The best we've been

Three sisters overcome personal differences and rediscover family bonds in the excellent finale to Vogt's Thatcher Sisters series (after Moments We Forget). Eldest sister Johanna is unexpectedly pregnant and, unmarried and not ready for a baby, plans to get an abortion--but hearing the baby's heartbeat and seeing ultrasound pictures cause her to have second thoughts. Middle sister Jillian, who is infertile, overhears Johanna discussing the pregnancy with their youngest sister, Payton, and the news devastates her. A new believer, Jillian has been begging God for a child and pleads with Johanna to allow her to adopt the baby, but Johanna decides to raise the child herself. Jillian then runs away across the country to stay with a friend. Meanwhile, Johanna navigates a cordial relationship with her unfaithful former fiancé, deals with her runaway sister, and copes with prenatal medical complications. Being pregnant also forces her to revisit her past and reconsider long-held beliefs. Vogt paints a realistic portrait of a messy family struggling to deal with the pressures and pains of life. Series fans will be overjoyed by how things wrap up. (May)

Joanna Thatcher's life is all about control; after all, she knows how painful it can be to let her guard down. When she discovers she is pregnant, the ability to maintain control takes on a whole new meaning. Though she isn't close to her sisters, a fragile friendship begins when her secret is revealed. Complexities surrounding her family, her job, and her decision to let the baby's father play a role all collide when she learns that the baby's life and hers might be in danger. As all three sisters struggle with their faith, God weaves their lives together, healing old wounds and opening up doors in their relationships with one another and those they love. When Joanna is forced to remain in the hospital for her last few weeks of the pregnancy, she learns to surrender control and finally let others inside the wall she had so carefully constructed. VERDICT Vogt rounds out the "Thatcher Sisters" trilogy with this last installment. All three siblings realize the strength in family and faith as the story unfolds. Best read in order; readers who enjoy authors Karen Kingsbury and Lori Wick will love the Thatcher sisters.--Jane Blue, Northumberland P.L., Heathsville, VA