"A "secret baby" plot you will enjoy!"

Some unexpected and unwelcome information leads author Jenna Stanton to believe she has located the father of her deceased sister's teenaged daughter, Blair. Jenna struggles with the dilemma of whether or not to tell Blair her father is alive, but before she makes that decision she wants to meet the man in order to discover if he is someone who deserves to be in her niece's life. Under the guise of researching her next book Jenna and a reluctant Blair take a vacation to Haven, Oklahoma.

Ex-cop Hank Logan has retreated from the world after the death of the woman he loved. He is rebuilding some cabins by the lake near his old home town. All he wants is to be left alone. He doesn't mind renting a cabin to Jenna and her moody niece for the month, as long as they mind their own business and stay out of his way. Unfortunately, these two women have a way of getting under his skin and soon become more important to him than he wants them to be. When he finds out who they really are he has some big decisions of his own to make; should he risk his heart again, or send them packing and try to go back to his solitary life?

This "secret baby" story proved to me that I can enjoy most any plot theme if it is written by a talented author. I won't go into my diatribe about why I dislike secret babies because none of my objections apply here. FATHERS AND OTHER STRANGERS was very readable, with alternately witty and touching narrative and enjoyable characters. I admired both Jenna, who took a big risk in finding Blair's father, and Hank who had several hard curves thrown his way, and struggled to do the right thing. Teenaged Blair was a pain sometimes, but as the mother if two teens I can relate. This is the second story in Ms. Templeton's The Men of Mayes County series. One more Logan brother's story to go, and I think I am going to like it!

Reviewed by Janice Bennett
Posted September 17, 2003

Summary

Jenna Stanton had raised her niece, Blair, frombirth, with nary a clue as to who the child's father was. Until now—when the piece of paper in her hand led her to the inexplicably attractive grouchy ex-cop Hank Logan. How could she tell Hank that her daughter was his? And more important, should she?

The former detective in him told Hank that the pretty widow and the smart-mouth kid were in town for more than just the local scenery. But to say he was floored to find out the truth wasn't even close. Because in Blair and Jenna he was offered a chance to assume the two roles in life he'd sworn he would never take on. Father. And husband.