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
The Table by Dennis Lambert
A table built by the grandfather of Jesus Christ survives the darkest moment in history to bring peace to a widowed musician
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.
The Grace Crasher by Mara Faro
The Grace Crasher is the ecumenical romantic dramedy that everyone who has ever had family members in split churches needs to read.
Stay with Me by Carolyn Astfalk
Can Rebecca get out from under her domineering father and find love with the forbidden Catholic boy determined to win her heart?
Summer at West Castle By Theresa Linden
Is God really leading Caitlyn to bad boy Jarret?
I Hope You Find Joy By Eliza Mae Albano
Can Emma find joy with the man who hurt her?
A Good Girl by Johnnie Bernhard
When an old man dies his daughter must trace her family tree to find the ability to forgive him.
Earthquake Weather by Kevin Rush
The mist that settles over San Francisco hides the ugly parts of her world. Can Kristine find the courage to see with unclouded eyes?
The Blackbird and Other Stories By Sally Thomas
How does the human heart cope and soar from within breakage?
The Needle of Avocation by G.M. Baker
A match no one wants, except perhaps the groom. A mystery that could destroy everything.
Champion of the Poor: Father Joe Walijewski by Voyage Comics
Meet the priest who spread the love of God in Peru.
The Carpenter’s Son by John Gray
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to meet Jesus face-to-face in your ordinary life, this contemporary fiction novel provides a scenario filled with hope, faith, and uplifting human connection.
Best of 2020
Yes some good things DID happen this year- Catholic creators have not let turmoil stop their mission.
Anyone But Him by Theresa Linden
What if you woke up one day and didn’t recognize the person you were sleeping next to?
Revelation by Flannery O’Connor
Flannery O’Connor takes us into the mental experience of one of those people Jesus condemned.
A Life Decision by Laurie M. Lamb
When Joe and Peyton find out that their unborn baby may have Down Syndrome, they are faced with a devastating decision.
The City Mother By Maya Sinha
She didn’t believe in good and evil, until she became a mother…
Zeal & Zest: Where to Begin with Hillaire Belloc
Belloc was known as a Catholic polemicist with a vicious talent for skewering his opponents. Anyone struggling to persevere as a Christian in the fields of journalism or media should read him. His children’s books have an acerbic humor that will appeal to bored veterans of political correctness, especially teens.
Big in Heaven by Fr. Stephen Siniari
In this inner-city Orthodox parish, there are no easy answers—only the transformative power of God’s love.
Live and Let Bite Review by Declan Finn
The battle with the demons of San Francisco left Marco broken and now Amanda isn’t answering his messages.
