cover image A Simple Gift

A Simple Gift

Karyn Witmer, . . Dell, $6.99 (421pp) ISBN 978-0-553-58425-7

When Fiona Montgomery dropped out of college, stole her mother's pearls and ran off to play in a rock band, she opened a rift between her parents, toy designer Avery and carpenter Mike. Avery longed to re-establish contact, while Mike refused to forgive the daughter who destroyed his faith in a happy home. Now Fiona's back in her hometown of Larkin, Kans., regretful but still fiercely independent and with a baby daughter in tow. After Avery spots her daughter working at a grocery store, old wounds reopen and relationships shift, setting off a chain reaction that threatens to destroy the shaky remains of Avery and Mike's marriage. Meanwhile, the risky expansion of Avery's stuffed-animal business nearly backfires, and Mike must summon the strength to stop enabling his alcoholic younger brother. Witmer, previously known for historical romances (writing as Elizabeth Kary and Elizabeth Grayson), handles familiar emotional territory with skill, using the tumultuous mother-daughter bond to propel the drama. Though characters may move a bit slowly for some readers, and the holiday finale comes as no surprise, this novel will still keep fans of women's fiction smiling and reaching for the tissues. (Nov.)