A Place to Belong

Fifteen years ago, Darcy's mother left her at Serenity House, a home for wayward girls. A promise of two months turned into four, and eventually seven. Despite the painful experience, Darcy maintained her free spirited lifestyle through boyfriends, marriage, two children, and divorce...Author Kathryn Shay boldly tackles difficult life challenges in A PLACE TO BELONG. Both Darcy and Hunter have struggled with failed marriages and bad reputations. Both struggle with self-images in ways that will endear them to readers. They also both love their children, who are sparkling additions to the tale. The greatest strength of the novel lies in Hunter's challenge with his son's ADHD and his realization that he also has it even as an adult. A PLACE TO BELONG comes highly recommended.

In 1987 Hyde Point, New York, Mrs. Mason dumps her daughter Darcy at the Serenity Home for troubled girls as suggested by law enforcement officials. Darcy pleads for her mother to give her one last chance, but she walks away leaving her child there for seven months. Fifteen years later, Darcy is so well behaved she has no fun. She raises her two precocious preadolescents by herself and runs Tender Time Day Care. Hunter Sloan has just moved back to his hometown in order to have his grandparents help him with his frightened, "handful" five-year-old son Braden just dumped on him last month by his ex-wife. As Hunter tries to be a good father for the first time, he receives help from several townsfolk. He also falls in love with Darcy who reciprocates. Though they have that and spousal abandonment in common, Darcy and Hunter have demons from their respective first marriages and their time as "bad" children to overcome if they are to make it together.A PLACE TO BELONG is an intriguing contemporary relationship drama that also includes an engaging romantic subplot. The story line focuses on the two adults and three children, with only Meli not seeming to have any deep problems. Though solutions seem simplistic, sometimes reaching out is all that is needed as many caring people offer a hug to Braden and his dad and Hunter gets through to shy Claire by naming her his statistician for the soccer team. Readers will appreciate this upbeat tale in which love begins to heal the wounded.Harriet Klausner