When You Knew (The Cabots, #3)

by Jamie Beck

[Lynn]

There was a huge pull for me to read Gentry Cabot's story after I read All We Knew. I'm always drawn to characters who don't naturally conform to how people expect them to act and behave. However, underneath her rebellious nature is a young woman looking for what most of us want in life; a happy settled and loving family life.

One night in Portland is all it takes to change Gentry's life as she knows it forever. A son born to a man she knows only as 'Smith' is all the information she knows about her baby's father. Still, life goes on; albeit with pressure from her family to bring up her child as they think fit. When her tiny tot is unwell, an unlikely hero walks into her life and agrees to help her out for a short time, only the arrangement impacts them both far more than either would have predicted.

EMT and humanitarian worker Ian Crawford only flew back from Haiti to remove his belongings from his ex-girlfriend's home. When he gets a call from a friend of his mom's, he's happy to help out. With the additional opportunity to earn some money; to buy his flight ticket back to continue his aid work. It's a lucky and mutually beneficial arrangement. Only, his time spent looking after baby Colt and getting to know his mom makes him review his life choices when he's confronted about the reasons for doing what he does.

As different as chalk and cheese, Gentry and Ian are an unlikely couple, but they are well matched and thrive together. Both have difficult issues to deal with yet somehow manage to help one another to come to terms with their past by offering contrasting viewpoints even when the outcome could be detrimental to the one giving advice. They are far from perfect, but who are? Seeing Gentry take control of her life and looking at the bigger picture with regards to her son's upbringing; I applaud her decision to track down the father of her baby against the advice of her own mother. The Gentry we see at the end is unlike the woman who unintentionally hurt her brother and sister-in-law. She's matured as her family all realise how their intertwined pasts have had a negative impact not only on Gentry but themselves too.

As always, Ms Beck offers a truly inspiring and well-written novel with heartfelt emotions. Any mum will totally understand and empathise with Gentry as she stubbornly tries to juggle the responsibility of caring for her newborn. It's cringe-worthy, funny and an honest reading. The reader is instantly enveloped within the narrative as the protagonists from contrasting worlds meet. Gentry and Ian are supported by equally realistic and relatable secondary characters. Those who have read the other novels in the series will be reunited with those they have met previously. However, this novel can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading these too.

A wonderful finale to the Cabot Trilogy.

***arc generously received courtesy of Montlake Romance via NetGalley***