North Carolina – Present Day

I'm Tyler, and I'm almost five years old. I live with my Gan-Gan 'cause my mommy is gone. I guess she got lost, cause Gan-Gan says she's not coming back. Gan-Gan sometimes scares me; she likes to talk to me about funny things at night and won't let me play with my cars and trucks. My daddy is back from somewhere, but now he says he's going away again. What if he gets lost like mommy? I'm scared of being all alone, what can I do?

Jax Graham has been told by his commanding officer to see to taking care of his son Tyler a month after his mother died. Jax and Danielle had been divorced since after Tyler was born, and being out of the country so much, Jax was lucky to see his son every six months or so. Jax figures his son will stay with his grandma, and life will go on as usual for him; he can visit when he's back in the States. But, his commander is insistent that he take time off to be with his son and make the best arrangements he can for him. How can Jax get along with a boy who seems scared of him and plays with cars and trucks by himself like it's an obsession. Taken with the drinking he sees Tyler's grandmother Lauren doing all day, Jax is worried, but what is a SEAL on active duty to do? A boy needs his grandmother if his mother isn't available -- doesn't he?

I'm Pickett Sessions, and I work as a family therapist at Camp Lejeune, helping to keep together military marriages that must endure the hardships of long periods of separation and the difficulties of the military life...I know all about the dangers and high rate of divorce among my patients. Because I live "close" to the ocean, my mother nominated me to close up the beach house for friends of hers before the upcoming hurricane...thanks Mom. But as I watch the man and little boy next door, I can tell they aren't getting along too well, and the man (who looks like the father), clearly isn't communicating in any way with the boy. I try to stop myself, but as a family therapist at Camp Lejeune, I just can't help introducing myself. I don't need to be a therapist to tell the man has that "look" in his eyes when he talks to me, and it's not concern over the boy. Clearly, Jax is clueless about talking to and being with a small child, even if he is his own. It's probably best if I leave them alone to work out their problems.

When a hurricane comes and Jax and Tyler can find nowhere to stay, Jax calls Pickett and asks if they can stay with her. Pickett realizes quickly she is getting too close to this beautiful man and his adorable boy, and vainly tries to take control of her emotions. As a therapist for many military families over the years, Pickett knows that life is very hard, and she is sure that type of life is too hard for her to cope with. Little does she know, Jax is willing to be her partner in coping with life, and will shoulder his half of the load. Now that's a man to seriously love. Will Pickett be able to teach Jax how to relate to Tyler, and can she resist the love of a small boy? Those are two questions Pickett must dig deep into her heart to answer.

Mary Margret Daughtridge has written a completely fascinating, enchanting, poignant novel that touches the heartstrings. The pathos of a little boy who isn't quite sure where his mother is, trying to get along with a barely known father, and Jax trying to reconnect with his son, leads us on a path of emotions uncovered and a man's responsibility to his son remembered. Written from Jax's and Pickett's points of view, we can totally see how Jax would prefer the easy way and let his son's grandmother take care of his son. It was inspiring to have his commanding officer clearly understand what was happening and use his authority to make Jax pay attention to Tyler and get to know him. Every situation and every emotional moment in the story was dead on and kept me captivated all the way through.

While Jax, Pickett, and Tyler face the hurricane together, their story revolves around them. Providing background is Tyler's grandmother Lauren; Pickett's family; and Jax's friend "Do-Lord" providing some peripheral background. Great stories don't need anything more than just the main characters and the chemistry between them.

SEALED WITH A KISS astounded me with is sensitivity, the connection between Jax and Pickett, and their love for a lost, scared little boy. If Navy SEALS, romance, and a great and extraordinary story are what you are looking for, give SEALED WITH A KISS a try.

Carolyn Crisher