A Mother's Gift

Charlotte Hubbard celebrates the joys and challenges of motherhood in this inspirational novel set in the warmth and tradition of an Amish Missouri farm community.   As a young girl, Leah Otto was captivated by Jude Shetler’s good looks and talent as an auctioneer. So when Jude, now a widower with three children, begins to court her, Leah doesn’t hesitate. Other men may not appreciate her tomboy ways, but Jude values Leah’s practical nature and her skill with the animals she tends, and both enter the marriage with optimism. Yet three months later, Leah feels as if her world is coming down around her.   Her twin teenage step-daughters are pushing far too many boundaries, while the five-year-old deeply misses his mother. Leah, more at ease in a barn than a kitchen, struggles with her housekeeping duties. . . . Then a baby is abandoned on their doorstep. Caring for the infant renews Leah’s strength to pull her family together. With Jude’s steadfast support, Leah finds that what she once thought of as a happy ending may be something even better—the beginning of a life rich in love, faith, and unexpected blessings.   “A satisfying story of belonging, love of family, and love for God.”  —Booklist   “Hubbard writes heartfelt books with a message.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 stars   “Thought-provoking and fresh.”   —Publishers Weekly