Review: A sweet, touching romance…
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 11 18, 2013
Ana Travares is an illegal immigrant. She tutors high school students and adults in Spanish. Her visa expired when she was a young child and never renewed as her mother was too ill to do so and then died leaving her 16 year old son to raise two younger sisters. They have lived under the radar ever since, to avoid deportation to the Dominican Republic. Ana came here young enough to now be assimilated to her new country. She has no memories of life in her country of birth. She once trusted a man with her secret, a man she was involved with, who ran away after learning her status and so trust does not come easy. There is something about Ethan that draws her and gets her to take a chance. But being what she is can she fit into his world?Ethan Hansen is a pediatrician with a teenage son. He lost his wife years ago. His son Theo is at the rebellious stage and Ethan is having difficulties getting through to him until he hires a Spanish tutor, a woman he rescued, who brought out his protective instincts on the day they met. Ana breaks through Theo’s shell and also brings life back to Ethan. The more he learns about her the more he wants her but when the truth is learned will he stay the course?This is a sweet touching romance of two people from diverse backgrounds falling in love and the issues they face. The author did well describing the problems that illegal immigrants face on a daily basis. There was though an overabundance of stereotyping that detracted from the story for this reader. I also wondered why as adults they never tried to see if they could legally change their status as they did not, and there was no intent to, enter the country illegally. I liked the banter between the hero and heroine; there was definite chemistry between them and each had a strong sense of family. Both were strong and independent characters.ARC provided by the publisher.3.5 stars