It rains and shines all at the same time. Sometimes.When Lucy Anderson met Jude Botha, she was an awkward, shy preteen, just beginning an adventure overseas alongside her family as they pursued a new ministry opportunity. Jude was the first boy she met in Namibia, and his friendship remained in her heart long after she returned to the States. Years later, she’s on her own in America when she gets … when she gets a text from Jude, asking if he can see her again.
Jude Botha left Namibia at eighteen, determined to become a rock star in the States. In the years since arriving in America, though, he’s let go of his childhood faith, venturing into a lifestyle that has gotten him no closer to stardom than he was when he started, and living without any real direction or hope for the future. Until, that is, he’s reunited with Lucy.
As Lucy’s summer plans fall through, Jude offers her a spot as a roadie on his band’s tour. When she accepts, she has no idea how much God will change her and Jude both through the experience and how they’ll grow to need and love one another in all the unexpected trials that are ahead.
Meant To Be is a love story full of sunshine and rain, centering on God’s faithfulness through the joys and sadness of life…
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This is an interesting, Christian story about love and redemption with great characters, especially in Lucy Anderson and Jude Botha. Lucy is a college student whose parents are in Africa on a mission and Jude is from Africa and touring the United States with his band. They both met many years ago when Lucy was only sixteen and she had a crush on Jude who was several years older than her. It is an emotional story too that will make you cry and also fill your heart with joy. It also is a sweet and clean romance.
A moving story of redemption and faith
My rating is 4.5 stars
Right now, my eyes are damp from the emotions which leaked through as I read this deeply moving account of Lucy and Jude. It was not at all what I was expecting from the beginning. Far more than the story of second chances, there are so many rich spiritual lessons wrapped up the pages of this novel, and so many heart-wrenching moments.
At first glance, it is the story of an idealistic Christian, Lucy, who, after making a mistaken assumption about Jude’s life, decides that God has sent her to be the one to change the hearts of Jude’s entire band. Her approach is simple – to love them and show them kindness, no matter what. What Lucy discovers is what her heart looks like when the bottom falls out of her life.
I wasn’t a fan of Jude right away. His lifestyle let much to be desired and his pride had him allowing Lucy to believe things about him that couldn’t have been much further from the truth. Yet, God wasn’t finished with him and I loved watching him slowly begin to listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and to watch him transform from a man focused on living after the flesh to a man with a heart for the Lord and doing what is right and good.
In the back of my mind is a vague memory of the book starting slowly, yet I was so overwhelmed with emotion at the end and was so caught up in the story, that doesn’t even really matter to me. I often will rate a book that ends well despite a slow start a little lower yet I can’t bring myself to do this. I really loved this story – my heart was so thoroughly invested in it.
There are some references to drugs and alcohol being used though they are shown as being negative. Lucy and Jude struggle with staying pure in their relationship with one another and a few scenes deal with this. Desire and sexual tension are topics that are dealt with (tastefully and remaining clean) making it more appropriate for a more mature audience.
Read my review of Meant to Be by Jenn Faulk at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.