Leah Kurtz has finally found a place to call home, a town where she and baby Addy can live in peace, far from the drug-infested place she grew up. Chris is one of the best parts of her new life, the only person who’s ever made her feel safe. And now that she’s found him, there’s no way she can tell the truth:
Her real name is Faith, not Leah. She’s seventeen, not nineteen. And the baby isn’t hers—Faith kidnapped her.
Faith’s history catches up with her when a cop starts asking questions and Chris’s aunt spots her picture in the newspaper. She knows it’s time to run again, but if Faith leaves, she’ll lose Chris. If Chris is in love with a lie, though, did Faith ever really have him in the first place?
My Thoughts:
I hate my life. I want out of it so bad, I think I might die sometimes.
To say Faith's home life is miserable would be an understatement. Her mum is the poster child for dysfunction. She is addicted to drugs, takes no active role in caring for her children and has just fallen pregnant with a baby that she will give to another couple. Not because she has a good kind heart, but for the money they have agreed to pay her. The couple is as equally as dysfunctional as her. She couldn't really care less about the baby as she continues to take drugs and smoke throughout the whole pregnancy. Yes, she's a nice piece of work. So Faith comes up with a plan. She's going to take the baby in the hope of giving her a better life.
I look down at the baby in my arms. Dark blue eyes. Brown fuzzy hair. Red, puffy cheeks. "Addy," I whisper.
Once you name it, it's yours.
Someone said that once.
I don't remember who, but it's true. I named her. She's mine.
So when Addy is born, they flee town. Faith becomes Leah and she passes Addy off as her own. Needing somewhere to live, Leah rents a room from Chris and his father. Chris has secrets of his own. Secrets that he's not quick to share. But as he lets Leah into his life more and more the guilt that Leah feels for all the lies she's telling Chris slowly starts to eat away at her. Will she tell Chris the truth? And what will Chris do once he learns the lies that have been told?
The premise of Leap of Faith was one that I hadn't read before in a Young Adult book. And while the story centres around the kidnapping of Addy it's done in a way that you are completely on Leah's side. I found myself praying that things would work out for her, but as the story goes on it looked more and more like her actions were going to catch up with her and my heart was in my throat for a good chunk of the book. I loved experiencing the journey of Leah feeling like a part of a family when she was with Chris. She's had such a hard life and I just wanted her to feel loved and wanted.
Chris was an amazing character. He was so quick to help Leah and to become a big part in Addy's day to day life. He was so incredibly loving and caring. What a huge responsibility for someone his age to take on but he did it with such ease.
His eyes meet mine. I see myself in them. Not just my reflection. He's giving me everything I desperately need. And I'm giving him something too. But I have no idea what. I just know that I can see it in his eyes, the yearning to keep me there with him, to keep us with him.
Leah and Chris seemed to have an instant connection. Chris just seemed to be drawn to Leah. And while their romance developed quickly it also seemed very natural despite the things that Leah is keeping from him.
Leap of faith was an amazing story of strength, love and determination. A really well written read with a killer of an ending, although I have heard that there will be a novella to come in the future. If you love YA Contemporary romance then I would highly recommend Leap of Faith.
4.5/5 Sweet Chris Stars
Author Bio:
Jamie Blair spent most of her teen years
choreographing moves for her dance team routines, kissing boys on the couch
after her mom went to bed, and pondering the mood enhancement qualities of
Lemon Heads when consumed with Diet Coke. Writing under Kelli Maine,
she's the USA Today bestselling author of Taken. Leap of Faith is her debut New
Adult novel.
Author Links:
For a chance to win a Lord of the Strings T-Shirt, a Leap of Faith hardback and a Leap of Faith guitar pick, head on over to Jamie's website HERE
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