Call Me Mom

by Sherry Lewis

Abby Drake
Being an instant mother was hard enough. But she'd certainly never planned to live in Pine Cove, Washington, a town so small, it didn't even appear on the map. She'd never expected to live in hiding, either, or to tell so many lies. But she'd do anything to keep her niece and nephew safe. Even if that meant pretending to be married-and losing her own chance at love...

Kurt Morgan
Being a single father with a nine-year-old son was hard enough. He didn't need any more complications. Like falling in love with the woman he knew as Abby Harris. Mrs. Abby Harris. A woman who told a lot of lies. A woman who had something to hide...

Genres: Romance, Harlequin

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Sherry Lewis is an award-winning, national bestselling author who writes across several genres. Along with her writing career, she has been teaching writing workshops for more than 20 years through Dancing on Coals Workshops for Fiction Writers.

In 1993 Sherry launched her mystery-writing career with the sale of her first three books in the Fred Vickery mystery series to Berkley Prime Crime. In early 1994 she sold her first romance to Harlequin Superromance, launching her career as a romance writer.

As Sammi Carter, she wrote the Candy Shop mystery series set in Paradise, Colorado and featuring Abby Shaw. As Jacklyn Brady she wrote the Piece of Cake mystery series set in New Orleans, featuring cake artist Rita Lucero.

Originally from Montana, Sherry spent several years living at the base of Utah's Wasatch Mountains. She now lives a block from the beach along Florida's Emerald Coast. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ~ The tiny community of Pine Cove, Washington, seemed the ideal place for Abby to hide her niece and nephew from their abusive father. They rehearsed their story that she was their mom and while their dad was working in Europe they decided to vacation here near the mountains. What Abby hadn't counted on was her landlady's nephew who helped out with their house. Kurt and his son, Brody, lived less than a mile down their rural road and soon Abby found her little family embroiled with his. Her nephew Michael was Brody's age, and the two boys seemed to need each other. Brody was still getting over the fact that his mom had walked away from him and his dad, and Michael needed to be with normal kids. It was her niece Erin that Abby worried about. The eleven year old retreating inside herself, hating crowds and any sort of confrontation, went along with everything in order to please. The kids broke Abby's heart, and she vowed to protect them and make their lives better. What she hadn't counted on was her fierce attraction to Kurt, and for the longings for a real family that he inspired.

From the first pages this author's debut was a compelling read. Ms. Lewis brought deep emotions to this little family's plight and at times the fear was palpable. Kurt and his son, though struggling in their own relationship, brought a balance and a sense of security. All the characters are richly developed and I found myself completely involved emotionally. I would have loved an epilogue to reinforce the HEA for all. I wonder if Ms. Lewis ever revisited Pine Cove, I would love a story for Abby's sister Rachel.

[Gary · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book could not keep my attention at all. I just skipped to the ending. I felt the plot was too long winded and too complicated to keep up with it.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby is running for her life and that if her niece and nephew. They are pretending to be mother and her kids. They are running from the kids’ father. He put their mother in the hospital and is now after the kids. Abby gets caught in a few lies by Kurt her next door neighbor. After all she hadn’t seen the kids in several years and she knew nothing about them. But she did know they were scared of their father. It is an interesting story of a young woman trying her best to get two scared kids to act normal again.

[Kate Vale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure why the title of this story was changed, as I still am not sure what it refers to: perhaps that single divorcee Abby used to be a professional photographer, but she isn't now. Instead, she's taken her sister's children away from an abusive father, hiding out in tiny Pine Cove, Washington, where she meets lawyer, Kurt Morgan, who's raising his son after his wife has left the marriage and motherhood responsibilities.
His son needs a friend and finds one in Michael, Abby's nephew. Kurt recognizes signs of abuse in Abby's niece's behavior, but can't figure out why Abby has lied to him on several occasions.

When the sister's ex-husband finds them and threatens them all, how they get away creates an exciting almost-ending to the story, but will Abby acknowledge what she really wants her life to become? And how can she say goodbye to the children she's come to love as a mother would?

[Desiree reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

what happen when the kid are in harms way so Abby drake come to the rescued of the kids
and get them way form a dad that want to kill the kills and then take them away form
his x wife Vic beat up the x and Abby go on the run with the kid they are so
messed up and do not now were to go so she rent a house i the middle of no were were
every one now you and the house not locked up Michale and Erin get to know people and then
vic show up want to kill the all of them and chase to the hills

[Englishrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book with a lot of emotion. The focus on domestic abuse you would normally think would be depressing, but the author does a good job of getting the message across without getting too down. Abby was a great character who works hard to help her niece and nephew. Her feelings are strong and logical. Kurt is a very strong character as well, struggling to help his young son and dealing with falling in love again. The side characters were good and filled in the little town well. Good action scenes and lots of adrenaline as well.

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[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, it was a good read, I got very involves in the characters and wanted to help them. I do not like how the book ended though, I wanted to hear more about Rachel and the kids and what they had planned and how the kids reacted about their father after the fact. Plus, did Abby & Kurt actually live happily ever after? Was Brody ok with Abby?

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Falls under the guilty pleasure category - Harlequin Romance about an aunt who helps to hide two children, pretending to be their mother, while her sister deals with an abusive (physically and mentally) ex-husband.

[Lulua]

Okay for a one time read!!

[Karlee Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

always a good fast read. enjoyable characters with visual descriptions.

[Mim-Is-Reading · Rating 1 out of 5]

Halfway through and I'm exhausted. The story, as emotional and difficult as it is to write about domestic abuse, is dragging. 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌
I might give up on it.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Harlequin Heartwarming

[Tina McCright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet romance that captures your heart.