Ante Up! (Aggie's Inheritance)

I read the first three books in this series as they came out as someone who loves kids I was drawn to the story line and I also loved the name "Aggie" for the main character. So I was excited to hear that years later I would get to read a continuation of Aggie's story. I have to admit it was weird transitioning to Aggie already having one biological child and all of her nieces and nephews being so much older but the story picked back up and I quickly remembered how quirky the kids were and how much I loved Luke. However, I also soon realized that pregnant Aggie was very different than the Aggie I grew to love in the first three books. But even though I didn't love pregnant Aggie I did love that the author so well portrayed how hormones can change how a person acts and feels. And I really appreciated the honesty that was given to the hard times in life when you don't even know how to pray. I also liked how even though they didn't mean to both Aggie and Luke made mistakes but figured out how to move past those mistakes and still loved each other just as much.

The first three books made me laugh more than this one did but I found humor in this one too. I loved so many of the conversations between the kids and the adults in this book. I love how honest kids are and how they don't even realize how funny they are. This book focuses a lot on pregnancy including the mental, emotional and physical side effects of it and for me focused on it too much. Maybe because it is Mother's Day weekend and my inability to get pregnant is heavy on my heart but I felt overwhelmed with how much of the book was about pregnancy. I was also overwhelmed by how she treated her husband during her pregnancy. I'm sure that it is very common for pregnancy to get the best of women but it saddened me to see it portrayed the way it was in this book. I missed the Aggie and Luke from earlier books.

Overall this was a good read. It kind of felt like a whole book for an epilogue instead of just a few pages which was fun for a change. Aggie and Luke are still two of my favorite Havig characters.

This book was provided to me by the author and Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.

Maybe its just me, but when I see someone in the midst of a hardship, I often wonder what I would do in their spot...What I've learned personally is that you just don't know until you are there. Unfortunately, hardships happen for everyone, and this includes Aggie. In Ante Up! (the 4th in the Aggie's Inheritance series), Aggie has just returned to her home with Luke and her family after being gone for a month, and almost immediately finds herself in a situation that catches her completely off guard. Ante Up! is the story of how she responds... and how her responses impact the family she loves so much. While surprised that she doesn't respond as I would have expected her to, this story is completely believable- I loved reading about her journey through this hardship and about how her family responds as well. It was fun to catch up with some of my favorite characters from Chautona Havig, and to see them learning and growing. I'm already anxious for the next book in the series to find out what happens next!!!

Enjoyed the real life angst of a woman who is overwhelmed by life. Aggie is a great character and I recommend you read books 1-3 first, so you come to know everyone. Christian writing at it's best.

Funny and heartwarming, Aggie gives us hope and reminds us that grace truly overcomes. This delightful tale finds Aggie, with her eight children inherited from her sister, her own child, and a child on the way, struggling with her faith and trying to find God when she feels overwhelmed. A reminder that in the middle of life happening, despite chaos and confusion, God is always there for us.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked her writing style and how, I believe, she includes a little of her personality in her characters. I'm going to go back and read the others in the Aggie Series and anxiously await the next release!

This book is amazing! I loved the first 3 books in the Aggie series and #4 does not disappoint! Aggie is pregnant with her 2nd child in this book and the emotions that she goes through are very real! If you have ever been pregnant and had things not go your way, you will totally relate to Aggie in this book. Luke (her husband) just takes it all in stride, but also goes through his own struggles. To see how the 2 of them react differently to their large family with the new addition on the way is very inspiring. You must know that you have God to lean on and they will learn that throughout this book (sometimes the hard way!). You won't want to miss reading this great book in the Aggie series. To get this book free as a pre-reader, I was delighted to give my review of it. Yes, it is completely different than the first 3 books. In this story, Aggie really becomes more human to me and she will to you too. Ms. Havig does not disappoint in the 4th book of the series. Take my advice and go ahead and re-read the first 3 of the series first to get a handle on the family dynamics before delving into this book - you will be glad you did!

Ante Up - Aggie's Inheritance Book 4 begins as Luke and Aggie are continuing to raise their 8 nieces and nephews along with their son, Ronnie. Aggie is pregnant with their second child. Their home is hit with vandalism and the family feels violated, but Aggie pushes on and is excited with her birth plan of a home delivery with a midwife. All of her plans come crashing down as her body defies her. Her response is not at all what you expect from Aggie. Her deep faith is shattered and she becomes bitter and angry with how things are going. Will Aggie allow the valley she finds herself in to take away everyone and everything she holds dear? Get a copy now to find out!
This book is well written and a nice continuation of the series and it definitely did not disappoint.
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Aggie has had a few years under her belt of being a mother to her 8 adopted nieces and nephews. She and her husband Luke have had a son, and she is pregnant with her second child. She has been meeting with her midwife and is diligently preparing for her special home birth. Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned.
This is a difficult pregnancy for Aggie, and she finds herself struggling – physically, mentally, and spiritually. She feels isolated from her family, and from God.
I really enjoyed this book. It was different from the others, as it shows a completely different side of Aggie. A human side. When I read the first book, although I really enjoyed it, I didn’t see how a woman could adjust so well to suddenly “inheriting” 8 children; losing not only her sister, but her plans and expectations for her life. I mean, I know this is a fictional character. ;-) But there is no way I’d handle that even a fraction as well as Aggie. This book shows us the side of her that struggles with life’s challenges. The side I can relate to. :-)

In some instances it was a difficult book to read – the struggles Aggie goes through are really hard, especially spiritually. But I did enjoy reading it, and I’m glad I did.

(I was given a free copy of this book for my honest review, and I honestly enjoyed it!)