May 15, 2014
With no children of their own, Ivy Darling and her husband, Nick Mason, become foster parents to three neighbor children who were abandoned by their mother. But Nick's refusal to forgive Ivy for their biological childlessness fractures her resolve to hold their marriage together amid the challenges they face as a foster family. As Ivy distances herself from him, possibly forever, Nick discovers the pain of withholding forgiveness and love, and realizes that he must act before it is too late. A compelling start to Gardner's new, sure-to-please Darling family series, this is an honest and delicately navigated novel about the realities faced by foster families, particularly multiracial ones, as well as the issue of forgiveness in marriage. The Christian theme is conveyed through the use of open prayer, church involvement, and biblically based values. Gardner writes with raw insight as she creates a distinct voice for each character to express his or her emotions, which together result in a beautiful journey that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)