Book Review: Family by Design, But Subject to Change Without Notice by Heather Justesen

My Review:

Although I have an autographed copy of Family by Design from the author, that--plus the beautiful cover--does not influence my review. What does influence my review are the tears I shed, along with my admiration for the author's writing ability.

In Family by Design, Heather Justesen creates real-life characters a reader can care about, fret about, and cry about. I find myself thinking about characters, Rena and Tucker, and Derek and McKenzie, throughout my day, and choking up throughout the book, as I fall in love which each one. Because Justesen writes characters in their settings so well, I feel transformed almost to the point of believing I can walk out my door, get in my car, and drive to Cohen Company and find Rena at her desk ready to show me paint chips and walk me through her showroom. That's good writing.

The worst thing about Justesen's writing is that she makes me wish Rena and Tucker, and their little family, are real. Creating characters who feel that real goes beyond writing just good characterization; it takes writing effective, true to life, tension. I find that kind of tension in the turmoil that twists and manipulates Rena and Tucker's lives, and makes her anxious to succeed and him desperate to survive. Tension might be what Justesen writes best.

As much as I love everything I've read by Justesen, Family by Design is my favorite. The well-designed plot in this novel--based on Rena's ability to design a family as well as she designs the houses and hotels of her day job--leaves me enraptured, possibly due to the romantic suspense that constantly questions, even up until the final page of the novel, whether or not this couple's platonic relationship will bloom into true love, and whether or not their friendship can make the jump to being "in love". Plot is another aspect of Justesen's writing that might rival for the #1 spot of what she writes best.

Plot, setting, tension, characterization, high conflict, high emotion...Justesen's novel has it all. Besides being enjoyable, it's a lesson for writers in training, like me.

Congratulations, Heather! Can't wait to read your next work!

Cover Blurb:

Before he could think better of it, he blurted out, “I understand your concerns. I’m going to speak to my commander about getting an early discharge. My girlfriend, Rena, and I have talked about getting married. There just hasn’t been any rush.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wondered what he was thinking. Yes, they had discussed marriage, but not to each other! He and Rena had never even dated.


Tucker’s on his way to the biggest challenge of his life. Rena already has it all—except a family of her own. But neither one expected their friendship would take such a dramatic turn.

When Tucker becomes the guardian of his newly orphaned niece and nephew, he knows he can’t handle them alone, not when he might be shipped out with the Marines at any moment. Desperate, he turns to Rena for a major favor. His marriage proposal would give her everything she wants, but can she learn to live without the romance she’s always dreamed of?

As time, prayer, and a life-changing kiss work a little magic in her heart, Rena wonders if someone up there has a plan for her that’s better than anything she could’ve come up with on her own. And though it seems crazy at first, this could become her chance for a marriage that will last for eternity.




Also, as a special promotion for anyone who buys a book before January 31, you can get a free ebook for her companion novella, “Shear Luck.” Once you buy a copy of her book go here (link) to get your free copy. http://www.heatherjustesen.com/shear-luck


As if that weren’t enough, Heather’s holding a host of giveaways on her blog throughout the next few weeks, see the rules at the bottom of this post to enter.





Here’s the blurb for Shear Luck:



Chelsea Robison has never forgotten the older boy next door whom she crushed on as a teen, so when she runs into him at the restaurant he’s preparing to open, it’s a delightful shock. And learning he’s available again is more than a little tantalizing.


Vaughn Krenshaw had never seen his neighbor as more than a nice kid—but Chelsea had definitely grown up in the decade since they saw each other last. He’s attracted to the feisty red head, but still struggles over his wife’s death the previous year. And then there’s his five-year-old daughter, Molly, who really liked Chelsea—until she realized the woman was dating her dad.


As Chelsea starts to wonder if their love for each other will be enough to make things work, a specter from Vaughn’s past rises, making her question whether she really knew him at all.


Below is the blog tour schedule:

Wednesday, Jan. 18 Nichole Giles http://starcrossedbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Thursday, Jan. 19 Liz Adair http://sezlizadair.blogspot.com/

Friday, Jan. 20 Susan Dayley http://susandayley.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/family-by-design/

Saturday, Jan. 21 Keith Fisher http://knfisher.blogspot.com/

Monday, Jan. 23 Robbin Peterson http://writingrobbin.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, Jan. 24 Julie Bellon http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-review-family-by-design.html

Wednesday, Jan. 25 Cindy Hogan http://cindymhogan.blogspot.com/

Thursday, Jan. 26 Rebecca Talley http://www.rebeccatalleywrites.blogspot.com/

Friday, Jan. 27 Kathleen Brebes

Saturday, Jan. 28 Debbie Davis http://debbiesinkspectations.blogspot.com/

Monday, Jan. 30 Maria Hoaglund http://mariahoagland.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, Jan. 31 Tristi Pinkston http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, Feb. 1 Joann Arnold http://www.authorjoann.blogspot.com/

Thursday, Feb. 2 Christine Bryant http://christinebryant.blogspot.com/

Friday, Feb. 3 Rebecca Blevins http://rebeccablevinswrites.blogspot.com/

Saturday, Feb. 4 Mindy Holt http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/





a Rafflecopter giveaway




Info on Heather:

Heather Justesen
Award-winning LDS author
Blank Slate, released May 2011
www.HeatherJustesen.com
www.heatherJustesen.blogspot.com