"Ms. Gable has written another story bound to tug at the heartstrings"

Ms. Gable has written another story bound to tug at the heartstrings.

Rachel Thompson has a broken heart. Her young son had died in an accident, but she had donated his organs so other children could live. Unfortunately, the agony of her loss tears at her, interfering with her career as a schoolteacher, and her ability to continue to live on with the memory of her son. In a last ditch effort to deal with her pain, and save her job, she volunteers for the summer at Camp Firefly Wishes, a special camp for transplant children and their families. She has no desire to be there, all of those children being memories of her little boy.

James McClain is a single father first, a psychologist second, with an eight-year-old daughter, Molly, who is the recipient of a new heart. His wife left him when she could not handle the pressures of raising a daughter with a severe, life-endangering heart defect. He is terrified of anything happening to Molly, going to the extremes to protect her, to the point of excess. Molly only wants to have a normal summer with other children her age.

When James and Rachel meet, they are both attracted to each other, though they are both in denial. Rachel has so much pain, she has no desire to take interest in anyone, especially a man who with his daughter, embodies Rachel's worst nightmare, that of losing a child. James cares only about keeping Molly healthy and safe and has no interest in a woman who seems cold in her inability to accept the children at this camp for what they are, little miracles of life running around. In fact, in spite of his attraction, he wants to hate her for her attitude. Molly likes Rachel, in spite of the sadness in her eyes and heart, and decides she is the perfect woman to get her Dad to loosen up and let her have some fun.

So Molly schemes with her best friend, to throw her dad and Miss Rachel together as often as possible, hoping that would be enough of a distraction to give her some time for fun. But the more she gets to know Miss Rachel, the more Molly decided she is the perfect candidate to be her new Mommy. It works too, for a while, her Dad and Miss Rachel seem to get along so well. But after James discovers Rachel's real reason for being at Camp Firefly Wishes, he begins to doubt even more whether she could handle the pressures of being a parent to a child with a severe illness.

Can Rachel get past her fear of loving and losing another child dear to her? Will James accept her, faults and all, to be a part of his family? Will Molly's own private firefly wishes be enough to bridge the gap?

This is one phenomenal story so full of emotion that one is captured in its pages. Ms. Gable has a talent for weaving so much feeling in to her books, the reader is bound to be moved. When Rachel finally lets go of all her anger and pain, her agony is so real, this reviewer was brought to tears. That, in this reviewer's opinion, is the mark of a truly incredible story -- one that the reader is so drawn into, the emotions of the characters become the reader's own. And that is just one example of the emotion throughout the story.

Rachel and James need each other, and everyone can see that but the two of them. For only they together can heal the emotional scars they each wear. The chemistry between them is tangible and one knows they are bound to be together. The supporting cast complements them, from the indomitable and "unsinkable" Molly, to Rachel's family, to Molly and James' best friends, and the camp owners. Every one of them adds a different element to the story, making it complete. Go out and pick up this book today, it is well worth it, and guaranteed not to disappoint.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, June 2003. All rights reserved.

Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Courtesy Love Romances
Posted September 4, 2003

At Camp Firefly Wishes, a summer camp for transplant kids and their families, reluctant-volunteer Rachel Thompson faces her fear of loving and losing again when she falls for sexy, compassionate single-dad James McClain and his match-making, heart-transplant-recipient daughter, Molly.

Summary

Modern medicine can replace worn, defective hearts, but only love can heal a broken one.

Molly McClain has a new heart and an overprotective father. What she needs is something—someone—to distract him while they're at summer camp, so she can have some fun. A woman might be just the thing. But when she really gets to know the lady she picks out for her dad, a summer isn't enough. Molly needs a new full-time mom. So, she sets out to get her dad and Miss Rachel together.

Rachel Thompson has a broken heart. The divorced teacher lost her only child, but donated his organs. Now she's volunteering at Camp Firefly Wishes, a special summer camp for transplant kids and their families, in a last-ditch effort to make some sense out of her loss, to see the kinds of miracles that happened when she donated her little boy's organs. The last thing on her mind is romance or loving anyone—especially not a medically-fragile child. Or her father. But in James's arms, Rachel finds comfort, a safe place to mourn at last, and a reminder that life is for living.

Psychologist James McClain always puts his daughter's needs first. But Rachel reminds him that he's not just a dad, he's also a man. A lonely man. Rachel's bravery in the face of his worst nightmare touches something deep inside, reawakening his need to love.

But can Rachel conquer her fear of loving and losing again? Or will Molly's " Mommy Plan" only cause them all more pain?