Reviewed by Maria Lokken
3.5 stars
Publisher:  Mira
Pub Date Feb 1, 2009

Kimberly Van Dorn is a mess.  She’s flying coach, dressed in a sequin evening gown, wearing four inch strapless heels and accompanied by only one piece of ‘luggage’ a Judith Leiber handbag.  Where is she going and what is she running from?   We know this much, she’s just left the eternal sunshine of LA for the frigid winter of Willow Lake in upstate New York.

A media agent for superstar sports figures, Kimberly has traded in her job for what she believes will be the comfort her mother’s arms and the pace of small town life.  But small town doesn’t mean small problems, because this story is filled with quirky characters that have issues. Particularly Bo Crutcher, minor league baseball player with big league dreams.  On the precipice of realizing his life long goal he’s thrown into a relationship with AJ, the son he’s never met.  The circumstances are rough and AJ has to deal with a father he thinks abandoned him.

Fireside is about dreams and second chances.  The author has created vivid characters that jump off the page, each with their own back story and baggage.  As the characters meet, they form relationships that help cast off the shadows of the past and create hopes for the future.

Susan Wiggs has become a favorite of mine. Her ability to envelop the reader into the story and the characters is what got me hooked.  You care what happens.  I found myself waiting to get back to the book in between work and errands.

My only quibble is that I felt rushed at the end.  She spends quite a bit of time developing the characters and revealing their stories, so I was surprised when a few pages from the end she wrapped everything up.  I felt the resolution deserved a bit more time.  However, I strongly recommend this story – it will captivate you.