Listen to the Child (Harlequin Super Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kit's disability provides extraordinary challenges, as does her preteen daughter who struggles with her parent's divorce and the profound changes in her mother. Kit had never wanted to be anything but a police officer since she was five years old. Her hearing loss had deprived her of a sense of identity, as well as robbing her of the precious voice of her child. But like the four legged and the slithering patients that come to Creature Comfort for healing, Kit will find her own brand of healing within those four walls with the most disconcerting doctor of all.

Carolyn McSparren tackles challenging issues with deft skill and gentle understanding in LISTEN TO THE CHILD. Moments of humor, as when a shocking kiss receives catcalls and investigation, provide lighthearted relief in a story that explores challenging family dynamics and disability. McSparren gracefully captures the devastating effects of hearing loss in the poignant absence of a child's voice, the guilty fear of an ill pet, and the loss of valued career. As Kit struggles to redefine her existence, it might have been a bit more plausible to see her descend into rage and frustration at a world she cannot hear. Nevertheless, her valiant struggle to balance her needs against a disagreeable ex-husband, a town of cops privy to her personal life, and a vet with a hard edge that covers the heart of a marshmallow makes LISTEN TO THE CHILD a delightful read. Indeed, Mac's irritability and character growth make him an absolutely delightful hero. With each book of this continuity, I confess to loving the series as whole even more. Keep those animal tales coming! Highly recommended.

Not much later Kit accepts a job at the animal clinic. She shows a quickly propensity for working extremely well with animal infants and her experience as a police officer enables her to calmly handle all types of emergencies except one. Kit does not know how to cope with her growing attraction to John. He reciprocates her feelings, but both wonders if anything can come of it.

LISTEN TO THE CHILD is a contemporary engaging tale that fans of the series will enjoy though in some ways it parallels previous novels. The story line is fun especially when the team works with animals such as the time Kit becomes surrogate mother to a newborn orangutan. Kit and John are endearing lead characters while the audience will empathize with Emma's plight. The police harassment of his "dating" her is amusing. Though her ex-spouse appears too childish and her mother-in-law too idiotic, readers will appreciate this latest visit to the vet.

Harriet Klausner