Holly’s review of Dear Santa by Karen Templeton
Contemporary romance published 01 Nov 07 from Silhouette Special Edition
Do you ever read a book and think, “Wow!”? Ever finish it and sigh and think to yourself, “I loved that book”? That’s what happened to me with this one. I admit to loving category romance, at least on occasion (I feel you can overdose on them, too, if you aren’t careful), but lately they’ve been hit or miss for me. This one was a definite hit.
The story opens with Grant receiving news that his ex-wife – and the mother of his only child – has been killed in a car accident. And that just sets the tone for the entire book. Emotional. This book was an emotional roller coaster ride.
Grant’s character was an extremely compelling one, because although he was emotionally closed off, you could tell he really wanted to do right by his daughter, to be the father she needed him to be, he just didn’t know how. He grew up with emotionally closed off parents, and that was all he knew. Some of the best scenes in the books are the ones that focus on Grant and Haley. I think Karen Templeton did an excellent job of showing us the longing in Grant, his need to be the man his daughter needed him to be, and his frustration when he wasn’t able to fulfill that roll for her.
His heart racing, he stood outside his daughter’s partially open door, steeling himself as he listened to her nonstop chatter. Just like her mother, who’d never been at a loss for words, either. A good trait in a lawyer, Grant supposed. Swallowing sawdust, he knocked softly, then pushed the door open.
Instantly, the chatter stopped. A goofy-looking stuffed lion—Justine’s last present to her, Grant realized with a punch to his gut—clutched in her arms, Haley glanced up at his entrance, her expression a disturbing blend of caution and indifference. Selfishly—and guiltily—Grant had often wondered if perhaps a more outgoing child would have helped him overcome his own ineptitude, would have shattered by now whatever had kept him from feeling what other fathers felt for their children.
Haley, for a three-year-old, displayed some disturbingly adult traits. I found myself wondering at times if those traits were ones I could truly attribute to someone so young. But once I factored in the grief of losing her mother, and her inability at that age to understand exactly what death is (something the author was sure to mention, which helped) I was able to move past my issues and enjoy her character. My heart hurt for her. Losing her mother – her anchor – at such a young age is something I can’t imagine, but we saw flashes of a precocious child and I couldn’t wait to see more of her. My heart broke when she would turn her big, wary eyes onto her father.
The weakest link in this story is Mia, the heroine. She’d been burned by her fiancé some time back, and had no love for Grant after his divorce from her best friend. While I think the author meant to show us that her insecurities and emotional issues were the result of losing her best friend and being hurt by her former fiancé, it didn’t ring true for me. Especially after seeing glimpses of her loving family. As the story progressed and Grant’s true nature was revealed, Mia’s hesitation became tiresome. I wanted her to realize Grant was someone she could lean on, someone she could trust and have faith in, and when she did it came a bit too late for me.
I enjoyed Mia’s interactions with Haley, and the chemistry between Mia and Grant is believable. I think part of my frustration stems from the fact that I truly wanted them to be together. It was obvious to me, as the reader, that they were perfect for each other. And it became obvious to Grant as well. But Mia…well, I suppose it just took her a bit longer to figure it out. And when a secret Grant had been keeping comes out, Mia’s reaction was just a bit too over the top for me. So I was somewhat surprised by her abrupt turnaround after.
But I think the overall story arc, the relationship between Grant and Haley, and the interactions with the secondary characters more than made up for what I found lacking in Mia’s character. I can even understand where her issues stemmed from, so I guess I can’t be too harsh.
If you’re in the mood for an emotional read, one that will suck you in and pull something from you as a reader, this is the book for you.
Grade: A
Blurb:
HIS DAUGHTER’S BIRTH MADE HIM A FATHER. BECOMING A DADDY WOULD
TAKE A BIT LONGER….
Connecticut mogul Grant Braeburn never thought he was father material, even though his nearly four-year-old daughter should have convinced him otherwise. But then his ex-wife’s death made him Haley’s permanent parent. Her only parent. He needed help, in a hurry.
It came in the form of Mia Vaccaro, the lively, lovely party planner who had been his ex-wife’s best friend. Mia was the only one who could touch Haley’s broken heart. And, Grant was becoming increasingly aware, his as well….
Read an excerpt.
Read more from Holly at The Book Binge.
Oops I forgot
Go check out Wendy’s review.
Thanks so much, Holly! I’m delighted you enjoyed DS so much.
Just one comment about Haley — the daughter of two extremely bright parents, growing up in an adult world, her take on things is definitely more adult than perhaps many other children her age. But not unusually so, from my experience. I’ve been around some of these kids, and it’s beyond freaky what comes out of their mouths. =8O Besides which all of my own kids, from time to time, would blow us away with their mature-beyond-their-years insights. I remember in particular when our second son, a few weeks before his fourth birthday, suddenly let out with an exasperated “WHY am I still three?” at the dinner table one night! 😉
As for Mia… I can definitely see where you’re coming from. Yeah, you’d think, considering her stable family, that she wouldn’t have trust issues. Then again, sometimes it’s a shock when you leave that nice, warm nest and suddenly discover the outside world isn’t so nice and cozy. That rattles the hell out of some people. (I know it did me. My childhood was as stable as they came. Totally did not prepare me for the jerks I’d face after I left home.) But human beings are complicated, unpredictable creatures (which is what makes them both so much fun and such headaches to write!). And fear has a nasty habit of bubbling up when you least expect it. Fortunately for Mia, she does come to her senses, even if she did take a little detour along the way. 😉
Still…thanks again for the wonderful review! You had me at the first line, LOL!
You know I went back and forth with Haley. But it came down to it didn’t seem odd to me because I coule relate. My mom was young when she had me and I was an only child until I was 18.
I was alway around adults and had no want to be with people my own age. A friend of my grandmother closed my finger (on accident!) in a suitcase when I four or five. And my reaction (that I have been told I don’t recall it at all) was to pull back my hand, give her a mean look and say “I am going to sue you!”
That was some what normal *g*
And I see Haley’s mommy as a superbitch who did a horrid thing to her BFF and her hubby BUT I think she tried to be a good mom. And they certainly seemed close and ten to one Haley was used to always being around and such a great kid… aka no one noticed her in the corner with her dolls. As she soaked up everything.
uh… ok so I will shut up now… WHAT? I told you people I over think shit!
::And my reaction (that I have been told I don’t recall it at all) was to pull back my hand, give her a mean look and say “I am going to sue you!”::
ROFL!!
We lived in NYC for a number of years, and I can attest that NYC kids are…different. Whether over or underprivileged, it seems harder for them to just be kids (one of the reasons we moved, I think!). But I cracked up when a friend of mine told us about her 18 month old grandson coming out of his parents’ bedroom with an open umbrella over his shoulder…yelling “TAXI!”
Then there was the tiny sprite in my youngest son’s Kindergarten class who’d been offended by one of their little classmates. “You are in SO much trouble!” she declared, complete with much eyerolling and hand-on-hip stance.
I did take issue, however, with a book in which the heroine told the TWO-YEAR-OLD to go upstairs and change into her playclothes…and the kid did. I was like, uh, yeah…on what planet?
For who knows what reason, I clicked on the cover pic and enlarged it. Can I just say that, to a casual non-Romance reader, that little medallion (or whatever it’s called) would totally creep me out— “Guys and Daughters”. I mean, if you weren’t very familiar with the romance genre, wouldn’t you go “WTF?, A father/daughter romance?!”
Just sayin’
I now return you to your regularly scheduled book discussion.
LOL yep I agree Karen.
le sigh… bev, that is because you are a perv. You should be ashamed of yourself. Fine! Yes I thought the same thing at first but my point is I think normal none pevish-bev-like-peeps will think awwww daddys lil girl and NOT That way.
::waiting for karen scott to appear:: 🙂
Have I ever mentioned how much I hate that I’m planning a wedding? No time to comment. Ugh.
Karen,
Thanks so much for commenting on this. I love it.
As for the Haley thing: Once I thought about it, I did understand. It was just offputting at first, but I was able to move on. My son didn’t talk for the first two years of his life, instead depending on his sister to say whatever he felt needed to be said (I’ve often wondered if he talked to her in private, but never have been able to figure that out). But one night we’re at the dinner table and the child who hasn’t said two words in his life says, clear as a bell, “Mom, may I please be excused from the table”. I literally almost fell out of my chair. Kids are amazing.
So although it gave me pause, once I thought about it, it wasn’t a big deal. Just one of those things…
As for Mia, she didn’t ruin the story,I just wanted her to WAKE UP ALREADY! But there’s a good chance that was because I heart Grant and wanted him happy. LOL
Maybe i have issues.
And LOL @ Bev. hahaha Dirty mind?
I will be picking this book up!! thanks for the review.
Regarding kids that talk like adults~when I read that in books it doesn’t even phase me. My boys both talked really early and used big words to boot. A week before his SECOND birthday when asked if he was done eating, my son said, “Not quite yet” lol and when he was three (just turned!) he told me I was distracting him!
It’s amazing what kids will say!