The Gift of Family by Mary Monroe: Book Review

As most of us know, life is a journey and sometimes it takes us in a different direction from what we have hoped for or expected. The Gift of Family is one such story that brings joy from disappointment.

40-somethings Eugene and Rosemary Johnson are a couple in love who have everything they had ever wanted. That is, except for a child of their own. Any remaining hope of Rosemary bearing their child is taken away when they learn that Rosemary requires emergency surgery. When trying to find someone to provide support to their household, Eugene suggests a woman that his family had employed in the past and had loved. Rosemary agrees to meet with Ethel Perkins, a feisty Christian woman who proves to be exactly what Rosemary and Eugene need to get Rosemary back on her feet after her surgery.

Ethel’s life has been filled with tragedy. Now left in her sixties to care for her three great-grandchildren, Ethel is not a stranger to hard work. Despite this, she’s having a hard time financially to make ends meet. As they approach Christmas, devastating news comes to Ethel and her family. In the true spirit of the season, Eugene and Rosemary bring the family into their home lightening the load for this hard-working woman. Will this beneficial relationship work beyond the holiday season?

I enjoyed this Christmas story and all the feelings of good will that we associate with Christmas that came from it. I found the characters to be well-developed, highly personable and very likeable. The book flowed well and while absolutely predictable, this worked for this story of love. I really appreciated the metaphor Rosemary uses with Ethel’s Great-Granddaughter and the respectful relationship that was developing between the two near the end of the book. I did, however, feel that the relationship between the two families developed just a little too fast which felt a little unrealistic to me. Having said that, I’d recommend this book to those that appreciate a story of good will at Christmas.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.  The Gift of Family publishes on September 29.

My rating: ? ? ? ?/5.