"A beautiful romance"

In Serenity, Wyoming single father Beau Julander struggles between raising his two preadolescent children (Brianne and Nicky) and his career. Adding to his overworked schedule is his community volunteerism with this time serving as a member of the Serenity Homecoming Week Committee.

Molly Shepherd has returned for the homecoming festivities. Beau and Molly are attracted to one another and she is so good at nurturing his two kids. However, he carries scars from his ex-wife's desertion of him and their kids. Worse he expects her to leave once the week is over and he refuses to allow any woman to hurt his children like their mother did even if he loves her and she seems to return the feeling for the Julander trio.

This is an affectionate tender holiday fare about relationships. The lead male is a great overwrought character struggling between the right balance for his children, his work, and his community. Forget R&R for him. Molly is a bit too perfect though the audience will enjoy her Mary Poppins manner with the children she quickly loves. The unspiked eggnog crowd will be warmed with this delightfully serene tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 17, 2003

Summary

Molly has returned to Serenity for Homecoming...but will she stay forever?

Beau Julander, a single father of two, is having trouble juggling the responsibilities of career, home and family. And his work for the Homecoming Week Committee makes this time of year really busy—but not too busy to get reacquainted with Molly Shepherd, a girl he barely knew in high school.

His attraction to Molly and her obvious interest in him soothe the damage done to his ego when his ex-wife walked out on him, but he's keenly aware of how his kids have been hurt by the divorce, and he doesn't want to make things worse for them by becoming involved in a relationship that's only temporary. But Beau and his kids soon find out that Molly is not a temporary kind of woman—she's in for the long run.