Genre
Audience
Adult
Author’s Worldview
Catholic
Year Published
2016
Themes
Reviewed by
M.S. Ocampo
Katherine “Kate” Middleton (not to be mistaken for the Duchess of Cambridge)’s life changes with a single phone call from a woman she has never met. The man she thought was her husband has a whole different life apart from her, including another wife and kids. Her marriage is not even valid.
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Get Weekly Catholic Books for as little as $1
Longing to escape this false life and start fresh, Kate leases a house on Chincoteague Island, off the coast of Virginia. She takes on a new job writing for the local paper, a step up from selling advertisement space for a Washington D.C. magazine. Kate quickly makes friends within the Chincoteague community. Sparks start flying between her and Aaron Kelly, a member of the Coast Guard.
Unfortunately, Kate quickly discovers that she’s pregnant with her ex-husband’s baby. She never considers abortion as an option, in spite of not being religious. However, she avoids the responsibility of telling her former husband about it until well into the pregnancy.
Motherhood brings on many new responsibilities. Lucky for Kate, the people of Chincoteague Bay as well as her family are ready to help her. Even her brother, who has been on tour with the Army, eventually arrives to help her out. But Kate still has to face the responsibility of telling her former husband and dealing with whatever consequences come from it.
A few interesting subplots revolve around the burdens other characters are carrying. One of Kate’s friends deals with single motherhood and the stigma of being married to a man who ended up murdered. Kate’s brother and Aaron Kelly are both processing major trauma from the time they served in the military. The story has an overall theme of everyone having skeletons in their closets, but being able to overcome their pasts with the help of a supportive community.
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Get Weekly Catholic Books for as little as $1
I would recommend this novel for fans of Lifetime movie dramas as well as Hallmark Channel’s romantic comedies. Kate starts out not being a religious person, but finds comfort in the local Catholic community. This novel also handles themes of past trauma in a very relatable way.
Join Here for FREE to Never Miss a Deal
Find new favorites & Support Catholic Authors
Relic of His Heart by Jane Lebak
An atheist midwife has no idea what she’s in for when she makes a deal with an angel.
The Needle of Avocation by G.M. Baker
A match no one wants, except perhaps the groom. A mystery that could destroy everything.
Rachel’s Contrition by Michelle Buckman
After the loss of her child, Rachel goes insane but she must pull her mind back together to solve a murder and save her own life.
Hold Fast By Spencer K.M. Brown
Will a small rowboat on Lake Superior awaken the stalled lives of a father and son?
Absence by Kaye Park Hinckley
Absence will chill you with the stark reminder that human beings are not just bodies, but souls whose spiritual influence cannot be suppressed, even when the bodies have gone missing.
Playing by Heart by Carmela Martino
In this historical drama, Emilia longs for a love as beautiful as her sonata, but the ambitions of her father put her and her sister in great danger. Winner of our 2018 Best of the Year Awards.
Making a Better World By Michael Lacoy
Can Oscar be the man he wants to be to his family and friends?
Good to the Last Drop by Declan Finn
Marco thought his problems were over when he took on the vampire council, until he gets bit by a werewolf. Will this ruin things with his vampire girlfriend?
In Pieces by Rhonda Ortiz
Is a marriage without love the only way to save Molly Chase’s reputation?
Demons are Forever by Declan Finn
Marco flees from his fears of hurting Amanda by taking a job to train Vampire Hunters in San Francisco. Should be a quiet job right?
Julia’s Gifts by Ellen Gable
A story of love and God’s providence in times of war.
The Wind That Shakes The Corn: Memoirs of a Scots Irish Woman by Kaye Park Hinckley
Sold into slavery on her wedding night, an 18th-century Irishwoman struggles to free herself from her thirst for vengeance.
The Gift Counselor By Sheila M. Cronin
If you’re a fan of Hallmark Channel’s cozy lineup of holiday Rom-coms, this book is definitely for you.
Someday by Corinna Turner
Ordinary schoolgirls face a terrible fate: abuse, forced marriages, and even death at the hands of Islamic extremists.
North Pacific: A Story of Life, Love, Suffering, and Grace by Michael Steffan
Joseph & Miku’s love was already illegal. Then WWII began. Now home, disabled, and questioning God’s love, he still searches for her.
The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch by T.M. Gaouette
A foster kid learns that sometimes the scariest part of life is accepting love.
680 Miles Away By Tara J. Stone
Will Evie run away for good, or will she fight for Finn?
A Hero for the People by Arthur Powers
Stories from the front lines of the Church’s mission to protect Brazilians farmers from theft and greed.
A Distant Prospect by Annette Young
Lucy has been broken by the horrors of polio and the war for Irish Independence. Can Australia offer her a new life and a new home?
Lance and the Veil by Kevin Rush
She was Christ’s comforter, he, his executioner. Can the two find love in each other’s arms?
