Kathleen O'Brien, Christmas in Hawthorn Bay

Christmas in Hawthorn Bay

Kathleen O'Brien

Harlequin SuperRomance, November 2006, $5.50

ISBN: 0373713827

Hawthorn Bay Mayor Nora Carson knows that the city council's plan to raze Killian mansion will bring home the last person she wants to see in the world, her high school sweetheart attorney Jack Killian. Her fear is not political or even progress vs. heritage debate; instead it has to do with her eleven year old son Colin, who has the eye and hair coloring of a Killian.

When Jack meets Colin, he realizes this kid shares his DNA, though he assumes Nora is the mother from when they made love when he was drunk. However, Nora has a second secret she kept from Jack, in which he is half right about Colin's parents. He is the father, but her late best friend Maggie is the biological mother instead of her, because of a "death bed" promise made when she was nineteen and Maggie died giving birth. She fears if he learns the truth, he will take her to court in a custody battle and win, taking her beloved son from her. As he begins his inquisition, Jack realizes he still wants Nora and believes she needs him too, but something is keeping her from admitting her love for him.

This is a fine second chance at love contemporary romance that readers will enjoy, though many will doubt that pediatrician Dr. Ethan Jacobs, even out of his love for Maggie would allow what happened, including his falsifying the birth record. If you can get past the opening scene in Maine, fans will enjoy a warm tale starring two people arguing yet still in love.