It was only supposed to be a temporary home…
He interrupts her plans…
When police chief Anson Curry returns a lost little girl to her frantic mother, his only goal is to ease the single mom's anxiety. But it doesn't take long for Tess Harper's amazing child to have Anson wrapped around her little finger -- and for Tess to have him thinking about a possible relationship. As for Tess, she's tempted -- even though she had planned to be in Oak Hollow, Texas, only temporarily. But after losing her father and brother in the line of duty, Tess thinks Anson's job poses too much of a risk to her heart. And Anson has no plans to get involved with someone who's planning on leaving.
Fantastic book about two people who are wary of risking their hearts again brought together by a little girl with a heart full of love to share. Tess is the single mother to Hannah, a four-year-old girl with Down Syndrome. She came to Oak Grove to work on a museum job until it is time for Hannah to have surgery.
I loved Tess. Her life has not been an easy one. Her police officer father died in the line of duty, as did her Navy brother. Shortly afterward, her mother died of cancer and a broken heart, leaving Tess alone in the world. Then the man that she loved and married left her when they found out that the baby she carried has Down Syndrome. For four years, Tess has raised Hannah on her own, dealing with all of the ups and downs of having a child with special needs. Tess is a fierce momma bear when it comes to taking care of Hannah, as is shown throughout the book.
Tess's arrival in Oak Hollow gets off to a rough start. While shopping, Tess loses sight of Hannah, who loves to play hide-and-seek in the clothes racks. Frantic, Tess is relieved when Chief Anson Curry discovers Hannah and somewhat dismayed to find out that the handsome police chief is also her new landlord and neighbor. She has no room in her life for men or relationships.
I loved the development of the relationship between Tess and Anson. He is just as wary and guarded as Tess is. His ex-wife betrayed his trust, and he has been cautious ever since. It doesn't take long for little Hannah to steal his heart. Tess is reluctant to trust him, but she can't deny how happy his attentions make Hannah. Anson quickly becomes a regular part of their lives. I loved the sweet relationship between Hannah and "my chief" and the many heartwarming scenes of the two of them together. As Tess and Anson spend more time together, the attraction they felt at their first meeting continues to grow. So do deeper feelings and a sense of family. But Tess fears risking her heart to another devastating loss. When an incident involving Anson brings those fears back to the surface, she panics and runs. I loved that Anson didn't give up on her. The hospital scenes were emotional, especially as Tess took a good look at her fears and made some crucial decisions. Anson's Christmas Eve moment was sweet and romantic and perfect.
I loved the small-town setting and look forward to more stories set there. Anson's grandmother, Nan, was one of my favorite characters. She, too, had suffered a significant loss and was a remarkable example and mentor for Tess. I loved seeing how Hannah helped pull Nan out of her funk and give her a reason to rejoin life. Nan turns out to be quite a character, and I had to laugh at some of the things she said to both Tess and Anson. I liked the friendliness and support shown by most people and the realism that not everyone fits that mold. The scene on the playground was heartbreaking, but there was also more to that story.
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