Aged out of the foster care system and struggling to raise her young daughter, Lucia Roberts loses her only source of income. When she’s offered a position caring for a four-year-old foster child, Timothy, it feels like the answer to a prayer-except for one catch. She must work in the home of Jordan Nowak, Timothy’s overly vigilant foster father who scrutinizes her every move.

Jordan has built his life around one promise: protect a foster child until they can find a happily ever after. But while Jordan fights to keep Timmy safe, his own world spirals out of control. The music store he co-owns with his brother is on the brink of bankruptcy after months of mismanagement. Torn between protecting Timmy, saving the store, and guarding his heart, Jordan grasps for any possibility to fix it all.

Mason Hughes is in his final year of medical school, on rotation under a difficult neurologist, and doubting his call to be a doctor. As the walls between Lucia and Jordan soften, Timmy starts displaying puzzling symptoms. Soon Mason must choose whether he trusts his medical instincts enough to fight an ethical battle.

As three adults seek control in their lives, a young child with no guarantees teaches them to trust.

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About the Author

Winner of the 2025 Faith Hope and Love Reader’s Choice Award, Carrie Walker lives in Michigan with her husband and seven children. From her ten years serving as a high school youth minister, adventures around the globe, and raising a family, many stories have been knit within her heart.

As an avid reader she pens what she loves to read, contemporary stories that bring hope to a hurting world. Weaving romance among story lines of characters in struggle, she aims to show God working in all situations. When she’s not playing board games with her husband, shuttling kids in the Walker bus or wishing for snow, Carrie can be found at the keyboard bringing those stories to life.

Carrie’s writing has been recognized in many contests. Her debut novel, Emma’s Hero, won the silver medal in the Selah Awards, won the IAN Book of the Year for Christian Fiction, was a double finalist in the International Book Awards.

More from Carrie

Where did you get the idea for “Someone to Lean On”

I’m asked this for every story, and this one I can definitely say the characters gave me no choice, I had to write it. When I envisioned this series, I always envisioned a three-book series where we would meet a “special” little boy in the first book and follow the lives he touched, and by the end of the series see the far-reaching effects of his life. When I finished writing “Right Before Their Eyes” we left Lucia as a pregnant foster teen. She’d found an amazing foster mom to support her, but what happened to her and her baby? In talking with social workers I learned so many foster teens age out and while there are some programs to help support them, they aren’t easy. So of course, Lucia’s story wasn’t over. And the story, as many of ours are, wasn’t all easy, but it also was filled with blessing. Many of her struggles, she gave to me (yeah… the characters talk to me lol, and many times just take over their stories), I didn’t have to dream them up. I’m sure many of us pray, read Scripture, and want to trust God. But then … life. Sometimes life sure makes those desires difficult to live out. And to watch this young woman grow through tough times, still have a heart, and eventually find the strength to step out in faith . . . I’m so glad she made me write this story 🙂 I pray you enjoy Lucia and Jordan’s story, and also step back and reflect on the far reaching effect of each human life.

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