If you're looking for a holiday book, Holly Jacobs' new romance, Homecoming Day, is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and St. Patrick's Day, since it includes all of them. 
"Homecoming" has nothing to do with football in this story. In the Keller family, a large family of adopted children, and every stray that Abe and Deborah Keller could bring into their lives, Homecoming Day was a day of celebration. It meant that the children had finally found a permanent home with people who loved them. A year ago, I reviewed my first book about the Kellers, Unexpected Gifts, about the romance that led to the marriage of Eli & Zac Keller. Homecoming Day is the story of two lonely people, Laura Winston and Seth Keller.
"Homecoming" has nothing to do with football in this story. In the Keller family, a large family of adopted children, and every stray that Abe and Deborah Keller could bring into their lives, Homecoming Day was a day of celebration. It meant that the children had finally found a permanent home with people who loved them. A year ago, I reviewed my first book about the Kellers, Unexpected Gifts, about the romance that led to the marriage of Eli & Zac Keller. Homecoming Day is the story of two lonely people, Laura Winston and Seth Keller. Laura Winston's parents were both dead, but she thought she'd finally found the family she craved with her fiancé, Jay Martin, and his parents. When she learned she was pregnant, everyone was overjoyed, and she and Jay moved their wedding date up. Laura always knew Jay was in danger in his job as a policeman, but she never expected he'd die before their wedding, of bacterial meningitis. She not only lost him, but she lost his parents, when his mother refused to take him off life support, and ordered Laura out of their lives. So, once again, Laura Winston was alone, with only her unborn baby, and her job as an art teacher.
It was Laura's job that took her to the police station when one of her students, JT, was picked up, and called her. Fortunately for both JT and Laura, it was Lieutenant Seth Keller, the new liaison between the department and the school district, who was responsible for JT. The widower took an interest in the troubled young girl, and he and Laura teamed up to help her with her problems at home and school.
Seth understood Laura's loss and pain, since he lost his own wife in childbirth. That didn't stop him from falling for her. But, before Seth and Laura can deal with their feelings, they have to deal with other relationships; Laura's anger at the Martins, and Seth's alienation from his parents.
Holly Jacobs is my favorite romance writer. Her characters lead ordinary lives in and around Erie, Pennsylvania. They're teachers, cops, grocery store owners, social workers. But, they come to life in Holly's writings as people with problems, yearning for love. She's dealt with issues of illiteracy, teenage mothers, disability, adoption, loss. And, every day is a Homecoming Day of the heart in one of Holly Jacobs' books, including this one.
Holly Jacobs' website is http://www.hollyjacobs.com/
Homecoming Day by Holly Jacob. Harlequin, ©2010. ISBN 9780373716777 (paperback), 249p.
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FTC Full Disclosure - The author sent me a copy of the book, hoping I would review it.
