Engaged: Surrendering the Future (Surrendering Time)

by Julie Arduini

Trish Maxwell's back in Speculator Falls with egg on her face and a lot of apologies to make. She left the mountain town for her dream job in New York City, only to come back unemployed. With no prospects, she works at her family's department store and makes amends as she finds a new passion creating window displays for Adirondack businesses. She works hard and tries to convince the people of Speculator Falls she's changed for the better. As Trish pitches in with community events, she meets paramedic Wayne Peterson, the one man who doesn't seem to judge her. She even makes friends with Jenna Regan, who helps Trish when people demand to know what's next in Trish's life. Living in New York City has been Trish's goal, but the more she's around Wayne and the Adirondack area, the more she's drawn to revising her plans. Just when Trish thinks the plan for her life's coming together, a second chance comes her way that could give her every career goal she's ever wanted, but threaten to tear her and Wayne apart. Can Trish surrender fears about her future and discover God's plan for her?

224 pages, Paperback

Published July 2, 2017

About the author

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of the contemporary romance series SURRENDERING TIME, (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged,) as well as the stand-alone novellas, MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN and RESTORING CHRISTMAS. Her other series, SURRENDERING STINKIN' THINKIN', was co-authored with her teenage daughter, Hannah. Those titles, YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL, YOU'RE AMAZING, and YOU'RE BRILLIANT, are for girls ages 10-100. Her next series, SURRENDERING HEARTS, will release in 2022 with Book 1, ANCHORED HEARTS. Julie maintains a blog at juliearduini.com and participates in the team blog Christians Read. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://linktr.ee/JulieArduini.

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaged: Surrendering the Future is a sweet romance, set in the beautiful Adirondack country of New York State. This is the third in Julie Arduini’s Surrendering Time Series. Although this novel can be read as a stand-alone, the other two books introduce readers to key characters who play a major role in this story.

Trish Maxwell returns to Speculator Falls, but she left some bitter feelings and hurting hearts in the small town when she departed for what she thought would be greener pastures in New York City. She faces a difficult battle trying to convince folks that she has changed.

The interaction between characters is delightful and realistic as they learn to forgive, see each other in a new light, and rely on faith to get them through tough times.

This novel, like the other two, centers around the small Adirondack town of Speculator Falls, a fictional town that nonetheless reminds me of Adirondack towns with which I am familiar. In fact, it was exciting to see some of those real towns named in the book! This author has skillfully woven her series around that one word, surrender, a concept we all struggle with in one way or another.

[Lorel Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you leave town without saying goodbye then come back when things don't work out in the big city back to your small hometown, it is hard to not feel like a failure. Then you pass out when you are getting lectured about what you did leaving town and everyone in the lurch without a word by a senior from the Senior Center you directed and left. Only to be helped by a cute paramedic who seems to have taken a liking to you though you don't feel you are deserving of his attention. As you try to adjust to being back home helping at your mom's store and getting to know the paramedic and his son, you start seeking God's leading as to where your future lies. Enjoy this final book in this wonderful series by an amazing author, Julie Arduini.
I received a free copy of this by the author and this is my honest opinion.

[Aurélie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trish came back from New York City with all her dreams crashed and her confidence in pieces to Speculator Falls where she hurt a lot of people in the past. She discovers that her hometown actually has a lot to offer and everything she will ever need, Wayne…
This story would be better if Trish was not constantly wallowing in self-pity. Yes, she matured and owned up to her mistakes, but the way she reacted when a new opportunity in NYC came, everybody would have taken it the way Wayne did. I don’t understand people who are as career-oriented as Trish and expect everyone else to grasp their feelings. It looked selfish to me. However, this is a beautiful story about mended relationships. Though I found the main character tiring, as a whole, I enjoyed the story and hope you will as well.

[Jaime Wiechmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaged

The title may have another meaning, but this book kept me engaged. I read it in one night and lost a lot of sleep, but as always Julie's books encouraging me to pray and think. This story about surrendering is a must read. If you've ever felt that you failed at something this is the book to get you back on your path.

[Sue Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Great christian romance! Didn't want it to end
Left you with a feel good feeling and looking forward to the next installment.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trish is back where she was a year ago working at the department store. The senior citizens are still mad, because the place closed after she left for New York. Meeting Wayne was the only good thing after fainting when Shirley was telling her what she had done. Maybe she can make amends, as they come into shop. Listening to God what his plans were for her, and maybe that will include Wayne. Good series,and a cute love story.

[Nancy Luebke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this clean romance. I received this for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I've given it a 4.5* rating. This heroine is pretty fiesty yet she learns to stand up for herself. Lots of back and forth with the hero. Add a dash of Mother Nature stiring up things, there is lots going on.

[Kara Fitzgerald]

This was an encouraging tale of a young woman trying to navigate life and figure out how to use her gifts and abilities after stepping out and finding out that what she thought she should do was not what she dreamed it would be. I could relate to her uncertainty and doubt even as others around her encouraged and supported her. It is in the middle a journey when you cannot yet see what God is doing to work all things for good that you certainly need to keep seeking Him and walking by faith. The author made this clear throughout this series with characters you were rooting for and a community that made you want to visit.