When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in … in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town’s new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints–and possibly even his heart?Novelist Tari Faris invites you back to the small town with a big heart in this second book in the Restoring Heritage series.
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This was such a sweet story. Libby was such a likable character and Austin was definitely swoon worthy. I really enjoyed the bonus romance of Nate and Olivia too. I also loved that Tari incorporated not only one of my favorite quotes, “Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage,” from the movie “We Bought A Zoo but the book “The Hiding Place,” by Corrie Ten Boom. Those additional elements were a perfect addition to the story line, and thrilled my heart. I am looking forward to more stories from Tari about the town of Heritage and its inhabitants. They are so much fun.
I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
This book was outstanding! And it’s packed full of all the feels a sweet, clean romance should have. Tari Faris knocked it out of the park. Engaging characters, spiritual truth embedded in a powerful plot, and of course a brass hippo. The characters and subplot wove together to create great a story that draws you in and keeps the pages turning. Already ready to read the next book.
“Forgiveness is never deserved. It’s a gift. If you earn a gift, it’s not a gift anymore – it’s a wage… Unforgiveness breeds anger and bitterness. I don’t want that for me. And I don’t want it for them. Because that kind of bitterness spills all over those close to you.”
What an incredible novel. Until I Met You is one of the best summer reads of 2020! Tari Faris’ second novel will make you laugh, dance with joy, sob with the heartbreaks yet remain hopeful as two couples find themselves and each other in a small Michigan town called Heritage. This book has everything a reader could ask for in an inspirational contemporary romance book – fun antics and great banter between Austin and Libby, achingly beautiful friendship with regrets between Nate and Olivia, outside forces pulling the brothers Austin and Nate apart, broken pasts that need to be forgiven, and grace that covers all. You will never want to leave Heritage once you step inside this town and get to know the people who make Heritage what it is. I would recommend reading the prequel novella and the first book in the series to acquaint yourself with the cast of characters; it will make for a richer reading experience.
Nate’s brother Austin is in town just to rebuild the town square as a landscape architect so that he can resuscitate his family’s business. Luke’s sister Libby becomes Austin’s next door neighbor and is also new to town as the town librarian hired to resuscitate the library. Their first encounter starts on the wrong foot and their interactions go further sideways every time they meet. Austin’s grumpiness and Libby’s anxiety both hide their past hurts but their softer and sweeter sides emerge as their relationship blossoms.
Nate, the pastor in town, and Olivia, a journalist whose roots are in Heritage, are not newcomers to the series but their story finally plays out in this book. Nate’s struggle with his past and truly accepting forgiveness and Olivia’s frustration with finding peace and fulfillment in love and career are so real, raw, and heart-wrenching.
I received a copy of the book from Revell/Baker Publishing Group and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
This is an incredible book on forgiveness, grace, family, love, and so much more. Taking place in a small town, we have two romances going on. Faith was such an integral part of this book. It wasn’t just a cover to wrap it in, it was the bones, heart, and life. I read a lot of books, and this one has so much to learn from. I think a lot of these things are not necessarily new for us hearing them, but they are presented in a real way that sinks in and cuts to the heart of the matter. I can honestly say I can’t wait to see what will come next and I am excited and wait with anticipation of learning and realizing more.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
*Sighs dreamily* This book made me want to pack my bags and move to Heritage.
Until I Met You was amazing! I loved the characters! Each one was so unique and loveable. Libby was so real and relatable. The romance was sweet and had me melting. The plot was great. I really enjoyed everything about this book. There was great faith content! God used this book to speak to me. I love how He can use fiction to speak to us. It was clean and just so amazing!
Tari did an amazing job! I love her writing style and can’t wait to read more by her!
Until I Met You is the story of Austin and Libby. Libby was a sweet character, a woman who has made some poor choices with major consequences and now has to live with herself. I thought she was sweet. I liked the way she tried to be brave even when she wanted to run away.
I did not like Austin. He was rude, moody and angry for much of the book. A lot of the time he took out his anger at Libby who did not deserve it. Austin seemed to expect everyone to be perfect. In a lot of ways he reminded me of Mr. Darcy and I did not like Mr. Darcy until after his transformation.
The secondary story was Nate and Olivia. We met this couple in You Belong With Me but their story is really fleshed out in this story.
Nate was also moody and couldn’t seem to make up his mind what he wanted from his live interest. But I preferred his character to his brother’s.
There were some parallels between Austin’s story and Nate’s in part because if the theme of forgiveness and grace that was woven through Until I Met You.
“Forgiveness is never deserved. It’s a gift. If you earn a gift, it’s not a gift anymore— it’s a wage. The way I see it, if people deserved forgiveness, then there is really nothing to be forgiven.”
I’ve looked forward to reading this book since I read You Belong With Me last year and it was a pleasure to be back in Heritage. Did I wish I had liked the male characters more? Yes. Do I regret reading this book? No. Until I Met You had some characters and reminded me of the importance of forgiveness, not only for others, but also towards myself.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves Jane Austen or Mr. Darcy.
I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publishers; a positive review was not required.
Until I Met You was a fun read with all the feels. Libby’s determination to make a new life, Austin and Nate’s struggle to make peace and build a friendship, their challenges with their aging father, and of course, the double romance, make this book interesting and relatable. The strong message of the power of forgiveness and the struggle to forgive was inspiring. I loved it and I am eager to return to Heritage for more!
Gosh I just love this town and its people! Amazing characters that you see again from book one and come to feel like family. The tension and problems are real and make for a good read. Gritty reality issues mixed with witty banter, squeal worthy romance and our favorite moving hippo. I adored seeing characters we met in the first book develop more while the focus is on the main ones. Austin and Libby are both stubborn and broken. Nate and Olivia have so much to get past before moving on. You will love them and their stories! I highly recommend this book and this author.
This is a wonderful book. Austin is trying to find his way in life and Libby is trying to rebuild her life.
Libby has moved to Heritage to be closer to her brother. And to resuscitate the library that has been closed for years. Austin is landscape architect working in Heritage. Libby is sweet, funny and shy.
Austin is complex and moody. Austin has issues with his brother sometimes he lets this get the best of him. Austin teaches Libby how to trust her self again. Libby feels safe and protected with Austin. Austin gives Libby the courage and support she needs. Libby brings Austin closer to peace with his brother. Libby brings chaos, love and life to his world. There are so many wonderful themes in this book and one of them is to not be afraid when you have a know God. I loved secondary story of Nate and Olivia. I am really excited for Leah and Jon’s story.
This book definitely has all the feels of a great, clean romantic read. The scenes were very descriptive and you felt as though you were there. I smiled each time as I read about Petunia. I also have a fond affection and vivid memory of a Petunia, just different name!
It was difficult to put the book down as I couldn’t wait to see what the outcome would be for Libby—so I didn’t! Yep, I read it straight through one Sunday afternoon.
If you’re looking for your next read – here it is!
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher with no expectation in return. The words and thoughts above are my own.
Forgiveness. That’s what this story is about. The town of Heritage is a special town with unique characters. The main story is about Austin Williams who comes to town to landscape the town square and in the process meets Libby Kingsley the town’s new librarian. They both have relationships in their pasts that they must overcome in order to trust each other. There is a relationship between brothers that needs healing along with forgiveness. One of my favorite parts to this series is Otis the town hippo (a statue). A very enjoyable story with a strong spiritual message.
We once again return to the charming town of Heritage, Michigan, to follow the story of Libby and Austin. I liked the references to previous characters that we met in the first book in the series, You Belong With Me, and the prequel novella, P.S. Goodbye. However, this book can also be read as a stand-alone novel. Libby and Austin don’t like each other much at first and their spirited banter adds some dimension and humor to the book. I liked the growth of Libby and Austin both individually and in their relationship as the novel progressed. There was also a focus on repairing a relationship between brothers that was great to read. There are wonderful spiritual messages woven in the story. I particularly loved the theme of forgiveness. The book is well written and an enjoyable read. I recommend it to those who like contemporary fiction romances!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Libby moved to Heritage to begin a new job as the librarian and have a fresh start after a traumatic event. At the same time, Pastor Nate’s brother, Austin, moves to Heritage as well to begin landscaping work and to help keep a close eye on their father. Soon these two spend more time together and begin to work together to get the library opened.
Meanwhile, Olivia and Nate keep dancing around the idea of a relationship, but secrets of Nate’s past creep up on him straining his friendship with Olivia.
In some ways we can all relate to each of these four characters and the conflict they go through.
Until I Met You will leave you cheering, crying happy tears, and rooting for each of these characters until the very end.
I graciously received an advance reader copy of this book from Revell for review. All opinions are my own.
Another amazing story about the small town of Heritage and it’s inhabitants.
This is Austin’s story. And Libby.
And then there’s also a secondary line running through about Nate and Olivia.
The main focus in this book is forgiveness. Grace. Accepting Gods love freely in our lives.
So much truth here.
I really appreciate the beautifully depicted word picture of undeserved grace.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Past mistakes and old wounds are an inescapable part of life; but you get to choose how you respond. Main characters Austin and Libby experience much antagonism from the time they meet. As they respond to the spark of interest in spite of all the reasons not to, over time they give more grace and understanding to each other. Even with all the discord there are so many moments of joy and playful banter.
Meeting up with Nate and Olivia again was a joyful reunion. In spite of all the reasons why they won’t work, but it just takes saying yes to one possibility to change everything. Each must choose not to let their past control their future. A lesson that can be hard to learn. The journey from head knowledge to heart knowledge can be longer than we want.
The dual romances and each person working through their struggles, pain and daring to dream again kept me turning the pages. I learned so much from these friends and was invested in their journeys and cheered them on throughout all the laughter and the tears.
These characters turned friends encouraged me to examine my own life and ask hard questions. Can I forgive those who hurt me? Can I forgive myself? What better choice can I make? What baggage can I let go of to embrace a better life?
Investing time in Heritage, Michigan is always worthwhile. From P.S. Goodbye to You Belong With Me and through Until I Met You I was captivated by the people I met.
I am eagerly awaiting the new friends I will meet in the next story in this series.
When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.
All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town’s new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints–and possibly even his heart?
I had a lot of trouble liking Austin during most of the book. He had a lot of anger issues and Whitney didn’t know which Austin would show up. The kind or angry one. Most of Austin’s anger was directed at his brother. The local pastor. But he took his anger out on those around him. He had a lot of work ahead of him to resolve the issues. Whitney had a lot of trust issues she needed to work through. Her former boyfriend ended up robbing the store she worked at and held a gun on her.
It was a good book and I did enjoy the story line.
I was given this book Revell Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
Until I Met You is a continuation of the town of Heritage but can be read as a stand alone! I admired Libby’s spunk when she arrived in Heritage to be the town librarian only to discover the library is in a basement dungeon with decades old dusty books! I also admired Austin Williams who strives to make the family business profitable to honor his father who has dementia. Libby’s roommate, Olivia, and Austin’s brother, Pastor Nate, are great secondary characters. Everyone learns that it is sometimes hard to accept God’s gift of grace. I received an Advance Reader Copy of Until I Met You from the author and publisher. This is my honest opinion.
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This is to be out Sept 8, 2020. I really enjoyed this romance. I received this book for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I’ve given it a 5* rating.This is the second book in this series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. This story is full of broken hearts, including the new pastor. This includes several serious issues and about how they deal with them. And a lot was centered around an old building that is now being used as a new library. Another book lover who loves book facts, is the new librarian. There is lots to enjoy in this book. Ill look forward to the next book in this series
Until I Met You
by Tari Faris
Book 2 in the Restoring Heritage series
Rating: 4/5
Tari Faris definitely knows how to portray such heartfelt characters with their own strengths and weaknesses. The reader is once again drawn into the small town charm of Heritage and it’s fun to “see” characters from the first book. For me, this story was not only about romance but it was about the relationship between two brothers.
Austin temporarily moves to Heritage to do a landscaping job but refuses to live with his brother, Nate, who already lives there and is the local pastor. Austin meets Libby, his neighbor who also just arrived to become the new librarian. The two have their own pasts to deal with and overcome in order to move on with their lives. Nate is battling his own demons of the past and finds it hard to give himself a chance at love with Olivia, Libby’s new roommate. Olivia is tired of waiting for Nate to make up his mind about them and tries to find a journalism job out of state. Can these two couples find a way to work together and find forgiveness and love?
These intertwined love stories were masterfully written and the depth of brother’s characters was very well done. The incorporation of faith and forgiveness was vital for the characters and I was impressed with how the author dealt with the effects of holding onto unforgiveness.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
I’ve loved Tari Faris since her first prequel novel, P.S. Goodbye and her first in the Restoring Heritage series, You Belong to Me. And Until I Met You is a wonderful continuation of the stories of people in Heritage, Michigan.
This book actually tells the stories of two couples, Austin and Libby who are both new to Heritage and Nate and Olivia who live and work there. I remembered Nate as the pastor in the previous book so I felt like I knew him and was more anxious to hear his story.
The theme of forgiveness is a huge part of this story. Austin really struggles with this, his anger and his need for perfection. Nate has a history of which he has not forgiven himself. And these two are brothers with a lot of other things going on in their lives!
Tari has a wonderful way of writing clean, inspirational fiction. Her books flow and are easy to read.
Recommended!