High Meadow

by Joan Wolf

Kate Foley was only 21 when her wild sister Colleen died, leaving behind an infant son. Forced to drop out of college and raise her nephew, Ben, as her own, Kate tries to protect him from a possibly sadder truth by telling him that his absent father is dead.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Joan Wolf is a USA TODAY bestselling American writer, whose acclaimed Regency romances have earned her national recognition as a master of the genre. Her many historical and contemporary romances, some of which have been chosen as Literary Guild selections, have been highly praised by reviewers and authors alike.

Joan was born in 1951 and she grew up in the Bronx, New York. A former English teacher, she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Mercy College and Master in English and Comparative Literature at Hunter College. An avid rider and horse owner, Joan lives in Connecticut with her husband Joe and two grown children, Jay and Pam.

Reviews

[Christine]

This book is a prime example of why good story-telling is more important than a good idea. I loved the idea of this book. I wanted to love this book. It wasn't wholly unique, but it took an idea I love to hate -- that of a father suddenly discovering a child after x many years -- and made it more palatable by having the culprit (the boy's mother, who never told the man he was having a baby), die in a car crash. Her sister, Kate, raised Ben from the time he was a baby, and never knew who the father was. She didn't particularly care, either, but I couldn't complain about that. :)

So in the first chapter, through a fluke of fate, a man recognizes the child and tells Daniel, the Yankee's star pitcher, that he has a son. (Actually, the man tries to blackmail Daniel into keeping the information from the mom, thinking he wouldn't have to pay millions in child support. The idea backfires.)

The biggest problem I hate with the story was that I didn't like Kate. I didn't hate her, I just didn't really like her. That's almost worse than hating her, really. She was cold, selfish, and incredibly narrow-minded. She seemed to have a lot of prejudiced beliefs, which makes sense, since she didn't know many people or let them close -- so she has to rely on prejudices to imagine what people are like. She loves only a handful of people, and doesn't need or want anyone else. I'd even like to say that those she loves, she loves fiercely, and I suppose that's true, but it felt to me like she always cared more about her own happiness than anyone else's. She panics at the thought that her mother might get remarried, leaving her alone -- it's all about her, and not at all about her mother, who's been alone for 10 years and is only in her 50's.


Daniel suffered from TGTBT syndrom -- too good to be true. From the moment he learned about having a son, he was like daddy of the year. His relationship with Ben came about effortlessly, without any hiccups. It probably helped that his son knew of him (from watching baseball), but even if a boy discovers his father is a sports hero, it doesn't make everything perfect. Daniel was just the all-understanding one. He doesn't even do things like buy his son expensive gifts (except on Christmas).


I felt like the story relied on false dramatic moments -- a friend's death, a fight with cancer, etc. There was plenty of drama in the original setup -- a man is cheated out of having a son for 7 years and now wants to find a way to be a part of the boy's life. Of course, the drama of that situation would rely on complex characters, even in the form of a 7-year-old boy. (Why do people think children don't need characterization?)

[Elizajane40]

My first JW DNF. I know this isn’t her strongest book, but I’m choosing to blame myself.

[Nightwitch]

Joan Wolf has a very telling-rather-than-showing style which worked in the historical of hers I read, but did not work so well here. The book is much more a slice-of-life story than a sweeping romance - the characters are well-drawn, but about as much time is devoted to Kate's mother's bout with breast cancer, baseball games, and Kate's riding lessons as the actual romance. It was nonetheless very readable... until we reach the Disneyworld vacation, where Ben and his friend are abducted by child pornographers, but rescued before anything creepy happens. Yeah. Totally off the rails, and nothing about anyone's reactions to that rang true.

[Janet White]

Basically unbelievable

Hard to get lost in this rather silly romance between a star athlete and a self centered woman. Completely unbelievable characters and s l o w plot line. Actually breathed a sigh of relief when it was over! And I normally love ❤️ Joan Wolf. What happened? Almost like someone else wrote this book…

[Lynne Block]

so-so

[Nancy Alatorre]

I loved the story line.
Kate adopting her dead sister's son, Daniel wanting share custody of his new found son after finding out he can't have children.
I did not like the Colombia references and stereotypes, they made me roll my eyes.
The romance was a slow burn which i liked but when it came to the steamy encounters they definitely lacked passion and romance. Although I liked how the scene of their 1st time together started to developed, very quickly it went spiraling downwards.
I felt that the story was predictable but having said that I still loved it.

[Jael]

The story as a whole was fairly predictable. The characters were very good ones though. I like connecting with the characters in the books I read and I felt like I was able to do it in some way with each in this book.

Other than that I've got really nothing much else to say. The author writes a good story, though I'd have to read more of her books to really judge accurately.

[Donna Jo Atwood]

Kate has adopted the son of her dead sister. When baseball star Daniel finds out Ben is his son, he wants to share custody. You have to wonder what the guy sees in her.
Of passing interest, she runs a stable and has a couple dressage lessons.

[Amy]

somewhat predictable,good characters