Houseful of Strangers

by Linda Barrett

Book Overview

**Finalist, National Readers' Choice Awards, Oklahoma Romance Writers **Award of Merit-Holt Medallion, Virginia Romance Writers Flying Solo - single parents, second chances and the power of love After breaking his arm, Dr. Eric Mitchell is forced to seek help with his rural veterinary practice in upstate New York. The temp he hires is a surprise. At first glance, she seems too fragile to handle the large animals he caters to, and emotionally, she...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1945830077
• ISBN13: 9781945830075
• Release Date: June 2017
• Publisher: Linda Barrett
• Length: 226 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable

HOUSEFUL OF STRANGERS by Linda Barrett March 19, 2007 Rating **** (4 Stars) Alison Truesdale needs a job, and Dr Eric Mitchell, who has just broken his arm, needs help at his veterinarian practice. So he hires Alison to take over his job until his arm heals. She seems to be a good fit, until he notices that she reacts negatively whenever his son is around. Alison is running away from a past she would rather forget. She had tragically lost both her son and her husband, and the sight of Eric's young son brings back those painful memories. But she needs the job, so she fights her feelings, burying herself in her work. To the outside world, she appears fragile, sad and lonely. Meanwhile, a runaway teen is found hiding in Eric's barn, and she soon becomes an unofficial member of the family. Eric has a hard time accepting Danielle, or "Irish" as she's known on the streets, but Eric's mother Ruth, who lives with Eric and his son, takes the girl in and does not listen to Eric's rantings that Danielle has to go. Ruth sees something that Eric does not, and soon the older woman and the runaway girl become good friends. It's an odd mix of people, but soon they all become like family. And Eric soon realizes that Alison would be a good asset to his practice. But Alison has already made inquiries into positions at other places, and does not plan to stay much longer helping Eric. A part of her needs to get away from reminders of her past, but another part of her is falling in love with Eric and his family, and she is torn. I enjoyed HOUSEFUL OF STRANGERS. I delighted in reading about the various characters of the book, especially the relationship between Ruth and Danielle. Danielle was probably the most developed character in the entire book, with a complex set of traits that I thought the author did a good job at describing. My only complaint was that things were resolved a little bit too easily at the end but then again, this was a romance and happy endings are always in order.

Bravura preformance from Linda

After winning a painful custody battle, country veterinarian Eric Mitchell vows that no none will ever hurt his son, Joey, again. He avoids getting involved in relationships until a broken arm forces him to advertise for an assistant. Enter Allison Truesdale. She's a qualified veterinarian from the city who is just beginning to recover after the tragic deaths of her son and husband. Allison is looking for a change of environment and professional challenges, not personal ones. She's quiet, but spunky enough to handle stubborn diary farmers. She petite, but strong enough to turn a foal...and strong enough to embrace both Joey and a teenage runaway who turns up on the Mitchell homestead. As the relationships in this "Houseful of Strangers" begin to grow and develop, Eric learns that it's not only his broken arm that's keeping him on the sidelines. As always, Linda Barrett delivers an extremely well written and well-researched book. This heart-warming story about real people with intensely believable issues is one to curl up with any time. Especially charming is the street-smart runaway, Danielle, a poignant character to whom Linda gives such intriguing sharp edges and vulnerabilities that fans will want to see more of her. It's a bravura performance from Linda Barrett. Enjoy

Heart warming.

Twin Lake's local veterinarian, Eric Mitchell, badly injures his arm and needs some temporary help. He hires Dr. Alison Truesdale, never expecting her to seem so fragile. Not only does Alison look physically unable to do the work, but she is obviously emotionally scarred too. Her smile never reaches her eyes, especially around Joey, Eric's ten-year-old son. But that is okay as along as Alison does not upset Joey and does what he hired her to do. Fifteen-year-old Dani ran away from her father two years ago. After dealing with her father's neglect and abuse for years, Dani was already sharp as a tack, but now she has street smarts as well. She avoids drugs, alcohol, and anything that may bring police attention. After all, her father is a retired NYPD cop and has connections. Evading her father, Dani ends up in the barn of a country vet. Ruth, the veterinarian's mother, finds Dani and actually gives the runaway some hope. Eric is not thrilled when his mother demands Dani be allowed to stay awhile. Yet it is not long before the teen begins to grow on him, much as Alison is doing. How could Eric possible consider either of the two ladies remaining in his home when he cannot seem to open himself up to love? How will he ever continue without the two ladies if they eventually leave? ***** Author Linda Barrett tackles several major topics at once in this heart warming story of love and trust. I found my attention captured quickly and could not stop reading until the last page had been turned. I read the entire story in a single sitting, and lost a lot of sleep doing so. But I have no regrets. The characters are well developed and I came to care for each one, especially Joey and Dani. An outstanding read that I highly recommend! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Houseful of Strangers

For two years, veterinarian Allison Truesdale has been trying to cope with the tragedy of losing her precious ten-year-old son and loving husband of fourteen years. Now she is determined to move on and start a new life. When Dr. Eric Mitchell advertises for temporary help, Allison hires on and hopes for the best. But her hopes are dashed when she discovers the doctor has a son, who is a constant reminder of what she has lost. With a nasty divorce and custody battle behind him, Eric Mitchell is struggling to create a stable environment for his young son. When his new veterinarian assistant arrives, Eric can't believe how the fragile-looking woman reacts around his child. Even when he discovers her reasons, Eric's first responsibility is to protect his son. His second is to protect his own battered heart. Fifteen-year-old Danielle O'Connor has been a runaway since the tender age of thirteen. Escaping from an abusive ex-cop father, Dani has book smarts as well as street smarts. Never really fitting in with the other homeless kids, she constantly longs for a loving home and family. When circumstances force her to hop a bus out of New York City, Dani ends up in a sleepy little rural town, completely out of her element. She makes friends with Dr. Eric Mitchell's mother and starts living the life she's always dreamed about. When this houseful of strangers is thrown together, will they discover what each of them are searching for? Will they find a place to call home? Award-winning author Linda Barrett delivers another heartwarming love story with characters so real they seem like old friends. This emotionally gripping tale makes the reader laugh and cry from the very first page right through to the very last. I highly recommend this book. An awesome read.