I love reading fiction. I love getting acquainted with believable characters. I look forward to stepping into their lives and daily routines each time I open up the book. I love falling in love with the hero right alongside the heroine and feeling that romantic rush. I love the heart pump that results from suspenseful moments.
The best way to end a wonderful story is a big finish! An ending with a wallop! That perfect satisfying ending that will make you remember the story long after it’s over.
I recently read a Contemporary Christian Romance that gave me that “wow!” feeling at the end. The book is All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese. In fact, here’s the review I left for it:
“Wow! A masterfully told story full of deep characters and intricate plot that all weave together after a slow burn to a compassionate ending that honors God! Silas and Molly make an unlikely couple at first, each with their own issues, but with God’s help they discover they’re perfect for each other. The ending is a real wallop!”
When I first met Molly, it was hard for me to relate to her. She made her living as a social media influencer – one of those jobs I’ve never had any personal connection to. She was dating her talent manager who seemed like a jerk, so I wasn’t sure why she was wasting her time with him.
Then we meet Silas. He didn’t make a positive first impression on me either. Molly was applying for a volunteer position with his organization (volunteer! No money exchanged!) and he turned her down flat. His line of work as the director of a halfway house of sorts for young adults who had aged out of foster care but had no support system to help guide them into adulthood, was interesting, and showed me that he had morals and cared for others. So why was he so rough on this pseudo-celebrity who wanted to donate her time to his organization?
So, we started there, but by another hundred pages in, I was completely hooked. Molly’s boyfriend/manager set her up for a lucrative advertising deal, but he is shady about it. Molly kicks him to the curb, when in standing up for her moral standards in the photo shoot, he doesn’t support her. Good riddance! Slowly, slowly, Molly and Silas start making their way towards each other, and I start rooting for them.
Meanwhile, one problem after another happens for Molly, for Silas, or for the new couple. I mean, this author threw one disaster on top of another: career issues, broken promises, severed friendships, betrayals, money shortages. And yet the couple turns to God for strength and guidance, and they don’t lose hope. When all seems lost; when deadlines on an important fundraising effort are missed and promises that Molly made before her manager dropped her and her career falls apart go unfulfilled, and the big project that would enhance the halfway house and expand their clientele look hopeless … they don’t give up.
They focus on all that really matters.
I won’t spoil the story in case you read it (and I hope you do!), but when I said in the review that the ending was a real wallop, I meant it. Silas achieves his heart’s desire for his organization, in fact, God delivers in a big way beyond all his dreams. Molly, far from losing everything due to standing up for herself, is rewarded with a career even better suited to her passions and her budding faith in God that she’d ever dared dream for. And the two of them realize what a true romantic partnership looks like.
Everything is wrapped up in a fully satisfying gift-wrapped package with a shiny bow and I am left with a big sigh and a smile. I love it when that happens!
What’s a book you’ve read with a big finish? Share in comments a book that you’ve loved the ending and why, and I will pick a winner to receive a $10 US Amazon gift card on my birthday: June 7!
**Heartwarming, life-changing Christian fiction.** An award-winning author, Laurie is living her dream life at the beach, writing novels. Laurie writes beachy inspirational romance that takes place in the South Carolina Low Country. She retired from the big day job and now focuses on writing full time. Strolls on the sand, soaking up the sun and riding the waves can be considered the best kind of research.
This avid reader and retiree wishes you a blessed inspired birthday, Laurie! Hope you celebrate all month with family, friends, and your readers. This year I have been reading more historical romances or cozy mysteries. Presently my mind is thinking up anniversary and retirement surprises, plus a contribution to my 8. grade grandson’s time school time capsule that will be revealed his senior year.
The series that comes to mind with a big finish is Elizabeth Maddrey’s So You Want to be a Billionaire. While I am not fond of stereotypical stories, I liked the premise and how each book has a different conflict wrapped up neatly in a bow: second change, fake relationship, love to hate, best friend’s sister, secret baby, and amnesia. Enjoy the sunshine.
Renate, thank you for the birthday wishes! It’s in a week, and it’s a BIG milestone one!
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve got a few of Elizabeth’s billionaire books on my Kindle so now I’ll push them up towards the top of my TBR pile!
I also loved All That Really Matters. I pray you have a Blessed and Happy Birthday 🎉🎂🎁.
Oh thank you so much Lucy! And did you have a similar reaction to the book’s big finish?
The Edge of Belonging did that for me! Not a “true” romance, but it had all of the feels, and left a lasting impression. My birthday is just 6 days after yours! Happy Birthday!
Had to look that one up but it checks several of my favorite boxes: dual timeline, secret adoption and uncovering secrets due to the death of a family member. It’s going on my Kindle!
Oh and happiest of birthdays!!!
thank you for sharing today. I so agree with your opening comments. I have read a number of books like that. Honestly the Bible is my very first choice here. After that, I so loved Janet Oaks books. I feel like she wrote to me. I could become her characters and learn about my own life and improve it. Our children are now 38 and 36. When they were in grade school I found a series by Judith Pella and Tracie Peterson “Ribbons West” Book 1 – Westward the Dream Book 2 – Separate Roads Book 3 – Ties That Bind. This is such a fabulous series. I learned that God works in mysterious ways and when we embrace them we grow also. There are so many wonderful reasons why this series has stayed with me and I love it so much. Both of these authors are two of my all time favorites
Hi Lori! Excellent point about how the Bible provides the ultimate Big Finish with the book of Revelations! We’ve been talking a lot about it at church so I’ve been digging in more than ever.
Thanks for the series and author recommendations. Summer is my time to read more than ever so I’ll add a few of these to my TBR list. Have a great day!
For me, it was The Sport of Matchmaking by Jennie Goutet. It’s the final book in her series/trilogy, and the ending wasn’t only sweet for the main characters, bringing them together when it seemed pretty much impossible at the beginning, but it also gave an update on how the main characters from previous books were doing, so that was great. :)
Oh that sounds wonderful. Thanks for the recommendation!
Hi Happy Early Birthday! I loved the ending of My Brothers Keeper by Courtnee Turner Hoyle and I am looking forward to reading to reading Pinky Swear which is book 2.
Interesting titles! Thanks for sharing and for the birthday wishes!
Plot Twist by Bethany Turner was one I recently read and just loved the ending. How the author tied the storylines together and brought the two lead characters together without it feeling contrived or forced was just brilliant.
The book description sounded so good I ordered a copy! Thanks!
WILD by Kristin Hannah comes to mind. Not just a big finish, but a beautifully emotional one. I wept.
I just spent about ten minutes trying to find this book online — turns out it was originally published as Magic Hour, then evidently republished as Wild. But thanks for the recommendation. I love Kristin Hannah. In fact I’m reading her newest book right now!
Winter Garden Kristin Hannah .To tell you would spoil the read for people who have not read the book.
Another Kristin Hannah recommendation! She really is awesome, isn’t she??
Happy birthday!! I have been reading a lot of romantic suspense books right now. I would have to say The Catch by Lisa Harris, Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard and Fatal Forensci Investigation by Darlene L. Turner. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Thanks for these great recommendations, all new authors to me!
Happy birthday! Pride and prejudice
Thank you! And oh yes — that’s a classic!
I read a book called, “Diary of a Teenage Mom” & it was book 11 which is the end of the series. It really made a happy ending for me. Happy early Birthday
It’s impressive that the author kept the suspense and interest in her readers through eleven books! Thanks for the birthday wish!
Happy Birthday! The Anderson Brothers book.
Hi! Thanks Sylvain. I looked up the Anderson Brothers and it looks like a series of five books around the Secret Baby trope. Thanks for the recommendation.
Happy birthday for the 7th. Mum’s would have been the 8th. Not sure right now about a big ending I know there have been some (I can think of a few cosy Mysteries) but not sure right now.
Thanks Jenny for the birthday wishes! I know, the big finish definitely doesn’t occur on every book you read, but when you encounter it, you know it!
Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury is a book with a big ending that stuck with me.
Oh! I love Karen Kingsbury. I just looked the book up and see it takes place in the world of country music, which I also love! I may just have to purchase this one for myself! Thanks.
Okay, if you loved “All That Matters” you HAVE to read “All That it Takes” because I think it’s just as good! The ending is pretty huge (to me anyway). I think all of her books end that way, and are ones I always anticipate reading.
The other book I can come up with that has a huge ending, (one I didn’t see coming anyway) was “To Begin Again” by our own Emily Conrad. I couldn’t have chosen a more perfect ending if I were a writer. That hard won happily-ever-after in both life & love is most satisfying & she delivered that in spades! It’s a true redemption story that reminded me how far God has brought me from a messy past & made me appreciate His mercy and grace. I’ll share one line that just stood out to me & cemented the whole story together. It ties in well with the theme:
“Jesus died to win you”
Anyway, I don’t want to give too much away. I just love those unexpected big story endings!
Oh my! You did an excellent job of selling those two stories and now I have two more books to check out! Thanks! 😄
“The Moonlight School” by Suzanne Woods Fisher I don’t know whether to say it has a surprising ending, but I loved it and it’s really cute and sweet full of possibilities.