THIS MIRACLE'S A MYSTERY
When newborn twins mysteriously appear on Cole McCullough's doorstep, everyone at the Healing Ranch, including Cole, starts to think…could they be his? Why else would someone leave them there? Cole knows there must be another explanation. Unless…
The only woman that Cole's been that close to is Stacy Rowe -- the one he cared for deeply, and deeply regrets losing. But Stacy hasn't been in Forever in…forever. Eight months, to be exact. And while the math adds up, nothing else does! She would never abandon two little babies that way -- she's said as much. But she does seem awfully keen to help him care for them. And the closer their odd little family grows, the more Cole has to wonder…
Very good book. It opens with Cole feeling restless, that his life doesn't really have direction. He helps his brother, Connor, on the family ranch, and two or three days a week he also helps out at the Healing Ranch, a place for at-risk teens. It's not that he's unhappy, it's just that he not sure where he's headed. Then, on his way out of the bunkhouse, he nearly trips over a basket with two babies in it. There's no note and no indication of why they were left there. He is pretty sure they aren't his unless his old girlfriend had kept something from him. Stacy and Cole had been as close as could be, until she up and left town without a word eight months earlier.
Stacy has just returned to Forever, after accompanying her aunt on a months-long tour of Europe. When her aunt suddenly died, Stacy was left to bring her ashes back to Forever and settle Kate's estate. The last thing she wants is to see Cole again after the way he broke her heart. But when he needs help caring for the two babies, she can't say no.
I loved Cole. He's an all-around nice guy. He has a terrific sense of responsibility, as shown by the way he immediately steps up to take care of the twins. He has a fun sense of humor and is considerate of those around him. I loved the way that he bonded so quickly with the twins.
I loved Stacy, too, though it took me a chapter or two to really warm up to her. I ached for her loneliness after losing her only relative and how she wanted to leave Forever and her memories there as soon as she could. She is stubborn and feisty, but she also has a keen sense of responsibility and a kind heart. Though reluctant at first, she agrees to help Cole take care of the babies.
I liked the rekindling of the relationship between Stacy and Cole. Both of them were still hurting from the end of their relationship, which came about because of a lack of communication between them. Each blames the other for the breakup, making both of them reluctant to risk their hearts again. Cole also isn't entirely sure that the babies don't belong to Stacy. As they work together to take care of the twins, it quickly becomes apparent that their feelings for each other haven't died. It takes several weeks, but eventually they open up enough with each other to straighten out their past and realize that both of them made mistakes. I loved what brought them together at the end, just in time for the surprise revelation of the mother's identity.
The secondary characters were all terrific too. I loved Connor's easy acceptance of Stacy's return and her presence on the ranch. It was also sweet to see him help with the babies. Rita, the housekeeper, was a fun mix of soft and stern. I especially enjoyed the way she took care of Stacy and kept Cole and Connor in line. But my favorite Forever character is still Miss Joan. I love the way she seems to know what people need, even before they do. I loved her part in the epilogue.
No comments:
Post a Comment