Winter Baby: Four Seasons in Firefly Glen (Harlequin Superromance No. 1015)

When things go awry for super-arranger Sarah Lennox, the jilted, newly pregnant young woman heads for Upstate New York's Firefly Glen and her great uncle's period mansion. Shuttled here and there through a difficult childhood, Sarah remembers the magical summer she spent at Uncle Ward's. The small town beckons as a spot to reconsider her options while planning for the coming--and unexpected--arrival of her baby. Sarah doesn't count on instant attraction to Sheriff Parker Tremaine, who finds the Florida lass one fascinating lady. Parker, a divorced man, has left Washington, D.C. and a well-paying profession, to return to his childhood home. He loves Firefly Glen and its small town ways, and he has no illusions about finding romance again, despite his sister's matchmaking. However, when Sarah arrives in town all that changes.Between keeping the peace, particularly among the town residents who want their winter ice festival, and curmudgeonly Uncle Ward, who does not, Parker has his hands full. This he handles well; Sarah's pregnancy however, makes him reevaluate what's important in his life.This is a wonderful story about real people with real, life-changing decisions which the talented Ms. O'Brien handles with her customary skill. I guarantee, once you've read Winter Baby, you'll have to have the other Firefly Glen books. Brava Ms. O'Brien.

Since she was twelve when her parents divorced and her mother started her many relationships with other men, Sarah Lennox had a master plan for her own life. First she would graduate from college, which she did. Then she would have a career, which she has as a Home Economics teacher. Finally, she would marry and two years later have children. Currently, she is engaged to the principal of her school. However, four home pregnancy-tests later, in spite of practicing safe sex, Sarah realizes she is pregnant. When she tells her fiancé, he informs her he is leaving for a new job in California, ends their engagement, and implies she should rid herself of the unborn. Stunned Sarah receives a letter from her curmudgeon Uncle Ward inviting her to come see him. Realizing that the summer she spent as a thirteen year old at his home in Firefly Glen was her happiest, she decides to visit him. There she meets former secret service agent and current sheriff Parker Tremaine. As she defends her beloved uncle in the middle of an ice festival battle, she falls in love with Parker, who reciprocates her deepest feelings. WINTER BABY is an amiable contemporary romance that warms the wintry weather of the upstate New York location of the plot. The tale is a relationship drama played on several levels, not just the lead couple even as their love shines throughout the novel. Though the principal is too villainous, Parker, Sarah, and the locals are likable characters that enable readers to enjoy Kathleen O'Brien's gracious story.Harriet Klausner

Sarah Lennox's carefully constructed life follows a plan she decided upon in childhood. With tender young years built around chaos and change, she determined that only careful control would give her life the safety and security that she needs. Indeed, everything proceeded according to schedule, including college and her career. The man she wanted to marry arrived right on time. Then something went awry one night. Despite conscientious use of birth control, she got pregnant. Worse, the night she announces her pregnancy, her fiancé announces he's leaving Florida behind for California - without her.Only one place, in a magical summer when she was thirteen, ever provided Sarah with a strong sense of home and security. Sarah takes six weeks off work and heads to Firefly Glen and her Uncle Ward. Just outside of town, during a bout of morning sickness brought on by heights and driving through mountains, she meets Sheriff Parker Tremaine when he stops to check on her. He's returned to this tiny Adirondack town for healing as well, following his divorce and resignation from big city life and the Secret Service. He loves Firefly Glen, despite town leaders who argue over the upcoming festival, the mayor's daughter's inappropriate behavior, and the difficulty of keeping his one jail cell free for its intended purpose. More, he's coming to love Sarah, despite her determination to maintain her distance. Kathleen O'Brien creates a pleasing romance in WINTER BABY, the first of the Four Season in Firefly Glen miniseries. The spunky heroine demonstrates substantial growth as she moves from a relationship of indifference to a relationship of passion. Her pregnancy gives impetus to change, and builds marvelous sympathy in the reader. Moreover, the sexy hero proves that pregnant women are sexy and desirable. Indeed, I can't resist a man who happily accepts another man's child as if it were his own. While the plot does provide minor conflict, however, this novel revolves around strong characters, whether it is the hero and heroine, or the wonderfully drawn secondary characters. Highly recommended.