Folks are dying fast as the ash trees in the southern Indiana town ravaged by the heroin epidemic, where Jaycee Givens lives with nothing more than a thread of hope and a quirky neighbor, Sudie, who rescues injured wildlife. After a tragedy leaves her mother in prison, Jaycee is carrying grief and an unplanned pregnancy she conceals because she trusts no one, including the kind and handsome Gabe, who is new to town and to the local diner where she works.
Dividing her time between the diner and Sudie’s place, Jaycee nurses her broken heart among a collection of unlikely friends who are the closest thing to family that she has. Eventually, she realizes she can’t hide her pregnancy any longer—not even from the baby’s abusive father, who is furious when he finds out. The choices she must make for the safety of her unborn child threaten to derail any chance she ever had for hope and redemption. Ultimately, Jaycee must decide whether the truest form of love means hanging on or letting go.
Includes discussion guide.
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Sexual Content - 1/5
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Violence - 1/5
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Language - 0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 1/5
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Summary
From: Rebecca Maney
Book Title: Before I Saw You
Book Author: Amy K. Sorrells
What do you like about this book:
"It's the folks who thought the Lord shouldn't love them that he made a point to love on the most."
"I just . . . I didn't know I could love - and at the same time be afraid of - someone so much who I've never even met."
Jaycee Givens is afraid, in fact she has been afraid for years now, following the kind of heartache and tragedy that no child, turned young woman, should have to bear. As if life hasn't her handed her enough grief, she now bears the responsibility for another, someone tiny and unseen, someone who deserves better than she can give, someone who she will love forever no matter what.
As Jaycee ponders life changing decisions, those around her provide amazing support and kind, generous wisdom; in fact granting her mercy instead of pity, giving her hope; that if like the woman at the well she pleads "I am thirsty", that the answer will be "All you have to do is reach".
A deeply emotional read with wonderful characters and profuse amounts of inspiration.
Your ratings of the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use on a scale of 1-5.
Sex:1
Violence:1
Language:0
Drug/Alcohol use:1