Monday, September 13, 2010

Calling the Shots-Ellen Hartman

Calling the Shots
Ellen Hartman
Harlequin SuperRomance, Oct 12 2010, $5.50
ISBN: 9780373716654

Bryon James is struggling to make a family with his thirteen year old daughter Allie after his ex wife and her mom dumped her to go on tour. Allie enjoys ice hockey and plays for the Twin Falls Cowboys team in a coed league. She and teammate Tim Sampson got in a brawl destroying property at the rink but as Coach Danny says no one was seriously hurt. Due to the fight, Bryon who was late to pick her up after practice meets Tim’s Clare Sampson.

Clare is fuming as Allie started the fight, blackened Tim’s eye, and this is not her first assault on her son. She says she will file a police report, which angers Bryon as they exchange insults. Danny suggests instead of cops and lawyers to use the community mediation program. They reluctantly agree. As they attend the seminar, Bryan and Clare are attracted to one another once they get passed their initial hostility. However, each has emotional baggage keeping them apart as he remains angry at his former wife and she never moved pass the death of her sister.

The lead quartet make this an interesting family drama as each has emotional problems to contend with that becomes further complicated by the adult attraction. Calling the Shots will engage readers through three periods with a warm deep look at overcoming personal issues.

Harriet Klausner

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