REVIEW: Her Unexpected Family by Ruth Logan Herne

Her Unexpected Family by Ruth Logan Herne: I enjoyed the “return” to the town of Grace Haven and the Gallagher family with this book. The close ties of the Gallagher family are very touching, and easy to identify with, coming from a close family myself.

In “Her Unexpected Family”, Emily Gallagher is assigned to plan the wedding of Grant’s deployed sister to her also deployed fiancé. Grant takes seriously the responsibility of planning his sisters’ wedding while she is overseas serving our country. Grant also takes seriously his role as a single father to two year old twins, one of whom has Down Syndrome. His wife left him after the twins were born, resulting in him having serious trust issues towards Emily initially – as he perceives her to be quite superficial based on her past beauty pageant successes.

Emily is instantly enamored of the twins and they quickly come to adore Emily and want to play with her. Emily also helps nudge Grant to encourage his daughter with Down Syndrome to develop more independence. She also helps Grant overcome his needs for control and to nudge him toward forgiveness of family members he feels wronged by. All this while Emily works on planning his sisters’ wedding and providing emotional support while her own father fights serious illness.

This was a touching and enjoyable romance read. Readers who enjoyed their first glimpse of the Gallagher family will want to read this installment for sure. I already am eager to read #3!

Book Info:

Publication: July 19, 2016 | Love Inspired | Grace Haven

Emily Gallagher and Grant McCarthy are planning a wedding together—just not their own. Emily’s well-structured life is turned upside-down when her company is hired to help Grant put together his deployed sister’s nuptials. Because as Emily spends more time with Grant and his adorable twins, she can’t help but daydream about being at the altar herself. But Emily’s ex-beauty-queen status brings Grant memories of his children’s appearance-obsessed mother—a woman who walked out on their family. For a future with Emily, can Grant escape the confines of his painful past? If he can, the next wedding they plan could be their own