Judith’s review of Always In My Heart by Kayla Perrin.
The oldest of three adopted daughters, Callie Hart has always loved being the protector of the family. But now she is all grown up—with a young son of her own to protect. Callie can’t wait to show him off when she reunites with her two sisters in Ohio. But that also means coming face-to-face with the lover she left behind. Nigel Williams is even more irresistibly attractive than ever. But what will he do when he learns about the secret she kept hidden from him for ten years?
Nigel has never forgiven Callie for fleeing Ohio—and the passion they shared. And when she shows up on his doorstep asking for forgiveness, the Cleveland cop is furious at her deception. But how can he deny the feelings Callie reawakens in him? Blindsided once again by the heat of desire, Nigel vows to fight for his future with the woman he has always loved.
Leave it to Harlequin and their Kimani Imprint to bring us a contemporary interracial romance that is hot and sensual, and the story of a relationship gone sour–very much gone but not forgotten. I suppose one could say that this is a case of two lovers who have become estranged, one of them leaving the other behind, and then having to return to eat a very healthy helping of “crow.” It is also a story that speaks plainly about the difficulties which many families find have become the substance of their relationships, especially among siblings. Now these three sisters are brought back together, tentative with one another because of their long estrangement, but now must deal with their aunt’s death. The real shocker is that Callie, the oldest, has returned with a nine-year-old son in tow. No one is more surprised than Nigel Williams, her son’s father and the man for whom she still harbors a deep and disappointed love.
This is a fine romance and while there is the mild adversarial content, its overriding value is the telling of a reconciliation that is necessitated by the presence of this smart and personable little boy. Callie is protecting her heart just as is Nigel, yet they both realize that there really is still a connection. I enjoyed this story so much, and I especially loved the little boy, Kwame, a child whose deep need for connection seemed to appear time and time again and to their credit, both Callie and Nigel were sensitive to it.
I have long loved Harlequin, and while I have been reading them for years, the novels under this particular imprint have been better than expected. I really like interracial romance anyway, as I appreciate those who are willing to move beyond society’s dictates and follow their hearts. This is also the first of a series in which the story of each of these sisters is told. I think this was a vastly entertaining read and I am looking forward to the coming stories in this series.
I give it a rating of 4 out of 5
This book is available from Harlequin Kimani Romance. You can buy it
here or
here in e-format.
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