This story is about a woman who came from a poor family; her marriage was certainly not a Cinderella story, but she took every opportunity to rise above the obstacles confronting her. This makes her story so inspiring. "The Unexpected" is a familial saga told from the perspective of a great-granddaughter. The nonfictional novel makes truth stranger than fiction as a very young woman encounters adulthood far too early and meanders her way through life. This book is such a page-turner and easy read that captivates the reader and takes them to that time and place. To know Amanda really existed and the impact that her life has had on future generations really presents God's amazing grace and how it is exhibited in this family and absolutely gives us hope for our own.