Happy Friday, fellow readers! It’s hard to believe it’s the last Friday in January already – the first month of 2021 is almost over! Today I’m joining the First Line Friday linkup hosted by Hoarding Books and featuring ‘Til I Want No More by Robin W. Pearson.

“‘You know trouble ain’t catchin’.’ Ruby Tagle’s dark eyes flicked in her granddaughter’s direction. ‘Nobody’s gon’ sneeze and give it to you or your Theodore.'”

‘Til I Want No More by Robin W. Pearson

The Basics

Title: ‘Til I Want No More

Author: Robin W. Pearson

Release Date: February 2, 2021

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover: When the man she loved years ago returns to town, one young woman’s complicated past rises again, threatening to expose her well-kept secrets.

If Maxine could put her finger on the moment when her life went into a tailspin, she would point back twenty years to the day her daddy died. She tells herself he’s the only person who ever really knew and loved her, and if he hadn’t left her behind, her future would’ve taken a different path. No absentee mother, no stepfather, no rebellious ripping and running during her teenage years. And no JD, who gave her wandering young heart a home, at least for a time.

But that’s over and done with. All grown-up now, Maxine has pledged her heart and ring finger to Theodore Charles, the man she’ll promise to love, honor, and obey in front of God and everybody. At least that’s what she’s telling anybody who will listen. The only folks buying it are the dog and the readers of her column, however. Her best friend and family aren’t having it—not even Celeste, the double bass–playing thirteen-year-old the community of Mount Laurel, North Carolina, believes is Maxine’s adopted sister. And apparently, neither is the newly returned JD, who seems intent on toppling Maxine’s reconstructed life. As her wedding day marches ever closer, Maxine confronts what it means to be really known and loved by examining what’s buried in her own heart and exposing truth that has never seen the light of day.

My Thoughts

Robin W. Pearson has written a poignant story of forgiveness and redemption in ‘Til I Want No More. This novel is definitely character-driven and moves at a slower pace, but that is part of its Southern charm. Maxine is a compelling heroine – although at times you want to say, “What were you thinking?,” her fears, dreams, and inner musings make her so relatable. The whole cast of characters – Maxine’s parents and grandparents, her friend Evelyn, and Pastor Atwater and his wife all added richness and depth to the story as they helped Maxine face her past.

This book is a powerful look at how the secrets we keep can have such an impact on everyone around us – but it’s never too late to tell the truth and be set free. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of Lauren K. Denton, Beth Vogt, and Ashley Clark!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.