As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As Though You Were Mine is a heartwarming story that centers around the character of Julie who has just learned that her brother and sister-in-law have both passed away in a car accident. She is surprised to learn that she was named as guardian of their four-year-old twins, Lucy, and Mikey. Julie has vowed to remain single and therefore feels ill equipped and unprepared to raise children. Julie is determined to make the best of the situation and feels a sense of obligation to the children not just because they are her niece and nephew but because she is, in a sense, their mom. When Julie learned that her brother and sister-in-law were unable to have children of their own, she donated her eggs to them. Biologically speaking, she is, in a sense, their mom.

Enter Grant, who is her deceased sister-in-law’s brother and who was the sperm donor. He also feels a sense of obligation towards Lucy and Mikey as their biological father. Julie and Grant enter into a partnership to raise the children as their own. A situation that proves to be complicated for numerous reasons. Lucy and Mikey are suffering from the loss of their parents, and it is affecting their behavior. Mikey has night terrors and has not spoken since the accident. Lucy acts out and has temper tantrums. Julie’s family feels that she is not the best person to raise her niece and nephew and feel that her sister would be a better fit. Her relationship with her family is a bit strained and this risks creating more tension within the family. And then there’s Grant, who Julie feels a connection to and finds herself attracted to. Will Julie’s family stand by her decision to raise her niece and nephew? Is there any chance of a relationship between Julie and Grant?

This book drew me in from the first pages when Julie’s estranged brother and his wife passed away in a car accident. The storyline was heart wrenching, and the characters were lovable and relatable. Julie stayed true to herself and stood by her choices. She was smart, strong, determined, loving, and kind. The emotions that Julie experienced were real, raw, and overwhelming. She loved her brother and always hoped that somehow, they could mend the rift that had come between them and have a close sibling relationship. That chance was ripped away from her when he passed away. The strained relationship she had with her parents and sister became even more strained when they told her that her sister would be the better choice as guardian to her niece and nephew. My heart broke for poor Julie because she really had little to no support from those around her. Nobody felt confident in her ability to raise children. However, she was determined to raise her niece and nephew to the best of her ability and provide them with a loving and supportive home environment. When Grant enters the picture Julie finds someone who loves her, supports her, and is there for her and the children. As Grant and Julie navigate the struggles of sudden parenthood, they find support in each other as well as unexpected romance. This book was an emotional rollercoaster ride full of tragedy, grief, loss, sadness, anger, betrayal, family dynamics, hope, romance, love, and forgiveness. I highly recommend this book!

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