About the Book
Book: Moments We Forget
Author: Beth Vogt
Genre: Contemporary fiction, woman’s fiction
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Jillian Thatcher has spent most of her life playing the family peacemaker, caught in the middle between her driven, talented older sister and her younger, spotlight-stealing twin sisters. Then on the night of her engagement party, a cancer diagnosis threatens to once again steal her chance to shine. Now, Jillian’s on the road to recovery after finally finishing chemo and radiation, but residual effects of the treatment keep her from reclaiming her life as she’d hoped. And just when her dreams might be falling into place, a life-altering revelation from her husband sends her reeling again. Will Jillian ever achieve her own dreams, or will she always be “just Jillian,” the less-than Thatcher sister? Can she count on her sisters as she tries to step into a stronger place, or are they stuck in their childhood roles forever?
Click here to purchase your copy.
My Perspective
Let me start by saying how sorry I am that I did not read the first book in this series! Not because I felt lost in this one, because I didn’t at all. Vogt does a wonderful job of putting little back stories here and there to catch a new reader up. BUT I feel like had I read book one first, my emotions probably would have been even more heightened (and at times they were pretty high!). So my first recommendation to you is start at the beginning. I think it’ll be worth it.
This book as so much emotion in it. While I don’t have any sisters, I was still able to find a little connection with each sister, because essentially they all remind me of people in my life. And yes, I do argue with these people from time to time. That’s what people with differing personalities tend to do from time to time. The Thatcher sisters still loved each other, and would help each other out if needed. They just needed to reach a point where they were comfortable laying their burdens out. Galatians 6:2 tells us to “Bear ye one another’s burdens”, and this was one of the hard lessons these sisters had to learn.
The part of the story line that intrigued me the most was Payton’s walk with the Lord. She was so raw and honest with her thought process. She truly wanted to make sure that she wasn’t starting a relationship with God for Pepper, or Zach. She needed to make sure she was doing it for herself. That statement is such an inspiration to me as a reader. It’s something I think our young people today need to hear. God doesn’t want you to seek Him to please other people. At the same time, Payton realizes that God is patient. And oh, is He ever patient! He didn’t want her rushing into a decision either, and so He gave her little seeds here and there, and allowed her the freedom and time to sort it all out on her own. I may have loved the drama, the relationships, the mix of emotions while I was reading this book, but this – this is what I loved the most.
Vogt certainly has a way with writing relationships. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the redemption. Jillian’s own journey about having children in her future just about put me to tears. I can’t really expand on that anymore to avoid spoilers, but the way Vogt wrote that story line was a surprise to me. I did not at all expect what came to be between Jillian and her husband. I better stop talking before I give it away 🙂
This book, no this series is a must read. I will definitely be going back to book one (shame on me for even missing it!), and look forward to the next release. Hopefully you will be too! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About the Author
Beth K. Vogt is a nonfiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A women’s fiction novelist, Beth’s first novel for Tyndale House Publishers, Things I Never Told You, released May 2018.
Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA® finalist. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publishers Weekly‘s Best Books of 2014. A November Bride was part of the Year of Wedding series by Zondervan. Having authored nine contemporary romance novels or novellas, Beth believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us.
An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Novel Rocket and also enjoys speaking to writers’ groups and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com.
More from Beth
“A sister is like yourself in a different movie, a movie that stars you in a different life.”
Deborah Tannen (1945-), sociologist
I’m launching Moments We Forget, book two in the Thatcher Sisters series, and I’ve just turned in the final book in the series. I’d love to share book three’s title with you, but I don’t know what it is. (Of course, book three might have a final title by the time you read this—that’s part of the fun of prerelease deadlines.)
One thing I do know: the theme of “Little Women gone wrong” is woven through all of the books . . . thanks to the Thatcher sisters: Payton, Pepper, Jillian, and Johanna.
Sisters, be they real or imaginary, can be complicated.
Of course, there are sisters who have close relationships. They “get” each other and love doing life together.
But then there are the sister relationships that are like mismatched socks. Or those expensive jeans you loved in the store, but when you bring them home, they never quite live up to those moments in the dressing room.
Such are the Thatcher sisters. Johanna, Jillian, Payton, and Pepper grew up in the same family. They’re all tall. They love Broncos football and board games. But in so many ways their lives are like different movies because they each made different choices. Choices that changed and separated them. Moments We Forgetcontinues to explore whether the Thatcher sisters can find a way to understand each other enough to bridge the distance between them.
Blog Stops
Livin’ Lit, May 7
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 7
The Power of Words, May 7
Among the Reads, May 8
Carpe Diem, May 8
Quiet Quilter, May 8
Wishful Endings, May 9
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, May 9
Simple Harvest Reads, May 10 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Remembrancy, May 10
God’s Little Bookworm, May 11
Just the Write Escape, May 11
Spoken from the Heart, May 12
Splashes of Joy, May 12
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 12
Through the Fire Blogs, May 13
Genesis 5020, May 13
By The Book, May 13
Bigreadersite, May 14
A Baker’s Perspective, May 14
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 14
Pause for Tales, May 15
Moments, May 15
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, May 15
All-of-a-kind Mom, May 16
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 16
Texas Book-aholic, May 16
janicesbookreviews, May 17
Living Life Free in Christ, May 17
To Everything A Season, May 17
Real World Bible Study, May 18
Older & Smarter?, May 18
A Reader’s Brain, May 18
Inklings and notions, May 19
Hallie Reads, May 19
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 19
Godly Book Reviews, May 20
The Becca Files, May 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 20
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Beth is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card plus a softcover copy of Moments We Forget!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e26d/moments-we-forget-celebration-tour-giveaway
Great review! I loved this book.
This is an unforgettable reading experience.
Sounds good.
This book sounds like a really fantastic read.
The first book was great so Moments We Forget is a must read for me. I have to find out what happens with the Thatcher sisters.
Great review! I fully agree that the first book needs to be read before this one. While you CAN read it as a stand-alone, there’s soo much important backstory to the girls’ history that it gives it all a whole extra dose of understanding and emotion.
I would love to read Jillian’s story. Sounds like she is on a hard journey.