I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. And honestly? I loved it! Great story, characters I instantly fell in love with, and a plot rich with themes of real-life struggles, God's redemption of messy situations (even the ones we've caused for ourselves) and accepting God's forgiveness. Plus it features my beloved Lexington, Kentucky & the hymn I walked down to at my wedding (Be Thou My Vision) plays an important role in a wedding in the book too! :) ( )

This is a wonderful story about how a family and a nanny deal with a child with Fetal alcohol Spectrum Disorder.. This is a story of a man trying to raise his two sons and a daughter who has FASD. They hire a nanny , Carly Mason, who has dealt with other children with this disorder. She and the father , Dr. Ryan Tremaine fall in love but are not sure how to handle it. This is a wonderful romance and it is great how the disorder can be worked out and dealt with. Lots of love in this story. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest opinion. ( )

A Tender Contemporary Romance about Finding Unexpected Love
When a Lost Child warning blasts over the mall's PA system, toy store manager Carly Mason finds the little girl playing with a stuffed rabbit. Something about five-year-old Penny Tremaine is different. An ex-social worker, Carly recognizes that Penny suffers fetal alcohol effects, and a piece of Carly's own past suddenly confronts her. Never again will Carly become involved with a client. The risks are far too great. But something about Penny--and Penny's handsome father--tugs at Carly's heart. Before she has time to think it through, she agrees to a much-needed job as a nanny.
Dr. Ryan Tremaine knows he messed up his life. But this summer he will redeem himself. With his ex-wife remarried and on a trip far away, his two teenage sons and Penny are living under his roof full time. Ryan is dedicated to his sink-or-swim list, a plan to reconnect with his children. The first step: recruiting Carly Mason to be Penny's nanny.
Ryan never anticipated being so drawn to Carly, an attraction Carly seems to fight as much as he does. Could Carly be the missing piece that helps his family stay afloat, or will their blossoming romance only complicate things further? ( )

Carly Mason made a promise to herself that she would never again form close personal bonds to children under her tutelage after she'd failed Allison, a teenage girl to whom she was counselor while employed at Sparrow House for troubled teens, who was now missing thanks to a bad judgment call on Carly's part. Although Carly's faith reminds her that God forgives her, she just can't forgive herself. Meanwhile, her resolve to never again form attachments is shaken when she finds little 5-year old Penny Tremaine in a shopping mall where she's wandered away from her family. Penny suffers from a form of FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), and needs someone with Carly's expertise to come look after her. Ryan Tremaine has had 4 nannies in the past 6 months and Carly seems to be the perfect candidate for the job. When Carly finally acquiesces to Dr. Ryan Tremaine's prodding, she not only defies herself, but she takes on far more than she bargained for. Nobody's perfect, and Ryan committed an indiscretion that tore his family apart and resulted in the birth of his special needs daughter, Penny. Although he may need to loosen up a bit and learn to enjoy life more with his 3 kids, Carly eventually sees that Ryan is in fact a decent man who's made a mistake he sorely regrets, and who deserves a chance at a new life. As more and more of his good qualities come to the fore, Carly reluctantly begins to fall for the handsome, caring and sensitive doctor. There's only one very BIG problem. Ryan Tremaine does not share her faith, and faith is central to Carly's life. This presents challenges, the biggest of which is Ryan's struggle to embrace the concept of an Almighty God, and Carly's own doubts that arise about her beliefs when Ryan forces her to confront the reasons why she can't learn to forgive herself, even though her religion dictates that her faith in God and his grace should allow her to do so. What will she do?
Together With You is an inspirational story about two people struggling with their flaws and imperfections, but who eventually gain the ability to forgive themselves and accept the love they both need and deserve. I like to see characters develop and grow to the point where they can resolve their inner conflicts and go on to lead more fulfilling, productive and happy lives. That was the case with just about every character in this book and that was a plus for me. The only minus was that some of the scriptural explanations in the book differ from my interpretation and understanding of Bible texts, but I tried to overlook those bothersome portions since I know that Bible interpretations vary among Christians. Overall, Together With You was an enjoyable read and I believe that people who relish Christian Fiction will find it uplifting and satisfying. ( )

This book drew me in from the very first page.

I felt that Ryan and Carly were portrayed realistically and I liked them as individuals. Together they were better than they were alone. Both Ryan and Carly have mistakes from their past that limit their ability to move on in life.

Ryan had an affair that resulted in a child with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). The affair ended his marriage. His daughter, Penny, is a hand full. I couldn't help fall in love with her character. She has so much to give, but is often misunderstood.

The book begins with Penny missing in a mall. He entrusted her care to his son from his marriage. It soon becomes apparent that his family is in crisis. This is where Carly comes in. She has the knowledge and the love to bring this family off of the brink and help them love and accept each other.

This book didn't have instant love, but it did have instant attraction. The major theme of the book is about forgiving yourself from past mistakes and trusting God. Ryan is agnostic, but Carly has a deep love and faith in her Savior.

I enjoyed this book and I am grateful to Bethany House for providing me with a review copy. ( )