A Mother for His Twins

A MOTHER FOR HIS TWINS by Jill Weatherholt is very much the love inspired story of Joy Kelliher and Nick Capello. They went to school together, were great friends and eventually became high school sweethearts – until Nick and his family moved off in the middle of night virtually vanishing.

Now after 14 years without a word or an explanation, Nick comes crashing back into Joy’s life. She learns of his return when Principal Jacobson brings his identical twin sons, Jordan and Tyler, to her first grade classroom as her newest students. That’s when she learns that Nick is to be the teacher working right across the hall from her. He’s taking over the class for a teacher on maternity leave. When Joy thinks things couldn’t get any worse, she finds out he rented the house directly across the street from her. How will she keep her emotions in check while having to face him on a daily bases? He left her high and dry all those years ago. In fact, the night he didn’t show up and his family moved, her life changed – changed her – forever. Your life is made up by your decisions and she made some horrible ones that night.

Nick decided to pull up stakes and start over after the death of his wife. His wife had kept how severe her illness was or had he just been so busy trying to advance his career that he hadn’t seen it? Either way, we felt like he had been a lousy husband and blames himself for her suffering. He’s determined to not make that mistake with his sons and no place better to start over than going back “home”. Maybe he should have called and talked to Joy first, but what would he have said? It broke his heart when his Dad moved his family away suddenly with no warning, but he knew his Dad was doing it for the sake of his mother. He had tried to contact Joy back then, but didn’t find out until later that none of his letters had gotten further than the mailbox.

To make matters tense, both Joy and Nick have applied for the soon to be vacant principal position at school. Joy feels that she has worked at the same school for years, she’s just about finished with her degree, loves the children wanting nothing but the best for them and longs to sit behind the same desk as her father did when he was principal. Nick feels that all the years that he neglected his wife to get his degree would be in vain if he doesn’t advance his career now. Besides, he has a family to support and the extra money would help.

Can Joy and Nick work side by side and not relive the past – both good and bad? Will Joy’s love of children have Jordan and Tyler filling her heart replacing the feeling of emptiness she now feels? Can Joy let go of the past by finally speaking about it to a true friend when she couldn’t even talk to her twin about it? Can Nick ever feel he is worthy of a second chance? How will the outcome of the board’s decision on who the new principal affect them?

Jill Weatherholt weaved an amazing story that has you feeling all your emotions. She tells a story that illustrates how one event can change your whole life. At the same time, if it’s meant to be, it will occur – albeit 14 years later. You learn that we are a total of all the events in our lives and that no one events identifies us as to who we are. Sometimes we have to deal with the emotional scars to be able to move forward. Through it all there is an inspirational thread that sews it all up to an ending that I for one was hoping for.

Definitely recommend A MOTHER FOR HIS TWINS! If you love a well written inspirational love story that shows that all paths to a happily ever after aren’t straight or smooth, then you will love this story. Though not required in order to enjoy this book, I did enjoy reading the author’s other book, A FATHER FOR BELLA, prior to reading this one. The Bella in this book that is a great friend to Jordan and Tyler is also in A MOTHER FOR HIS TWINS. Plus there are snippets about Joy’s twin sister, Faith, who the other book is about, in this book. Both are excellently written books that you are sure to enjoy. I know I did!

A heartwarming story about second chance romance, A Mother for His Twins ticks all the right boxes for anyone looking for a feel-good novel with a lovely HEA. Joy and Nick grew up together, falling in love in their teen years. They always knew they would be together until Nick’s family moved abruptly and Joy was cut out of his life.

Fast forward years later. Nick returns to his hometown, a widower with twin boys. The boys join Jill’s grade school class, quickly stealing her heart (and the heart of the reader). Meanwhile, Jill is vying for the position of principal at the school where she works, the only other applicant, Nick.

I don’t read a lot of romance, but I don’t really consider this story romance at the heart, so much as a tale of people finding their way back to each other. That journey is helped along by Nick’s boys, Joy’s sister and her niece, and the guiding touch of God. The story has a light Christian theme, twined with Hallmark-esque moments that will melt your heart. The characters suffer ups and downs, which make the eventual HEA all the sweeter. Both Nick and Joy have burdens in their past, secrets that present hurdles they need to overcome if they’re to recapture the love they once had. Factor in they’re both applicants for the same job, and the stakes rachet higher.

The writing is polished, the characters (even the secondary ones), beautifully defined. I breezed through the pages, enchanted by the author’s casual flair with handling the day-to-day challenges of her MCs. This is book 3 in a series, but it reads fine as a standalone. I enjoyed it so much, I immediately bought another after finishing. I’m smitten!

This was a very enjoyable story. I this stories that involve children are some o the sweetest especially when they try to be little matchmakers like this one! This one was even more intriguing as it involved their teacher and their dad who was her high school sweetheart. Both Nick and Joy’s romance is sweet. They have both made mistakes and endured heartaches which makes it for a great story of forgiveness and love. If you enjoy contemporary romances and the second chance at love trope this is the book for you.

This was my first book by this author and I thought it was a good one. She weaves the element of faith throughout the story and writes it beautifully. If you need a short read to get you through the day I definitely recommend this one!

I received this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

In Jill Weatherholt’s A Mother for His Twins (Harlequin 2019), Joy Kelliher finds the boy she wants to marry while still in high school but, though he also professes his love, he disappears from her life without explanation. She struggles to get over his abandonment but can’t convince herself to ever trust another man. It doesn’t make it any easier when he returns to their small town a widower with twins In tow. While she swears she will never forgive him, it becomes complicated to keep that promise. First, his boys are placed in her first grade class, and then, she and he are both competing for the open position as principal. She promises that she will be a professional about it, place her emotions aside, but it just isn’t that simple. Love never is.

This is a delightful, fast-moving story with all those features of a romance we love–drama, tension, secrets, and confusion. Weatherholt has a way of tying words together in such a way that everything flows and I can’t stop reading. What do you think of this:

“Joy’s stomach rolled over like a dog hoping for a good belly scratch.”

I’ve never heard it said that way before and now, I’ll never forget it. I also love that this book includes characters like Faith (Joy’s sister) and her daughter Bella that I fell in love with in Weatherholt’s earlier books. Overall, highly recommended for those who love a sweet romance that leaves you satisfied, with a sigh of happiness.

When Joy’s old high school flame returns to her hometown, the trauma of her past rears its head. Years ago, Nick had abandoned her without a word when his family suddenly moved, and what happened that night is burned into her psyche. Nick wasn’t given a choice about the move, and when his letters to Joy went unanswered, he moved on with his life. He married, had children, and then his wife died, something he hasn’t forgiven himself for. He’s returned to Whispering Slopes with his twin sons to start anew.

Both of these main characters carry around guilt and regrets that prevent them from happily moving forward with their lives even though their attraction to each other is reignited. The hesitation to spill their pain and secrets felt genuine to me, and the moments of honesty are cathartic. As happens in real life, it’s a lot easier for them for forgive each other than to forgive themselves. On top of all the emotional upheaval, both of them are competing for the same dream job.

The children in the book are cute and certainly prevent these characters from going their separate ways. The book is well-edited, the pace perfect, and the characters realistic. Joy’s internal drama went on a touch long for me, but overall, nothing feels contrived about the plot or the character’s choices. I happily recommend this book to readers who love a heartwarming Christian romance.

The story is a wonderful example of second chances, forgiveness and new beginnings. I loved the setting of a small town where the people are friendly and always ready to help. Joy is a gifted teacher whose heart is to be principal of the school where her father once was. I liked that she wanted to continue the legacy of her father and make a difference in children’s lives. You can sense her compassion for children as she looks forward to being with them each school day.

Nick is easy to like with his big heart and two adorable twin boys. When he comes back to the town he grew up in, Joy is quite surprised. He left unexpectedly as a teenager and broke Joy’s heart. I couldn’t wait to find out why his family vanished one night. The author slowly unravels the past that both Nick and Joy have each hidden from each other.

What I really liked about the story was how faith was used as we relived the nightmare that Joy endured the night Nick left town. She may have felt abandoned, hurt and ashamed but God was right there to comfort her. I don’t think Joy has really processed that night until Nick comes back into the picture. There are some very touching moments when Joy begins to trust Nick. Letting her guard down shows her she can trust others and allow herself to love again.

Nick not only has to deal with explaining to Joy why he left that night but also the guilt he feels about his wife’s death. This part was well written as he breaks down and releases his anguish he has had for so long. He never felt like he did enough to help his wife when she became ill, but God gave him peace as he let go of the past.

The twins in the story steal the show for me. They are precious and full of life. It is obvious they are close to their dad and I think that helps them work through the death of their mother. The author has packed this story with lessons on letting go of the past so it doesn’t hold you from happiness. Learning to forgive allows Nick and Joy to rekindle their relationship which I enjoyed reading. It wasn’t rushed but slowly developed as God worked on their hurt that they have allowed to hinder them from finding love again. It is a great story with an ending that really highlighted blending a family with faith.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion

I have had the pleasure of reading books by Jill Weatherholt and was excited to have the opportunity to read her newest release, A Mother for His Twins. I was not disappointed. I thought it was such a sweet, delightful and fun read. I enjoyed getting to know Joy and Nick. The boys were good entertainment throughout, as well. The story is slightly predictable but still so good to read. It is not a long book and can be easily read in just a couple of hours.

I am giving A Mother for His Twins four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean, heartwarming and wholesome romance. I look forward to more books by Jill Weatherholt in the future.

I received a paperback copy of A Mother for His Twins from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

This book was my first by Jill Weatherholt and it was quite enjoyable. If you like contemporary romance with a good element of faith and forgiveness, you will enjoy this book. The romance between Joy and Nick is sweet and shadowed but also highlighted by their long history. Nick’s twin boys are so much fun and Joy’s niece Bella is a great addition to the storyline. Joy and Nick both have made mistakes and had to endure heartaches but learn to finally triumph over guilt, shame, and doubt. All of the author’s Love Inspired books seem to center around the theme of second chance at love, so if you enjoy this particular trope, you will love reading her stories.

I loved this clean second chance romance.Got this at Wal-Mart and I voluntarily chose to review it. This was an emotional roller coaster but one that lead to a HEA. I’ve given it a 5* rating. It pulled me in right at the first and kept pulling me along to find out what happens next. Lots to love about this book and the first of this authors that I’ve read. I want to read more of her work.

A Mother for His Twins by Jill Weatherholt is a heart-warming story of two lovers who were separated by circumstances; their love for each other never waned while Nick moved on with his life but Joy got deeply embedded in time. It is interesting to see how destiny puts them back on the track to fight their personal demons and set their guilt aside to embrace life.

This book has some subtle suggestions that need to be absorbed; new avenues need to be respected, little joys of life should be gathered, as life is too beautiful to let it pass by. Jill’s characters are realistic and lovable, they know their flaws and are ready to make amends. What makes Nick admirable is his positive attitude; he wants to learn from his experiences and move ahead. Joy’s yearning to be a part of family is palpable and tugs at the strings of your heart.

A light-hearted story of nurturing love and relationships, this book has been written with immense tenderness to touch every heart. Awkward situations are diffused by twins who add delightful moments to make your heart ache for the love of children. Such books leave their sweet taste behind to savor it long after you’ve finished it.