MARSHMALLOWS FOR BREAKFAST

Author: Dorothy Koomson ISBN: 9780385341332 2/2009 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HQN

Kendra Tamale is looking for a fresh start and a simple life when she rents a room from Kyle Gadsborough. But against her better judgment Kendra soon finds herself drawn into her new landlord’s household: a young father in way over his head, a beautiful mother out the door, and six-year-old twins, Summer and Jaxon, with hearts full of hurt. Kendra has plenty of issues of her own, but this family seems to need her so desperately that she’s soon falling in love—with Summer’s constant chatter, Jaxon’s soulful eyes, and the sugar-laden Saturday breakfasts she invents. But when a secret from Kendra’s past resurfaces and the children are taken away by their mother, the only way to fix things is to confess to the terrible mistake she made many years ago—and the choice she makes now could break more than one person’s heart.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Kendra is a single woman desperately in need of a lifestyle change. She has been hurt, and harbors a deep, painful secret. In her search for some peace, she rents an apartment across the driveway from a man who—on the phone, at least—sounded incredibly normal. The reality is that he and his wife are splitting up and their twins are the prime property in their acrimonious divorce. Kendra’s first real taste of this situation occurs when she is pulled into a Saturday morning filled with familial chaos—and is forced to concoct a story of fun and frolic for the twins featuring MARSHMALLOWS FOR BREAKFAST.

This is an incredible story that shows that even the most fragile, deeply scarred psyche can—and will—heal if given the proper care. I loved Kendra, and the twins. They are so well-written they felt completely real. One of the best parts is that when the children speak, their dialogue is totally appropriate and believable.

Dorothy Koomson’s MARSHMALLOWS FOR BREAKFAST is a poignant tale of survival that had this reader fully engaged. Well done!

Kay James