📷📹🎞️⛪ “All That it Takes” (2022) ⛪🎞️📹📷 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764234978
ISBN-13: 978-0764234972
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“When the ever-cautious Val Locklier moves cross-country with her son for a secure job, everything she'd planned unravels within the first week. After Val reluctantly agrees to rent an apartment from her best friend's brother, an unexpected chance at an elite filmmakers' mentorship ignites fresh hope for a dream career. But as Val's community begins to expand, so do her insecurities, especially those heightened by her growing attraction to a certain friendly landlord.
Pastor Miles McKenzie returns home from a short-term mission trip to discover that not only does he have an intriguing new tenant living upstairs, he's also been reassigned to a local ministry on life support. Disillusioned and restless, he distracts himself by throwing his energy into a host of new projects--not the least of which is pursuing Val--without stopping to consider the future.
As Val struggles to stop hiding behind the camera and Miles wrestles with shattered expectations, they'll find that authentic love and sacrifice must go hand in hand.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Bethany House Fiction (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through the author’s launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
Two years ago, I was lucky enough to be on the author’s launch team for Before I Called You Mine, and right then I KNEW her books were going to be emotional and impactful reads.
This is the “sequel” to last year’s All That Really Matters (ATRM) which was emotional all on its own. It took about a week before I could compose myself before writing the review. But, after reading that … I just KNEW I had to read Miles’ story and Val’s as well.
And, like that one – from cover reveal to the physical book in my hands – the excitement NEVER wavered. And, I do HIGHLY recommend reading the first one to segue into this book.
While this one appears bigger than ATRM, it is SLIGHTLY shorter. From the first page of the story to the last, it comes in at around 396 pages. And, even though it is a “sequel”, there is enough “filler” so the reader doesn’t need to read ATRM, but it VERY HIGHLY recommended. Both are BEAUTIFUL books – not just the outside, but the inside as well.
Of course, ATRM is a bit flashier and PINK … SO very pink. As well it should be, being Molly’s story.
Moving on …
Molly does make a “significant” appearance in this one even though she has to deal with a devastating event. Silas doesn’t show up until almost the end. Like ATRM, ATIT is told in first person with Miles and Val.
Molly, Miles, and Val are the only stars – add in Lady Gwen (oh, this is lady is a hoot), Tricia, Pastor Curtis, Rev, Tucker (Val’s son), and Carlee – this definitely becomes a fun, but emotional read.
There are some STAR WARS refences and even a Beauty & the Beast reference to balance some of the seriousness. Both I am VERY acquainted with.
While the first book was a bit lighter, this one definitely delves a bit deeper, and even perhaps even walking towards a tad of controversial. While the book doesn’t specifically make abortion the entire plot, one of the characters did have one; two other characters considered it – so it does play a part and is DEEPLY connected.
As a result, this can be triggering to some readers regardless of their views on the subject. There are also references to a character considering suicide, along with a character’s history of prescription drug abuse and depression.
Those who are sensitive to the topics should proceed with caution.
Deese delicately writes about the subjects with reverence, grace, mercy and understanding. This will undoubtedly be a challenging, amazing, emotional, inspirational, and thought-provoking read that might necessitate having tissues handy.
All That it Takes picks up with Val, recently moved from Alaska with her son Tucker, and their rental having fallen through, end up at Miles’ rental. Though Miles doesn’t know it due to poor reception.
Val is there to help Molly with a new venture which is different from the influencer Molly was. Now, Molly is focused on the aged-out foster kids with her Basics First venture. That gets sidelined with a disaster which leaves Molly devastated and Val wondering what she is going to do.
Miles is home from Mexico, disillusioned with Pastor Curtis who he feels isn’t doing right with the mission of Salt and Light (the congregation).
Miles doesn’t know about Val and goes to investigate, getting whacked with a lightsaber toy of Tucker’s. This immediately has readers diving into the Miles and Val romance or rather journey.
A filmmaking opportunity comes up for Val, but the persnickety Victor Volkin isn’t impressed by Val – even her work for The Bridge doesn’t move him, seeing her only as a videographer for a beauty influencer. But, Gwen Chilton (nicknamed “Lady Gwen”), a former actress, has a feeling about Val and decides to mentor her.
Gwen asks her “what’s a storyline that has never been told” to get started. And, it was interesting to figure out what she was referring to.
With Miles’ input, Val is able to proceed.
Miles is also having his own “crisis” with the church, especially after being assigned to the Riverside Family Center. There is a deeper reason for it, but like the book, it takes time to get there.
While working on her own project, Val also helps Miles with Riverside, starting off with the website.
But, it is a chance meeting with a young lady, Charlee, who is there for a different reason – that is the catalyst for Val’s project after Val sees herself in the younger girl.
Val and Miles explore a romance while she slowly builds her project, and Miles tries to figure out why he’s at Riverside, a dying outreach that has had its glory days long ago.
The title comes from Val’s video project referring to “all that it takes is one person stepping out”, which is revealed around the 68% mark.
While I absolutely loved ATRM more, this honestly has the makings of a movie that could stand on its own despite the one main issue. The author doesn’t get preachy with the reader but shows the impacts of each decision made.
I have to admit, that often, big books like this intimidate me. I’m often worried I will lose interest or there will be too much build-up and I’ll be disappointed. That was NOT the case here. The mostly short chapters kept this going and was easily aided by Deese’s emotional narrative and the engaging dialogue.
I would say that about the halfway point, I couldn’t put it down. Like ATRM, it got going about the last half to last third of the book.
I love how Gwen’s mentoring of Val opened her (Val) to new experiences and a fresh perspective on things. There was an issue with the submission and I immediately understand where Gwen was coming from. The entire premise was deeply moving, and inspiring.
In fact, Deese does a great job of highlighting several things in our lives – literal and figurative that makes one stop and analyze the situation around them.
Miles was, to me, more of the show than Val. I understood where she was coming from, particularly with a disability. To me, it was her who seemed to make more of a deal with it than others. I, like Miles, love Mexican Coke – FYI: Mexican 7-UP is VERY good too!
There was an incident towards the beginning that made me laugh because of “Safety Vest Ed”, but highlighted a balance between safety and being condescending towards people with disabilities.
Not only is one of the main characters a pastor, but this is distributed by a primarily Christian/faith-themed publisher. As a result, there will be heavier Christian/faith themed references.
I definitely recommend this to those who’ve read ATRM as well as the author’s fans. I’m eagerly awaiting her next release!
[FYI: During the reading, I used a bookmark I made … I didn’t realize how well the color scheme matched, or how appropriate the “proverb” was]:
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
Previous book in the “duo”:
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (April 6, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN 10: 076423496X
ISBN-13: 978-0764234965
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“Molly McKenzie's bright personality and on-trend fashion and beauty advice have earned her an impressive social media following, as well as a shiny monthly paycheck. When her manager-turned-boyfriend tells her of an upcoming audition to host a makeover show for America's underprivileged youth, all her dreams finally seem to be coming true. There's just one catch: she has little experience interacting with people in need.
To gain an edge on her competitors, she applies to volunteer at a transitional program for aged-out foster kids during summer, only the program's director, Silas Whittaker, doesn't find her as charming as her followers do. But since forfeiting a goal has never been her style, Molly's only option is to accept the terms Silas lays out and submit to his rules--even the most ridiculous ones pertaining to social media.
Soon as the residents of the home become more than a means to pad her career resume, and Silas becomes more than an obstacle on her path to fame, her once-narrow focus expands to include the deep needs of those she's serving... and perhaps the ones she's neglected inside herself as well. It took years to build her platform, but only one summer to discover what really matters most.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole Deese's (www.nicoledeese.com) humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels include a Carol Award winner and a RITA Award and an INSPY Award finalists. When she's 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 lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, her two wildly inventive and entrepreneurial sons, and princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.
You can also find her on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicoledeeseauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoledeeseauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicoledeese
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