GRR Reviews Twelve Days (The McRaes) by Teresa Hill

Twelve Days started off just with sad couple that can't even argue any more, but if you have the patience to wade through the complicated lives of a couple whose relationship is already "on the rocks", with the added complication of infertility, three foster children JUST before Christmas, AND a mystery of where's the mother of these kids, the story will grab you, and leave you with an ending that'll have you both smiling and in tears.

Rachel took in three kids 12 days before Christmas. The kids were found left at a motel and refused to give up their surname. Their mom promised to be back 2 days ago. Social worker (and Rachel's aunt) knew Rachel always wanted kids, but after losing their previous child and several failures in adoption, Rachel and her husband Sam may not be ready, but there is literally NOWHERE for the kids: an 11-year-old girl, a 4-year old boy, and a baby to go this close to Christmas, esp. if they can't be split up. Rachel's world was further rocked when she overheard that her husband Sam may be moving out. They had dreamed of a life together full of children, until that one night that changed everything. The failures in adoption had them drifted apart... and these... children will either break their marriage for good... or heal it. But these children are only there temporarily... Is it right to pray they can keep the children, even though their mother is out there? What happened to her?

Wow, this book has some emotional punch to it. And EVERYTHING flowed together properly. It's often difficult to get an "on the rocks" romance right, but this one managed it by layering the reasons and motivations, and the mistaken assumptions and secrets that each kept from the other for years, perhaps decades. I am not going to spoil the reasons for each to behave that way or the ending. Let's just say it'd be a VERY ambivalent ending, but not in the way you think. I mainly judge the book in the way it made me feel, and this one hit all of my buttons. Two thumbs up, way up.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: A couple whose marriage was already in trouble took in three temporary foster children when their mother disappeared...

Tropes: on the rocks, holiday, sudden family, family drama, grief

Overall Rating:  5/5