All You Need is Love by Cathy Tully

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

NEED
All You Need is Love by Cathy Tully
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (185 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Quince

Kaitlin Stiles’ plan is to take over her family coffeehouse; until Cunningham Coffee moves to town and puts every mom and pop coffee establishment within fifty miles out of business. In doubt about her future, she travels to Boston to care for her ailing grandmother and take a part-time job as a dog walker.

Jack DeVane is on the fast track to becoming the youngest CEO in Cunningham Coffee history. Focused, determined and dedicated, he doesn’t let anything get in the way of his goals…until a little homeless dog wanders into Jack’s condo, and a beautiful dog walker wanders into his heart.

Can this little dog teach Kaitlin to let go of her resentment?

Teach Jack there’s more to life than work?

And teach them both–that all they really need is love?

The benefits of having a pet, especially a dog, is widely known, and workaholic Jack DeVane is about to find that out. His beliefs, values and in the end, his life, will be changed due to one dog. Not just because of the dog, though. It will be changed because Caitlyn Stiles entered his life. Caitlyn showed Jack that dogs are great, but she also opened him up to a whole new world in a way only love can.

All You Need is Love is a sweet romance that is fairly predictable and not very original. After reading the summary I figured out what would probably be the point of conflict between Jack and Caitlyn and I was pretty sure how it was going to be resolved. This story didn’t contain any surprises for this long time romance reader, but despite that, I certainly enjoyed reading it!

All You Need is Love was a fast, light, sweet and funny read. Not only were there two wonderful dogs that provided a special charm to the story, there was one very wise and vital eighty-five year old lady.

This story is for readers who like their romances funny and sweet  and filled with puppies and grandma’s homemade muffins and cakes.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

The Toymaker by Kay Springsteen

April 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TOY
The Toymaker by Kay Springsteen
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Holiday
Length: Full Length (263 pgs)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Lady Ivy Plumthorne, elder daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Wythorpe, is a worry to her parents. Desiring only that she be as happily wed as her younger sister, they’ve spent the past year parading prospective suitors in front of her. When she finds none of the suitors… suitable, her parents despair she will ever find the perfect husband. With Christmas approaching, they find one more prospective suitor, the Duke of Greenbriar. Only problem is, Ivy’s already met the man of her dreams… and he’s a toymaker.

Noel Phillip Vincent Greenstone, the Twelfth Duke of Greenbriar, wasn’t cut out to be a duke. He preferred crafting toys that made children happy. So that’s just what he did. And as Phillip Green, he traveled freely about, visiting shops and orphanages, and making no child went without a toy of his or her own. But a few chance meetings with Lady Ivy and he knows he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. The problem is, she needs to marry a nobleman and she only knows him as Phillip the Toymaker. He needs a plan, and fast. The world needs to meet the reclusive Duke of Greenbriar, so Phillip plans his own coming out. But how will Ivy react when she learns the truth?

Ivy is so tired of her parents trying to match make for her. She doesn’t want to marry for money; she wants to marry for love. After all, her sister found love and enjoys her marriage. She’d rather be an old maid than marry a man she can’t stand, especially not one three times her age!

The author does a nice job of setting this story in the Christmas season. She has created independent, stubborn characters who are determined to make their own choices and she throws them together by chance. I found it amusing to watch Ivy and Phillip blush when they meet and then accidently meet several more times while helping needy children have a special Christmas. The interaction between the two is sweet and they act more like young teens than adults.

While activities and festivities abound that both must attend, they find themselves thinking about their chance acquaintance. My favorite part of the story is the fact that Ivy doesn’t want to even meet the Duke of Greenbriar. Why should she, she’s already met the man she loves. It’s unfortunate that he’s a toymaker. On the hand, Phillip, the toymaker is actually now the Dean of Greenbriar because his Uncle died. Since he hasn’t admitted that to Ivy, he’s in a real pickle.

Watching the two characters dance around each and make mistakes in courtship is fun. Ivy even insinuates more has happened between them has. When he admits he is a Duke, things go downhill from there. The author does a very nice job with development of the relationship and demonstrates how easily it is to mess one up if you don’t communicate well.

Mr. Springsteen’s novel reads well and she adds a nice little surprise at the end of the story. You feel like you’re living in that time period, and you certainly care about the characters. I really enjoyed this read. Why don’t you grab a copy and see what you think?

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Swim the River by Stephy Smith

April 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SWIM
Swim the River by Stephy Smith
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Young Adult
Length: Short Story (108 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Since Amelia ‘Falcon Woman’ Tucker was a small child, she heard the stories of how her mother was Rescued from the River by her father. Rising Wolf held her heart captive for years before he asked for her hand in marriage. Although the river had always called to her, she never knew how much she loved the stalwart Indian until she had to Swim the River to save him.

Amelia had a real crush on Rising Wolf, but she knew it would never amount to anything. She was a half-breed and Rising Wolf was an important warrior in his tribe. He’d undoubtedly marry a full-blooded Indian tribe member.

This author takes you for a walk back in history. The story is set in the time period when Native Americans were first being confined to reservations. Indians had their own ceremonies, their own land, and their own lifestyles. The Army was only interested in confining them and had no remorse in the way they abused the Indians and killed the warriors. All they wanted was to have them confined. And, once they did, they stole the meat the government sent to feed them and told them they couldn’t hunt their own food. This is a shameful piece of history that the author shows accurately. It doesn’t take long until you’re rooting for the Indians and hating the bad white men, too.

Amelia is amazed when Rising Wolf makes an offer for her. She lets him know she won’t live in marriage without love, and he tells her she need not worry about that. She knows he’s a big part of her life, but she doesn’t find out just how much she loves him until a bear attacks him and he almost drowns in the river. She’s deathly afraid of the river because her mother almost drowned in it long ago. There’s no hesitation on her part, though. She leaps in, fights the bear, and drags her husband out of the river. Unfortunately, he’s been injured very badly and no one knows if he will live…

Ms. Smith’s tale is factual and leads you down an ugly path in our history. She makes Amelia’s family and the Indian tribe feel alive and vital. Love is a strong power when shared. Her words flow well and make you feel like you’re living in that time era. This story is suitable for young adults as well as adults. History can be a good teacher if we listen.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Legend of the Inero Dragon by J F Jenkins

April 3, 2013 By 1 Comment

DRAGON
Legend of the Inero Dragon by J F Jenkins
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (206 pgs)
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Twin brothers Jason and Matthias Inero are the favorite sons of the great dragon lord of fire. More often than not they get whatever they want. Matt wants to do great things for his people while Jason wants to go off and explore the world. Both can have what they desire, but not until they take a bride and enter into adulthood.

Enter Kat and Gwen, two girls from very different backgrounds. Kat is happy to leave her home when the royal guard comes to bring her to loving arms of her childhood sweetheart, Matt. Gwen on the other hand is livid to be taken from her farm only to be thrust into Jason’s life, and he’s not to thrilled with the idea either. They have one year to find happiness with each other, or else they will be placed at the mercy of the ruthless dragon lord Lynx. Favorite or not, dragon law must be obeyed.

As their nation begins to prepare for war against a neighboring tribe, the brothers find themselves as key components in the battle plans. A dark prophet has had a vision of Inero victory, but at what cost? Both must decide where their loyalties lie and what they’re willing to sacrifice – including each other – to achieve their goals.

Matt always understands her and she only feels safe and comfortable when around him. He tells her she’ll be chosen as one of the Elite and then they will be able to be together. What he doesn’t tell her is that he’s a dragon who can look human…

This author creates a magical world where male dragons rule the world. They take a human shape (a pretty hot one, by the way) and live in the big castle. The two main characters are twins: Matt and Jason. While they are twins, they are not alike. Ms. Jenkins tells you they are “touched”. She doesn’t explain what that means in this book. Twins are not common the in the dragon world and their father has big plans for them.

Ms. Jenkins uses this story to set the platform for future books in the series. There’s a lot of info here that doesn’t seem to tie together and make much sense now but, as the tale progresses in future books, I think the missing ends will all begin to fill in.

When the dragon twins chose mates, the twins are no longer so close. They’ve always been together. Now they have another person to care for. I like the fact that they both want to be in marriage with love. That’s not a common dragon reaction; most males are simply looking for heirs, not love. It’s also fascinating to watch their father groom Matt for a special role. He leaves Jason out of meetings and ignores him for the most part. Surely this will turn into a conflict later. There’s also a smell of a power play coming.

I found the story interesting and enjoyed the dragons. I would have like to have a bit more detail so I was sure I understood the nuances. As it was, I liked this book enough to want to pick up the next in the series and see what good old dad is planning next. I also want to see more of Joshua and Gwen; they are slowly falling in love. So Ms. Jenkins got me hooked anyway, didn’t she?

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Jordan’s Battle by E.A. West

March 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

BATTLE
Jordan’s Battle by E.A. West
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (49 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Computer programmer Alaina Howard has a new office mate, and she couldn’t be happier that he’s handsome and unattached. Although initially uncertain of his position in the company, she quickly realizes that he’s good at his job and a valuable asset. If only she knew why the seemingly non-disabled man needed a service dog, things would be perfect.

Army veteran Jordan Blake is thrilled to get a job that allows him to pursue his dream of learning web development. The position is even sweeter thanks to the beautiful woman he shares an office with. The only drawback is that she seems suspicious of his need for a service dog to assist with an invisible disability.

Will Alaina’s suspicion and Jordan’s reluctance to talk about his disability keep them from developing the relationship they both desire?

Alaina Howard enters her office one morning to find the other, previously unoccupied, desk now home to a rather good looking man. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Jordan Blake, Alaina goes to her uncle to try and find out why a man with little to no computer experience was now working in an IT department. Although her uncle explains his reasons Alaina leaves his office with more questions than answers. Surprised again when Jordan takes Abe—his service dog—for a walk, Alaina finds the more she sees of her new office mate, the deeper the mysteries around him grow. Caught somewhere between curiosity and suspicion, a volatile mix of emotions grow around Alaina and Jordan, creating a bond neither can deny.

Quite a number of times throughout the book I found Alaina came across as very judgmental– like her outwardly showing distaste for Jordan when she assumes (incorrectly) that he’s going outside for a smoke, or when she again leaps to conclusions that because Jordan isn’t blind he has “no need” for his service dog. Such instant reactions were in some respects understandable, but they left me with the impression that anything not crystal clear makes Alaina react with suspicion and distaste. This hit me particularly when she asked Jordan to leave his service dog behind when they go to the movies. Although Alaina didn’t know just how much Jordan relies on Abe for his physical and emotional health, the fact he had kept his dog with him every minute for the weeks of time they’d spent together should have tipped her off to what a monumental thing requesting he be left behind was. It felt unthinking of her, like she assumed she knew better than Jordan himself did.

I didn’t find Alaina to be anything like the common heroine, but this made me more intrigued as to where the plot and interactions would go. None of her reactions were aggressive enough for me to dislike her character, but it was a brave move on the author’s behalf writing her like this – and one that I feel strengthens the conflict within the story. Instead of being a wishy-washy, sunshine-and-roses style of book, it’s a lot sharper and more realistic. I really liked this and found these differences in plot excellent. Some readers, however, mightn’t feel the same and might find it difficult to relate to Alaina.

I also particularly liked how Jordan wasn’t your average hero who has made it back after time in the army. He’s not lost a limb or got disfiguring scars and needs the nurture and love of a good woman to make it all right. Instead he’s got a more difficult—and uncommon—problem to deal with, that of anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a mixed bag of other issues. Again I thought this was a brave and excellent side-step from what could have become a story like many others. It made the plot feel fresh and deeply interesting to see how Alaina and Jordan would deal with things. I found myself turning the pages and deeply sunk into the story, engrossed. For those looking for a sweet story that breaks out of the more traditional roles one expects; this could well be a refreshing and wonderful read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

A Forbidden Union by Lorraine James

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

UNION

A Forbidden Union by Lorraine James
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (70 pgs)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Anna Broche is at the cusp of adulthood as a Shaker woman while the nation suffers through the upheaval of the Civil War. Her life is her community and the dancing that frees her spirit. A vision from an angel calls her to serve God, but the voice of a dying soldier who manages to crawl to safety makes her question her future.

Anna nurses wounded soldier Daniel Greenleaf back to health, and their forbidden attraction grows in her celibate, Shaker community. She is unsure of Daniel’s feelings for her with only a stolen kiss between them. He returns to his home and waiting sweetheart and she to her life. But with a change of plans, Daniel ends up back in Anna’s life again, and jealousy and calling war with love.

Set in Kentucky in the late nineteenth century, A Forbidden Union is sweetly endearing and inspirational. Full of faith and hope from the start, this short gem of a story takes us on a journey nonetheless. Anna , a young woman on the prairie, feels no contentment. She has a nice home, is part of a devotional community of Shakers, and has specific duties –even friends – but in her heart, yearns for something more. And the yearning brings her guilt: She is a gentle-hearted character that is so easy to sympathize with.  Any reader can understand her perspective.  Her doubts might be considered universal.

We as readers hope that things will change, even as we suspect those changes will cause Anna, herself, to change – and challenge her faith. James confronts Anna with a challenge – a heart-wrenching challenge, and we readers know what we’ll hope for, but with such regret!  The well-constructed characters kept me turning pages to see what would happen.

The Forbidden Union has some nice surprises.  This heartwarming tale is gentle and thoughtful and lovely. Do read.

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Bed, Breakfast, and Beyond by Bonnie Gardner

March 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

BED

Bed, Breakfast, and Beyond by Bonnie Gardner
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: contemporary, paranormal
Length: Full Length (270 pages)
Heat Level: sensual
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Sunflower

When Corrie Wallace turns her family’s old summer home into a bed and breakfast inn, she expects there may be problems. She doesn’t expect sexy, ghost hunter, Ben Hamilton, nor does she plan to deal with two amorous ghosts who need help taking care of the unfinished business that keeps them earthbound.

Renovating an old home is a major overhaul on it’s own, but add ghosts and a ghost hunter? Well…let’s just say things are going to get plenty interesting around here!

Corrie Wallace has plenty of work to do. No time for distractions like a sexy professor becoming one of their first guests, right? Well, not so much. Ben is not what she expected, that’s for sure. I have to admire Corrie for her strength and determination to make something great out of an old summer home. Something like that is a huge project, but she keeps everything in check and handles it well. All around, her character is well crafted and easy to relate to, very believable.

Then you enter Ben. He’s fascinated by ghosts, and wants to write about them. What transpires next is something that neither Corrie or Ben could have ever imagined! Spirits come into play..Oh my! Now, I wish there had been more about Ben and his history. While I really liked him, I didn’t get as much of a glimpse into his character as I would have hoped. Still, he’s intriguing and likable, and I love the way he connects with Corrie.

The past connects with the future, as the story of a couple with a tragic ending comes into play. The legend could be true, but now the question is, where are these ghosts and what exactly do they want? Corrie and Ben could fall into their grasp, but is it a good or bad thing? Well, I’m not telling you that! You’ll have to read the book to find out!

I really enjoyed this story. I’m a sucker for ghosts and when they have a important role in the story line that works even better for me. Bed, Breakfast and Beyond is a sensual read, with twists and turns to keep things very interesting, and a love that unfolds to warm the hearts of romance fans everywhere. Why not grab yourself a copy?

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The Fairy Godmother Files: Cinderella Complex by Rebekah L. Purdy

February 6, 2013 By 2 Comments

COMPLEX3

The Fairy Godmother Files: Cinderella Complex by Rebekah L. Purdy
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (281 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Jasmine

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Winters can’t think of anything more exciting than junior year. There’s her first prom to look forward to, she can drive, and most important Connor Prince has finally noticed her. But unfortunately so has the school snob, Katrina Melville, who goes out of her way to make Maggie’s life a living hell. If that’s not enough, Maggie’s grandma has decided to retire, which doesn’t seem like such a big deal. That is until she finds out her grandma is a Fairy Godmother, and not just any Fairy Godmother. The Fairy Godmother, as in Cinderella, pumpkins, and mice. And she has informed Maggie that she’s next in line to become the new Fairy Godmother.

At first Maggie is excited, the whole getting wings, flying (or rather trying not to crash), and a wand that let’s her grant wishes. It’s like being a superhero, without all the action, explosions, and spandex. Then she gets her first assignment, Katrina Melville, her nemesis. And if that doesn’t make her want to poof herself into oblivion, she finds out that part of Katrina’s happily-ever-after is Connor Prince. Life is so unfair. Even worse, she can’t tell her two best friends about any of it and they’re getting sick of her disappearing acts. Then there are the dangerous creatures, called Grimms who will stop at nothing to keep the happy endings from being fulfilled, even if it means destroying the Fairy Godmother responsible. With time running out, Maggie has to make this wish come true or it will ruin the fates of everyone involved, and open the world to darkness beyond imagination. Maggie will soon find out what it truly means to be a Fairy Godmother—and it isn’t all about princes, gowns, and wings, but something much more.

I think every teenager (and some adults) hopes that there is some secret destiny meant only for them, just waiting to be discovered. It may be a secret talent, or maybe you want to be the next “big thing” in the acting or modeling world. Perhaps, for some maybe it’s the life of a spy, or if you really dream big, maybe you are waiting to find out that you are the long, lost princess of a foreign land. I could hazard a guess that not many expect to find out that they are the next Fairy Godmother. Yes, that one. Minus the singing mice (so far). I think few could do it with the absolute hilarity that Maggie Winters does though.

Going to your grandmother’s birthday party, expecting a nice, normal, boring night, only to find out that your grandmother is the Fairy Godmother from all the fairy tales that you’ve grown up reading is shocking enough, but to find out that you are the next in line to inherit the title? That’s complete insanity to a high school girl. If she refuses, the world will be taken over by evil. Talk about pressure! There are some perks though. She gets to learn how to fly and do magic. She even gets her very own Knight in Shining Armor – what more could a girl want? Well, for one thing, maybe for the Knight to not be her brother. At least the boy that she’s been crushing on for years, Connor Prince, is finally noticing her. Except then she finds out that her very first assignment is, Katrina, a classmate that she loathes and her happily ever after is with Connor. Oh and not only is she not allowed to tell anyone but now she has these evil things called Grimms that are trying to kill her. Junior year is so not working out like she thought it would.

The voice of the teenager in this book is so authentic that they could have been standing in front of me narrating it. Ms. Purdy has done an excellent job with the characters in this book. We have the nice girl, the mean girl, the jealous best friend, the annoying brother, the hot guy, the guy best friend that could be more, and the evil stepmother. All of them are well fleshed out and uniquely individual. Maggie is a great heroine. She is her own person, even if she’s not sure for herself who that is yet, the reader can clearly see it. She is compassionate and selfless, insecure and lovestruck and hilariously overwhelmed with her new responsibilities. Jackson is a great older brother, both protective and annoying, as most older brothers are. Seth is sweet, a little bit of a bad boy and very hot. And Taylor is fantastically loyal and protective of her friend while Katrina is guarded and prickly until you get to know the real girl hiding behind the mask. Maggie’s mom and dad, her evil stepmother and the annoying step-sisters are all well drawn out. Even though we don’t see as much of them as the others, we get a clear picture on who they are.

There were a couple of points in the book that confused me a bit. It took me a while to figure out how old Maggie’s brother, Jackson, is. They have the same friends, eat lunch together at school and seem pretty close so, for a while, I wondered if maybe they were twins. This got cleared up but it was quite a ways into the book. I was also confused as to why Maggie’s grandmother just sort of threw her into the position without helping her figure out what she was doing. Especially when there are Grimms whose sole mission is to kill her. Having said that, Maggie not knowing what she is doing leads to several hilarious moments.

This book kept me laughing out loud through the entire thing. I haven’t laughed this much reading a book in a while. If it ever gets picked up for a movie, I will be the first in line. Despite the humor, there is a very valuable lesson that comes across in this book – things, and people, aren’t ever what they seem, whether good or bad. In helping the girl that has been bullying her in school, Maggie soon realizes that Katrina isn’t truly the image she displays at school and that there are reasons for the way she is. In learning this lesson, she gains a new friend.

This is one book, that while I lamented the open ending that left me hanging a bit, I was glad to see that I’ll get to follow more of the adventures of these fun teens. I will be anxiously watching for the next book in this series. I can’t wait! Well written, with a few twists and turns that had me gripping my reader in suspense, and tons of humor, this is a book that I would recommend to anyone, adults and teens alike. If you pass this one up, you will truly be missing out on an excellent story.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

At What Cost by Jessie Andersen

January 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment

COST

At What Cost by Jessie Andersen
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Contemporary, YA
Length: Full Length (225 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Jasmine

During her junior year, sixteen-year-old Maggie Reynolds expected to shop for prom dresses not maternity clothes. Now, instead of studying for the SATs, she’s reading, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Maggie’s ‘Mother Dearest’ lives in fear that Maggie will somehow taint the family name, so Maggie can’t turn to her for help. Meanwhile, her father is oblivious to anything but his 9-9 job. And her boyfriend, Justin? She’s pretty sure he’ll stay by her side.

While Maggie wrestles with her options, Justin offers a solution: abortion. It would solve all her problems quickly, easily, and effectively. And her parents would never know, which means they won’t throw her out and cut her off like they’d always threatened if she got herself knocked up. But an easy decision becomes difficult when Maggie’s aunt discovers her secret and sets out on a mission to stop the abortion, putting a kink in Maggie’s plan. Now Maggie must decide which choice she can live with: abortion or teenage motherhood. Either way, it’ll be a tough road to travel.

Growing up is never easy but for some, it is much harder than it is for others. Unfortunately for Maggie Reynolds, she has to learn that the hard way. After spending what she thought was the perfect summer with the perfect boyfriend, Maggie learns very quickly that what you think you want isn’t always what you really need. And, sometimes, maybe it isn’t even what you ever really wanted at all.

Anyone that has ever had that one heart-stopping, panic ridden moment where you think your life is ruined, that you are trapped and there is no way out of the current dilemma, will be able to relate to this book. Maggie’s anxiety about her situation is so well portrayed throughout that it was almost palpable. Getting pregnant as a teenager can be traumatic for anyone. Add to that the fact that Maggie’s family has steadily grown apart over the past few years, and the fact that she feels like nothing she ever does is good enough for her mother, and she feels more alone than ever.

In typical teen fashion, Maggie’s initial reaction to this news (aside from the panic) is to ignore it and hope it’ll just go away. When that doesn’t work, the obvious next step is to make it go away. Ms. Anderson does such an incredible job of describing Maggie’s experience at the abortion clinic that it brought tears to my eyes. The author does an admirable job of writing about such a touchy subject. It feels real and it feels honest. Something I think that any teen reading this will appreciate.

The reaction of Maggie’s family, when they are finally told, is anything but predictable, and once they have a chance to process the news, it’s very touching. Instead of tearing the family apart, it opens their eyes and brings them back together. The topic of the book, and the way it is written, has the potential to make a reader realize what is truly important in life…and what isn’t.

With such a buildup throughout the entire book, I felt like the ending was somewhat anti-climactic. While predictable in terms of giving you what you expect, it also ends rather abruptly. This could be to leave it open to a sequel, or simply to encourage the reader to think about it themselves, but I was left rather unsatisfied.

The lessons to be learned in this book are both in your face and subtle enough that by the end, it can leave you contemplating many different things. From the obvious issues of abortion versus adoption versus teenage motherhood to learning what sort of people to keep in your life. From learning that family is always there no matter what to learning to accept what you truly deserve instead of what you think you deserve, the lessons imparted in this tale are worthy of any teenage or adult reader.

This is a wonderfully written book that taps into the angst of the teenage years combined with the heart-wrenching emotions that can come with an unexpected and unwanted pregnancy. The family is realistically dysfunctional and the characters are sympathetic and well written. A great coming of age tale that I would definitely recommend to any teenage girl.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Collie Rescue by Lindsay Downs

January 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment

COLLIE
A Collie Rescue by Lindsay Downs
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (90 pgs)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Former Army Sergeant Sandi Charleston, diagnosed with PTSD and homeless barely survives day to day. By a miracle of fate, she meets Taz, a uniquely special collie, who helps turn her life around. It’s only through him she finds the courage to go head to head with her worst enemy-terrorists bent on mass destruction.

Bound by a special love to help and protect each other, side by side these two unlikely partners willingly march forward into battle. A fight to the death neither is sure can be won, but fighting as one, they will try.

Kidnapped and forced to reveal what she knows, Sandi realizes there is only one individual who can save her. It’s not the government, but her new best buddy. Together they defeat the enemy proving once again that battle buddies come in all shapes and breeds.

Former Sergeant Sandi Charleston felt like a shell of her former self. Despite the honors and medals she’d earned, she couldn’t move on from devastation that a fallen stone wall had caused her physically and emotionally. Unable to return to active duty or return to the carefree youngster she had been, she soon lost her job, her apartment and lived out on the streets. Invisible to practically everyone, Sandi slowly makes friends with a beautiful collie, Roxy, and her owner Jenna – a fellow officer. When Sandi overhears a potential terrorist plot in a soup kitchen, she confides in Roxy and Jenna, determined to do her duty as best she can.

This is a heartwarming story of a broken soldier who retains enough patriotism and spirit to defy the odds. Determined to protect her country regardless of the cost to herself, Sandi finds herself slowly opening up to new friends. She instantly falls in love with a new puppy, Taz, and she begins to heal. There are a bunch of characters in this story, sometimes making it feel very full, but the warmth and friendliness gives the whole book a really good feeling to it. The addition of the collies is lovely and not just some throw-away plot device, they’re quite central to the story.

Readers who enjoy animal stories or military-based/veteran stories will enjoy this and with only a few friendly kisses it’s easily an inspirational, story safe for people of all ages.

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