Kelsie Maxwell
The Secret Christmas Child is book one in Lee Tobin McClain’s Rescue Haven series. Lee Tobin McClain is one of my favorite authors, and she did not fail me with this novel. Reese Markowski is a veteran who runs, Rescue Haven, a program for at-risk kids and dogs. He feels that caring for and training dogs will give the boys purpose and keep them out of trouble. Reese can’t believe that his high school sweetheart, Gabby Hanks, will be working for him. He was tricked into the arrangement by Gabby’s grandmother. Gabby Hanks, Reese’s ex-girlfriend, and her nine-month-old daughter, Izzy, are temporarily living with Gabby’s grandmother. Gabby is surprised that the job Nana has arranged for her is working with Reese. This job is perfect, though, because it allows her to be close to her elderly grandmother and Izzy while she works. Though both Reese and Gabby have romantic feelings for each other, the past seems too much to overcome. Ms. McClain has knocked it out of the park again. The characters are well-conceived and completely relatable. The dialogue is vivid. There are surprising plot twists. The author touches on potentially controversial issues. The Secret Christmas Child is a great read. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy romance with a little suspense. My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.