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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Charlene Gonzalez

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, never thought that I would like this book but the theme and the story captured my heart. The author did an amazing job with the character Julie.

At first, I was sobbing in tears when her brother and sister-in-law were in the accident and now she was being responsible for her niece and nephews. Who knew that she had to be responsible for her own blood and be a full parent to her brother’s kids?
What got me upset was Grant the brother and uncle of the twins. At first, I was like what does he want but then I realized that he was also the donor for his brother. Like, keep it in the family. Julie kept on doing what she had to do for her family and making sure that Grant did not get in the way.
I was sobbing when there were sad parts of Julie’s life because she was clueless about how to take care of her brothers’ kids. Love it…

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Star’s
As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist

As Though You Were Mine is a wonderfully written Women’s Fiction that will take you on quite the emotional journey. I dove into this book with the mindset that it was going to be emotional so I had kleenexes right beside me and boy am I glad I did. This is a fairly new author to me and I’m definitely interested in what else she has written. Her style of writing and attention to detail along with developed characters make for a wonderful story. This story is packed with drama, family drama, love, loss and grief plus so much more. Julie does a selfless thing and donates her eggs to her sister in law and brother who is having issues with infertility. But when tragedy strikes she finds herself with custody of four year old twins. She’s struggling trying to figure out how to raise these two kids and help them with their grief but shes grieving as well. Throw in a curve ball or two and we find our heart being pulled in several different directions. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens. Definitely have tissues and be prepared to laugh cry and go on quite the emotional rollercoaster ride. I’m looking forward to reading more from this Author.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Daryian Lucas

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5/5 stars
This book was so unique in the plot which is what grabbed my attention. It’s so well written I felt every emotion in it. From reading the synopsis I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. But it’s so entertaining in a slow burn type of way. I’m definitely rereading it because I loved it that much.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Jessie Hopkins

What a truly amazing book!
I felt for Julie as she never wanted kids and then felt underprepared and unequipped to care for her brother’s children. I found myself cheering for her during the good times and rooting her on during the rough spots.
The inter workings of most families are messy and hard, and Julie’s is all of that. Grief is hard and 4-years-olds can be a struggle, but to grieve while caring for grieving 4-year-olds is a whole different level of difficulty.
Cue in Grant, the brother of Julie’s deceased sister-in-law, who shoes up and creates his own place in Julie and the kids’ lives. Also grieving, also family, also having a stake in the children’s lives.

This book is a real page turner as you continue cheering on Julie and wanting to see her succeed as a new parent.

As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Rayne East

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Touching multilayered story
What a wonderfully touching story. From the first page, this book draws you in and holds you there right through until the end. Julie is a strong FMC and tells a very real story. The roller coaster of emotions is raw and confronting at times. The way the author draws all the threads together is commendable. Highly recommend.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Angela Hayes

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

4.5 Stars

 

As Though You Were Mine by J. Marrie Rundquist is a heartachingly good story- but in saying that, I highly recommend that you have plenty of tissues on hand before diving in- trust me, you are going to need them! Ms. Rundquist threw me into an emotional pinball machine, bouncing my emotions all over the place like crazy.
This is a superb women’s fiction story packed full of emotion, love, loss, grief, unexpected responsibility, challenges, doubts, heartache, family, twists, drama, heartwarming developments, and hope,
Julie Mercer never expected that donating her eggs so that her brother and his wife could start their family would change her life in a such an unexpected way only four short years later. A tragic accident leaves Julie with the responsibility of raising four-year-old twins, something she feels completely unprepared for. Through self-doubt, an adjustment period, challenges, heartache, angst, and a few curveballs we follow along for all the highs and lows…. and can’t help but connect and invest in everything along the way.
This is my first read from Ms. Rundquist, but it definitely won’t be my last.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, J. Marie Rundquist!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Julie Johnson

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.75 stars

Julie never wanted to be a mom but she technically became a biological mom when she donated her eggs to her brother and his wife. Sadly, Brian and Esther were killed in a car accident when their twins, Lucy and Mikey, were just four years old. Brian and Esther left guardianship of these precious souls to Aunt Julie.

Julie’s whole family questions her ability to raise these children from day 1. They offer unsolicited advice and some even go so far as to flat out tell her she has no business doing this. A knock on her door could change everything for this new little family.

Brian and Esther also used a sperm donor to create these children. Grant is the knock at the door and Julie can’t be sure of his immediate motives. Is he her to fight her for custody or is he sincere in what he says about “doing his part” with Lucy and Mikey?

I found this book a bit difficult to get into. As the story went on, it did pick up a bit but by then I was losing so much of the real story that it fell kinda flat for me. I was hoping for so much more based on the synopsis. For a good bit, it just felt like the same thing was being repeated, especially in regards to the behavior of the kids. I understand that a buildup had to occur, but this felt a little dragged out. I did appreciate the overall story, I just wish it would have picked up faster.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Lorralei Hoerner

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4 1/2 Stars

Wow, what a story….captured me right from the beginning. Gutted feelings, sadness at parts, drama, anger, love, healing and the sense of family and nurturing. I highly recommend this book…it takes you on a roller coaster of emotional highs and lows.

Julie Mercer is trying to pick up the pieces after her brother and sister in law pass away due to an accident and is now the guardian of four year old twins, Mikey and Lucy. Julie never really wanted to be a mother, but life threw her a wrench and now she is figuring everything out between balancing her job and the twins, questioning herself can she do this. Lucy throwing tantrums if things are not done “right” in her eyes and Mikey not talking at all…the trauma that these children endured has been difficult. When Grant, who is Julie’s sister in laws brother, makes an unexpected visit, Julie is not sure if there is more why he suddenly shows up.

As Julie and Grant navigate the death of her brother and his sister, they find that being there for Mikey and Lucy and for each other can be something special.

This is a great story and I highly recommend this read.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Crystal Jimmo

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. Talk about gut punches galore Batman. I started reading and I immediately had to grab some tissues. Julie does a selfless thing and donates her eggs for her brother and sister-in-law, who suffer from infertility issues. Tragedy strikes and now she has custody of these two wonderful twins. But it’s not easy going as she’s trying to get through her own grief, but also has to navigate four year olds going through their own grief. She is questioning her skills as a guardian, when another wrench is thrown into the mix. When their uncle shows up offering to help, she’s leery of him. I loved reading this story. I wanted to take Julie and just hug her the entire time, and protect her from the author, and everyone in the book. But, her growth throughout the story is impeccable.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Lucy Machard

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book had me hook, line, and sinker from the first sentence. It’s a book full of healing, coping, determination, with a sprinkle of love and a huge helping of pure tenacity from the main character. Julie really did face a lot of odds in this book, and I think what I loved about it so much was how raw and real the writing felt. It’s a book with the perfect fall aesthetic, and i just know I’m going to be re-reading it again. Highly recommend!

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by La Toya Lewis

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As Though You Were Mine is a novel by J. Marie Rundquist. This story follows Julie Mercer, a woman who has donated her eggs to her brother and sister-in-law so that they may have a family. After the couple dies in a car crash, Julie is named guardian of the 4-year-old twins. This was such a wonderful story. Following Julie, you really get to experience her plight. Julie doesn’t want to be a mother but she tries her best to provide a home for her niece and nephew. I really sympathize with Julie mourning the loss of her brother while trying to raise his children and deal with the trauma of losing their parents. When Grant enters the picture, we see them both do all that they can to give the twins a good home. I loved that Julie finally had someone in her corner. They both could relate to each other. This is such a great and complex story.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Felicia Bates

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As Though You Were Mine is not the type of novel you pick up to escape reality but it is definitely one to delve into when you want to “feel”. I was invested in the storyline and characters from the very start and loved the growth and progression throughout. The plot was deep and very well written and I adored the female main character and I liked watching the dynamic between she and her mother. That being said, I really enjoyed the intricacies shown within the entire family in this novel and how they navigated real life issues both common and uncommon. I would love to read more from this author again and highly recommend this novel.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Candice Estes

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Julie is happy with her life. She is single, has no kids, and no real wish to change anything. However, life has other plans for Julie, when she unexpectedly becomes the guardian of her twin niece and nephew after her brother and sister-in-law die unexpectedly. What Julie could never have predicted is how much this would change her life. She goes from single with minimal responsibilities to having to take care of two four year olds who are grieving and struggling to understand the changes to their lives. Mikey has stopped talking, something she is told is new, while Lucy has started throwing temper tantrums whenever things aren’t quite the way that she expects them to be or when she just can’t handle her emotions. While learning to navigate grief, family, and suddenly becoming a parent, one more curve ball comes into Julies life in the form of the children’s uncle, Grant.

This story is, at times, heart breaking and yet heartwarming. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a happily ever after, even if it there are a few wrong turns in the middle.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Angela Renee Diaz

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. It really threw me for a loop that the twins weren’t really biologically Julie’s. This book proves everything happens for a reason. Julie needed those kids and those kids needed her. I highly recommend this book.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Jennifer Crain

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book questions nature/nurture and the true meaning of family. And how families react to the decisions of the recently deceased. Julie and Grant unexpectedly gain each other as well as 4 year old twins. I enjoyed the kids’ reactions to the trauma they have experienced, because I felt it was realistic. Touching moments occur throughout the book. I personally didn’t care for the ending (but i am really picky about book endings).

This was my first novel I read by this author, and looking forward to reading All I’m Asking. My go to genre is psychological thriller or mystery, so As Though You Were Mine was a refreshing read of more “normal” humans than my typical.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As Though You Were Mine is a heartwarming story that centers around the character of Julie who has just learned that her brother and sister-in-law have both passed away in a car accident. She is surprised to learn that she was named as guardian of their four-year-old twins, Lucy, and Mikey. Julie has vowed to remain single and therefore feels ill equipped and unprepared to raise children. Julie is determined to make the best of the situation and feels a sense of obligation to the children not just because they are her niece and nephew but because she is, in a sense, their mom. When Julie learned that her brother and sister-in-law were unable to have children of their own, she donated her eggs to them. Biologically speaking, she is, in a sense, their mom.

Enter Grant, who is her deceased sister-in-law’s brother and who was the sperm donor. He also feels a sense of obligation towards Lucy and Mikey as their biological father. Julie and Grant enter into a partnership to raise the children as their own. A situation that proves to be complicated for numerous reasons. Lucy and Mikey are suffering from the loss of their parents, and it is affecting their behavior. Mikey has night terrors and has not spoken since the accident. Lucy acts out and has temper tantrums. Julie’s family feels that she is not the best person to raise her niece and nephew and feel that her sister would be a better fit. Her relationship with her family is a bit strained and this risks creating more tension within the family. And then there’s Grant, who Julie feels a connection to and finds herself attracted to. Will Julie’s family stand by her decision to raise her niece and nephew? Is there any chance of a relationship between Julie and Grant?

This book drew me in from the first pages when Julie’s estranged brother and his wife passed away in a car accident. The storyline was heart wrenching, and the characters were lovable and relatable. Julie stayed true to herself and stood by her choices. She was smart, strong, determined, loving, and kind. The emotions that Julie experienced were real, raw, and overwhelming. She loved her brother and always hoped that somehow, they could mend the rift that had come between them and have a close sibling relationship. That chance was ripped away from her when he passed away. The strained relationship she had with her parents and sister became even more strained when they told her that her sister would be the better choice as guardian to her niece and nephew. My heart broke for poor Julie because she really had little to no support from those around her. Nobody felt confident in her ability to raise children. However, she was determined to raise her niece and nephew to the best of her ability and provide them with a loving and supportive home environment. When Grant enters the picture Julie finds someone who loves her, supports her, and is there for her and the children. As Grant and Julie navigate the struggles of sudden parenthood, they find support in each other as well as unexpected romance. This book was an emotional rollercoaster ride full of tragedy, grief, loss, sadness, anger, betrayal, family dynamics, hope, romance, love, and forgiveness. I highly recommend this book!

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Kerry Carr

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow this book was such an emotional read. It was so hard reading all the struggles and fights that Julie had to go through but her strength was amazing.
When Julie donated her eggs to allow her brother and sister in law to become parents she only ever imagine she would be an aunty and she was happy with that. She never really wanted her own kids so helping them seemed the perfect idea.
That is until a accident took them away and left Julie as legal guardian to four year old twins.
From that moment on Julie’s life is turned upside down and inside out. As well as dealing with her own grief she now has to learn how to take care of and help 2 little people who struggle just as much from the loss of their parents.
Julie struggles to manage everything, the kids, the grief, her job with an inflexible boss everything is one struggle after another and more than once Julie wonders if she is good enough and whether her brother and sister made the right choice in selecting her to care for their children.
When the children’ uncle Grant turns up offering to help Julie isn’t as happy as she thought she would be. Does he have another reason for wanting to be around? Does he think he is going to take those kids away from her?
It’s the Julie realises that she has to fight for those babies harder than anything she has ever fought for in her life. Even when everyone including her parents doubt her abilities to raise these kids she is determined to prove them all wrong.

I loved Julie’s growth through this story and as she learns to think like a parent you see her fight appear when it comes to being the best parent she can be for those children no matter what anyone else’s opinion is.

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Jules Herbert

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just WOW!! You are immediately drawn into this book right from the very start with a huge life changing event and you are held captive by this amazing authors talented writing and powerful storyline. Be ready to feel a rollercoaster of emotions as you turn each page of this must read book! this book will pull your heartstrings but you don’t want to miss it!

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Shelly Kittell

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful story. Julie becomes the guardian of her 4-year old niece and nephew after her brother and his wife’s passing. She donated her eggs so they could have children which makes this even more beautiful. First, I loved the writing. This is a hard situation that you could feel in the writing. Death of a loved one, especially an estranged loved one, is hard. You can feel the pain, the loss and all the emotions from the family left behind. Your heartbreaks for the kids. Second, you rejoice as Julie and the kids begin to work out and adjust to their new living situation. This also brings the extended family back together. It’s kind of nice to see this happen. I felt tears well up as Julie called the wife’s family and they didn’t really show interest in seeing the grandchildren any more. Raising one of mine makes me wonder why, other than grief this is. We find out later that their son helped create the children also. Third, watching Julie and Grant develop was an absolute treat. That felt natural. Yes, it takes time. I do have to say it’s so much better than seeing her with the other. It also allows a piece of mama’s family to be there. This is one of the best pieces of family fiction that I have read this year and if I were allowed to give it more than 5 stars I would. Bravo!

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Tonya Merritt

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book got me all the way to the end where it made me angry in the surprise twist. Ugh. And I mean that very loud and obnoxiously. No, in seriousness it was a great book, and had all the proper feelings. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry. I do wish I learned more about Mikey but it wasn’t a necessity for the story. Definitely recommend, keep tissues close by though!

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Jenni Bishop

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
What a tale. Tissues please.
As Though You Were Mine will have you all twisted up in knots. I am glad I scooped it up to read.
You can’t help but fall in love with the MC. She is real and goes through so much heartache, J. Marie Rundquist certainly put her through her paces.
Julie did the one selfless thing she could do for her family that was supposed to last a lifetime. Now that lifetime had gone after a horrendous tragedy. Julie finds herself scared and desperate and, in a situation, where she never thought she would be, but two adorable little ones now depend on her for everything.
Will her life once again be turned upside down when another enters her life? To find out make sure you get on board and read it today!
There is fear, passion, hope, love, wonder and forgiveness and way much more in this heartfelt tale. I was so drawn into the story that I kept turning the page to get to see what was happening. I could not put it down.
This is one book that should be on everyone’s TBR list at the very top.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist

📙 •☕️ •📘 ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ 📙 •☕️ •📘 ~
As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
Genre – Women’s Fiction
Page Count – 356

Julie Mercer donated her eggs to help her brother and sister-in-law conceive via in-vitro fertilization, never expecting a few years later, she would have to take full responsibility for those children after they lose their parents in a car accident.

Julie never wanted kids of her own, and now she suddenly needs to make room in her small apartment for four-year-old twins who thrust additional challenges at her as they work through their grief and trauma. With Lucy throwing intense tantrums and Mikey not talking at all, Julie doubts her ability to raise her niece and nephew as her own.

When Grant, the twins’ uncle–and also their biological father–shows up at her door, he says he wants to help, but is he sincere? Or does he have a hidden agenda to fight for custody? With her family also questioning her role as guardian and her job on the line in the face of an inflexible boss as she deals with the sudden life changes, Julie must determine whether her brother and sister-in-law really did make the best decision by entrusting their kids to her.

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  1. Marie Rundquist believes a day isn’t complete without time spent reading. Stories she loves best–to read and to write–feature characters from all walks of life who learn from one another. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find J. Marie exploring all the K-12 public education world has to offer through teaching, learning, and supporting others in their educational roles. 

In spite of trying to live in other parts of the U.S., J. Marie accepted her fate and now embraces six-month winters in Minnesota, showing off photos of hiking in sub-zero temperatures. She lives in the Twin Cities with her family, two cats, and a never-ending supply of Dr. Pepper.

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📙 •☕️ •📘 ~ PREORDER ~ 📙 •☕️ •📘 ~
As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
Genre – Women’s Fiction
Page Count – 356

Julie Mercer donated her eggs to help her brother and sister-in-law conceive via in-vitro fertilization, never expecting a few years later, she would have to take full responsibility for those children after they lose their parents in a car accident.

Julie never wanted kids of her own, and now she suddenly needs to make room in her small apartment for four-year-old twins who thrust additional challenges at her as they work through their grief and trauma. With Lucy throwing intense tantrums and Mikey not talking at all, Julie doubts her ability to raise her niece and nephew as her own.

When Grant, the twins’ uncle–and also their biological father–shows up at her door, he says he wants to help, but is he sincere? Or does he have a hidden agenda to fight for custody? With her family also questioning her role as guardian and her job on the line in the face of an inflexible boss as she deals with the sudden life changes, Julie must determine whether her brother and sister-in-law really did make the best decision by entrusting their kids to her.

~ FACEBOOK ~ INSTAGRAM ~ BOOKBUB ~ TWITTER ~ GOODREADS ~ YOUTUBE ~ NEWSLETTER ~

 ~WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ PINTEREST ~ YOUTUBE ~ INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK GROUP ~ TIKTOK ~