I was fortunate enough to get an early copy of Need You Now by Beth Wiseman. I didn’t know what to expect since this was Beth’s first non-Amish contemporary. I'm so used to reading her great Amish novels. Need You Now did not disappoint.

This story has an average American family moving to a new town where every character has some kind of struggle or another. Each chapter made me think about what I would do if I had their challenges to deal with. People face problems in all kinds of ways, and I was happy to see that these folks relied on the power of prayer.

Darlene is a great wife to her husband Brad, and she is a loving Mom to her three children. When things start going wrong in the lives of the people Darlene loves,  as well as in her own life, what does she do for answers? Her daughter Grace, who Dad says is "always a good girl...” is coping with her problems in a dangerous way.    I loved the secondary characters in this story—Darlene’s best friend and Grace's best friend. Very colorful characters to say the least. Layla, who is the Hendersons' neighbor, captures Darlene's heart…and she totally captured mine.

Brad is 'The Rock' of the Henderson clan. A CPA who loves his wife and children and is completely devoted to them. When things go wrong in his family, the real human side of Brad comes out. He wants to put an end to the problems that attack the family he cherishes, but finds that it’s not an easy task.  Brad is a great provider, sensitive to the people around him, and a great listener.  You'll see he is always trying to do the right thing, given the challenging circumstances he faces.

This book has a lot of mystery in it, and you’ll be tempted to read it all in one sitting. I was always wondering what was going to happen next! There is nothing phony about this story, it’s very ‘real life’.   Beth does a super job describing Round Top, Texas, with the scenery outdoors, the heat, and small town living. Beth can take something small like old jewelry in the story and make real significance out of it.

This book will grab the reader's attention and beautifully touch hearts whether you are a man or a woman. It has a tremendous, tremendous ending to it.  I will admit it...I pulled my reading glasses off and cried a couple of times. There is much thought and intelligence that the writer invested in this well-done masterpiece. I absolutely loved reading this story, which is SO typical of Beth's work. Yes, you will see how divine guidance is a real benefactor for sure here! A must read.

Thanks Beth Wiseman and thanks everyone for reading my review!

Truly,
Larry Knopick