Books & Spoons Review for A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS by Joan Kilby

When Mia Tempesta goes into labor during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve, she stumbles into Will Jackson's cherry packing shed. As a war widow, she's lost everything–her husband, her home, and her job. But when Will, a caring stranger, delivers her beautiful baby boy into her arms, she has hope for a brighter future. 

After being betrayed and dumped by his long-time girlfriend, Will’s dreading the holidays, but when he helps deliver Mia’s son on Christmas morning, he gains a renewed purpose in life. The beautiful Mia and her child tug on his protective heart strings and he finds himself longing to help. They fight their growing attraction–Will’s on the rebound and Mia is still grieving. Will their reckless passion end in heartbreak? 

Can two damaged hearts find healing and happiness? One Christmas baby might just be the miracle they need to love again.

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This story got me with its originality. It is an emotional and tough journey of forgiveness, learning from the past and letting it go, and allowing yourself to fall in love, to live fully and trust your heart to lead your way. 
The story gives us a look at the life of Mia Tempesta and Will Jackson for a year. During that year, from Christmas to Christmas, little Billy is born, Mia is trying to find a new job, new home, learn to be a single mom, and handle the overbearing in-laws, get over the betrayal and problems she had with her husband, and adjust to the feelings growing inside her towards Will. Will is recovering from the ten-year on-and-off-again relationship with his high school girlfriend and the disappointments that followed. 
There is a lot that happens in the story, the emotions are high, and changes are plentiful. I liked the characters, Will's family is a hoot, their drunken Christmas celebration had me laughing, the weed growing was a bit awkward, yet the support and acceptance were admirable. Will himself is a kind, generous, and considerate. His heart is golden, and it seems to shine to Mia and Billy. 
Mia is a tough lady. She champions for her baby, the marriage left her broken and broke, yet she is not giving up. She has her issues to be dealt with and she works on them on her own time, a time that is given to her, hence the one-year time frame on the story.
I liked the story, the characters, and the little town they lived in. It is realistic and real-life like, the struggles are true and known to many. The situations they face, unemployment, homelessness, and leaning on the support of relatives are everyday occurrences across the world, and easy to relate to on that level. 
As an escape-reader, the story was too realistic to me to absolutely love it, but I do recognize the real and raw struggle Mia and Will goes through to find their place in the world, and admire their gumption to go after what they want. 
~ Four Spoons 

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Joan Kilby is the award-winning author of thirty contemporary romance novels. Originally from Canada, Joan studied to be a marine biologist and worked for many years in the field of environmental biology. In mid-life she returned to her first love--writing--and never looked back. These days Joan lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children. She loves to cook and grows her own herbs, fruit and vegetables. Other interests include hiking, yoga and travel. She once spent six months sailing the South Pacific on a fifty-five foot sailboat built and skippered by her father. Joan belongs to Toastmasters International and is an accomplished speaker--teaching romance writing and giving talks to community organizations. When she’s not working on her latest book she can often be found in a sidewalk café, sipping a latte and indulging in her favorite occupation--people watching.

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