Sandy M’s review of Locked in His Heart by Catherine Stang
Contemporary Romance released by Whiskey Creek Press 1 Jan 08
If you like a book that gives you a sense of family, unconditional love found in the throes of darkness, fun and laughter despite that darkness, characters who stand up for one another no matter what, and a hero and heroine who, although so very different from one another, find each other against the odds, this is a book you need to read.
Melanie is asked by her best friend Sarah to find Adam, the young foster child her family loved but who was taken from them during a night of tragedy so many years ago. Sarah’s mother is dying and she hopes seeing Adam again, seeing that he’s okay and he’s thriving will give peace to her mom because she’s suffered through the years not knowing what happened to that scared little boy. Because Melanie sometimes does side work for her brother locating missing people and she’s having contract disputes with her publisher and writer’s block ensues, she agrees to look for Adam but can’t guarantee any success since it’s been so long.
Following the few clues she has, Melanie ends up in Kansas City where she meets Nick Sinclair, a lawyer and advocate for foster children, and there’s an instant attraction between them. Thinking her luck has changed, she’s stunned, however, when Nick tells her Adam is dead. Nick ends up driving Melanie home to Des Moines when her car has to stay behind for unexpected repairs. Once there he knows he’s made a grave mistake being among all these people who once knew Adam because he has no answers for them. Or does he?
Melanie and Sarah both have terrific families, which we see in how they come together during Sarah’s mom’s funeral and ensuing surprises that pop up. Melanie has three protective brothers, and I loved them all. They’re all three very different; Brad, the oldest, is in law enforcement and his duties focus on abducted and abused children. He’s having problems with his girlfriend, so we get see a little of their story too. Joel is also in the same type of law enforcement, often working hand in hand with Brad’s agency. He’s gay and he’s a hoot. I think he’s my favorite of the three. Jack is the computer whiz. When the three of them close ranks around their sister, most of her boyfriends have always run. She hopes Nick is different.
Sarah’s family is made up of foster kids and her two brothers, Sullivan and Zack, are all she has left now; their father, a cop, died years before in the line of duty. Zach is the youngest, still in high school, and the girl he likes is having problems at home, big problems. He promises her he’ll help the best he can, and as things unfold in the story, everything comes together to help these kids out.
Nick has a brother, Mark, who we also meet. He’s been with the Sinclairs for a while now, loves them all and has felt safe with them, but still has a few issues when it comes to getting too close to anyone, which Melanie is determined to help him overcome. She’s a great heroine. Witty and beautiful, she gives her brothers as good as she gets, but because she’s always been surrounded by love, it’s easy for her to give it to others, which scares Nick sometimes. But even with his issues, he knows Melanie is special. He has to learn to live with his past so he can move toward his future. A couple of times I wasn’t sure he was going to be able to do that. But love does conquer all.
This is a wonderful book. There’s a lot going on at all times, a lot of secrets that need to be revealed, a lot of hurts and damage that need to be healed. I really enjoyed watching Nick little by little begin to trust people, thanks to Melanie and her love for him. The emotion is always quite high throughout most of the book, especially concerning Nick. All of the characters reach out and grab you right off the bat. I’m hoping perhaps Ms. Stang will take a couple of those characters and give them their own books. I’d love to see more of Mark and Sarah and Joel and Caleb.
Thank you for such a lovely but heart-wrenching read, Cathy!
Grade: B+
Summary:
He kept his secret for seventeen years … until she came along.
Melanie Rivers is on a mission to help a friend fulfill her dying foster mother’s wish. So far every road she takes leads to a dead end until a chance meeting with enigmatic lawyer, Nick Sinclair, leaves her wondering… Could he be the break she has been looking for?
Read an excerpt.
