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Family Ties #3
Gift-Wrapped Family (Family Ties
A Family for Christmas
Twenty-three-year-old widow Mia Granger is shocked to learn her late husband fathered a child out of wedlock. Now the handsome lawyer representing the young orphan's adoption agency is pressing Mia to meet the girl. She's touched by how deeply Caleb Grant cares about the five-year-old, especially given his own harrowing past. But with all the betrayals in her life, Mia is scared to open her heart to anyone. When she learns she owns a lovely ranch she never knew existed, Mia wonders if it's a home meant for a family of three—just in time for Christmas.
Twenty-three-year-old widow Mia Granger is shocked to learn her late husband fathered a child out of wedlock. Now the handsome lawyer representing the young orphan's adoption agency is pressing Mia to meet the girl. She's touched by how deeply Caleb Grant cares about the five-year-old, especially given his own harrowing past. But with all the betrayals in her life, Mia is scared to open her heart to anyone. When she learns she owns a lovely ranch she never knew existed, Mia wonders if it's a home meant for a family of three—just in time for Christmas.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 17, 2015
20 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Lois Richer
130 books71 followersLois Richer made her debut in 1997 with the launch of Steeple Hill. Today, with over a dozen titles and well over half a million books in print worldwide, Richer continues to build a huge fan base through her inspirational work. Twice a finalist for the prestigious Holt Medallion — Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent — Richer has also been nominated by Romantic Times Magazine for Best Love Inspired Book of 2001. In 2002 she won second place in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest sponsored by the Faith, Hope and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA).
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 20, 2024
Can I just say- WOW THIS TROPE IS WILD!!!!!! There’s a lot going on. Definitely a neat read but it can’t be taken too seriously because it’s so unrealistic!! 🤣
Each of the three main characters have crazy life problems!
I mean, look at this list of craziness:
1. Caleb claims his Dad killed his mom (we find out later that the whole thing was an accident)
2. Mia’s husband cheated on her secretly
3. Mia’s husband has a child with another woman secretly
4. Mia’s husband DIES, leaving her now a widow
5. Mia finds out husband was actually super rich and owned ranch land
6. Lily (child of her husband and his side chick) is a cripple
CAN NO ONE HAVE A GOOD LIFE??? 🤣
So, this book wasn’t terrible, and the trope was interesting, but after just a couple chapters this story is just super boring; all talk, no action.
Caleb is trying to make Mia adopt her husband’s child that he had while secretly cheating on her!! Wild, just wild.
Mia has a lot of issues because her husband was a liar and very controlling, so Caleb is very sweet and accommodating in the beginning of the story to help her with all the legal stuff, etc.
HOWEVER, he becomes really pushy about Mia needing to meet her husband’s child, Lily, and adopt her. WOAH. It was pretty annoying and very unrealistic that Caleb wanted Mia to just up and adopt Lily out of the blue.
Also, a lot of the book was Caleb being weird about not talking to his own dad because he saw his mom die (he thinks his dad pushed her to her death), and that creates problems with him and Mia (because he thinks he could never be loved etc etc), and with him wanting to adopt Lily. He’s loved Lily for years and would love to adopt her, but his house is too small and he says he “doesn’t know how to be a dad” (because of trauma with his own dad). This was really redundantly written in the book and was therefore annoying.
Mia does a good job at getting her life back together and doing more things for herself and on her own (again, her husband was very controlling), and Caleb is cool; they have some good moments.
The ending is predictable but pretty okay. Caleb was cool in the beginning, but just got in the way, was too whiny, and too pushy about Mia adopting Lily. Also, there’s not much to like about Mia, either. She’s very bland. Lily is mediocre, too! Eh, I’ve read way better Love Inspired books before.
This book was a good, easy read for me while on vacation! I'll be leaving my copy at a Little Free Library for someone else to hopefully enjoy this holiday season! :)
Each of the three main characters have crazy life problems!
I mean, look at this list of craziness:
1. Caleb claims his Dad killed his mom (we find out later that the whole thing was an accident)
2. Mia’s husband cheated on her secretly
3. Mia’s husband has a child with another woman secretly
4. Mia’s husband DIES, leaving her now a widow
5. Mia finds out husband was actually super rich and owned ranch land
6. Lily (child of her husband and his side chick) is a cripple
CAN NO ONE HAVE A GOOD LIFE??? 🤣
So, this book wasn’t terrible, and the trope was interesting, but after just a couple chapters this story is just super boring; all talk, no action.
Caleb is trying to make Mia adopt her husband’s child that he had while secretly cheating on her!! Wild, just wild.
Mia has a lot of issues because her husband was a liar and very controlling, so Caleb is very sweet and accommodating in the beginning of the story to help her with all the legal stuff, etc.
HOWEVER, he becomes really pushy about Mia needing to meet her husband’s child, Lily, and adopt her. WOAH. It was pretty annoying and very unrealistic that Caleb wanted Mia to just up and adopt Lily out of the blue.
Also, a lot of the book was Caleb being weird about not talking to his own dad because he saw his mom die (he thinks his dad pushed her to her death), and that creates problems with him and Mia (because he thinks he could never be loved etc etc), and with him wanting to adopt Lily. He’s loved Lily for years and would love to adopt her, but his house is too small and he says he “doesn’t know how to be a dad” (because of trauma with his own dad). This was really redundantly written in the book and was therefore annoying.
Mia does a good job at getting her life back together and doing more things for herself and on her own (again, her husband was very controlling), and Caleb is cool; they have some good moments.
The ending is predictable but pretty okay. Caleb was cool in the beginning, but just got in the way, was too whiny, and too pushy about Mia adopting Lily. Also, there’s not much to like about Mia, either. She’s very bland. Lily is mediocre, too! Eh, I’ve read way better Love Inspired books before.
This book was a good, easy read for me while on vacation! I'll be leaving my copy at a Little Free Library for someone else to hopefully enjoy this holiday season! :)
Read
January 12, 2016"There are some interesting twists and a bit of mystery involved, which is not common in many Love Inspired stories. There is strong character development, particularly with some of the secondary characters. The cast portrays the impact that mistrust and bitterness can have on someone’s life" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).
Miniseries: Family Ties
Miniseries: Family Ties
November 8, 2021
I didn’t actually finish this book, after 2 chapters plus a couple pages I just cannot go on - this is without a doubt one of the worst books I have ever had the displeasure to waste time on.
From the beginning the entire back story is unbelievable, the main character is such a mess… I feel like I’m worse off for what I did read.
From the beginning the entire back story is unbelievable, the main character is such a mess… I feel like I’m worse off for what I did read.
January 3, 2021
I finished this book but it really upset me. Mia is not my kind of character, she's unbelievable as a modern day women. I've never encountered anyone like her in real life. The story was an eye roller. There's murder, theft, deception, stupidity, you can't imagine all the stupid stuff that happens in this story. You would think with so much happening this would be a great read, NOT! I skipped pages because the story was getting too outlandish. Through all of this Mia comes across as perfect, but also perfectly unbelievable.
This will probably be my last Lois Richer book if her other stories are like this one. Hard to believe people gave this more than one or two stars.
There are too many other absolutely fantastic inspirational stories available to waste time on something this awful.
I just read a term that describes Mia - TSTL -to stupid to live - thank heavens she's fictional! (had to come back and add this, it so perfectly describes Mia.)
This will probably be my last Lois Richer book if her other stories are like this one. Hard to believe people gave this more than one or two stars.
There are too many other absolutely fantastic inspirational stories available to waste time on something this awful.
I just read a term that describes Mia - TSTL -to stupid to live - thank heavens she's fictional! (had to come back and add this, it so perfectly describes Mia.)
March 8, 2018
I enjoyed this story, Mia just lost her husband and finding out that he had a child with another women and the child now was left without a mom and father. The case worker of the child found Mia and is trying to see if she would take the child so that way the child is not left with out a family. When he finally meets her and understand she has no idea and learns that someone is out to get her and harm he take it upon himself to help her and the child. Truly and amazing story.
February 22, 2021
Loved it . First time reading one of Lois's books. I cant wait to read the first 2 did not know this was a series so I got the first 2 books i bought ordered. I could not put this down. Loved everything about this book.
February 13, 2022
When a woman finds out her late husband had an out of wedlock child who is now an orphan. A lawyer shows up wanting her to be the child's guardian. Can love between them make a home for the child?
November 13, 2018
Wished I had that much faith also. Like Caleb I’m ashamed I don’t either but working on it
October 3, 2015
Gift-Wrapped Family is a Love inspired romance in the Family Ties series by Lois Richer. It takes place in Canada near Calgary. This is a great book with twists you never see coming. Even with those, it is a quick and easy read.
Lawyer Caleb Grant is confused when he goes to the address given for the widow of Harlan Granger. It is rundown and looks like it needs a tremendous amount of work. He wonders what he will find on the inside. He is here to find a place for Harlan Granger’s daughter who has lost both her parents and he is also here to talk to the widow about providing a monetary future for Lily even though she is the illegitimate daughter. Caleb knows next to nothing about the widow except that she is heir to all Harlan had. He needs her for Lily.
Mia Granger is twenty-three and as innocent and naïve as can be. She married Harlan because her Mother told her to. Harlan has told her that her Mother left lots of debts and he had to work extra hard just to pay them off. He didn’t want her to work or even to come to his work place. She knew nothing of his work or definitely nothing of his money. Either that or she is a great actress.
Caleb isn’t sure which she is at first but decides that no one could be that great of an actress. He decides Harlan duped her and her lawyer, a partner of Harlan’s, is trying to do the same and make her ill by poisoning her tea. He helps her find her own lawyer and get her feet under her. He tells himself it is all for Lily.
Will Mia agree to take Lily or to provide for her or will she see Lily as the unfortunate outcome of her husband’s cheating and have nothing to do with her? How did Harlan convince her she was a danger to children? Has Caleb seen Mia as she really is or is he duped too?
Lawyer Caleb Grant is confused when he goes to the address given for the widow of Harlan Granger. It is rundown and looks like it needs a tremendous amount of work. He wonders what he will find on the inside. He is here to find a place for Harlan Granger’s daughter who has lost both her parents and he is also here to talk to the widow about providing a monetary future for Lily even though she is the illegitimate daughter. Caleb knows next to nothing about the widow except that she is heir to all Harlan had. He needs her for Lily.
Mia Granger is twenty-three and as innocent and naïve as can be. She married Harlan because her Mother told her to. Harlan has told her that her Mother left lots of debts and he had to work extra hard just to pay them off. He didn’t want her to work or even to come to his work place. She knew nothing of his work or definitely nothing of his money. Either that or she is a great actress.
Caleb isn’t sure which she is at first but decides that no one could be that great of an actress. He decides Harlan duped her and her lawyer, a partner of Harlan’s, is trying to do the same and make her ill by poisoning her tea. He helps her find her own lawyer and get her feet under her. He tells himself it is all for Lily.
Will Mia agree to take Lily or to provide for her or will she see Lily as the unfortunate outcome of her husband’s cheating and have nothing to do with her? How did Harlan convince her she was a danger to children? Has Caleb seen Mia as she really is or is he duped too?
April 2, 2016
Family Ties
Book 3
Once again, we get to meet Abby and the wonderful organization she helped form in this small Canadian town. In this book, we meet lawyer, Caleb Grant as he goes to deliver some harsh news to Mia Granger. In the end, he saves her from evil intent that has fallen upon her. Both Caleb and Mia have issues. Mia's late husband's whole life, as she knew it, was a sham. He was actually evil. But one thing Mia cannot forget about her past is killing a three year old little boy, and her husband saved her from trouble by making her promise something that broke her heart. Caleb watched his father kill his mother. Now his father is living in the same town and he is filled with hate for his father. These issues seem to be driving them to their own tormented destinies.
Lily is a little girl in the story who is innocent in all this. She is the result of yet another evil thing Abby's late husband did to her. The little girl is now an orphan looking for a home. Both Caleb and Mia have the opportunity, yet neither feels they have a right to her.
The issue surrounding Mia seems to suddenly drop without any explanation and she does an about-face and decides to adopt Lily. I was a bit taken back by the change of heart since her "why she couldn't" was still there and unresolved...The issue surrounding Caleb and his father pulled at my heart-strings. I think the author did a great job in preaching on unforgiveness and showing us an example of just what that entails, and how we are all unworthy of unforgiveness.
Book 3
Once again, we get to meet Abby and the wonderful organization she helped form in this small Canadian town. In this book, we meet lawyer, Caleb Grant as he goes to deliver some harsh news to Mia Granger. In the end, he saves her from evil intent that has fallen upon her. Both Caleb and Mia have issues. Mia's late husband's whole life, as she knew it, was a sham. He was actually evil. But one thing Mia cannot forget about her past is killing a three year old little boy, and her husband saved her from trouble by making her promise something that broke her heart. Caleb watched his father kill his mother. Now his father is living in the same town and he is filled with hate for his father. These issues seem to be driving them to their own tormented destinies.
Lily is a little girl in the story who is innocent in all this. She is the result of yet another evil thing Abby's late husband did to her. The little girl is now an orphan looking for a home. Both Caleb and Mia have the opportunity, yet neither feels they have a right to her.
The issue surrounding Mia seems to suddenly drop without any explanation and she does an about-face and decides to adopt Lily. I was a bit taken back by the change of heart since her "why she couldn't" was still there and unresolved...The issue surrounding Caleb and his father pulled at my heart-strings. I think the author did a great job in preaching on unforgiveness and showing us an example of just what that entails, and how we are all unworthy of unforgiveness.
January 3, 2017
I've really enjoyed this series set in the fictional 'Buffalo Gap', with its occasional forays into Calgary (with which I'm somewhat familiar). I have a picture in my head of what Mayor Marsha looks like, and enjoyed seeing mentions of other characters I've come to know throughout the series.
I liked Mia. At first she seemed really wishy-washy, but, like Caleb, I soon realised that she wasn't wishy-washy on purpose . . . she just honestly had never had a chance to be an adult who made her own choices. Once she figured out that no one was going to jump at her for making a 'wrong' choice, she came into her own quite nicely, and sought God's help constantly to help her follow His plan and learn to trust again.
Lily was adorable! I loved her child-like faith and innocence. I also loved that she was fearful about some things, but determined, even at such a young age, to conquer her fears with God at her side!
Caleb. Ahh, Caleb. On the one hand, he was kind and helpful: honestly wanting what was best for both Lily and Mia. On the other hand . . . I wanted to slap him upside the head for 9/10 of the book! He really needed to get over himself, and learn to trust that God knows what He's doing!
3.5 stars
I liked Mia. At first she seemed really wishy-washy, but, like Caleb, I soon realised that she wasn't wishy-washy on purpose . . . she just honestly had never had a chance to be an adult who made her own choices. Once she figured out that no one was going to jump at her for making a 'wrong' choice, she came into her own quite nicely, and sought God's help constantly to help her follow His plan and learn to trust again.
Lily was adorable! I loved her child-like faith and innocence. I also loved that she was fearful about some things, but determined, even at such a young age, to conquer her fears with God at her side!
Caleb. Ahh, Caleb. On the one hand, he was kind and helpful: honestly wanting what was best for both Lily and Mia. On the other hand . . . I wanted to slap him upside the head for 9/10 of the book! He really needed to get over himself, and learn to trust that God knows what He's doing!
3.5 stars
August 17, 2021
Another one of those stories where Christmas doesn't make an appearance until the very end but a good story anyway.
Mia Granger, 23 and a very recent widow, has just been told by an attorney that her deceased husband had fathered a daughter by his secretary. Her husband and the secretary both died in the same car accident. Caleb Grant, is hoping he can talk Mia into adopting the little girl but Mia has been hurt so many times that she is not sure who to trust anymore. Caleb has his own history of hurts and is not inclined to let them go. These two broken people need each other and that little girl to bring them together and heal.
A good story with enjoyable characters.
Mia Granger, 23 and a very recent widow, has just been told by an attorney that her deceased husband had fathered a daughter by his secretary. Her husband and the secretary both died in the same car accident. Caleb Grant, is hoping he can talk Mia into adopting the little girl but Mia has been hurt so many times that she is not sure who to trust anymore. Caleb has his own history of hurts and is not inclined to let them go. These two broken people need each other and that little girl to bring them together and heal.
A good story with enjoyable characters.
November 17, 2015
Lois Richer does not disappoint in Gift-Wrapped Family. It is set in the area around the small town Buffalo gap. the heroine has been lied to ,cheated on and stolen from by her late husband. the story shows how things meant for bad can be used for good. the home for unwed mothers and its staff is in the background and keep you in touch with the characters from the other two books in the series Family ties but each book does well as a stand alone. It also shows how a community that looks after each other can be a blessings. It is a wonderful story that includes forgiveness and Christmas.
December 21, 2015
Gift Wrapped Family a Family Ties series by Lois Richer. Lily is a six year old girl who lost her mother and father and aunt. She has no one else. She is in foster care. Caleb Grant is a lawyer who is representing Lily. Lily's father was married to Mia Granger who knew nothing about Lily. Lily calls Caleb her Uncle Caleb since he sees a lot of her. Caleb is trying to get Mia to adopt Lily. Caleb has love issues because of back history and so does Mia. A very good story.
June 22, 2016
Read this on the kindle
I really enjoyed this book I found this by reading this as an extract at another book
You really want a good outcome for Mia after what her husband has done which is found out after his death
Caleb is a lawyer who has big issues with forgiveness to his father who he says killed his mother when he was a child
Well worth a read
I really enjoyed this book I found this by reading this as an extract at another book
You really want a good outcome for Mia after what her husband has done which is found out after his death
Caleb is a lawyer who has big issues with forgiveness to his father who he says killed his mother when he was a child
Well worth a read
November 24, 2016
Both main characters in this one, Mia and Caleb, have serious trust and/or forgiveness problems they must work through, so the plot was more predictable than most. I enjoyed reading it, and the little girl, Lily, was adorable! It definitely showed how much holding a grudge can affect our lives.
Read
January 12, 2016received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: Family Ties
Miniseries: Family Ties
December 12, 2015
I love this book! It is heart warming and I was happy Mia adopted aand found love again with Caleb!This is a great story
April 29, 2016
Best in the Family Ties series.
November 15, 2016
This was a beautiful story of forgiveness n starting over. Loves the characters. My heart melted for Lily. Wonderful ending. Wasn't very christmasy but still a good book.
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