This book wasn't too bad, although after reading this series, I'm pretty much over Daley's books. She does manage to change the story, but her characters are pretty much all the same. My biggest problem with this book, though, was the continuity errors with the rest of the series. Peter left his job as principal of the high school shortly after starting the foster home, yet in this book, he's suddenly principal again. Also, she's overlapped several names of pets and kids. It's very confusing. ( )

Lisa Morgan is a former drug addict who’s straightened out her life and is trying to raise her twelve-year-old son, Andy, with good values. When Andy has trouble with some boys on the basketball team at school, Lisa fears it may involve drugs. Andy’s basketball coach who is also a cop, David Russell, wants to help Lisa and her son and look into things for her. David and Lisa are also finding they have romantic feelings for each other.

This was a very enjoyable inspirational romance. The story had an interesting cast of characters including the many secondary characters. I liked Stone Refuge, a place that took in foster kids, but I really liked that it also took in abandoned animals and tried to find them good homes, or gave the animals a home there. I adored the cute pig named Bolt. Although Thanksgiving and Christmas did take place in the story, it wasn’t throughout the entire book. Still, it was a really enjoyable read.

(This book was re-published as Heart of a Hero) ( )

I got this book in a box from a friend (who doesn't seem to have reviewed it here) and I haven't read any other books in the series. I did notice 3 different conversation instances between Lisa and David where the response quite match the previous line. Different verb tenses, maybe? Maybe a regional thing that's different from where I live? All I know is that the dialogue didn't ring true to me in those instances.

I admire Lisa for getting herself clean, getting her son back, getting a job, and being willing to share her experience with others that might benefit from it. (At the same time, she seems reluctant to share her past with David, though that might just be from a fear of rejection.) I admire Mitch for getting himself out of the drug scene, going back to high school or the equivalent, getting a job (even though it's low paying), and trying to keep his brother out of the drug scene.

I like the ideas of the shelter and the ranch to help others out. With the shelter, in this book, they alluded to some women who weren't helped--they chose to go back to their previous lives or relationships. I didn't get that same sense from the ranch--it was kind of made to sound like all of their kids eventually turn around and get with the program. That's probably not realistic. ( )

This was a surprise! A book I had a hard time putting down. It had some dark corners and mysteries layered with the love of Christmas traditions. ( )