đđ»đ âA Family to Fosterâ (Cedar Ridge #4) (2023) đđ»đ â Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Cedar Ridge (Book #4)
Paperback: 224 Pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Books (August 22, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN 10: 1335596887
ISBN-13: 978-1335596888
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âCan an unlikely partnershipâŠ
Turn into a permanent commitment?
Foster dad Patrick Callahan would do anything to prevent the siblings he fosters from being separated. But that means heâll have to partner with his ex-fiancĂ©e, Torey Bryant, to save the local community center. With Patrickâs old-school ideas and Toreyâs high-tech upgrades, the pair canât agree on anything. Could accepting their differences keep the children togetherâand give them a forever family?â
Thank you in advance to the author, Laurel Blount, for providing a complimentary review copy through her launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
This is the fourth, but hardly final book in the authorâs Cedar Ridge series.
When it comes to books in a series, Iâm one who tends to STRONGLY prefer to read the books in order. Even ones that can act as a standalone, especially if there are recurring characters. Oftentimes, there are events that are slightly referenced, and reading the book the event was referenced in sets the tone and stage for the series.
This is no exception.
Those whoâve read the previous three books â Lost and Found Faith (Neil & Maggie); Her Mountain Refuge (Logan & Charlotte); and Together for the Twins (Ryder & Elise). Thereâs also Jina and Ruby. And, of course, Torey â which this is her story. But, donât be fooled by the cutesy little cover, this is one of those realistic, emotional, heart-tugging, and inspirational stories that highlights the reality of foster/adoption preferences and placements.
Blount introduces us to:
𧰠Patrick
𧞠Jill (5-years-old)
đ» Josh (12-years-old; computer prodigy)
đ Ron (Patrickâs father)
đïž Mitzi (social worker)
â Barton (has a problem with the center re-opening)
For some people, adoption and foster care can be a tricky and sometimes triggering subject; even more so when siblings are separated, or a separation is possible.
This jumps right into the plot and heart of the story. It begins with Josh, in trouble at school, and it deals with a very serious issue â computer hacking. Thankfully it is limited to changing school menus, Fridays off, and he is no longer taking English. The funniest thing â changing the mascot from a tiger to a possum đ€Ł
However, this is concerning to the social worker â Mitzi. This brings up Patrickâs suitability as a foster parent, especially given his father being a criminal as well as some of Patrickâs cousins. And, it seems sheâs looking for ANY reason to remove the kids from Patrickâs care, since this is his first placement. Sheâs also wondering how he even qualified to be a foster parent in the first place.
However, with Joshâs issues â placement for him is problematic. Mitzi thinks a group home for him would help his sister be placed easier, thus separating the two. Jill is younger, a girl, and definitely easier to place.
That isnât sitting well with Patrick. He offers to do better, and the one place he can think of to help with Josh â the Hope Center.
Torey is trying to get the dilapidated center up and running, but she faces budget issues and is trying to take care of Ruby. The last person she wanted to see was the man who broke her heart â Patrick.
But, the people need each other â him to help out with repairs since he is a mechanic, and her ability to run it, at least until a new director can be found and she can return home to Atlanta.
The two agree to work together. Patrick wants the center to focus on life skills â budgeting, some auto repair, dressing for interviews. Torey wants to focus more on computers â video games as well as computer literacy, which she feels would aid in higher attendance. With Ruby moderating, they focus on both. But, they also face opposition in each other, as well as Barton Meyers.
After a few kinks, they work everything out, but that doesnât solve the issue of Josh, that is until Patrick adopts a dog. Patrick also focuses on moving from fostering to adoption.
Another surprise in Patrickâs life â his father shows up. While the last time he did, he ended up stealing from Patrick, Ron promises heâs a changed man. But, with the adoption of the kids on the line, Patrick isnât sure he wants to risk it.
And, Torey is reconsidering returning to Atlanta â not only because she loves Cedar Ridge, but she and Patrick are beginning to get close again; and sheâs even closer with Josh and Jill.
Blount creates a beautiful, heartfelt, and inspiring story with themes of second changes, forgiveness, and hope. This is evident when Mrs. Darnell mentions âoptimism, faith and encouragementâ in reference to Mitzi lacking the elements in her reports on Patrick and the kids.
I have to admit, I have had a problem with social workers that stems from when I was between 8-10 years old. It was an incident in California, which not many people know about. It wasnât criminal (on my end) â but was traumatizing for someone my age. And, even with trying to manage my motherâs care over the past year â well, social workers and case managers are on my list of âleast liked peopleâ. So, when I âmetâ Mitzi â instant dislike. Just instant dislike. And, after reading this, I am sure others might agree with me.
As much as I hate to give a spoiler, one thing I CANNOT stand is when social workers and foster homes split siblings up. It, to me, is quite REPREHENSIBLE unless there is a good reason (abuse, crime pattern, etc.).
While in this case, Mitzi was considering it to give Jill a better chance at adoption, I am CERTAIN there would be families that would take Josh as well. And, this should be a wake-up call that the system needs to do better for kids. I totally stood behind Patrick when he said it wasnât right to shuffle the kids around. After all, theyâre not cards. Sadly, it is a realistic and recurring them in real life. Kids using trash bag for their belongings is another stark reality.
As far as how everyone treated Patrick regarding his âdis-engagementâ from Torey. I get everyone was upset and cared about her, but asking why he did it mightâve yielded the answer and some understanding. Though, his reasoning was sweet.
On the romance end â this was a second-chance type of romance. Though the story had more emphasis on Jill and Joshâs foster placement; and getting the center running rather than the romance between Torey and Patrick. For those wondering if Ruby was up to her matchmaking ways â well ⊠you definitely have to read this book. Little note â I definitely had to wonder what was up with her.
There was a moment, closer to the beginning, when Torey said something a bit âstrongâ to Patrick, and I felt she couldâve handled it a better way. She did apologize and, during the course of the story, worked to redeem herself.
And, as far as Josh â oh, without spoiling I will say this â I LOVED what he did towards the end regarding a certain character. I was trying so hard not to cheer him on. It was one of those âwrong things for the right reasonsâ.
This book grabbed me right in, and I ended up reading about half of it inside of three (3) hours. I wouldâve read more, but it was early in the morning (around 3am) and I NEEDED to get some sleep. I picked it back up later the next day as I had some things I had to do (ugh, housework) before I could settle in for my âreading timeâ and I was able to jump right back in. I finished it inside of a 24-hour period.
While it didnât seem rushed in anyway, this was definitely one of those stories that took off and kept running. It certainly didnât lag at all.
I am EAGERLY awaiting another return to Cedar Ridge to follow-up on Torey and Patrick along with the others. I still have a few of her backlist titles on the TBR stack. Iâm also looking forward to Blountâs Home from the Storm â her final book in the Johns Mill Amish Romance series from Berkley â coming later this year.
Fans of the author wonât want to miss this read!
Since this is distributed by Love Inspired, there will be some references to faith. They are not that heavy, and provide the readers with the chance to see Godâs work through certain acts.
RATING:
5 âââââ/5 âââââ â Goodreads
5 âââââ/5 âââââ â Bookbub
5 âââââ/5 âââââ â Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
Previous Books in the Series:
Series: Cedar Ridge (Book #1)
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired (August 21, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335758763
ISBN-13: 978-1335758767
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âA terrible tragedy nearly broke him.
Can love put him back together?
Widowed history teacher Neil Hamilton has lost his way â at work, with people and even with his faith. But, Neil's shut-down existence is disrupted when a small toddler and his would-be foster mother, vibrantly pretty Maggie Byrne, come crashing into Neil's yard and his life. Can this absentminded teacher find himself again ... and take a chance on love, too?â
Publisher: Love Inspired (May 3, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 133575931X
ISBN-13: 978-1335759313
Click Photo for Purchase Information âĄïž
âGoing home could mean risking her heartâŠ
She needs help to start overâŠ
But can she ever trust again?
Widowed, pregnant and under her controlling mother-in-lawâs thumb, Charlotte Tremaine needs helpâbut she doesnât expect it to come from her estranged childhood best friend. Yet after a fainting spell lands her in the hospital, Sheriff Logan Carter whisks her away to his foster motherâs mountain home to recover. But when her secrets follow, can she face her painful past with Logan at her side?â
Series: Cedar Ridge (Book #3)
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired (January 24, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN: 1335585524
ISBN-13: 978-1335585523
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âHe opened his home to twin boys
Will he open his heart to their nanny?
Self-made man Ryder Montgomery is the guy with all the answersâŠuntil he inherits custody of his out-of-control twin nephews. Nanny Elise Cooper is a lifesaver and even agrees to give him parenting lessons. Soon theyâre starting to feel like a real family. But with an end-of-summer expiration date, is it even possible to build a future together?â
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