Lifelines by Carla Marie Headlee is a lighthearted novel about a talented thirty-year-old artist who, haunted by a dream, makes a plan and must fulfill it before her next birthday. Carrie Hojem, Creative Director at Fashions Consolidated, is experiencing maternal instincts. Since her boyfriend doesn't want kids, she dumps him. She is determined to pursue her plan, even if it means not having a child the traditional way: with a man. At her art exhibit, Carrie invites both men she recently met, an actor and a veterinarian, who are interested in dating her. Hearing the tragic story of her aunt and why she couldn't have kids, Carrie becomes more determined than ever to follow her plan. Yet something unexpected happens; a much better plan than she ever imagined presents itself, and Carrie must make a choice. Stick to the previous one or embrace the new one.

Lifelines by Carla Marie Headlee is a fresh, feel-good, and satisfyingly romantic story that nicely captures the bittersweet nuances of making a plan, sticking to it without being too desperate, and also being open to other possibilities for fulfilling it than those initially favored. It has good pacing, realistic, well-written dialogue, likable characters, and intriguing details and happenings that add depth and impact to the story. Readers craving a mature kind of love story will enjoy this book. It does not contain unnecessary cheesy lines or moments. It emphasizes the importance of having motivation and the right support in pursuing a meaningful dream. This novel is also well-suited for animal lovers.

Carla Marie Headlee's Lifelines feels like settling into a porch swing on a summer evening. At the center of the story is Carrie Hojem, a creative director in Minnesota who is quietly aching for a baby she has only met in her dreams. Headlee has built the story around this ache, and around the men who orbit Carrie’s life while she chases her dream. There is a love triangle built between her ex, Jack, a charming distraction in the form of Bruno the actor, and a veterinarian, Jake, whose steadiness slowly becomes something more. Woven through the present-day story of Carrie is a second one from World War II Norway of a young man named Einar and the woman he is desperate to protect. The two timelines feel like separate worlds at first, but by the end, you may find yourself wondering whether the past ever really lets go of the people who carry it forward.

Lifelines by Carla Marie Headlee isn't a book that grabs you by the collar. It's more like a long conversation you have with a friend who has a lot to tell you and wants you to be comfortable before she starts. I felt the pacing was slow by design. Days unfold in detail, and small domestic moments get as much room as major turning points. To me, it felt like Headlee didn't want to leave any characters behind. The Norway part of the story is where I held my breath to know what happened next, and it contrasted nicely with what was happening in the Minnesota scenes. Carrie is flawed as an individual, and that makes her more believable. You can feel her being torn between her practicality and longing. When he finally steps into the story, Jake has a warmth that earns the slow build. The characters show their faith quietly, and without making a fuss about it. Lifelines is about themes of legacy and the idea that love can take many forms across generations. If you enjoy romances woven with family sagas, a touch of history, and a story that believes in something larger than itself, this one is worth your time.

In Carla Marie Headlee’s Lifelines, Carrie Hojem, a Minneapolis creative director and painter, ends her relationship with Jack Nielson when he offers marriage but does not want children. Haunted by dreams of a brown-haired boy who calls her “Mama,” Carrie begins preparing for donor insemination with Dr. Susan Covault while protecting the quiet life she shares with her dog, Libby. Her art exhibition brings new people into her orbit, including actor Bruno Antonelli and veterinarian Jake Leonard, each offering a different version of happiness as Carrie tries to keep her plan intact. When family history, workplace changes, and an unexpected bond with Jake disrupt her chosen path, Carrie must decide what kind of future is right for the child she has already begun to love.

Carla Marie Headlee’s Lifelines is a contemporary Minneapolis romance, and the single motherhood is a unique angle that I really love. The romance elements work beautifully because of the huge amount of push and pull from both sides, and from outsiders who throw some spanners in the mix. Carrie is a strong female lead, and I think so many readers are going to understand her desire for a child, and how she projects love and hope. You know someone is going to be a prepared mom when they open their child a money market account! Headlee also gives Jake a good fleshing out, and the way he treats Carrie’s motherhood plan as real when he sees the portrait, then gives Libby, Carrie’s dog, medical attention, won me over. Well written and immersive, readers who enjoy progressive contemporary romance with a helping of chosen parenthood will adore this book. Very highly recommended.

Lifelines by Carla Marie Headlee is more than a contemporary romantic comedy; it embraces the notion that ties to family, friends, and community are lifelines that help us thrive in the good times and survive the bad. Its protagonist, thirty-one-year-old Carrie Hojem, is a successful artist and creative director whose biological clock is ticking, but she is breaking up with her latest boyfriend, Jack. Still, she is troubled by recurring dreams of a little boy who calls her Mama. These dreams inspire Carrie to seek in vitro fertilization in the hopes of making her dream come true. However, she finds that decision may be a hasty one, since not one, but two eligible men come into her life: Bruno, a drop-dead handsome actor/model, and Jake, a cute and clever veterinarian. Which man will prove to Carrie that he is the better husband and father material?

I enjoyed reading Lifelines, especially its dialogue. Author Carla Marie Headlee has a good ear for the natural rhythms of speech and a quick wit, making for lots of entertaining exchanges between her many colorful characters. Like most rom-coms, the book’s cast is diverse, and most have careers in the fashion industry, reminding me of the television series Sex and the City, though the sexual content is more sweet than steamy. However, Lifelines, to its credit, offers a more in-depth examination of family dynamics, with Carrie’s relationship with her brother Teddy being especially heartfelt. Fans of chick-lit will appreciate its complex world-building and descriptions.