One Of A Kind Dad-Daly Thompson

One Of A Kind Dad
Daly Thompson
Harlequin American, Aug 2009, $4.99
ISBN: 9780373752768

Lilah Jameson accompanied by her young son Jonathan flees before her abusive ex spouse Bruce just released from prison, kills her as she turned him in for his fraudulent practices. In Serenity Valley, Vermont, they meet kindhearted veterinarian Daniel Foster who is a dedicated foster father to four needy boys. He wants to give them what he never found as a kid until in a Vermont Juvie hall he met and forged a family with his “brothers” Ian and Mike; like the Dean Martin song Everybody Needs Somebody so he will be there for frightened deserted kids like Nick.

Daniel recognizes the signs of a troubled past for mom and son, but hires Lilah anyway as housekeeper to his boys. Although attracted to the frightened Lilah, Daniel is cautious as he does not want to frighten his nervous housekeeper as he senses not much would send Lilah over the edge. As he falls in love ands want his housekeeper and her son to be part of his family; she wants the same, but expects a life on the run instead of her new fantasy of being a soccer mom and wife but she will not allow harm to come to the vet or his kids that she now thinks of as their kids.

This is a one of a kind psychological romantic suspense tale with the actual suspense coming late, yet readers will feel the tension throughout as Lilah knows he is coming. The story line is character driven as much by the kids especially her son who believes his dad is dead and Nick as it is the lead couple. All five youngsters seem real with deep differing fears though the older teens are adjusting to life. Daly Thompson provides a winner as the shadowy boogieman (Lilah’s descriptions of her ex-husband) is coming for his wife and child.

Harriet Klausner