Jamie Sumner has written for The Washington Post, Scary Mommy and other publications. She is a reviews editor for Literary Mama. She has a son diagnosed with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and cerebral palsy, and boy/girl twins. You can find her at www.mom-gene.com.

What People Are Saying

Editorial Reviews

“Jamie takes us all on her journey of faith, hope, determination, and courage. Her personal stories, interwoven with women from the Bible, allow us to understand how our own ‘paths’ and struggles are similar to theirs. She does so with quick wit, clever insight, and a true sense of understanding that, at the heart of it all, God is in control. She reminds us to stay in the present and appreciate the moments of our lives. I love her quote: ‘There was a reason. I didn’t see any of that in the moment, but I see it now. I see the tangled mess that turned into a safety net which brought our son into this world.'”

—Chantai Snellgrove, Founder/Publisher, Parenting Special Needs Magazine

“When the body suddenly betrays expectation, Jamie Sumner pitches into both doubt and action, asking God and science to bring her the child she yearns for. The author invites us into the exclusive world of fertility treatments and NICUs, shattering ultrasounds and difficult phone calls. Funny, self-deprecating and familiar as a gal pal, she is as likely to casually mention Sarah and Hagar as Care Bears and “Lost”. Sumner uses her own story as an allegory to illuminate both faith and its conjoined sister, doubt. She draws readers in with guided meditations, making the book part memoir, part interactive study, all engaging and bittersweet.”

—Camille-Yvette Welsch, Reviews editor at Literary Mama, author of Full

“As a woman who’s struggled with infertility for over four years, I felt such a connection to Jamie and her story through reading this work of love. There’s something crazy about this world of trying-to-conceive that no one tells you about: the friendships you make through sharing the mutually exhaustive trials and tribulations of infertility. I believe there’s a reason for everything in my heart of hearts, and as I come off my second FET with no bump yet to show, I know there is a reason God brought me to Jamie to review this book-to remind me as she so eloquently put, ‘God has a plan He’s already stitched it together for you and it is masterful and, lucky for all of us, already complete.’
So, to my fellow #ttcsisters, if you’re looking for a friend on this bumpy ride, I would definitely recommend cozying up with UNBOUND to laugh, cry, and seek that friend who gets you during this trying time. You are not alone, and Jamie will remind you of that!”

—Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CLT, Fertility Nutrition Expert, writer for Self and Fit Pregnancy, founder of BumpstoBaby.com, Co-Author Fertility Foods Cookbook

“Eloquent and inspiring, UNBOUND connects modern-day motherhood with the stories of women found throughout scripture. Jamie Sumner peels back the outer layers of her own journey though infertility and raising children with special needs, and exposes heart-warming and relatable accounts of hardship, perseverance, and growth. Sumner sings truth and encouragement, grounded in biblical verses, reminding us all to stay present through this beautifully complicated season of raising tiny humans.”

—Kristin M. Helms, author of From Boardroom to Baby: A Roadmap for Career Women Transitioning to Stay-At-Home Moms

“Jamie Sumner approaches the ups and downs of motherhood with honesty and wit, making us all feel a little better about the job we’re doing…while at the same time inspiring us through the fact that we’re not alone. Women through history — from the ancient Old Testament to now — have all struggled to find the balance of their identity in Christ and as mothers. This book is balm for our souls.”

— Kate Etue, co-author of The Essential Five: A Grown-Up Girl’s Handbook for Everything

“With grace, honesty, humor, and an uncanny ability to braid her story seamlessly with biblical examples, Jamie Sumner shares a deeply personal, tender, and yet arduous journey into motherhood. Hers isn’t a straight, freshly paved path. No. There are pot holes and U-turns, road blocks and red lights. But these obstacles are only part of the story. UNBOUND is really about yielding to a plan different than one’s own. It’s about yielding to a God who knows us and loves us, and leads us on the path everlasting. This isn’t just Jamie’s story. It’s everyone’s. I cried at the end of this book.”

—Gillian Marchenko, author of Sun Shine Down: A Memoir and Still Life: A Memoir of Living Fully with Depression

“Jamie Sumner is a writer of words women need to read.Women will joyfully cheer that in Unbound, Sumner talks about the little—discussed realities of infertility and miscarriage. She then takes us forward through the getting and the appreciation of motherhood. Brilliantly, she ties together her stories with those of biblical females and makes all of us moms find freedom from our unrealistic expectations as we claim our God-given strength. This is a joy of a read.”

—Sarah Philpott, PhD, author of Loved Baby: 31 Devotions Helping You Grieve and Cherish Your Child After Pregnancy Loss