This is the first book I have read by Kate Hewitt, but I have long been a fan of books she has written under the name Katharine Swartz. The latest, The Widow’s Secret, I read in June of this year and loved. I am just thrilled to find out she has so many other books for me to discover written under the Kate Hewitt name!
When You Were Mine is an October 2020 release by Bookouture in Paperback and Digital formats.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book as a part of Bookouture’s Books-On-Tour. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. See disclosures for more detail.
About the Book:
“Dylan…” I croak, but my little boy doesn’t even look at me. “Dylan,” I say again, my voice breaking now, and the social worker gives me a reproving look. I’m not helping, but I don’t care. “Dylan!” My voice is louder now, and my gaze stays locked with my son’s as she pulls away from the curb and drives away, taking my very life with her.
Single mother Beth loves her seven-year-old son Dylan with all her heart. He’s her world. But life with Dylan isn’t easy–and his emotional issues push Beth to her very limit. When a misunderstanding leads Dylan to be taken into foster care, she is determined to do whatever she can to get him back.
Mother of two, Ally has always dreamed of fostering–it feels like her chance to give back when she has been so lucky in life. But when Dylan joins their family, Ally finds herself struggling to balance his needs with those of her own children and husband–something Beth can’t help but witness when she visits.
Beth wants nothing more than to find a way to bring her beloved child home. But where is the right home for Dylan? Is it with the mother he was born to? Or is a new mother the greatest gift Beth could give her son?
My Thoughts:
I gave this book 4/5 stars (Really Liked it!)
I started out reading this book rather reluctantly. The subject matter wasn’t one I’d typically choose, so I was hesitant. The plot centers on two women: Beth, the single mother of 7-year-old Dylan, who due to varying circumstances has been removed from her home and put into foster care; and Ally, wife and mother of two young adult children and who, along with her husband Nick, become Dylan’s foster parents.
This book drew me in from the first chapter and I literally could not put it down until I finished. The two women had such different lives and backgrounds, yet their growth throughout the novel was so realistic and heartfelt. I didn’t like Beth at first, and I related so much more to Ally since we are in similar phases of life. However both of them had trials and triumphs throughout the book that made me root for everyone’s success.
I loved the way the author portrayed “the system” and gave faces and hearts to the social workers, the psychologists, the counselors, and everyone dealing with this very complex situation. It made me stop to think about how much internal judgment I’ve passed on people I’ve known in Beth’s situation and how there is always more to the story than is shown on the surface.
This is an incredible book that is definitely a worthwhile read.
Follow the Author:
Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.Â
http://kate-hewitt.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KateHewittAuthor/
https://twitter.com/author_kate
