This Means War by Heather Miekstyn: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

First comes…the baby in the baby carriage?

All I wanted to do was show Cole Jacobson that I wasn’t the same girl he passed over ten years ago. This time around I’d be the one rejecting him. Only now I’m a pregnant-out-of-wedlock, promise-ring-wearing Christian woman.

I think we can all agree things got out of hand.

As if being pregnant with the man I love to hate’s baby isn’t complicated enough, there’s his mayoral campaign to think about. Cole can’t afford a pregnancy scandal right at the beginning of his political career, which means he’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep me happy. Only, Cole trying to make me happy keeps throwing me off kilter until I can’t trust my own feelings. Do I hate Cole? Or do I love him?

I’ve been burned by Cole before. I won’t let it happen again. To protect my heart, I’ve got to strike back. Cole Jacobson, this means war.

But the more time I spend with Cole the more I remember why I fell in love with him so many years ago. Is it possible God can redeem our mistake and give us our very own love story?

This Means War is a Christian romantic comedy full of sizzling chemistry but without any explicit scenes.

The Author

As a child, Heather Miekstyn used to spend hours in her room creating characters, then writing out the first half of their stories before eventually losing steam. Then she discovered the romance genre and realized the key to finishing any good story-a happy ending.

Heather resides in Michigan with her husband, four daughters, and their rambunctious black lab. When she is not writing, she can be found reading, running, or playing Bananagrams. She hopes her books leave you feeling like you’ve just been hugged by a Hallmark movie.

For more information visit her website, www.heathermiekstyn.com or follow her on Instagram @heathermiekstyn

Book Review

Oh my goodness... I am absolutely blown away by this book. Heather Miekstyn is a favorite of mine, and I have adored every one of her books, but this one is truly something special. It was the perfect blend of laugh out loud humor, swoon worthy romance and genuine faith... with a rollercoaster of emotions throughout. One moment, I would find myself in tears... and the next, I was laughing out loud over the incredible banter and pranks between Cole and Lydia. Honestly, an unplanned pregnancy following a one-night stand is probably not what most people expect in a Christian read, and perhaps that will turn a lot of readers away... but their story truly had one of the most beautiful faith messages that I have seen in a CF book in a long time. All too often, I feel like characters in Christian novels can feel almost too perfect, which just isn't realistic to me. I loved seeing characters who aren't perfect and fall short. Admittedly, I didn't like Cole too much at first... but seeing him grow in faith as the story goes on? There was something really beautiful about that. Likewise, seeing Lydia's struggles with feeling not worthy of God's grace was something that I feel many readers are going to relate to in one way or another. Their story was unconventional and messy, but also beautiful and redemptive. I couldn't put it down and know it is one that is going to stick with me for a very long time.  It has been one of my very favorite reads so far this year. If you have ever felt that your mistakes are too big for God's grace, that you've failed to be a 'good Christian' or that He's punishing you for said mistakes, this book is an absolute must read. 

This Means War is a closed-door Christian romcom. Given the subject, there is obviously implied intimacy between an unmarried couple, but this all happens off pages with no details given. 

You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4dr2r89