"puissant three generation contemporary family drama"

North Dallas CPA Kate Harmon is excited about going out with legal hunk Nicholas Sutherland until she receives a cell phone call from her brother-in-law Alan. He informs her that her dad Jack is in the hospital due to a car accident and her pregnant sister Sarah is there too because of a fear of a miscarriage. Though estranged from her family, Kate rushes to her hometown where she is known as the "Cedar Dell Slut". Already at the hospital is her brother Tom who treats her like a pariah. When her siblings discuss who can stay with their elderly father while he heals, Alan says Kate and her teenage son Ryan. To the shock of Tom and Sarah, Kate agrees.

Two weeks later, Kate, Ryan and her older friend Adele move into Jack's home to a rather icy reception. Next door is photographer Max Cooper and his five year old daughter. Max is the father of Ryan, who loathes him. Still Max wants Ryan in his life, but realizes he also needs Kate too. As they fall in love, both wonder if the second time around will work since her father remains nasty to her and her son remains nasty to his father.

At times the level of angst can become overwhelming, but readers will agree that this is a puissant three generation contemporary family drama. The story line is loaded (perhaps overloaded) with relational conflict between characters who feel like family and friends. Kate, with her big Texas heartaches, serves as a great nucleus that makes Geralyn Dawson's tale a sure fan favorite.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 25, 2003

Summary

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

How did life become so complicated? One minute I'm dating the hottest man in Dallas and the next I'm back in Cedar Dell, Texas, surrounded by grannies, gossip and green bean casserole—and helping my dad recuperate from a car accident. Did I happen to mention that I caused a scandal in town when I got pregnant at seventeen? No one has ever forgiven me—not my hard-hearted father, my brother Mr. Perfect, or my pregnant-for-the-first-time-at-forty sister who's gone totally hormonal.

As if this weren't enough, who should also be back in town but Max Cooper, the former high school football star, who is my teenage son's father. And now he wants to date me?!

Who ever thought that so many new horizons and second chances would open for me during one long, hot Texas summer?

Kate