A Place Called Home
Jo Goodman
Zebra, Dec 6 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780821774182
Five years ago at the Christening of their newborn twins (Case and Grant), Gabe and Kathryn Reasoner asked their friends businesswoman Thea Wyndham and political cartoonist Mitchell Baker to be legal guardians to the babies and their oldest offspring (then six year old Emilie). Thea and Mitchell agree signing the document as neither expected to ever end in that role.
However, the horrible accident happens with both Reasoner parents dead. Thea insults Mitch by offering him money to go solo as parenting paralyzes her; he tells her where to place her money. Her fiancé Joel and his fiancée Gina put pressure on each of them to dump the kids on the other. Having been in charge of them for a month while Thea remained incognito, Mitch demands she get involved in honor of Gabe who selected her. She soon realizes the children need her and Mitch, and both realize they need each other.
The theme of “unfit” guardians falling in love with each other and the children they raise has been used frequently (see A Kiss for Cade by Lori Copeland and The Redemption of Sarah Cain by Beverly Lewis). However, Jo Goodman makes her entry fresh with a deep yet amusing look at changing extended relationships in a modern somewhat upper class setting (the significant others are old money). The cast is terrific as the lead couple struggle with the demands of their hearts, the twins and their future mates; but none put on the pressure quite like Emilie who is summed up by Mitch as a victim of an adult body snatcher with her pod in the basement. Readers will enjoy this modern take on a newly forged in love family.
Harriet Klausner
Jo Goodman
Zebra, Dec 6 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780821774182
Five years ago at the Christening of their newborn twins (Case and Grant), Gabe and Kathryn Reasoner asked their friends businesswoman Thea Wyndham and political cartoonist Mitchell Baker to be legal guardians to the babies and their oldest offspring (then six year old Emilie). Thea and Mitchell agree signing the document as neither expected to ever end in that role.
However, the horrible accident happens with both Reasoner parents dead. Thea insults Mitch by offering him money to go solo as parenting paralyzes her; he tells her where to place her money. Her fiancé Joel and his fiancée Gina put pressure on each of them to dump the kids on the other. Having been in charge of them for a month while Thea remained incognito, Mitch demands she get involved in honor of Gabe who selected her. She soon realizes the children need her and Mitch, and both realize they need each other.
The theme of “unfit” guardians falling in love with each other and the children they raise has been used frequently (see A Kiss for Cade by Lori Copeland and The Redemption of Sarah Cain by Beverly Lewis). However, Jo Goodman makes her entry fresh with a deep yet amusing look at changing extended relationships in a modern somewhat upper class setting (the significant others are old money). The cast is terrific as the lead couple struggle with the demands of their hearts, the twins and their future mates; but none put on the pressure quite like Emilie who is summed up by Mitch as a victim of an adult body snatcher with her pod in the basement. Readers will enjoy this modern take on a newly forged in love family.
Harriet Klausner
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