First of all, I want to thank the author, Tobiloba, for sharing this book with me. I was excited to read this because I have been in a bit of a reading slump recently and hoped it would help me get out of it. I must say that it did.

The story is centered around Modebire, whose world is turned upside down when her niece is in dire need of help after a terrible gas explosion. She needs sixty million naira to secure medical treatment in the UK. In the midst of the chaos her family is going through, she crosses paths with Iviande DaSliva, who also needs help—he wants a child.

Iviande offers to pay the medical fee for Modebire’s niece if she would offer him her womb as a surrogate. This immediately got me excited because, knowing that this novel is also a Christian novel, I was curious to see if I would gain insight into the author’s perspective on surrogacy or if the book would open up discussions on the moral, economic, legal and religious perspectives on surrogacy. It made me wonder what the story would reveal about the difficult choices people make when love, desperation and faith intersect.

However, the story takes another twist. It becomes a journey of healing, self-discovery and faith. Even though my expectations of how the story would or should pan out did not happen, the author writes a beautiful story of how a contract of convenience becomes a path toward healing and reconciliation. We see Iviande come to terms with his grief and find spiritual meaning as Modebire’s entrance into his life becomes pivotal in pushing him to ask questions about her Christian faith and questions about his own grief. It quietly raises the question of how often healing begins in unexpected encounters and uncomfortable questions.

While the reader is drawn to the love that blooms between Iviande and Modebire, we are not unaware that darkness looms. This part of the story gives the plot its mystery element while also revealing the personal conflicts each character carries. It reminds the reader that even the most tender moments often exist alongside unresolved pain.

The theme of family is quite prevalent in the story as Modebire makes her decisions because of her love for her family. We also see Iviande share a unique bond with his sister while navigating his relationship with his parents. Iviande’s family is wealthy, yet their struggles reveal a quiet truth: money cannot always resolve life’s deepest wounds—grief, abandonment, and betrayal. Modebire’s presence in the family can be described as what sets the tone for reconciliation, almost as though her presence becomes a quiet invitation for healing where wounds have long been ignored.

I would recommend this book to someone who seeks a story that is a mix of tragedy, love, hope, betrayal and grace. Ultimately, the author tells a story that gently reminds the reader that redemption is possible and that Jesus Christ is truly the one who redeems.