Silent Witness

Rating:
Summary: From the "Code Red" series -- Recommended
Review: Andrea arrives at her sister Vicki's home to help her unpack only to walk in on unspeakable tragedy. Her sister claimed to have been returning to Courage Bay after a disastrous marriage and divorce. Only now a family armoire has fallen, breaking her six-year-old nephew's leg. Horribly, the child has born silent witness to his mother's death, trapped with her body for hours. Kevin suffers from Selective Mutism and does not even call for help. A paramedic, Andrea calls for help while trying to comfort the child.

When word of his ex-wife's death reaches Grant Corbin, he immediately leaves LA to come to his son's aid. He is not prepared to meet with Andrea's hostility or the lies his ex-wife created. After a year's absence from his son's life, Grant hopes to make up for the past. However, when Grant sees Kevin with Andrea, he has to reevaluate his own needs and desires. Having failed at his marriage to her sister, Grant has little hope doing better by Andrea despite their mutual attraction.

Once again author Kay David proves her excellence at creating tales impossible to put down with SILENT WITNESS. However, discerning readers may be a bit distracted by a couple of plot points. First, too little time elapses between the time of Vicki's death and the growing romance between Andrea and Grant; however, the timing is implicitly necessary to keep Grant's decisions immediate regarding his son. Certainly Grant's determination to put his son's best interests ahead of his own desires demonstrates a remarkably loving parent facing an impossible and painful situation. Secondly, author David unfortunately mirrors a commonly held myth among romance writers. Despite commonly held belief, if a man's name appears on the birth certificate, the courts always favor the father who cares for the child since birth. Biology does not determine custody under the circumstances David creates. Nevertheless, the painful family drama and tender romance results in a read that comes recommended.

Rating:
Summary: deep family drama
Review: While paramedic Andrea Hunt left Los Angeles to start over in her hometown of Courage Bay, her older sister Vicki also came home with more baggage caused by a disastrous marriage and divorce, but with one blessing her six year old son Kevin. Though flighty, Vicki cares for her child who suffers from Selective Mutism ever since his father Los Angeles Detective Grant Corbin left them without a look back or even a call.

However, the return for Vicki ends tragically when her grandmother's huge armoire falls on her killing her while Kevin is hospitalized. Andrea takes over raising her nephew while Grant arrives in town vowing during the drive to be the best father to the son he has missed for a year. However, when he sees his silent son with his aunt, Grant realizes the lad is better off with her. Still he wants in, but Andrea despises him for ignoring his child and fears he might have killed Vicki. Still he seems so patient with Kevin that she reconsiders her first impression as she falls in love with both male Corbins.

Though well written and exciting, readers will feel a somewhat bitter taste as the timing of anything romantic between the two lead adults seems too soon after the death of Vicki. Still Kevin is a wonderful child struggling with the radical changes to his environs including his father's "desertion", his mother's death, and his relocation even though his Aunt Andrea is a delightful nurturing soul. SILENT WITNESS is a deep family drama with a touch of a mystery and a warm romance starring the right couple in the right place at the wrong time.

Harriet Klausner