"Fine modern day contemporary romance"

In Phoenix Investment Consultant Leslie Sanderson learns that her brother Cal recently died in a rock climbing accident, but to her shock he left behind two children that she never knew he sired having been away from home for a decade as she ran from a harrowing incident. Leslie travels to her hometown Columbus for the funeral. The will states that Cal's best friend Sporting International bigwig Kip Webster, the man Leslie unrequitedly loved as a teen, and she have custody of one child each; Kip will raise five years old Jonathan and Leslie two years old Kayla.

Both feel breaking up the siblings is not the right thing so they agree to temporary forge a family by sharing a house. As the two adults begin to fall in love with one another and their young suspicious charges, she holds back her darkest secret that keeps them from fully exploring their feelings. That is until the magic of Christmas when she tells her beloved what drove her away because she trusts in his offer of love.

Fans of modern day contemporary romances will appreciate this deep tale because the powerful cast with their individual woes makes for a fine Yuletide story. The incident that drove Leslie away is handled deftly as the audience learns the impact on her and her brother who raised her when their dad died. The mixed-racial children are precocious, but in a realistic manner as for instance Jonathan wonders if his darker skin keeps his late dad's relatives from him. A final twist involving Cal turns this into a warm tale of love.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 15, 2005