Jamie Sobrato, A Forever Family

A Forever Family

Jamie Sobrato

Harlequin SuperRomance, Jan 2009, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373715367

Following her divorce from her Nob Hill banker husband seeking spirituality in Tibet, architect Emmy Van Amsted and her son move into her family's vacation home in Promise Lake, California. She vowed no men besides her family, but is taken aback when her Stanford University sweetheart, military peacekeeper Aidan Caldwell is also residing in the cottage at the invitation of her father. Emmy is a bit abashed because she dumped Aidan to marry her now ex spouse.

Emmy is outraged that she and her son are consigned to the one-room guest cottage as Aidan has the main house. However, she begins to change her mind when she realizes Aidan suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder following his captivity as a war hostage. Emmy feels she owes Aidan whose proposal she rejected and helps him regain his equilibrium even as she concludes she still loves her former lover.

The subplots involving a hidden treasure and a seemingly ghost serve as background to a wonderful second chance at love romance. The key theme of the story line is the basic need to belong with being loved and to love the prime elements. Aidan knows first hand the horrors of war as he has described in 'From Through a Soldier's Eyes,' but that writing has not freed him from his nightmares; Emmy's love has though he fears she will leave again; and watching her with her son are the keys to give him hope, something he lost overseas. This is a strong character driven tale though some might insist love cannot heal all wounds; others like Aidan will counter with it helps.

Harriet Klausner