–because-too-much-was-left-undone–and-feels-wonky kind of way.
Sawyer wraps up the biggest named problems that the characters have, but with three main characters, the action toward the end is a bit uneven – and there is a plot hole that is still bugging me. I think a sequel that brings people back to this small Kansas church – or even home to Indiana with Kenzie but stays in touch with her friends – would do much towards resolving all of the conflict in this story. I feel like Kenzie got shorted, and I wanted to see more resolution for her – for her own problems, for her past, for an accurate description of the ring’s story.
Type A me has to point out that the Amazon description of this story isn’t exactly accurate. While it should be a vague summary, of course, it assigns information to the wrong characters and keeps the balance off.
All in all, I enjoyed the story that I read and the characters as they were written, no matter how incorrectly Amazon describes them.
From This Moment is the perfect story for those who love sweet characters and simple plots. If you’re wrestling with where God is in the midst of pain or how to handle complex interpersonal relationships, give this one a try.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.