Debra Salonen, The Quiet Child

The Quiet Child

Debra Salonen

Harlequin American, November 2006, $4.99

ISBN: 0373751435

With Christmas approaching, Alex Radonovic, head of Dancing Hippo Day Care and Preschool, feels her loneliness, as her three sisters (see "Sisters of the Silver Dollar" tales) have found their loved ones. She found hers several years ago, but her then fianc Mark Gaylord ended their relationship when he admitted to her that he cheated on her with his police force partner Tracey, who became pregnant. He married Tracey, and Alex heartbroken, moved on. Still, she will get through this season as she did Mark.

Shockingly, a desperate and divorced Mark visits Alex at her preschool asking for her help. He wants her to work with his depressed son Braden, who he thinks might have been abused or neglected by Tracey. Alex prefers nothing to do with her betrayer, who broke her heart with the proof of his infidelity. That is until she sees sad Braden and thinks the sins of the father should not be borne by the son. Mark knows immediately how much he lost when he lost the caring, loving Alex, but will do nothing towards a second chance because Braden must come first.

Braden will steal readers' hearts as she does Alex and Mark. The audience will hope nurturing him with love will help this young lost soul. Alex is a fascinating character, who though hurt badly by Mark, not only successfully moved on with her life, reaches out to Braden; fans of the miniseries already know she has a heart of gold. Though Tracey is too over the edge with her emotional and physical woes, including drug dependency, readers will enjoy this well written second chance at love, with inadvertently, a sad child serving as a matchmaker.