Product Description Do I have a child? Julia DeSmit knew she would face the question eventually, but she didn’t expect it now. At twenty-four, she is finally content with the way her life has unfolded. A single mother to her son and young brother, she works at the local grocery store while chipping away at a two-year degree. All her free time is spent with her unorthodox family—her boys, her grandmother, and her boyfriend of five years. It’s not perfect, but Julia is happier than ever.
So when she receives the cryptic e-mail from her son’s father, Julia’s world is turned upside down. She hasn’t heard from Parker since he left her in a college parking lot nearly six years ago. But one look at her son—the spitting image of his father—is enough to convince her that, for better or worse, Parker is a part of their story. Faced with this new reality and an unexpected tragedy, Julia begins a tightrope walk between what was and what is, what she hopes for and what will be.
My take on this book:
Julia Desmit is a 24 year old single mom, who with the help of her grandmother manages to take care of her five year old son Daniel, and her ten year old half brother Simon. Living in the old farmhouse on her grandmothers farm is often crowded but Julia knows its family that matters. In a long distance relationship with her boyfriend Michael, she hopes to one day be his wife.
When she receives an email from Parker Holt, asking her the one question she dreads answering, does he have a child? She decides to answer him truthfully, when he decides he wants to meet his son, she has one condition, they wont tell Daniel who he is, instead saying he is Julia's old friend. There is an instant connection between the boys and Parker, and soon Julia finds herself relying on him as well!
When Michael finally proposes, she realizes changes will have to be made. Can she leave her grandmother. Will Simon want to move with her, how does she disassemble her family, and she isn't sure she even wants to. One things for sure, Parker is slowly becoming a huge part of Daniel and Simon's life, how will he fit in the picture once she is married?
All I can say is WOW! I loved this story. The author paints a vivid picture of the struggles a single mother faces. Luckily Julia had her wonderful Christian grandmother Nellie, for support. Daniel was written as a cute but boisterous child who was all boy, while Simon, although loved, and wanted by his family, never really felt like he belonged. He held out hope that his mom would come back on day, and actually Julia wanted her mother as well. Even though Julia didn't disclose to the boys that Parker was Daniels father, both boys bonded to him immediately, but with Michael, someone who had been in their lives for five years there wasn't a connection. As the boys start spending more time with Parker, it becomes obvious to Julia that Michael is releived that he wont have to be a father figure to the boys. It was easy to imagine the dilemma Julia faced if she married Michael. When she finally realized that God had shown her the path she needed to take, the choices just fell into place for her, allowing her family unit to become stronger.
I found this book to be the perfect contemporary christian fiction read. The characters could easily be your neighbors, with the problems being so realistic, and the blended lifestyles typical of todays families.I liked that Julia wasn't perfect, she juggled mother hood, her job at a grocery store, and night school with the help of her grandmother, they worked as a team.
This book drew me in from the first pages becoming a story I couldn't put down. I am anxious to read more from this new to me author.
Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This story sounds interesting, hadn't heard of it before will definatly check it out.
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