My Bookshelf: Someone Like You by Victoria Bylin

        Julia Dare is trying to run her own business, raise her young son, Max, and help her widowed mother. Her biggest worry, though, is keeping Max’s father from being a bad influence while still allowing the boy to spend time with his dad. When an account from her event-planning business sends her to Caliente Springs resort, she’s shocked to encounter Zeke Monroe, her college sweetheart.

        Zeke is determined to keep Caliente Springs running despite financial trouble. When Julia walks back into his life, he’s surprised at the feelings she stirs up. As they work together on an important client’s wedding, the fate of the resort soon depends on their success. With Zeke and Julia both pushed to their limits, will their history put up walls between them or bring them together?

        Someone Like You is Victoria Bylin’s most recent stand-alone novel, and is only the second novel I have ever read by her. I read Until I Found You a couple of months ago and absolutely loved it, so I was eagerly awaiting this novel’s release. Fortunately for me, I wasn’t at all disappointed. This novel was a wonderfully sweet story that captivated me until the very end, and I’m already dying to read another one of Victoria’s books. I absolutely love her writing style, and her stories are always both interesting and believable. Plus, this one was just really sweet, so I couldn’t help but enjoy it.

        Julia Dare is such a sweet, kindhearted character, and she is the perfect mother to Max. I also admire her so, so much, mainly for the way she is somehow still Christ-like to Hunter—Max’s dad—even though he is one of the biggest jerks to ever walk this earth. I am amazed at how much self-control she has; I would have slapped that man across the face a long time ago, and it is very inspiring to see how someone can have so much patience with someone so awful to be around.

        Zeke Monroe is one of the most relatable characters I have ever been introduced to. His burnt-out faith is something so many people raised in the church experience at least once in their lifetime, and his bitterness and difficulty laying down his pride are common struggles for everyone. Still, he remained one of the kindest, most caring and compassionate men Julia—and I—have ever known, and that says a lot about his character. His affection for Julia and Max is sweet to behold, and I cannot help but love him and the little family he longs to create.

        All in all, I really, really enjoyed this book, and I cannot imagine giving it anything other than all five bookshelves. I’m definitely a lifelong fan of Victoria’s—if I wasn’t before I am now—and I am eagerly anticipating hearing about another new release sometime in the future. I’m also very glad that I own this book, as I am sure I will enjoy reading it again someday soon. It is a wonderfully sweet novel that I would recommend to anyone, as I am sure they would be bound to enjoy it!

        Happy reading!

Check out this great giveaway here!

I received a copy of this book through the Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for only my honest review.

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

Photo credits go to my sister, Allie, whose blog you can visit here.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Victoria Bylin and Bethany House Publishers.