Present Day Salt Lake City

Four-year-old Alyssa is the sole survivor of a horrendous car accident that occurred on the interstate freeway and where both of her newly adoptive parents perished. Helen Carstairs, a social worker at the hospital, is faced with the difficult task of finding a home for the orphan. She has been informed that because the child is bi-racial, she will be put into foster care. Helen knows all things are possible if you trust in God.

Kelly and Jason Moore are a young married couple. Jason is an internist at the local hospital, and Kelly works as a paralegal. Both feel blessed with their life; the only thing lacking is a child. That is about to change.

Helen not only works with Jason at the hospital, but is also a member of Jason and Kelly’s church. When Jason speaks with her, he learns that the child will be put into foster care. Jason realizes that God has answered his prayers for a child. Now he must convince Kelly that this is right thing to do.

Although Jason is drawn to Alyssa, Kelly cannot help but feel hesitant about adopting a child; she has some dark secrets in her past that may come back to haunt her. Yet when Kelly meets Alyssa and spends time with her, she agrees to go ahead with the adoption. Kelly feels a strong connection to Alyssa -- is this coincidence?

ADOPTING AYLSSA is a lovely story. This young couple is very much in love, but they will not only have the adoption of a child to deal with, but Kelly’s secret of what happened to her years ago. Will they learn to turn to their faith as they meet the roadblocks that are thrown up in front of them? Can these secrets destroy their relationship? The secondary characters compliment the story. Mrs. Carstairs is a source of strength for Kelly and Jason, as well as her best friend, Gina, who introduced Kelly to Jason. Kelly’s mother re-appears after a fourteen-year absence, but is only looking for forgiveness and a place in Kelly, Alyssa, and Jason’s life.

ADOPTING AYLSSA is well written and will keep the reader riveted. The author has touched on the foster care system and the joy of adoption, which can be a challenge that will test many young couples; it can destroy a marriage or make it stronger. The theme of this book is faith, pure and simple, and this young couple’s desire to live a life based on their faith.

This is a delight to read. Enjoy.

Deborah C Jackson