Unbreak My Heart

Grief unites a young widower and his late wife's best friend in Jacquelyn's (Craving Molly) contemporary romance, which is marred by immature characters, distracting coarse dialogue, and a tedious plot. Kate Evans and Shane Anderson met when they were teens; Kate has always loved Shane, even after Shane married her best friend, Rachel, and broke Kate's heart. After Rachel dies, "Auntie" Kate is a stable, loving helpmate for Shane's four young children. After one night's drunken sexual encounter between Shane and Kate, he rejects her again and initiates tiresome bickering between them. Shane lashes out and acts threatened that Kate is trying to replace his late wife, all while he is fighting his true feelings for her; eventually Kate reaches her breaking point with him. The couple begins to mend their complicated relationship when Shane is made aware of his problems and Kate is able to trust him again. Jacquelyn provides plenty of eroticism, but gratuitous swearing and a sophomoric plot detract from what could be positive messages about foster care, fortitude, and emotional maturity. (June)