Their First Thanksgiving by Stella Bagwell, Silhouette Romance #903, Heartland Holidays #1, Rating: C

Olivia Westcott has just returned home from four years of service in Ethiopa. Invited to spend Thanksgiving with her college friend's family, she reluctantly agrees. The last time on the farm, shortly before leaving for Africa, Olivia had fallen in love with her friend Kathleen's brother. She refused his proposal when he asked her to give up her upcoming trip.

Olivia feels as though she's failed because she could not make a difference. Feeling beaten and down on herself those feelings are intensified by the fact she feels alone. Seeing the Gallagher family so loving and welcoming just adds fuel to the fire that is her feeling of not fitting in. Her parents were a well to do couple who took her trust fund away from her when she decided to make the trip to Africa.

Sam Gallagher is bitter. He doesn't understand why Olivia left him when he believed she loved him and he knew he loved her. He's unable to fight the attraction he still feels for her four years later. Eventually, he gets to understand the reasons behind what makes Olivia work and he works to convince her that she does belong, that she can make a difference even if it's on a local difference rather than globally.

A sweet story. I felt Olivia's feelings of guilt were a bit overdone, but maybe she did truly believe she could make a significant difference. Sam's issues were a bit more logical. The farm is his and he wanted to stay there. I enjoyed the Gallagher's, they were a warm and welcoming family. I rate Their First Thanksgiving a C.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com