"Realistic story with real characters!"

After ten long years, Matt "Harley" Nelson is back to claim his son, Brandon. Lauren Worthington cannot believe he's back after running out on her pregnant older sister, Audra ten long years ago. Lauren's parents are in Europe but Lauren feels like she's been Brandon's surrogate mother since Audra died in a car accident. Heck, Lauren practically raised Brandon anyway since Audra had always been the wild child in the family.

Lauren thinks Harley is really there for more money since her father paid him off ten years ago and told him to get out and stay out of Audra and their unborn child's life. All Harley wants is to take an active part in his son's life and get to know him. He's been working very hard building up his business and now he's ready to take charge.

Lauren doesn't know what to do. Can Harley really be that changed or will he breeze in and breeze out of Brandon's life breaking his heart like Audra's was broken? Only time will tell.

I was glued to this book. It was so entrancing that I read it in one sitting. I connected to the characters because they were very real and I found myself caring what would happen to them. Brandon was just a sweetie and all he wanted was to know about his dad. Lauren's dilemma was whether to let him get to know his dad or not. She was like a mother bear with her cub. I could tell that she couldn't have loved Brandon any more if he were her very own child. This may have been the first book by Brenda Novak that I've read but it certainly won't be my last!

Reviewed by Kathy Boswell
Posted May 1, 2002

Summary

He's a man from the past--and a man with a past...

When Harley Nelson got on his motorcycle and drove out of Portland, Oregon, ten years ago, he left behind a bad reputation--and a baby. Audra Worthington was the reason for both. Well, the baby, anyway. The reputation he already had. It's why rich girl Audra fell for him in the first place.

Now Audra's dead. His son, Brandon, is being raised by her family--good girl Lauren, the perfect daughter, and her uncompromising parents. But Harley's a self-made success down in California and he's ready to take responsibility for his son.

She's a woman who knows trouble when she sees it...

And Harley Nelson's rouble. He's shown up at her door, saying he wants to get to know his son--ten years too late, in Lauren's opinion. Too bad he didn't stick by her sister, Audra, when he got her pregnant. (At least, that's the story Lauren's always heard.) And too bad he still looks so good in that black leather jacket...