"An intriguing contemporary relationship drama"

In 1987 Hyde Point, New York, Mrs. Mason dumps her daughter Darcy at the Serenity Home for troubled girls as suggested by law enforcement officials. Darcy pleads for her mother to give her one last chance, but she walks away leaving her child there for seven months.

Fifteen years later, Darcy is so well behaved she has no fun. She raises her two precocious preadolescents by herself and runs Tender Time Day Care. Hunter Sloan has just moved back to his hometown in order to have his grandparents help him with his frightened, "handful" five- year-old son Braden just dumped on him last month by his ex- wife. As Hunter tries to be a good father for the first time, he receives help from several townsfolk. He also falls in love with Darcy who reciprocates. Though they have that and spousal abandonment in common, Darcy and Hunter have demons from their respective first marriages and their time as "bad" children to overcome if they are to make it together.

A PLACE TO BELONG is an intriguing contemporary relationship drama that also includes an engaging romantic subplot. The story line focuses on the two adults and three children, with only Meli not seeming to have any deep problems. Though solutions seem simplistic, sometimes reaching out is all that is needed as many caring people offer a hug to Braden and his dad and Hunter gets through to shy Claire by naming her his statistician for the soccer team. Readers will appreciate this upbeat tale in which love begins to heal the wounded.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 9, 2002

Summary

They'd grown up at Serenity House--a group home for girls. Now they're coming together for the first time as adults. Childhood friends who'd shared difficult times, who'd shared hopes and fears, laughter and tears —and perhaps most important of all...secrets.

These days Darcy O'Malley hardly remembers the fun-loving, outrageous young woman she used to be. For the most part, she's content to be the responsible mother of two young daughters and the owner of the local day care. So when Hunter Sloan, Hyde Point's former bad boy, shows up with his five-year-old son, nobody expects Darcy to fall for him. But sparks fly...and the old Darcy seems about to return.