Hearts Filled with Love for Children
Most parents have months between the announcement of impending parenthood and the actual moment of parenthood to acclimate to the idea of becoming parents. Not so for red-headed Liam McDowell, a son of Ireland, but now, a citizen of Liberty, Utah. He didn’t even know he was an uncle until he received the phone call informing him of the arrest of his older brother Shane, whom he hadn’t seen in years. Shane and his girlfriend, Lisa, had attempted to rob a convenience store and someone had been killed. Now, the state authorities were seeking family, of whom Liam seemed to be the only prospect, to care for the girls, otherwise the girls would become wards of the state.
Liam, the adventure seeking, risk-taking, last-man-standing at every party guy, had never even thought of having a family. He had grown up with a father, who after the death of his wife, the mother to his two boys, had become a hard drinking, heavy-handed man—certainly not a caring, doting da. But, regardless of his first reaction, Liam could not bring himself to see the lasses, aged 2 and 9 months passed off to strangers—disappearing and perhaps separated in the foster care system. So, while out with his buddies, drinking and already buzzed, and having just crashed and burned with one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, the call came on his cell seeking him to care for his nieces. And, he ultimately agrees. He is stupefied by his decision, but determined not to fail the lasses. So, Liam did an internet search and reached out to the Facebook group for Adoptive and Foster Parents of Liberty, Utah for help.
Alexandra Dewitt—Alex—a children’s librarian in Liberty, originally from Chicago, had always wanted to be a mom, but had been unable to conceive. She and husband, Charlie, had adopted twin boys—Jacob and Lucas—now 18 months old. Tessa, a local woman who, found herself pregnant and unwilling to become a parent, had agreed to allow them to adopt the babies, and the couple had opened their home to her and covered her expenses during her pregnancy. For the Dewitt’s—or at least for Alex—life was full and fulfilling with the birth of the sweet boys.
But, fatherhood did not fill Charlie with joy. And, while he was miserable as a dad, he found great delight with the birth-mother, Tessa. And so, Alex and Charlie divorced, and leaving Alex with the boys, Charlie and Tessa started a new life together in Chicago.
Now, a single mom, Alex juggles her full-time job at the Liberty library and caring for her twin boys with the help of Rachel, a local college student who lives rent-free at Alex’s home in exchange for help with childcare. And, Alex also has become a local advocate for the foster program and adoption, facilitating a Facebook group for Adoptive and Foster Parents. So, when she fields a request for help and assistance from a single man who has agreed to foster his nieces, Alex responds with support and encouragement.
KC Crowne’s stories of the Mountain Men of Liberty, Utah, are peopled with individuals who are dealing with the challenges that life while also addressing the results that others’ choices have put in their paths. Each tale is a standalone romance, but the plots allow the citizens of Liberty to pass through the tale, so that the reader often encounters friends and family encountered from other stories of Liberty.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review, but I bought a copy for my “read again” collection.