THE COTTAGE

Grieving his mother's death, 14-year-old Daniel Wilder runs away to Dawsons Hollow, Ga., a mountain village that embraces old traditions and folklore. The secluded town was his mother's favorite place, and Daniel hopes to learn more about her early life and the birth father he never knew. His stepfather, Cale Wilder, is on his way to find Daniel when a sudden storm forces his plane to crash-land conveniently close to the town and the cottage of beautiful recluse Miranda Sinclair. Miranda, a natural healer who is able to cure almost everything except the fears that have haunted her since she was raped years before, nurses Cale back to health and finds herself in danger of falling in love with him. Fascinated by Miranda yet distracted by his still-fresh grief for his wife and his concerns for Daniel, Cale decides to stay in the area for a while, at least until he and Daniel sort out their problems. Although Steffen's (Quinn's Complete Seduction, etc.) characters are thoroughly and thoughtfully conceived, the story's pacing lags after the first few chapters, and the truth about Daniel's birth, when finally revealed at the end of the book, is strained and unlikely. Regardless of these flaws, the charm of this tale lies in its lovely portrayal of complex family relationships, and those who desire a heartfelt, inspirational romance need look no further. (Aug.)

Forecast:Steffen, author of 17 Silhouette series romances, has a modest following, but print advertising in the Romantic Times and a cover quote by Stella Cameron will boost this novel's appeal to fans of Debbie Macomber and Barbara Delinsky.