Never Too Late

Never Too Late by RaeAnne Thayne, 2005 Silhouette

    Kate Spencer recently discovered that the life she lived was a direct result of being kidnapped from her family home at the age of three. Her newly discovered family includes two older brothers, a loving mother, and a generous father. When her brother and best friend have married the bride, Taylor's, older brother comes back into Kate's life. 

     Hunter was a former cop who was falsely convicted of his pregnant girlfriend and her terminally ill mother's murders. Three years in prison have made Hunter believe that he is no longer worthy of compassion or care. 

     Kate and Hunter decide to seek out the woman who kidnapped and raised her in a series of motel rooms across the state of Florida. When Kate was taken from the only mother she had known and placed in a series of foster homes at seven years old she bounced around until the Spencers form a strong bond and the only thing stopping her adoption was her "mother's" refusal. 

     Kate and Hunter drive from Utah to Florida to search for the woman. Along the way, the doctor-in-training and her former-cop escort help a young woman deliver her child, save a blind man from a couple of street thugs then deliver him to his granddaughter's dance recital, and stop a couple of drunk frat boys harassing young women. 

     The two fight their attraction until they decide to give a relationship a try. Their story follows the traditional romance trope for a quick and easy read. 

The Gates of Sleep

 

The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey, 2002 DAW Books

     Hugh and Alanna Rosewood are happily married and happy to be celebrating the birth of their first child: a daughter named Marina. The two Earth Masters are surprised that their child has water-magic, but their close friend and powerful water-mage, Elizabeth Henstridge, confirms the baby will be a powerful mage. 
     Upon the child's christening, Hugh Rosewood's estranged sister surprises the family. With a thinly-veiled familial connection, Arachne invades her family home, but the schism makes Hugh and Alanna suspicious of her motives. Their fears are founded when Arachne tries to steal away the baby's powers. 
     The Rosewoods' friends, and little Marina's godparents, immediately recognize the curse but are unable to remove it. One of her godmothers' talents as a water-mage allows the Elemental Masters present to subvert Arachne's curse - putting it to sleep. Fearing Arachne will reactivate the curse Hugh and Alanna send Marina with three of her godparents to be raised in secret. 

     Even the Rosewoods have no idea their beloved daughter is raised in Cornwall with pre-Raphaelite artists. Marina loves her aunt and uncles and respects the magic they teach her, but as she nears her eighteenth birthday and the looming deadline of the curse her education in water magic requires additional support. Her fourth godparent--a respected lady--comes to Cornwall under the pretense of research to train the young mage. 

     Although her studies are incomplete Marina is forced to return to her parent's home when they die mysteriously abroad: Arachne has managed to arrange her brother's estate in order to take control of Marina's life. With her aunt and cousin managing the Rosewood heir's every move, Marina has little ability to continue her studies. Their intent becomes more clear and more sinister Marina is unable to contact her godparents and must face alone her new guardian and the curse she still doesn't understand. 

     Marina's story in The Gates of Sleep is a creative retelling of the "Sleeping Beauty" fairy tale. Set in the world of Lackey's Elemental Masters magic abounds and those who are gifted with magic are both good and evil. This story is more mature than the popular tellings of Sleeping Beauty and includes elements of Satanism and intentional harm to disadvantaged populations.