"Fine family drama"

When Samantha Marconi was eighteen she met and fell in love with upper crust Jeff Hendricks. The couple married over the objections of their family. He left for London on business and she became pregnant. He never returned to her, contacted her or answered her letters except to provide her with the divorce papers. She gave up the child for adoption.

Nine years, Jeff visits Sam to ask her to sign new divorce papers as the ones they signed were never filed by the government clerk. He is going to remarry. However, when she goes to see him at his hotel, she sees a miniature Marconi as he has raised the child she left behind. They share angry notes and soon realize his deceased mother orchestrated the split. Sam insists she have time with Emma or else; Jeff agrees. As Emma plays matchmaker, the spark between Jeff and Sam reignites, but can they overcome their history even if they are in love and love the same third person.

Why Sam gave up her newborn with the loving family she had seems odd though it apparently has to do with her mom's death just before the birth. Fans will enjoy this fine contemporary tale. The Marconi mob is a tough crowd that any male would think twice of defying. Jeff is a solid protagonist, Emma is a precocious child (too accepting of her mom in her life), and his deceased mom was a maestro manipulator who made Machiavelli look like an amateur. The interplay between everyone makes for a fine tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 9, 2004

Summary

Nine years ago, Samantha Marconi was swept away in a whirlwind wedding...even though she'd only known her new husband for a month. When Jeff left her just weeks after the wedding-she found out she was pregnant and had nowhere to turn. So Sam did the only thing she thought she could do. She placed her daughter up for adoption and tried to forget the past-until her past came knocking on her door... Jeff never received Sam's letters, nor did he know she had their child-until after the little girl was put up for adoption. Jeff managed to find their daughter, Emma, and lovingly raised her on his own. He's about to remarry-but his divorce from Sam never went through. Jeff needs Sam's help to get "unmarried," and quick. Yet when Jeff shows up on Sam's doorstep, he's shocked to find the sparks that once flew between them are still burning strong. Can he let Sam go again? Especially when the truth about what really happened nine years ago is finally revealed...