Make-Believe Mom

Jon Rider is having a hard enough time struggling to run his ranch and raise his seven children after his wife's death when his father-in-law reports him to Social Services as an unfit father. He is desperate to keep his children and when veterinarian Kaycee Calloway enters his life he gets her to pretend she's his fiancée. Their "engagement" brings them closer together but they have a lot of obstacles to overcome including whether or not Kaycee can balance mothering seven children along with her career as a vet. "Make-Believe Mom" is an enjoyable romance. Jon's situation - struggling to be a single parent and in danger of losing control - is very real and heartbreaking as he barely has time to mourn the loss of his wife. He is a well-written and believable character who is sometimes over his head but unwavering in his love for his children. Kaycee is a believable heroine. She is struggling to establish her vet practice in a town full of people that are used to having a male vet and not sure if she's ready to start a relationship while she is still building her career. The scenes on the ranch, especially the rodeo scene, are nicely done, as are the scenes of Kaycee at work. Of Jon's seven children, all of them are a little too good to be true except for Wendy. She is the best written, most fully developed and believable of the children. Her grief over her mother's death is very realistic and her wanting to be able to do magic like Harry Potter in order to see her mother again is heartbreaking. The romance between Jon and Kaycee is nicely done, although I thought she could have had more doubts about marrying into a large family and instant motherhood than she did. Author Elaine Grant does a good job of mixing both humor and some tense moments into the story that makes the novel interesting to read. "Make-Believe Mom" is a nicely done romance novel.

Jon Rider is a cowboy with a ranch to run, but he also has seven kids to raise - on his own, since his wife died in a tragic accident just over a year ago. When his late wife's parents sic child services on him, he finds himself struggling even more since his last housekeeper just quit on him without notice. When the social worker shows up, he is in the middle of calving season, and dealing with a heifer and calf in trouble. Kaycee Calloway never expects to fall in love again. She came to Montana to start her own vet practice, and has grand plans that do not include a man and his seven kids. When she is called to the Rider ranch for a troubled birth, Jon's daughter announces to the social worker, that Kaycee is going to be their new mom. As the lie about Kaycee and Jon's engagement comes from Jon's mouth, Kaycee decides to go along with it because she believes in her gut that Jon does care about his kids and can take care of them. MAKE BELIEVE MOM is an emotional drama interlaced with humor. Elaine Grant has written a novel filled with tension of many varieties. From the sexual tension between Jon and Kaycee, the tension between the children as they find their place in the family, to the tension between Jon and his in-laws, the characters became firmly placed in this reader's heart. This is a novel to cherish, it is realistic and will tempt reader's into wanting to see a working ranch in Montana! Ms. Grant manages to take the characters by the hand and give them personalities as they go through daily life on a ranch. While the times are hard for the Rider family they also enjoy each other and the characters come alive. Jon's children may be secondary characters but each one speaks to the reader. This reader especially loved the ranch foreman, Clint and Rosie the new housekeeper, hopefully Ms. Grant may someday give them their own story. This month's Super Romance offerings under the Cowboy Country heading are all to be cherished, but this one spoke to this reader and will remain a keeper on her book shelf. Review Courtesy of LoveRomancesandmore

Looking for a fast-paced, heart-warming story? Then add Make-Believe Mom to your shopping cart. Elaine Grant keeps you entertained and guessing as widower-rancher, Jon Rider, and jilted Vet, Kaycee Calloway, find their way into each other's heart. Of course, Jon's seven loving and unpredictable children spur on the romance. Set against a Montana sky, you're in for a passel of surprises and an ending that will leave you begging for more. You don't want to miss this one! Sylvia Rochester ~ www.sylviarochester.com

Elaine Grant's Make-Believe Mom was an excellent read. Her characters are so real and compelling I couldn't put the book down. The beautifully worded descriptions of Montana's Big Sky Country not only took me there while reading, but made me want to experience it in real life. I can't wait for Ms. Grant's next book. I'm sure it too will take me away to a wondeful place to meet more fascinating characters.

Elaine Grant's Make-Believe Mom is a great feel good read. She brings the trials of a montanta rancher to life with desciptions that put you right in that big sky country. Hero and heroine are engaging characters, but the seven kids are the iciing on this confection. Grant has managed to produce real kids, not the wise cracking semi/adults we get on tv sit-coms, and has made each an individual despite the number involved. much as we romance readers may root for the guy to get the gal and we do with this couple, even more we want these seven children to have a real mother. this book will warm your heart and bring a tear to the eye. kris harding in baton rouge