Touching Stars (Shenandoah Album Series) » (Unabridged)

Emilie Richards began her writing career with a baby on her lap. Emilie, who has a master's degree in family development, finds family interaction fascinating and through the years, in many different ways, her four children have shown up in her books.

Emilie's daughter, who was adopted from India, emerged from a plane at age six, and was an instant addition to the family. Since then, Emilie has written several books about the trials and tribulations of adoption, as well as its myriad rewards. Wayward teenage boys have walked through Emilie's books, just the way they seem to walk through her life. The boys always turn out well and luckily her own have, too.

A long love affair with Emilie's minister husband convinced her that ministers can be heroes, too. Dragonslayer, a Silhouette Intimate Moments and RITA Award winner resulted from that realization. Endless Chain, the second book in her Shenandoah Album series for MIRA Books, did, as well.

Gayle Fortman has built a good life for herself and her three sons as an innkeeper in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. She has even maintained a cordial relationship with her ex, charismatic broadcast journalist Eric Fortman, covering with the boys for his absences and broken promises. Luckily Travis Allen, her closest neighbor, has been a loving surrogate father to the boys and her own best friend.

Then, on the eve of oldest son Jared's graduation, Eric returns, having nearly lost his life in Afghanistan. Worse, he has lost his way and his courage, and needs a place to recover. Gayle realizes this might be the last chance for her sons to establish a real bond with their father, and offers him a summer at the inn and a chance to put things right. Gayle and Eric are all too aware that their onetime love and attraction are still there. But can the pieces of their broken lives be mended, or are they better laid to rest?

Publishers Weekly

The setup of Richards's 50-somethingth book is wince-inducing: Gayle Fortman's ex-husband, hot-shot TV journalist Eric, has had a nasty run-in with the Taliban; at Gayle's invitation, he returns to the Shenandoah Valley, Va., B&B they bought together to convalesce. Eric, who is in a relationship with L.A.-based fellow journo Ariel Kensington, knows little about the three sons he left behind 12 years ago: 13-year-old Dillon, 16-year-old Noah and 18-year-old Jared. Over 500-plus pages, each boy confronts his father in his own way, while Gayle harbors hopes that Eric will stay. Sidelines include Jared's relationship with hot-to-trot Brandy Wilburn (which may jeopardize his chances at an MIT scholarship), and a neighbor, Travis Allen, waiting in the wings for Gayle. Romance Writers of America award-winner Richards gets the emotions right and writes credible dialogue when the adults speak to children. The result is a fine, light family melodrama. (July)