AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Baxter Family novels—now a TV series—comes a heart-wrenching and redemptive story about a couple desperately waiting to bring their adopted child home and a young mother about to make the biggest decision of her life—a story about love, faith, and what it really means to be a family.
Cole Blake, son of Landon and Ashley Baxter Blake, is months away from going off to college to kickstart the great plan he has been dreaming about for years—a career in medicine. But as he starts his final semester of school he meets Elise, a mysterious new girl who captures his attention—and heart—from day one.
Elise has her heart set on mending her wild ways and becoming the good girl she used to be. But not long after the semester starts, she discovers she’s pregnant. Eighteen and alone, she shares her secret with Cole. Undaunted by the news, and in love for the first time in his life, Cole is determined to support Elise—even if it means skipping college so he can marry her and raise another man’s baby.
When Elise decides to give the baby up for adoption, she is matched with Aaron and Lucy Williams, who moved to Bloomington, Indiana, in the hope of escaping the loss and emptiness that seven painful years of trying to start a family has brought them.
But as her due date draws near, Elise becomes more and more torn. She knows she has two weeks after the birth of her daughter to change her mind. With Cole keeping vigil and Lucy and Aaron waiting to welcome their new baby, Elise makes an unexpected decision—one that changes everyone’s plans.
Let me take a moment to tell you, if you have never, ever read a book by Karen Kingsbury, you need to remedy that right now. Right here,with this novel. With this novel, you will feel every. Single. Emotion. Every. Single. One. You will need 10 boxes of tissues, and a quiet, peaceful room to reflect after. Karen Kingsbury takes all that she has prayed about, all that God lays on her heart, puts her words to paper and delivers a novel that sends out hope and inspiration.
Once again, we get a glimpse into another Baxter family member. This time, it’s Cole’s story. Cole has been a long time favorite of mine since way back when, when I read Redemption for the first. In this book, however, he’s all grown up, about to graduate and has met the beautiful Elise.
Elise is beautifully chiseled. I loved her character from the start, seeing a lot of myself in her. She’s going through a rough spot in life, and not a lot of hope that it will happen when she gets dealt an unexpected hand. I loved how Ms. Kingsbury chiseled her, making her beautifully flawed and just right for her part in the story. Add to the story, two amazing couples, and this story will take you on the enormous roller coaster of highs and lows.
This story is beautifully emotional, magnificently gripping, heart wrenching-ly inspiring. God is felt from start to finish, and with 5 stars, and two thumbs up, this novel is highly recommended by me. There is a powerful message of what unconditional love means, and never losing sight of what’s right in front of you. Two Weeks to make one of the biggest decision of your life. Is it something you could do? Grab this novel now and find out.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, Howard Books and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Reading updates
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Started reading
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8 April, 2019:
Finished reading
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8 April, 2019:
Reviewed