This one got bumped to the top of the stack when HERETIC QUEEN by Michelle Moran didn't arrive in time. I'm glad because it's been a hectic last couple of weeks between launching MANIC KNIGHT into queryland and starting the new school year with little darlings. I needed a feel-good, down-home American romance and Karen Templeton never fails to deliver.
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Nine years before the story starts, Winnie was a confused and frightened 18 year old, pregnant and with no loving support from the sperm donor, uh, I mean boyfriend or family. Her own parents died when she was a child and her grandmother was not the warm, fuzzy type. Anyway, she made the gut-wrenching decision to place her baby for adoption. A lovely couple more than ready to be parents, Aiden and June, adopted her baby boy. A year before the story starts, June passes away, leaving husband and son grief-stricken. And neither of them are too good at dealing with their grief together.
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Winnie's unfuzzy grandmother passes away and the loss makes her want to see her son, just to see him. So, she travels down and finds a place to stay, only to discover the place is owned by Aiden.
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Aiden is shocked by Winnie's arrival and terrified she means to take his son, named Robbie, away from him. He hides his terror behind a gruff exterior.
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Winnie keeps her word and doesn't tell Robbie she's his birthmother and is glad to finally meet him. It's gut-wrenching to let go again, but she honors her committment and prepares to leave. Providentially, her truck breaks down on the way out and Aiden comes to the rescue.
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In a rare departure from the Romance novel formula, not only is there a child involved in this romance, but he also gets his own Point-of-View, which I, the resident Baby Fanatic, enjoyed very much. He misses Mom, of course, and feels like he can't talk about it or cry around Dad. At first, he's annoyed by Winnie's presence, but she's so easy to talk to he warms right up. This terrifies Dad even more, of course.
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I thought it was funny when Winnie explains to the housekeeper why she isn't married yet. It's because there aren't enough single guys in her small town. I had this problem too and moved to Alaska. Winnie needs to move too, but moving out of one's comfort zone is too hard for some people to do. With a broken down truck, she doesn't have much choice while Aiden struggles with having her still be there and also being attracted to her. One thing leads to another and I'll leave it there.
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The beauty of Karen Templeton's contemporary romance is it always feels so real, like it could happen to you, if it hasn't already, and or to a couple of your best friends. It always *real.* In Real Life, people often fail to make their Happily Ever After work, but in Karen Templeton's novels they always do. The Heat Level is Sensual, very natural, and all that. In case you haven't noticed Karen Templeton is one of those authors who can send me an ARC or a book without even asking or hinting, and I'll be delighted to read and review it.
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If you like A MOTHER'S WISH, you should certainly check out Karen Templeton's other books. She's got a lot of 'em. Just pop over to her website. http://www.karentempleton.com/ SWEET SENSATION by Gwyneth Bolton is similar to this one, because there's a child involved and she gets her own Point-of-View.
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