The Innocent

Follow the Occhialini family-who lives in Sunnyvale, California-as they navigate the highs and lows of autism together. From standout author Joseph F Montoya, experience a relatable family saga full of love and heartbreak.

Maria Occhialini is a single mother working two jobs as she struggles to take care of beautiful, autistic daughter Gina and hot-headed Rocco.

Gina is a difficult child; while she's a good girl, she has trouble distinguishing between right and wrong. To complicate the family's lives, boys and men cannot resist her charms. Gina loves this attention and doesn't understand the risks and dangers that come with the sometimes unwanted attention.

With their mother working around the clock, the role of protector has fallen to Rocco, Gina's younger brother who is more like a parent to her.

When Maria asks young priest Father Joseph Donnelly to help Gina navigate through her problems, the priest accidentally falls for Gina like the many men before him have. As he contemplates his love for her and his love for God on a road trip back to his hometown, he gets into a terrible accident and loses his memory.

Following the accident, both the family and Father Donnelly struggle to make sense of their "after," navigating new life changes and reconciling the past with their needs.

Perfect for readers of contemporary family fiction, The Innocent tells a wholesome family story that has good and bad, just like life.