Nate spent his early years as man-of-the-house, caring for an ailing mother and raising his younger brother, David. The cost to Nate was dear but, as soon as David's future and personal life was secure, he put all his energies into his career as a photojournalist, traveling the globe free from responsibilities. Nate ran from commitments, and David welcomed them.

Losing her mother while very young, Hallie reacted quite differently than her sister Janet. Hallie became difficult and forged a chasm between herself and her stepmother, Roberta, which remained firmly in place. Hallie and Janet developed into two quite different people -- Hallie the organizer and Janet the nurturer.

David and Janet were the perfect couple to adopt Ahn from a Vietnamese orphanage. They were ready to spend their lives adoring their child and working diligently to help her overcome some major emotion and developmental challenges. But fate stepped in, and a tragic accident once again left Ahn an orphan. Their will was very specific. Ahn's guardians, Aunt Hallie and Uncle Nate, were to find her a new perfect family. Hallie and Nate found themselves thrown together after many years of fighting and denying a mutual attraction that left many unresolved issues and feelings.

Working together with the attorney and child psychologist, they interviewed potential parents who had to fit some specific qualifications and provide a loving home for this child who had become very dear to them. While Nate was embracing his expanded role, Hallie was self-deprecating when it came to her ability to be a mommy. Ahn was emotionally connecting with Nate and distant from Hallie. As the prospect of them becoming a family loomed, they grappled with their new roles. Hallie had deep reservations. She longed for a true marriage built on love, not responsibility or lust. Nate had run from commitment before; Hallie needed reassurance that he wouldn't do so again. Were they the perfect for Ahn... and each other?

Make no mistake, ADOPTED PARENTS is not your run-of-the-mill guardians marry and adopt their charge story. It is a surprisingly joyous tale with a cast of unlikely likable people. Candy Halliday takes no short cuts in describing the angst ridden process of finding suitable adoptive parents, especially for a child with special needs. There is no doubt that there is love in abundance in their temporary home, but is love enough to sustain this makeshift family? This story will surprise the reader from cover-to-cover as you alternate between rooting for and against them, never losing sight of the larger picture--- securing a good and hopefully perfect home for the child. The ending will surprise and please you.