Child of Love (book)
Child of Love is a 2021 novel written by Canadian Christian author Kimberly Rae Jordan.
The novel is the second of three novels, under the series title We Three Kings, featuring the Minneapolis-based King triplets (in birth order: Hunter, Hayden, and Heather), heirs of their father's multi-million dollar company and their Christmastime interactions with struggling families far below their social and financial status, all of which ultimately lead to romance, marriage, and the King family member adopting the child. All three novels were released in the fourth quarter of 2021; Child of Love was released in November.
Child of Love centers around Heather, the youngest of the triplets and only daughter, who works in the Human Resources department of their company, heading its employee care program, which primarily assists employees who have unexpected financial needs. The title comes from the compassion that a man shows, not only to change Heather's car's tire on an ice-covered freeway at night, but also to be the legal guardian to a niece he never knew existed until only a couple of months prior to the events of the book, even though he is struggling both financially and with raising her, as he lacks parenting skills and has no one to rely on to help him.
Plot
The novel is set five years after the triplets' father, Greg, died in a multi-fatality car accident (the accident also left Hayden with severe physical injuries and emotional ones, as he witnessed his father's death), and one year after the events in Child of Joy, the first book in the series.
The prologue begins roughly six months after the events in Child of Joy, and shows Hunter asking Carissa to marry him, after which the main story begins.
Asher (Ash) Larson received a very unexpected surprise at the end of September, only a couple of months prior to the events of the novel: unbeknownst to him, his estranged older sister (Gwen) had moved to Chicago, had a daughter (Isla -- "you say it like eye ... and la like you're singing"), and died of a drug overdose. As Gwen did not list a father on Isla's birth certificate, and as Ash's parents refuse to assist him (when Gwen left home, they "mourned her loss" and do not accept Isla as their grandchild; they have retired and moved to Florida), he is now the only remaining relative who can care for her, and agrees to do so believing it would be better than the foster care system. With no idea how to raise a child (especially a girl), in part since his parents were poor role models (his method of caring for Isla is simply to do the opposite of what his parents and sister did or would have done in a situation), Ash struggles to raise Isla, especially given that she is small for her age, one year behind her age in school (both of which were likely due to parental neglect) and struggling with every subject not involving art (in that area, she is extremely creative), having a teacher who only criticizes her efforts and refuses to do anything about her being teased and bullied. His struggles are compounded by his business -- an automotive repair shop he's purchasing from his father -- struggling to compete against a well-financed competitor; he can't work extended hours due to his need to care for Isla and can afford only one part-time employee (who is loyal to Ash despite the competitor repeatedly making employment offers).
A few weeks before Christmas, while on his way home (with Isla, who when not in school stays with him at the shop) on an icy freeway at night, Ash stops to assist a woman with a blown tire; the woman is Heather King. Heather waits in his truck with Isla, who briefly shares how she ended up living with her uncle and how doing so has improved her life somewhat, as she now has good food, a nice bed, and isn't hurt any longer -- a story which touches Heather's heart.
Since Carissa and Rachel (Hunter's fiance and her daughter) have entered her life, Heather has been more sensitive to meeting the needs of others, such as buying chocolate from a secretary who brings her child's fundraiser to work or adding additional personal funds to pay for unexpected funeral expenses of a family. Sensing that Ash and Isla may be in financial difficulty, and that Ash is struggling to raise Isla, Heather begins spending time at the shop, helping Isla with her homework and teaching Ash how to fix Isla's hair, both of which improve Isla's days at school. She also invites Ash and Isla to her company's children's Christmas party (where Isla meets Rachel, who becomes the friend she's wanted since moving to the Twin Cities, and also learns to make Christmas tree decorations) as well as to Rachel's church Christmas pageant. Though they are struggling in many areas Heather realizes that Ash is providing Isla the one thing she has lacked nearly her entire life -- someone who genuinely loves and cares for her.
While having dinner before the pageant, when the family prays before the meal Isla knows that she is to bow her head and fold her hands -- surprising to Ash given his family was irreligious. He learns later that Isla spent a lot of time with Donna, a neighbor who cared for Isla on weekends and whenever Gwen was high or drunk -- "sick", as Isla called it -- and took her to church; Donna (not Isla, to Ash's relief) was the one who discovered Gwen's body. Isla expresses an interest in attending church with Rachel, knows the real reason for both Christmas (Jesus' birth) and Easter (Jesus' death on the Cross for sin), and (despite poor reading skills) has already memorized John 3:16; remembering how his parents rarely agreed to either his or Gwen's requests, Ash agrees, though he has little understanding of Christianity.
Later, after Ash is invited to dinner after church (where Isla can decorate cookies) Hunter and Ash drive to pick up Hayden. As they speak while driving, Hunter asks Ash if he is dating anyone; when Ash informs Hunter that whoever he dates has to understand Isla is his first priority in his life (because she wasn't in Gwen's), Hunter replies that Ash should not be blind to a woman who would make Isla a priority in her life as well (implying that he is speaking of Heather). Hunter then tells Ash the story of his own father's impoverished upbringing by a single mother, when Ash bluntly asks why it matters, Hunter replies that Ash and Isla essentially are now "part of the family" based on Isla's growing friendship with Rachel, and that Heather also wouldn't mind seeing Isla -- and Ash.
Heather continues the previously lost Christmastime family traditions from the prior year: she invites Isla and Ash to the Christmas Eve dinner followed by service at church, plus a Christmas sleepover with the family "Christmas pajamas" tradition (and the annual overwhelming of one recipient with Christmas gifts -- this year, it will be Isla, who literally starts hyperventilating at the sheer amount of presents she received). At the Christmas Eve service the minister also talks about John 3:16, which leads Ash to ask Hunter questions about Christianity; ultimately (on Christmas Day) Ash places his faith in Christ (after which Eliza, the triplets' mother, also mentions how Ash and Isla are now "part of the family"). Hunter also agrees -- after negotiations with Ash -- to partner with him in the shop and keep it from closing by having Ash train apprentices.
As with Hunter and Carissa, Heather and Ash each have feelings for each other, but both struggle -- Ash mainly -- with the wide difference in their social and economic statuses. In the end, at the New Year's Eve party the two discuss the issue and agree to date each other; Heather tells Ash that what drew her to him was his love for Isla. Heather agrees that Ash will pay for the dates and they don't have to be at fancy restaurants, and furthermore (like Carissa and her diner job) Ash will continue to operate his garage.
The epilogue shows Hunter and Carissa being married (Isla -- at Rachel's request -- is a flower girl at their wedding), with Heather and Ash having dated for a week. (The third and final book of the series, Child of Hope, features Heather and Ash's wedding; they ultimately adopt Isla, while Ash's business has improved to where he has two-full time employees and two apprentices. Isla has also expanded her creative abilities to include making Christmas tree decorations, decorating cookies, and singing.)
