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Family at Stake
Since becoming a single father, Mac Edwards has struggled to keep his small family together. But now his custody of his twelve-year-old daughter is threatened by the secrets she's keeping.
In a bitter twist, their new social worker is the one person he can't trust — Rachel Filmore. Thirteen years ago she was his world…until she deserted him. How can he trust her not to destroy his family? And how can he trust himself to leave the past where it belongs?
In a bitter twist, their new social worker is the one person he can't trust — Rachel Filmore. Thirteen years ago she was his world…until she deserted him. How can he trust her not to destroy his family? And how can he trust himself to leave the past where it belongs?
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Molly O'Keefe
108 books2,135 followersThis author is also published under: M. O'Keefe.
Molly O'Keefe has always known she wanted to be a writer (except when she wanted to be a florist or a chef and the brief period of time when she considered being a cowgirl). And once she got her hands on some romances, she knew exactly what she wanted to write.
She published her first Harlequin romance at age 25 and hasn't looked back. She loves exploring every character's road towards happily ever after.
Originally from a small town outside of Chicago, she went to university in St. Louis where she met and fell in love with the editor of her school newspaper. They followed each other around the world for several years and finally got married and settled down in Toronto, Ontario. They welcomed their son into their family in 2006, and their daughter in 2008. When she's not at the park or cleaning up the toy room, Molly is working hard on her next novel, trying to exercise, stalking Tina Fey on the internet and dreaming of the day she can finish a cup of coffee without interruption.
Molly O'Keefe has always known she wanted to be a writer (except when she wanted to be a florist or a chef and the brief period of time when she considered being a cowgirl). And once she got her hands on some romances, she knew exactly what she wanted to write.
She published her first Harlequin romance at age 25 and hasn't looked back. She loves exploring every character's road towards happily ever after.
Originally from a small town outside of Chicago, she went to university in St. Louis where she met and fell in love with the editor of her school newspaper. They followed each other around the world for several years and finally got married and settled down in Toronto, Ontario. They welcomed their son into their family in 2006, and their daughter in 2008. When she's not at the park or cleaning up the toy room, Molly is working hard on her next novel, trying to exercise, stalking Tina Fey on the internet and dreaming of the day she can finish a cup of coffee without interruption.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 23, 2023
This book is definitely going on my keeper shelf. Love a good second chance romance and the emotional punch of this one was just exquisite. I wavered a bit towards the end whether this one was going to make my keeper shelf when we learn what the daughter Amanda had been hiding because I felt it was a bit of a copout but then we learn the REAL secret the poor girl had been tormenting herself with and that... bravo 👏👏 Definitely going on my keeper shelf.
February 5, 2012
I decided to give this book a try when I saw a review for it during January's TBR challenge. I can't remember who reviewed it and it wasn't until I already bought it that I realized it was the same author I'd had rather a negative reaction with a previous book by this author.
But the premise sounded interesting enough to give a try.
Mac and Rachel were childhood sweethearts but Rachel had to leave her abusive home in order to survive, leaving behind Mac and a broken promise.ears later, Rachel is a social worker working with child services. She sees a file dealing with a now widowed Mac and his young teenage daughter. It's been recommended that Andre, the daughter, be removed from Mac's home but that doesn't gel with the Mac Rachel remembers and even though it's a conflict of interest, she takes on this case.
I enjoyed this book ever so much more than the previous book I read by this author. Rachel had walled up all feelings in order to survive her childhood and interestingly enough, this made her even more effective in her job. But when she enters Mac's life once again her feelings began coming back to life and I thought the author handled this really well. Rachel feels a great deal of guilt over leaving Mac and the love she had for a young teenage Mac comes roaring back.
At the same time, Rachel is able to help Amanda with the demons that have been bothering her since mothers death. There were other issues haunting her that Rachel got to the bottom of, and helped her through.
There is another book a bout Rachel's brother and since I enjoyed this one so well, I think I'll give it a read too. I really LIKE being wrong about an author.
But the premise sounded interesting enough to give a try.
Mac and Rachel were childhood sweethearts but Rachel had to leave her abusive home in order to survive, leaving behind Mac and a broken promise.ears later, Rachel is a social worker working with child services. She sees a file dealing with a now widowed Mac and his young teenage daughter. It's been recommended that Andre, the daughter, be removed from Mac's home but that doesn't gel with the Mac Rachel remembers and even though it's a conflict of interest, she takes on this case.
I enjoyed this book ever so much more than the previous book I read by this author. Rachel had walled up all feelings in order to survive her childhood and interestingly enough, this made her even more effective in her job. But when she enters Mac's life once again her feelings began coming back to life and I thought the author handled this really well. Rachel feels a great deal of guilt over leaving Mac and the love she had for a young teenage Mac comes roaring back.
At the same time, Rachel is able to help Amanda with the demons that have been bothering her since mothers death. There were other issues haunting her that Rachel got to the bottom of, and helped her through.
There is another book a bout Rachel's brother and since I enjoyed this one so well, I think I'll give it a read too. I really LIKE being wrong about an author.
June 11, 2008
Fairly typical and moderately old fashioned. Heroine runs into single father and feels the magical call of motherhood and romance. She chooses that over her job, because you can't date and mother your case files when you work in social services.
Meh. It would really nice if one of these stories ever managed to completely preserve the woman's job and career. Rather than telling the reader, 'Oh yes! She's still smart and happy, but look how much happier she is now that she's given up her job for some still to be determined (and less prestigious) career future!"
Meh. It would really nice if one of these stories ever managed to completely preserve the woman's job and career. Rather than telling the reader, 'Oh yes! She's still smart and happy, but look how much happier she is now that she's given up her job for some still to be determined (and less prestigious) career future!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2011
Rachel and Mac were good friends for most of high school, and lovers for one night. Now he's a single dad on the verge of being separated from his daughter, and she's a social worker intent on helping. They can't run from their pasts... Ms. O'Keefe handles the sometimes painful storylines beautifully, and you can feel the rawness of their emotions as you read. Will definitely be reading more of her stories.
November 21, 2012
Social worker heroine returns to home town after she takes over the case file regarding her high school BFF (and first lover) and his troubled pre-teen daughter. Emotionally draining story, a well done reunion theme, and liked the fact that author didn't sweep ethical issues under the rug.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews