Jase is a new youth minister at a small church in an even smaller town in Kansas. Recently moved from San Antonio after his fiancee died, he's struggling with anger and doubt in his Christian walk. Kenzie is ten years removed from her Amish heritage, leaving the community when she learned how the grace of Christ could free her from the rules and regulations of her family's religion. She's been thinking more and more about her family, though, and the darkness they're still lost in. Lori is a young woman who was emotionally and verbally abused by her father as a teenager. She uses food as a coping mechanism when she feels lonely or inadequate, despite knowing that it's pointless and wishing she could stop. Jase, Kenzie, and Lori are each searching for answers from God, and when Jase moves to Kansas, he's welcomed into the friendship that Kenzi and Lori already have. With each other's help, the three just might find their answers.

Through the first half of this book, I didn't really understand what it was meant to be about. Part of that is because the official synopsis is atrociously inaccurate and misleading. But it's also because it really took a while for things to get going. And actually, in the end, it turns out the book really was about what I saw in that first half--these characters each struggling with their doubts, uncertainties, and questions about God and their faith. There were parts of the story that I liked, that I thought came together well in the end, and parts that fell flat for me, or that I questioned why they were included. Overall, it was a decent read, but not a stand-out for me.

The storyline I related to the most was Lori's over-indulging in times of extreme emotion--good or bad. I haven't had an abusive past like hers, but over-indulgence is an issue I have struggled with in the past, though not to the degree that she does it. I really liked the way Kenzie's story shaped up too, after wondering what it had to do with anything for a while near the beginning. Jase's storyline is the one that I was least connected to, partly because I've not experienced loss like that, but also partly because the decisions he made really bugged me. There is a 4th perspective in this story too, which I felt was wholly unnecessary. I couldn't help but compare it to the previous book I read by this author, which also included 4 perspectives. But where it worked in that one, it just seemed pointless in this one. I'm not sure what the pastor's perspective added, nor did I feel like it was particularly resolved.

If there was one cohesive lesson this story seemed to bring out, it was the benefit of allowing others to share your burdens. Each of these four people was originally struggling alone and seemed to only see a turning point when they opened up to a fellow Christian about their trouble. Actually, that's not really true for one of them (I won't say who), but perhaps it's just that I wished he/she had let others help him/her along the way. And on a related note, Kenzie really drove me crazy at some points. How can you say "God will provide" and then refuse all of God's ways of providing? If a really specific incident hadn't happened, she absolutely would have stayed in the same place, spinning her wheels, still waiting and hoping for God's providence. (You ever heard the one about the guy sitting on the roof of his flooded house, refusing to get in the boat or helicopter because he knew God would save him? Yeah, she's kind of like that.)

So in the end, this is not a book I would choose to read again. However, I think that my issues with it will likely not be shared by most others. If you are looking for a Christian book where romance isn't the main plot and where the author ties multiple storylines together into one story where God's hand can be seen, this might be a good book for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for providing me a copy of this book to review. ( )

From This Moment by Kim Vogel Sawyer was a very inspirational read for me. She has a wonderful way of telling stories, and she did not disappoint in this book. She brought the characters to life for me, as if I know them, their struggles were so relatable for me, and the plot was right on. It does start a bit slow, but it does pick up. I have always loved Kim’s writing, and she has not disappointed this time either. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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From This Moment by Kim Vogel Sawyer was a very inspirational read for me. She has a wonderful way of telling stories, and she did not disappoint in this book. She brought the characters to life for me, as if I know them, their struggles were so relatable for me, and the plot was right on. It does start a bit slow, but it does pick up. I have always loved Kim’s writing, and she has not disappointed this time either. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ( )

I enjoyed this book for the most part. It was interesting to see the side of a youth pastor, as well as two young women. I will copy the recipe just in case, but like Lori, I may not have control, so I should probably not make them. The character of Lori was most like me and she inspired me to be more mindful of working to be filled with the Holy Spirit instead of food. ( )

From This Moment by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a heartwarming and emotional novel. It is well-written with developed characters. The point-of-view switches between our main characters: Pastor Kraft, Jase, Kenzie, and Lori. We get to know each of them along with other members of the congregation. It gives us a chance to learn about their issues and struggles. From This Moment is an emotional novel. Jase is struggling with his faith after the loss of his fiancé, Rachel. Lori is a bubbly, friendly woman who still misses her mother. She deals with her problems by indulging in food. Lori is smitten with Jase from the moment she saw him. Kenzie may have left her Amish community behind, but she cannot give up everything she learned. When she finds a ring in donated clothing, Kenzie is determined to find the ring’s owner. Kenzie has not seen her family in years, and she misses them. I enjoyed getting to know each character as they worked through their struggles. From This Moment deals with love, acceptance, friendship, faith, humility, hope, and loss. We get to see God at work and what happens when we follow the path He has set out for us. We see that God truly does work in mysterious ways. I enjoyed reading this touching story. I especially liked the descriptions of Kenzie’s loom, the process of making the rugs, and how it made Kenzie feel. Kenzie’s brownie recipe is included. Kim Vogel Sawyer has given us a compelling story with From This Moment that you will not want to put down. ( )