Books like Babe in the Woods by Pamela Bauer

Brendan Millar is determined to spend a quiet summer alone in the woods of northern Minnesota, hoping to weigh his decision about joining the priesthood. His plans are interrupted when Dani Taylor, a striking woman with her own questions, arrives and instantly captures his attention. Compounding the tension, Brendan’s teenage niece, a runaway who is unexpectedly pregnant, shows up as well, bringing an urgent unborn child into the equation. As the summer unfolds, Brendan finds himself torn between the path he has known all his life and the possibilities that Dani and his niece reveal. He must finally decide whether to follow his long‑stood vocation, embrace a new relationship with Dani, or face the responsibilities of the unborn child. Themes of faith, love, family, and choice weave through this contemporary story set in rural Minnesota, exploring how unexpected encounters can upend long‑planned lives.

First publish date: 1998