A Man I Used to Know

Sad but true - women seem to make a habit of complicating their lives - Dr. Lila Marsden,a pediatrician, now 36, sent Tom away fifteen years ago when he asked her to go with him. She decided to play it safe and stay home, looking after her parents and become a child's doctor.Imagine her chagrin when she learns that Tom has children. She has always wanted marriage and children. She has neither. Her ex-husband, Trevor was too good looking and she found she could not love him.Now she is dealing with Archie, her father, who is sinking more and more into a state of depression. All he does is sit on the porch and carve beautiful animals out of wood and does not talk to anyone.We learn of the head of pediatrics, Marie, a good friend of Lila's [incendently she had a crush on Archie Marsden many years ago] She helps Lila with Tom's children when Lila finally finds them hiding out from everyone.Lila soon learns that the children have suffered some kind of trauma and Tom refuses to talk of his marriage. Lila still refuses to trust Tom. [It all turns out to be a matter of trust between them]Archie sculpts a prairie dog and gives it to Kelly, and this begins the jolting of Archie out of his depression. Then he makes a llama for Casey to take with him when they leave.A wonderfully written story about people seriously complicating their lives and how an enduring love finally conquers and saves two people from the ultimate tragedy. Do recommend but --M - Well worth reading

At the Medicine Hat Stampede, local favorite widower Tom Bennet is severely injured during the competition and rushed to the nearby hospital. His oldest child, eleven-year-old Kelly, manages to fool his father's friends into thinking they had someone to watch over her and her four-year-old brother Casey. Instead, the two little children stay inside their father's van parked in the hospital's lot. Working in obstetrics is Dr. Lila Madsen, who once loved Tom with all her heart. However, he chose the rodeo over settling down with her. She went on to marry and divorce someone else. When she learns Tom is in the ICU, Lila visits him. He pleads with her to watch over his children while he recuperates. She finds Kelly and Casey, and takes them to her home where they miraculously bring her grieving father back to life. As Lila falls in love with his children, she knows she still loves Tom. He reciprocates. Since fate has given them a second chance, this time she vows nothing will keep them apart. Readers of category romance will relish Margot Dalton's newest tale, A MAN I USED TO KNOW. The crisp story line demonstrates to the audience that there are many kinds of love, all of which are important. Lila and Tom are a wonderful duet, but it is the myriad of well-developed support characters and the Alberta location that makes this a must read for sub-genre fans.Harriet Klausner