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After relocating to Chamberlain, Aimee McCormack finds a kindred spirit in Jane Ross. Their sons are the same age and quickly become friends. Shortly after this first meeting, Jane invites Aimee and her son for lunch and confesses she has invited her cousin, Rob, to join them. Aimee finds the prospect of meeting him unsettling. Having moved to Chamberlain to begin a new life after an abusive marriage, she has no interest in romantic relationships. Because of her past, Aimee is filled with bitterness and mistrust. Though attracted to Rob, she suppresses her feelings and is distant in his presence. Aimee soon finds herself drawn back into the Christian faith of her youth. After she is led to confess her feelings of bitterness one Sunday at church, she begins to overcome the past, allowing herself to reimagine her future.
This novel's main theme is the ability of Christ to change those who seek his guidance. Aimee's is a story of courage, forgiveness, redemption, and, as the title states, restoration. Though the man who abused her both physically and mentally during their marriage is now dead, she hasn't let go of the fear and humiliation his abuse caused. The author uses scripture to illustrate Christian philosophy and faith, and Marr includes several quotes from the Bible. The characters are decidedly Christian, with lives reflecting a deep faith. The love story between Aimee and Rob adheres to the Christian belief in the importance of purity and chastity before marriage. The narrative demonstrates the tenets of faith by describing the characters' home life and personal readings of and reflections on scripture. For readers looking for a novel that incorporates the Christian faith within its plot and theme, this is one that delivers.