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Michelle Hamilton gave her whole life over to raising her nephew, Brandon, the day her sister arrived on her doorstep to leave him there. She and Brandon have been happy as a family until Brandon decides he wants to find his father. Ever resourceful, he has tracked down the person he believes to be his father and won’t rest until he has his answers. Daniel McLean is floored when a young boy appears at his door, asking if Daniel could be his father. Yet, part of him is excited about the possibility and he begins to hope that he is Brandon’s father. When Daniel meets Michelle, he starts to feel like maybe he could belong to this happy little family, but there is the matter of waiting for paternity test results. As Daniel spends more time with Brandon and Michelle, helping them with preparations for the school’s annual Christmas Fair, this threesome starts to wonder if their greatest dreams can come true Once Upon a Christmas. Holly Jacobs takes the standard “secret baby” story and makes it her own with a delightful love story in Once Upon a Christmas. Michelle made a huge sacrifice to take on the guardianship of her nephew when she was trying to decide what to do after college. Until recently when she was volunteered for the PTA social planning committee, her whole life was work and Brandon. Now she has two of the closest friends a woman could have and does she ever need them. Brandon’s desire to know his biological father has her world in upheaval. As Michelle gets to know Daniel, he starts to warm her heart in a way she never thought to find. Yet as much as she finds herself attracted to Daniel, her number one priority is still doing what’s best for Brandon. This causes such emotional turmoil that Michelle walks right out of the book and into our hearts as we long to see her find the happiness she’s always put on the backburner for Brandon. Her fear is very real as she worries that if Daniel is Brandon’s father, that he’ll take him away from her. Daniel has spent his adult life following his dreams, thanks to his dearest friend in school, Tara, one who has always held a special place in his heart. When Brandon shows up at his door and tells Daniel who he is, all the memories come roaring back and Daniel can’t help but pray that Brandon is his son. Now he’s not about to let go of this one tie to Tara, even if it does turn out that Brandon is not his son. Seeing Daniel with Brandon and Michelle, we can’t help but feel sorrow over the years lost that they could have had together while Brandon was growing up. Daniel is a gentle man with a huge heart full of love to share and he now has the chance to shower all of that affection on someone so deserving. Of course, one of the relationships crucial to this story is Michelle’s bond with Samantha and Carly. They are her rocks and the friendship they share is all that holds Michelle together throughout the emotional roller coaster that is Daniel’s possible connection to Brandon. All women need their friends and this relationship between these three will make us think about our own dear friends we can’t imagine not having in our lives. I love Once Upon a Christmas! Once again, Holly Jacobs has written a wonderful heartwarming story with plenty of humor to spare, about families, friends, and romance and the unbreakable bonds between them all. © Kelley A. Hartsell, December 2008. All rights reserved.
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AMERICAN DADS BOOK 2: Rating:
Posted December 2008 |
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