Title: Crazy for Kate
Author: Kelly McDonough
Published in June 2004 by Wings ePress, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
IBSN: 1-59088-284-9
Christopher Shields knows all about rejection. He spent 5 years of his life dating his high school sweetheart, Maureen, and when his physician told him that he was sterile, she dumped him without a second thought. Coming from a family with nine children, the news that he would never have any of his own shattered him. In the ensuing years, Chris has come to terms with his sterility and loves to spend time with his numerous nieces and nephews. He still feels hollow inside over his loss, but he has learned to live with the feelings of emptiness that he has. He struggles with how any woman could love him enough that she would be willing to marry a man that can not give her children. To protect himself from further rejection, he does not date. He feels that it would not be fair to date a woman when he is not capable of producing offspring with her. Lately his sister Colleen has been urging Chris to stop spending all of his time working and to start dating. Chris has always been a little on the shy side and he is happy with how his life is now. While the ladies might be attracted to his lean muscular build, dark hair, and Paul Newman eyes, Chris steers clear of them to protect himself from further grief.
Chris finally agrees to be a volunteer at the church picnic to get Colleen off his back. Once at the picnic he finds himself sent by Father Tierney to help Kate with her kiddie snack stand. Chris remembers Kate from high school, but when he sees her again, he realizes that she is the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on. Spending a few hours working with Kate and her two young daughters make Chris experience feelings he has not felt in many a long year. He is reminded that he is still a man with very real needs. Chris feels like every bone in his body is on full alert when he is with Kate. He cannot stop himself from imagining what Kate would feel like in his arms. With all the newly returned emotions running through his body, Chris makes the decision to ask Kate and her girls out on a date. Since it has been so many years since he asked anyone out, he just has to figure out how to go about asking in the right way.
Kate McKaye is a single mom of two beautiful daughters, seven-year-old Megan and five-year-old Molly. Kate is waiting on her annulment from her ex-husband Scott. Kate had walked in and caught her old college roommate and Scott in bed together. Kate no longer has feelings for Scott and the only contact Kate and the girls have with him is the monthly call he makes to verify that they have received his child support check. Kate has devoted the last two years of her life caring for her children and has not dated since leaving Scott. Kate is very happy with her life right now. She works for the Church and is able to do most of her work at home, so that she will be with her girls. While she might desire a man in her life, she knows that he will have to be someone special. Someone that will accept both her and her daughters and make them feel loved.
Occasionally at church, Kate has seen Chris, but for the most part, they have not spent much time together. While they had attended school together, Chris was involved with Maureen, and their paths did not really cross there. When Chris came to the stand to volunteer his help, Kate realizes that since high school he has filled out in all the right places. She admires his broad shoulders and incredible chest. Kate marvels at the feelings that he invokes in her.,feelings that she has not experienced in many, many years. With her long blond hair, blue eyes, and shapely figure, Kate could have made it in the modeling business, but she felt that home and family were more important. When Chris asks her and the girls out on a date, Kate is excited and looks forward to spending time with him. Kate finds that she was woefully unprepared for what to expect when dating with children in tow. From the girls dumping ice cream in Chris’ car to saying exactly what is on their minds, Kate is in for one wild ride.
Crazy for Kate is the story of two people that have not had the best track record at romance. First, you have Chris who was dumped by his high school sweetheart over something he had no control over. He has spent his time since working and playing with his nieces and nephews. He does not feel up to the possible rejection that dating could bring him. Kate is putting her life back together after finding her husband cheating on her. She is happy with her job and her daughters, but longs to feel the companionship of a man in her life. Chris and Kate start dating and find that they have many things in common, one of them being that they both love children. When their individual pasts come back to confront them, Chris and Kate have to deal with the issues and learn to rely on each other for support.
When reading Crazy for Kate by Kelly McDonough, I was reminded of the country song “Unanswered Prayers”. Just because God did not answer your prayers the way you wanted him to, does not mean that he did not answer them at all. The old saying “God works in mysterious ways” is very appropriate in the lives of Chris and Kate. When I asked myself why I enjoyed the book so much, a ton of reasons popped into my mind. First, you have a guy that is dealing with the devastation and anguish associated with a diagnosis of sterility and how that affects his feelings of manliness and his self-esteem. Anyone that has had to deal with something in his or her life that is not “perfect” will be able to relate to this. Next, you have a single mother whom has not been involved in the dating scene in years and knows it is going to be hard to find a man willing to take her and her daughters. Many readers will be able to relate to how Kate feels for her daughters and how they are the most important people in her life. Then you have Colleen, Chris’ big sister, whom does not know when to keep her big mouth shut. The love and acceptance you receive from your family is wondrous, but sometimes you just want to strangle them! Many times during Crazy for Kate, I found myself experiencing the feelings that Chris and Kate were feeling. The nervousness of the first kiss, the fear of rejection, the happiness associated with finding true love and the mortification over what will come out of your child’s mouth at the most inappropriate time make for a truly wonderful tale.
Yours Sincerely,
Annmarie
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