Tag: Contemporary Christian Romance

4 July 2025

First Line Friday #398 | Faithfully Devoted, Jacob (Scripted Love #6) by Emily Dana Botrous

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m sharing from Faithfully Devoted, Jacob by Emily Dana Botrous, the final book in her Scripted Love contemporary Christian romance series.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Faithfully Devoted, Jacob

He has no memories. She fears the things he can’t remember. Can a lost past become the key to their future?

When Jacob Halverson wakes up in the hospital, he doesn’t know where he is. Worse yet, he doesn’t know who he is—or the woman claiming to be his wife of forty-two years. But when she’s at his side, he feels like everything will be okay.

Arlene Halverson never imagined her husband could forget her. Now she is tasked with filling in the blanks of an entire lifetime for Jacob, reminding him of their life together, the family they built, and the love they share.

With the help of old love letters, Arlene journeys through time at Jacob’s bedside, visiting memories both painful and poignant. Together they search to find the reason Jacob hid his illness from her while Arlene finds the courage to share her greatest mistake in hopes Jacob can forgive her a second time.

Will Jacob choose to trust God with an uncertain future? And can Arlene trust Jacob with the past—again

Find Faithfully Devoted, Jacob online at:

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Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

27 June 2025

First Line Friday #397 | His Surprise Return by Kayla Tirrell

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from His Surprise Return by Kayla Tirrell, a new-to-me author. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About His Surprise Return

Ever since her husband died, Erin’s been doing her best to make ends meet and provide a normal life for her children. She thinks she might be getting close until a familiar face from her past shows up and sends everything crashing back down.

Logan ran away from his hometown years ago with no intention of ever returning. Now, he’s back to fix up the house he grew up in and get it ready to sell before leaving for good. He never thought he’d find Erin living there—a shell of the woman she used to be.

Spending time together for the first time in years, Erin and Logan reminisce on happy memories while creating new ones. They both feel a pull toward one another but with such different plans for their futures, can they find one together?

His Surprise Return is a faith-filled romance that will make you believe in second chances and remind you of God’s faithfulness even in the darkest of storms.

Originally published under the title Their Second Chance at Love.

Find His Surprise Return online at:

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Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

23 June 2025

Book Review | Her Inconvenient Wedding Date by Liwen Y Ho

I have been reading quite a few rom-coms recently, many of which use the marriage of convenience (or inconvenience) trope. Few have had any Christian content, and none have been overtly Christian.

Her Inconvenient Wedding Date is overtly Christian from the get-go.

And I loved that. Lily’s mother is looking for a son-in-law who meets the five C’s: Christian, career, condo (or house, cash … and Chinese. The family also has a traditional of the older siblings marrying before the younger, which is an issue for Lily as her five-years-younger sister, Jasmine, has been dating the same guy for years and is ready to get married.

So Lily decides to fake an engagement so her sister can get married. When her first blind date incorporates a PowerPoint presentation and an unexpected proposal, Lily accepts a surprise offer from Hunter, a work colleague who meets four of the five C’s.

If he were Chinese, he’d be perfect.

Hunter has been crushing on Lily since they met a year ago, so proposing marriage–even a short-term fake marriage–seems like a great idea. Who knows. If they’re living together and pretending to be married, maybe something will develop?

This is a romance, so we obviously know the answer. The fun is in the journey, and this journey is a lot of fun.

Each chapter starts with a quote from another author. I’m not usually a fan of epigraphs, but Her Inconvenient Wedding Date is the exception that proves the rule. Quotes like these only improve the book:

Quotes like these will mean I will remain not being a fan of epigraphs, because that is going to be hard to beat.

Overall, I loved Her Inconvenient Wedding Date.

It’s a fun, quick read, with likeable characters and a believable relationship. Recommended for Christian rom-com fans.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Liwen Y Ho

Liwen Y. Ho works as a chauffeur and referee by day (AKA being a stay at home mom) and an author by night. She writes sweet and inspirational contemporary romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots).

In her pre-author life, she received a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary, and she loves makeovers of all kinds, especially those of the heart and mind. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her techie husband and their two children, and blogs about her adventures as a recovering perfectionist

You can find Liwen Y Ho online at:

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About Her Inconvenient Wedding Date

I always thought I’d marry for love… not because of a family tradition.

As the eldest daughter, my life’s basically one long checklist of responsibilities—especially when it comes to making sure my younger sister gets her happily ever after. And apparently, that means I need to tie the knot first.

Groan.

I’m an engineer by day, a beauty blogger by night, and a problem-solver 24/7. But even I wasn’t prepared for the solution to my marriage problem to show up in the form of Hunter Payne—my tall, charming, and goofy coworker who just so happened to save me from the world’s most awkward date.

Out of the kindness of his heart, he offers to marry me. For three months only. Just until the family pressure eases up. Totally platonic, totally practical.

Until it’s not.

Because three seconds into our union, a surprise kiss makes some very inconvenient emotions rise to the surface.

How am I going to survive this marriage without falling for the one guy I promised I wouldn’t catch feelings for?

Find Her Inconvenient Wedding Date online at:

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30 May 2025

First Line Friday #393 | My Achy Broken Heart by Meredith Resce

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m currently writing my third Trinity Lakes romance, which means I’m reading some of the earlier books to remind myself what the other inhabitants of Trinity Lakes have been up to. It’s called research, right?

Today I’m sharing from My Achy Broken Heart by Meredith Resce, which released this week. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About My Achy Broken Heart

How quickly things can change.

Last week Lucy was full of joy and hope, having finally met a Christian man who seemed to be crazy about her. One minute, she is full of heady passion and hope that a proposal is imminent—the next she is coming to terms with being alone, pregnant, and not understanding where he’s gone.

Her ‘dream’ man has turned into a nightmare, hiding behind his status as a worship pastor in a large church and his influential parents, denying he’s ever had anything to do with Lucy. And she’s fully aware that she’s stepped way outside her own moral boundaries—a fact that is being ruthlessly thrown in her face from some of the people she’d expect to have supported her. Only her close family are willing to stand by her in this difficult time. But the pressure is so great she decides to fly Downunder to visit her brother in Australia.

Will Phillips has finally found some hope after having lost the family farm and his long-term relationship. The small-town pastor, Caleb Kennedy, is proving himself to be not only a spiritual mentor, but a good mate. And then his sister arrives from the States. She’s attractive and seems nice, but he’s not interested in starting a new relationship—still smarting from the last one.

But she seems sad, and Will’s caring side wonders why, despite himself. When he finds Lucy on the side of the road after an accident, he finds out her secret and all of his intentions to stay distant seem to have disappeared.

A small town, romance that spans to both sides of the globe. Reconnect with Caleb and Alanah, and Matt and Arianne from earlier stories in the Trinity Lakes Romance series.

Find My Achy Broken Heart online at:

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Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

28 April 2025

Book Review | First Love, Second Draft by Becca Kinzer

Rom-com author Gracie Parker is stuck. Her latest manuscript is a mess, an accident has left her virtually immobile, and her sister has arranged household help in the form of Nate, Gracie’s ex-husband.

Pro baseball player Nate is stuck. His marriage has been over for years and his career looks like it’s coming to an end. His only chance at a future is the unexpected opportunity to reconnect with his ex-wife

Yes, as the title suggests, First Love, Second Draft is a second-chance romance that ticked all my boxes.

I loved the writing, which I found genuinely funny without feeling forced and without any cringy moments. Sometimes rom-coms can read as though the author is trying to hard to make something funny, and that can fall flat. First Love Second Draft felt effortlessly funny (which is probably a testament to the hours that went into writing and revising to give it that effortless feel).

I loved the dual romance plot.

I often find myself resenting a secondary romance, as it can take away from the main characters and their story. In First Love Second Draft, the secondary romance echoed and reinforced Grace and Noah’s story. That was a real strength.

I loved the fact Noah knew he’d messed up and admitted as such. Even though he didn’t know how to fix it, he was willing to try.

Recommended for fans of contemporary romance and rom-com with a subtle Christian message.

Thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About First Love, Second Draft

She’s a romance writer burned out on love. He’s her famous baseball star ex-husband. The last man she wants to be forced to work with is the one who broke her heart.

Rom-com writer Gracie Parker hasn’t written a bestseller since she and her husband, a major league baseball star, divorced five years ago. On thin ice with her publisher—and with a looming deadline—Gracie couldn’t have picked a worse time for a painful injury that has her flat on her back. At this point, she’d accept help from anybody . . . except her first love and ex-husband, Noah Parker.

The baseball season has just ended in massive disappointment for Noah. He’s facing the stark reality that he gave up everything for a career that’s let him down and that it might be too late to get back the one person he should’ve held on to. So when Gracie’s nephew calls, saying Gracie’s looking for a tenant for her next-door rental, it feels like it’s meant to be.

All Gracie cares about is turning in her manuscript on time, which is directly at odds with Noah’s attempts to win her back, even if she is slightly charmed by his kindness. But can people ever really change? Then Noah throws a curveball that could give Gracie the extension she needs, but it will mean working directly with Noah, something she’s not sure she can face. With no other choice, and everything on the line, Gracie must decide if it is too late for a second draft of their own love story.

Find First Love, Second Draft online at:

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About Becca Kinzer

Becca Kinzer lives in Springfield, Illinois where she works as a critical care nurse. When she’s not taking care of sick patients or reminding her husband and two kids that frozen chicken nuggets is a gourmet meal, she enjoys making up lighthearted stories with serious laughs. She is a 2018 ACFW First Impressions Contest winner, a 2019 Genesis Contest winner, 2021 Cascade Award winner, and all-around champion coffee drinker.

Find Becca Kinzer online at:

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Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

21 April 2025

Book Review | The One Who Changed Everything by Tara Grace Ericson

Fourteen years ago, a single indiscretion during Spring Break with a guy she’d just met but was The One changed Samantha Brown’s life forever. Now she’s the assistant librarian in Minden, doing her best to give her thirteen-year-old daughter the upbringing she never head. Yes, that one night changed everything.

Fourteen years ago, after a wonderful week with the girl he never forgot, Evan Mercer’s brother died in a nightclub fire. He searched for Sam, even engaged the family private detective, but never found her. Yet here she is in Minden, his new home. And she has a teenage daughter …

Yes, The One Who Changed Everything is a secret baby story.

I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, and I can understand why—especially in Christian fiction. First, they rely on a (usually unmarried) couple doing something they shouldn’t. Second, the woman knows she is pregnant and has the baby, but doesn’t tell the father.

A good author can help readers get past the first issue. After all, we are all sinners and God doesn’t put sin in levels the way humans often do. In that respect, sexual sin is no different from any other sin. We are forgiven before we even ask. We simply have to confess and receive God’s forgiveness.

Getting past the second issue can be harder, because there has to be a good reason why the woman didn’t tell the father, especially in this day and age where social media makes it possible to find almost anyone.

The author achieves both these objectives. Both Sam and Evan clearly regret what happened, and Sam has good reasons for not telling Evan–simple fear that Evan’s well-off family would take her baby. Evan, to his credit, tried to look for Sam, but never found her.

The story has a predictably awkward beginning.

What’s not awkward about seeing the one-night-stand you searched for but never spoke to again? But I was impressed by the responsible way both Sam and Evan took on the responsibility of shared parenthood. I was especially impressed by Sophie, who adapted quickly yet believably to a huge life change.

Of course, the big question is the romance. Does that work? Oh, yes it does. It’s completely believable and I loved it. I loved the fact they were both still interested in the other. I loved the fact that Evan’s first reaction to figuring out he was a father was to embrace fatherhood.

I loved that Sam, despite her reservations, allowed him into their family.

I loved the spiritual thread to the story. Both characters had to let go of something in their past that would cloud their present relationship, and that was done well.

The One Who Changed Everything is the fifth and final book in the Second Chance Fire Station contemporary Christian romance series. I’ve read and enjoyed them all, but I think this is my favourite.

Recommended for fans of small-town contemporary Christian romance.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Tara Grace Ericson

Tara Grace Ericson lives in Missouri with her husband and 3 sons. She studied engineering and worked as an engineer for many years before embracing her creative side to become a full-time author.

Her first book, Falling on Main Street, was written mostly from airport waiting areas and bleak hotel rooms as she traveled in her position as a sales engineer. She loves cooking, crocheting, and reading books by the dozen. Her writing partner is usually a good cup of coffee or tea.

Tara unashamedly watches Hallmark movies all winter long, even though they are predictable and cheesy. She loves a good “happily ever after” with an engaging love story. That’s why Tara focuses on writing clean contemporary romance, with an emphasis on Christian faith and living. She wants to encourage her readers with stories of men and women who live out their faith in tough situations.

Find Tara Grace Ericson online at:

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About The One Who Changed Everything

I never expected to see him again.

When I met Evan, he was everything I never thought I could have—steady, kind, the kind of man who made me believe in something more. But one reckless night changed everything. By the time I found out I was pregnant, he was gone, and I had every reason to believe he’d never come back.

For fourteen years, I built a life for my daughter, protecting her, providing for her, never letting myself wonder what if.
Evan was a stranger from my past, a man whose wealthy family could take everything from me if they ever found out. But then he showed up in my small town—stronger, haunted, and completely unaware of the little girl who carried his eyes. And the moment he looks at her, I know the truth will come out.

I wanted to keep my distance. I told myself he only cared because of Sophia, that he’d never really wanted me. But every look, every touch, every moment together makes it harder to deny the truth.

Because Evan Mercer wasn’t just the man I lost. He was The One Who Changed Everything.

Find The One Who Changed Everything online at:

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18 April 2025

First Line Friday #387 | Like Stars That Shine by Jenny Glazebrook

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m quoting from Like Stars That Shine by Jenny Glazebrook, the latest book in the Trinity Lakes series. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Like Stars That Shine

She is returning home.

He has never had a home.

Esther Ladan has lost all confidence in her ability to read people. A very public break-up with her boyfriend has dealt a devastating blow to her heart and her pride.
Now two of the town’s most big-hearted, big-mouthed elderly ladies are determined to find her perfect match.

After years in witness protection, Tanner Elliott is finally free to live his life without looking over his shoulder. Still, he’s learned to be more observant than most and he’s an expert in reading body language.
When Esther asks him to scrutinize the dates her friends arrange for her, the results are not what either of them expect.

Can Esther and Tanner overcome their difficult pasts, learn to trust Jesus with their hearts, and shine for Him in a broken world?

A FINDING FREEDOM, SMALL TOWN REDEMPTION ROMANCE

Find Like Stars That Shine online at:

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Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

14 April 2025

Book Review | Northargyle Abbie by Janelle Leonard

Northargyle Abbie is billed as a contemporary retelling of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey (yes, the clue is in the title). It’s been years–perhaps decades–since I read Northanger Abbey, and I can’t remember anything about it beyond the fact that it wasn’t my favourite Austen story. I therefore can’t comment on how accurate the retelling is.

I can say I enjoyed Abbie’s story.

Abbie is a pastor’s daughter, part-time church secretary, and part-time researcher at the local museum in her home town of Westonia, Pennsylvania. On her twenty-fourth birthday, she discovers her grandmother has left her a mystery to solve, and a cottage in Australia. She also discovers a connection to the island kingdom of Northargyle, which is situated between Australia and New Zealand.

As a Kiwi reader who has visited Australia many times, I was intrigued by this choice of imaginary location.

The whole story is told in first person from Abbie’s point of view, although she does interrupt herself to quote from the occasional letter, or her own Notebook of Silly Placards.

I enjoyed the voice, and especially loved the quips and banter.

I found the novel started a little slowly, and the pace picked up after the Abbie arrived in Australia. Here she meets Jess, her self-proclaimed new best friend, Jess’s brother Devon, and the handsome if mysterious Colter and his sister, Eliana. She also discovers more about her grandmother’s secret life that leaves her wondering who her grandmother really was …

The Australian scenes captured the country well, from avos to mozzies, from lamingtons to pavlova (and the age-old debate as to whether the dessert is Australian or Kiwi in origin). I wondered if the author was Australian, but the author’s note clarified the unerring accuracy: Australian young adult author Hannah Currie helped with those details. For example:

Welcome to the island of Northargyle. A hidden gem in the Tasman Sea, just north of New Zealand. The island enjoys much of the same wildlife (not as many sheep) and weather as New Zealand (experience the four seasons all in one day).

Yes, that’s accurate.

According to research, everything in Australia wants to kill you, except maybe koalas who sleep twenty-two hours a day.

Also accurate.

I was a little disappointed that Abbie didn’t get to visit New Zealand, but maybe we’ll see that in a future story in the Royally Austen series …

Fans of royalty romance and Jane Austen will enjoy Northargyle Abbie, as will anyone looking for a witty romance with a hint of mystery.

Thanks to WhiteFire Publishing for providing a free ebook for review.

About Janelle Leonard

Janelle Leonard is a Jane Austen fangirl with an overactive imagination who creates web-twisty plotlines from her home in Pennsylvania. When she’s not writing, reading, editing, drinking coffee, or working at an elementary school library, she’s finding creative ways to procrastinate. She is passionate about living authentically while serving and encouraging others to see their worth, using writing as a key to unlock worlds of possibility.

Find Janelle Leonard online at:

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About Northargle Abbie

When Abigail Morgan, a naive pastor’s daughter with an overactive imagination, inherits a cottage in Australia, she never imagines the story it will unlock. Armed with a museum studies degree and a penchant for daydreams, Abigail heads to Hyacinth Cottage to unravel the truth of her grandmother’s past-an unknown world of adventure, deception, and love.

While sifting through letters, photographs, and hidden relics, Abigail meets Colter Wellesley, a charming local who helps her navigate the labyrinth of clues with a blend of wit and charm she struggles to resist. But Colter comes with secrets of his own. As their investigation and romance deepen, Abigail wonders if Colter is more tangled up in her grandmother’s mystery-and that of the princess who vanished more than sixty years ago-than she ever imagined.

In this modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, the line between imagination and reality blurs, and every clue discovered could be the key to unlocking a royal legacy.

Find Northargyle Abbey online at:

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Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

12 April 2025

First Line Friday #386 | The One Who Changed Everything by Tara Grace Ericson

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m quoting from The One Who Changed Everything, the final book in Tara Grace Ericson’s Second Chance Fire Station series. I’ve enjoyed this whole series!

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About The One Who Changed Everything

I never expected to see him again.

I wanted to keep my distance. I told myself he only cared because of Sophia, that he’d never really wanted me. But every look, every touch, every moment together makes it harder to deny the truth.

Because Evan Mercer wasn’t just the man I lost. He was The One Who Changed Everything.

Find The One Who Changed Everything online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

7 April 2025

Book Review | The Voice We Find (Fog Harbor #3) by Nicole Deese

Music producer August Tate is just keeping his financial head above water after relocating from LA to small-town beachfront Northern California to raise his adopted sister after their parents die in a train crash while on a mission trip.

Actress Sophie Wilder has reluctantly relocated from New York to her childhood home, a vineyard now managed by her older brother, the family golden child. She needs a job that doesn’t involve being onstage, so tries out as a voice actor for audiobooks. The two are brought together by Fog Harbor Books fiction editor Chip Stanton, who hires Sophie to narrate and August to produce audiobooks.

I will admit the first chapter confused me, because I thought the introductory line of “August” was when the story started, not the hero’s first name. It didn’t help that the story is written in first person, so it did take me a while to work out August was the character. Once I did, I was hooked.

The Voice We Find, like other books in the Fog Harbor series, has hidden depths. It’s an emotional story, a story about family and families (good and less good), and even has a small suspense element.

August’s sister is deaf, which allows us to see into the deaf community and experience some of their struggles. It’s great to see such positive and realistic portrayals of people with disabilities.

The story also has a strong faith component which was integral to the plot and character development, which I loved.

But the core of the story, the aspect that lifts it from good to great, is the way the character’s personal histories—especially Sophie’s—are woven together so they can each learn and grow … and find their voices.

I hope this isn’t the last of the Fog Harbor series, because Chip still hasn’t got his happy-ever-after ending …

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About The Voice We Find

Sophie Wilder returns home to California with nothing more than a failed Broadway career and a geriatric cat. Stuck working at the family winery with her egotistical brother and desperate for a way to revive her acting dreams, she takes a side gig as an audiobook narrator with Fog Harbor Books. But getting mixed up in the life of her reluctant sound engineer was never a part of her plans.

August Tate is still reeling from taking guardianship of his teen sister. Determined to find a solution to her degenerative hearing loss and to prevent his private recording studio from going under, he agrees to produce audiobooks part-time. When Sophie breathes new life into his creativity and forms an unexpected bond with his sister, rooted in their common faith, he must confront the reasons he turned away from his own.

Bestselling and award-winning author Nicole Deese weaves an emotionally charged romance rich in the complexities of love and family.

Find The Voice We Find online at:

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About Nicole Deese

Nicole Deese is an award-winning author who specializes in humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels. When not working on her next contemporary romance, she can usually be found reading one by a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She currently resides with her happily-ever-after hubby, two sons, and a princess daughter in Idaho.

Find Nicole Deese online at:

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