"Love and Laughter"

Colin's brother, Bobby, is missing. He is part of the Army Special Forces and has not been heard from in two months so when Colin receives a note from him, he goes to investigate. The note only gives him an address in a small town in Minnesota that turns out to be a day care center. He meets the teacher, Marlie, who has been corresponding with Bobby but knows nothing about his disappearance. Colin decides to hang around and see if any clues immerge.

Marlie is a twenty-five year old who has never had a relationship with a man other than friendship. She thinks of herself as fat and homely but although she is not the usual woman that Colin prefers, he is strangely attracted to her. He figures that she is his brother's girl so tries to keep hands off. Marlie is a small town girl and is exactly where she wants to be but Colin is a newspaper reporter that lives for the next story in the hot spots of the world. Opposites attract but can two people from such diverse life styles actually have a lifetime relationship?

All of Marlie's day care children play a role in THE BROTHER QUEST -- they love their teacher and love to torment Colin. The school pet is a guinea pig named Houdini -- an apt name for an animal that is constantly getting away and hiding in the classroom. And then there is Marlie's mother who does nothing but watch game shows on TV and fleeces her friends when she bets and knows all the answers. There are a lot of cute and funny situations in the book as Colin finds the lighter side of his personality and Marlie discovers romance. THE BROTHER QUEST is a light-hearted read from the pen of Lori Handeland continuing the series of the Luchetti brothers.

Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman
Posted March 10, 2004

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Summary

If anything ever happens to me, go to 445 Briar Lane, Wind Lake, Minnesota

Colin Luchetti's brother Bobby is missing and the only clue is a cryptic note sending Colin to Wind Lake. What he finds when he gets there is unexpected—a day-care center complete with kids, a runaway guinea pig and Marlie Anderson, the owner.

With all his options gone, Colin decides to wait in Wind Lake for word on Bobby. Even though he itches to get out into the "real" world, the more time he spends with Marlie, the more he admires her. But for his family's sake Colin needs to focus on solving the mystery of his brother's disappearance. Can he do it without falling for the woman his brother loves?