Mending Fences by Sherryl Woods

October 19, 2016 By Leave a Comment

fences
Mending Fences by Sherryl Woods
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (377 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

For ten years Emily Dobbs and Marcie Carter have been the closest of friends. They’ve raised their kids together, shared joy and heartache, exchanged neighborhood gossip over tea. But when Marcie’s son, now a college freshman sports star, is arrested for date rape, the bond between the families could be shattered forever.

As the Carters try to deal with the unthinkable, Emily discovers her daughter has been hiding a terrible secret…a secret that threatens the futures of both families. Recently divorced, Emily struggles to keep it all together—to support her terrified daughter, to maintain her friendship with Evan’s mother and to have faith in the detective who could change all of their lives.

When things seem darkest, both she and Marcie discover that sometimes the first step toward a better future is mending fences with the past.

A whole lot of angst and emotion wrapped up in one story.

I hadn’t read a book by Sherryl Woods…until now. Talk about starting with a whopper! Oh my! This book is ripe with emotion, sadness and strength in the face of adversity. It’s well written and kept me in my seat througout. I had to know how the tale would shake out.

Two friends, two families entwined and lots of secrets. Marcie’s son has been accused of doing a horrible thing–date rape. I appreciated how Ms. Woods tackled a hard topic, especially in this day and age. Sports stars sometimes think they are above the law. Ms. Woods handles this topic well, but a little easily. Still, the author tugged at my emotions. I didn’t like Evan at all. Then there is Marcie and Emily–the mothers. Marcie definitely grows through the story. She starts off meek and put down. While this might seem like fluff to some readers, it might be a little tough for other readers. It definitely made her more human to me. I rooted for her. Emily grated on my nerves. I could understand her hesitancy to admit the truth–we’re human and we make mistakes–but I’m not sure I could take the same path Emily did. The ending seemed a little too neat for my taste, but that doesn’t make this book a pass. It’s enjoyable and breezy in spots.

There’s a touch of romance to this book, but the angst and mystery portion is the bigger part of the story.

If you want a book that will make you think and characters that are interesting, then this might be the book for you.

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

Devil in Texas by Adrienne deWolfe

October 12, 2016 By Leave a Comment

devil
Devil in Texas by Adrienne deWolfe
Lady Law & the Gunslinger Series, Book One
Publisher: ePublishing Works
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (314 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

inkerton Agent Sadie Michelson poses as a casino singer to investigate a Texas Senator. Before she can cozy up to her quarry, she must get past his bodyguard, William Cassidy, her long-lost lover.

An outlaw seeking redemption, Cass was lured to Texas by the promise of a Ranger badge. But he hasn’t forgotten the sassy siren, who toyed with his heart. When Sadie proposes a truce, Cass suspects she’s hiding something.

With assassins dogging their heels, Cass and Sadie uncover a murder conspiracy in the senate. To stay alive, they must do the one thing they’re dead set against: trust each other.

A regular melting pot of characters people the pages of Devil in Texas—some of them stretch the imagination to the limit. However, every single one of them seems to have his or her own secret agenda—even the raccoon Vandy (really got a kick out of this character).

I enjoyed the author’s unique style of humor that threads through even the scary, heart-pounding happens in this story that moves from Galveston to Lampasas in the late nineteenth century.

I felt a little like I use to feel when I came in late to a movie—I had to work hard to sort out the characters and their relationships. It was not easy to sort out who was on whose side. The twists, turns and shenanigans kept me turning pages. I had about decided Asrael had gotten lost among all the characters—so surprised when this “angel of death” shows up again.

Sadie Michelson, once a cow-town “lady-of-the-night,” is now a master Pinkerton agent with lots of disguises. Determine to solve her case; she is soon at loggerheads with William Cassidy “Cass,” the man she’s loved since childhood—the man who inspires the songs she writes and sings.

Cass, no better than he has to be, is once again working for Senator Westerfall “The Baron.” They go way back, and Cass feels like he owes The Baron, who has a wife called Poppy. She is “something else–WOW.”

Cass also feels responsible for young Collie who has the raccoon Vandy for a guard animal. They aren’t too picky about what side of the law they are on as long as they find what they want. However, Cass does remember Sadie, the first girl he kissed and has never gotten over. His dream is to be a Texas Ranger.

History, humor, LOTS of important characters, action aplenty, and even a little Cajun voo-doo move the story along. By page two hundred, I knew this one was a “stay-up-late read. Even though it was hard to keep up with all the characters, I enjoyed the reading Devil in Texas.

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

Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell

September 29, 2016 By Leave a Comment

three
Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational
Length: Full Length (384 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Stargazer

Hallie has a secret. She’s in love. He’s perfect for her in every way, but he’s seriously out of bounds. And her friends aren’t going to help her because what they do know is that Hallie doesn’t have long to live. Time is running out…

Flo has a dilemma. She really likes Zander. But his scary sister won’t be even faintly amused if she thinks Zander and Flo are becoming friends – let alone anything more.

Tasha has a problem. Her new boyfriend is the adventurous type. And she’s afraid one of his adventures will go badly wrong.

THREE AMAZING THINGS ABOUT YOU begins as Hallie goes on a journey. A donor has been found and she’s about to be given new lungs. But whose?

Imagine a life where you knew you had a short amount of time to live; how would you live those remaining days?

Hallie lives just such a life; without a very rare and risky transplant she faces the certainty of a short life. Yet, Hallie takes every opportunity to change the lives of those around her. Jill Mansell takes the reader on an adventure behind the advice columns. So often we read the columns, deliberate on the advice for better or for worse and then head off on our own lives. Yet, behind each article or column written there is a true to life person with their own hopes, dreams and fears.

From beginning to end, Jill tugs at the heartstrings of the reader and entices them into a world that many of us consider exists but are often thankful that those experiences and fears are not necessarily our own. The cast of characters including the cat which is at the center of a huge family dispute only add to the advanced storytelling that only Jill can weave together.

I especially enjoyed the various situations that Flo and Hallie end up in; especially when the men become involved. Overall the structure and plot layout was great. When beginning the read, there are an almost overwhelming amount of characters to keep track of and the reader and begin to feel a little overwhelmed. As the story moves along, the reader begins see what the author has in store and how everything flows.

This is an amazing read and challenges the reader to look beyond the superficial world that we tend to take for granted. The author challenges each one who reads the book to see more than just daily life but to see the impact that we, as an individual, have on the lives around us.

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

Destiny’s Highway by Lane Pierce

September 27, 2016 By Leave a Comment

highway
Destiny’s Highway by Lane Pierce
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (43 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Outgrowing Oklahoma, Danielle is an attractive young woman hoping for a fresh beginning in Southern California.

Luke is a young writer headed home from a motorcycle trip across the Southwestern states. A chance encounter in a New Mexico café sets the star-crossed couple upon a journey of misadventure and an insatiable desire neither can resist.

Can triumph be borne out of tragedy? Where there’s life, there’s always hope.

A motorcycle accident has Danielle questioning everything in the never-ending days while she waits for Luke to wake up. Is this really where their destiny has led them both?

I found this to be an interesting short story. The start was a little clunky to my mind – while we open in the present day we fairly quickly move back in time to Danielle and Luke meeting. While I feel the author tried to make this regression seamless, I personally find it easier to follow time-jumps (even small ones of a few months like this) if there’s some sort of sub-heading – or “Three Months Ago…” to mark where the time has changed. The normal “asterisk break” simply signifies a normal scene change to me, so I got a little lost at the start.

Aside from this though I enjoyed the story. I liked Danielle and thought the meeting up with Luke was different and fun. Although they got together quickly, I expected it to happen fast given the length of the story. I would have loved a little more time to be spent on Luke’s recovery – instead of jumping ahead in time maybe have had Luke and Danielle talk about their future, make some plans. Considering Luke’s accident was where the story started I feel it would have been a bit more satisfying to spend more than just a few pages in that place before jumping back and forth.

Readers should know there was one creepy scene – certainly not horror (to my mind) but enough to make me shiver. For an otherwise happy, fluffy and light romance story I found it a little jarring – though it definitely gave the story a unique twist and will remain memorable to me.

The author managed to mix good characters, an interesting plot and inject just a little bit of small-town psycho into a story in a very small number of words. All up this made the story lovely to read in my mind. Overall I enjoyed it and would definitely look for more by this author.

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

A Father for Daisy by Jennifer Wenn

September 26, 2016 By Leave a Comment

father
A Father for Daisy by Jennifer Wenn
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (218 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Thirteen years ago, at her senior prom, Gillian Crane did the unthinkable – she became drunk for the first time and lost her virginity to an unknown man. Later, when she found out she was pregnant, her unloving, unyielding mother threw her out and told her never to return.

Gillian succeeds in building a new life for herself in New York City, vowing never to see her childhood home again. But when she learns her mother is dying, she drags her twelve-year-old daughter back to hell on earth, also known as Barnesville. Once again caught in small town life amongst old friends and enemies, her past comes back to haunt her, turning her world upside down as the question still remains. Who is the father of her child?

For a small town, Barnesville seems to have its share of small town chaos. Gillian Crane is summoned to her home town due to her mother’s illness. Will this visit allow Gillian to be able to reconcile relationships from her past along with discover who’s her daughter’s father?

I have mixed feelings about this book. Barnesville is a nice small town and the story was believable in that aspect. The small town people and closeness of such. Everyone knows everyone, the gossip mill and the picture of the legendary Main Street; the location for the family restaurant and church. I found it puzzling that Gillian came back to town because her mother was sick, but Gillian’s purpose seemed more about who was her daughter’s father. What mother wouldn’t want a father for her daughter? Gillian’s prom night left her inebriated and pregnant. Now Gillian has found the courage to find out what happened that night.

Gillian’s mother is sick and the story really didn’t touch much on why the relationship between Gillian and her mother Rachel was dysfunctional. For Rachel to be on her death bed I would have expected her to be more compassionate and wanting to leave with her daughter’s relationship in a better place. There was no resolution or feelings to the mother-daughter relationship. Since this is such a touchy matter, as a reader I would have liked to have been given more about why there was such a strain on this relationship.

Gillian wasn’t aware of the feelings Andrew had for her. She has always had her eyes set on Lucas. For some reason Gillian’s mom decides now is the time to reveal family secrets and this leads Gillian’s pursuit to turn towards Andrew. This made her seem desperate and in urgent need of a man. Once Gillian and Andrew start their relationship it moves so fast it was very difficult to believe. The story was set in length to possibly keep the reader in suspense, but to me it was pretty predictable.

The writing is good and told in a easy to read format. The plot is interesting and one that had my attention to know why Gillian didn’t know who was the father of her child. There’s something about stories that take place in small towns that I find very likable. The plot was one that had a few holes in it to me but overall this is an enjoyable quick read with a resolution for Gillian. If you enjoy a book with a happy ending of love this is a book you will want to add to your reading list.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The SHIVA Syndrome by Alan Joshua

September 14, 2016 By Leave a Comment

SHIVA
The SHIVA Syndrome by Alan Joshua
Publisher: Burst Books
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (467 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Stargazer

Beau Walker is a man without a field. Teaching at a backwater university after being dismissed from a government project because of his ethical concerns and bureaucratic maneuvers on the part of a one-time friend, Walker is an academic pariah until two soldiers appear one day. His former friend needs Walker’s expertise, and the professor—who is haunted by both his empathic abilities and the memory of the one time they failed him—has little choice but to cooperate
.
In the Russian city of Podol’sk, a project partially based on Walker’s work has gone horribly awry, killing thousands and leaving traces of mysteries that threaten humanity’s scientific understanding. Discovering what occurred, and how to prevent it from happening again, falls on Walker and his new friends…But as secrets and revelations accumulate, the team’s combined knowledge and abilities may be inadequate to stop what’s coming.

What happens when science kicks open the door for humans to reach god-like powers of creation and destruction? When human consciousness is made so powerful that it annihilates a city of thousands and impacts the moon’s orbit? Blending the paranormal and science fiction in a thrilling mystery, Walker and his team race to find the key to SHIVA facing military intrigues and supernormal assassins. What is at stake? The eradication of life on earth by thought alone.

Are you equipped to face the unthinkable?

Would you like to read a book that not only entertains but causes you to rethink the human mind?

The SHIVA Syndrome is a read that draws the reader in from the first page. The story follows the nation’s top scientists as they research the devastating effects of the human mind gone awry. Beau Walker is a scientist with a secret, he is an extremely powerful empath and this research is right up his alley. As Beau and his team get closer to cracking the secret of what happened in Russia, they begin to realize that it is not too far out of the question that it can happen right in the United States.

The author lays out a solid storyline with strong characters and powerful backstories. As the story progresses, characters that blended into the background begin to take development and soon the reader is immersed in a world of espionage, secrets and lies. The descriptions, dialogue, and events portray the reality that this novel could be happening in reality right now. The research was strong and had a solid foundation leading the reader to understand that the author has immersed himself in research or has a background in the topics he is writing about.

I personally loved the deep descriptions of the medical/biological components of the story. It is evident that the author has a strong background in the sciences and this cannot go unnoticed by the reader. Nothing is left lacking and the story flows smoothly without feeling forced. I found myself having a difficult time putting the book down since once the excitement began, it would rarely even taper off. I also found myself drawn to the characters; following their lives and being drawn in by their stresses and theories. The suspense from the plot was one that resonates with the reader long after the book is put down for the evening.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a science fiction journey that is so well researched that it truly could be happening right now! This was one book that caused me to rethink what happens behind closed doors.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Finding Rose Rocks by Karen Ginther Graham

September 13, 2016 By Leave a Comment

ROSEROCKS
Finding Rose Rocks by Karen Ginther Graham
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: Full Length (372 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

When Jennifer Ellis’s business fails, she decides to leave Oklahoma in a cloud of red dust and return to her San Diego roots. Then Troy Stanhope comes along with a solution to her company’s woes, and she falls for his velvety voice and appealing confidence. As their relationship deepens, she is called to the west coast on a family matter and decides to stay for the summer. She meets a new man and is drawn to his irresistible charm. Her newfound self-awareness mingles with salty ocean breezes and eucalyptus-scented air to place her in his arms. Their liaison is heartfelt but brief, mid-life’s last hurrah. Jennifer realizes her heart is back on the southern prairie, but she may be one adventure too late.

Life transition times are “the best of times and the worst of times.”

Jennifer Ellis, in Finding Rose Rocks, is at one of these crossroads in her life. Divorced, with her son long-since out of the nest, and her business on solid footing, with a trustworthy manager, she can set her efforts toward fulfilling a dream of returning to her childhood home in California with the ocean, rolling hills and gentle climate that still calls to her OR she can she set her efforts toward “blooming where she was planted” year ago in Oklahoma, far from the ocean and where drought, cold cold and hot hot are a given.

Also, there’s Troy, who is firmly established, a man with deep roots in Oklahoma, with an attitude of “it’s my way or the road.” In California there’s Ben, a doctor with a commitment phobia, but a delight to be with, and he makes her feel like she can soar. Both are very secure financially. Both have a hint of bully about them. Which one does she love or does she want to cast her lot with either of them?

Added to Jennifer’s emotional struggle are a self-centered sister and a cantankerous mother with poor judgment. Both of them are hard on Jennifer’s self esteem.

One more little tidbit, the astrological signs for Jennifer, Troy, and Ben and how Jennifer sees how her life would blend with each of the men was attention-getting and thought provoking.

Karen Ginther Graham, with smooth flowing writing, takes the reader on a captivating, vicarious emotional journey—good women’s fiction.

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

Moon, Mist and Magic by Maureen L. Bonatch, L.A. Kelley, J.C. McKenzie, Abigail Owen, and Sharon Saracino

September 9, 2016 By 1 Comment

BOOK
Moon, Mist and Magic by Maureen L. Bonatch, L.A. Kelley, J.C. McKenzie, Abigail Owen, and Sharon Saracino
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (151 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Stargazer

Get ready to be enchanted by mythical beasts, magical creatures, and moonlit nights. Enjoy your favorite author, and perhaps discover someone new, in these five fantastic tales of paranormal romance woven with moon, mist, and magic…

A Ghost of a Chance, by Abigail Owen
What’s a girl to do when her brother’s ghost appears asking for help? If that wasn’t bad enough, finding her not-dead-yet brother’s body before he becomes permanently spectral isn’t her only problem. Josie can’t save him on her own. The only person who can help is the last person who would want to. Bryce Evans, a man she once wrapped hopes of her future around, can’t stand to be near her. How can she convince him when her evidence is a ghost he can’t see?

Dangerous Dreams, by J.C. McKenzie
As a dragon shifter in hiding, Lara Stone wants nothing to do with others of her kind or finding a mate. No way, no how. She’s perfectly content to work for a security company, masquerading as a simple mage. When the leader of all the dragon clans personally requests her as a bodyguard, Lara fears her secret is blown, or worse. What danger could possibly make Rafael Dragoi, the powerful Astarot, seek protection?

Myths and Legends 101, by L.A. Kelley
Flickering lights. Strange drifting shadows. Unnatural cold. Anthropology professor Jim Calloway is convinced the recent eerie phenomena at Octavian College are due to his overactive imagination until he meets Keilana Yamada and her eccentric grandfather, Toshi. Dazzled by the beautiful Keilani, Jim volunteers to help hunt for an ancient evil roaming the ivied halls. Can a mild-mannered academic find his inner demon hunter and a way into Keilani’s heart? Or will a supernatural predator with an insatiable hunger destroy them first?

The Keeper, by Sharon Saracino
When a stranger lands on her slab, poisoned with silver and reeking of vampire, Medical Examiner Olivia Duncan fears someone’s discovered her dangerous secret. Enter Nick Alexios, a mysterious man with a hidden agenda of his own. Olivia ignites his passion and challenges his loyalties, making him question his duty. Nick might be Olivia’s salvation…or her downfall. Will honor-bound promises drive them apart or unite them against threats from both near and far?

Witch You Were Here, by Maureen L. Bonatch
Lucy is a witch with a successful business righting magical mischief. A call for help from her high-school heartache, Shane, prompts Lucy to manage his magical mayhem herself. No longer a nervous, hormonal, teenager, Lucy takes the case to force an apology and bury her past humiliation. To her surprise, Shane insists he couldn’t forget Lucy—because she hexed him ten years ago. Will Shane and Lucy put their past behind them, or will the spell prove permanent?

If you love magic, shapeshifters, ghosts, demons and romance as well as little bit of everything else all in one place, look no further!

Moon, Mist and Magic is a collection of five stories of romance that stretch the borders of imagination and will cause the reader to dive into a world that movies can only attempt to replicate. The five stories have one common thread, they involve the paranormal and an element of romance. Each story is written by a different author, while they all are collected into one book they are not bound to one another by a common story line.

Personally I found the collection to be great; the condensed stories do not leave the reader lacking as they all find completion by the end. The detail for each story resonates strongly with the reader. Each story had a little to offer the reader in various ways, for example, A Ghost of a Chance looks at family secrets and family ties, which also resonates strongly with The Keeper which also pulls very strongly on family lineage and secrets that are held. Myths and Legends 101 can cause the reader to focus on their own perception of the world in which we reside in a more mundane sense while Dangerous Dreams and Witch You Were Here challenge the reader’s perception of the realized world that we tend to take for granted.

The editing was clean, the story lines were clear and character interaction and development-even for shorter stories was great. When I found one story was ending I was elated to begin the next story! Each author has a great skill at drawing the reader in and entertaining with an out-of-this-world story.

This was one collection of stories that you don’t want to miss! Do you want to know the best part? All of the proceeds are donated to the World Wildlife Fund so you can even feel better in supporting the purchase of the book by knowing you are supporting the world in which we all share!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Wounded at Home by Mitzi Pool Bridges

September 8, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Wounded at Home by Mitzi Pool Bridges
Wounded at Home by Mitzi Pool Bridges
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (293 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Financial analyst Sky Chapman must free her sister of a murder charge. Ex-SEAL Dirk Browning uses his skills as a private investigator and a military dog trainer to search for a way to keep Sky safe while they look for the killer and the missing millions the killer thinks she has.

Neither Sky nor Dirk want the attraction that springs between them. She, because she refuses to fall into the philandering-husband trap both her mother and sister dove into. He, because his mother abandoned him to the Brownings at the age of ten and he never saw her again.

The killer has given Sky a timeline. Find the money and turn it over, or she and her sister die. Will Sky survive long enough to explore the feelings she has for Dirk? Will Dirk be there for her? Or will the thief and killer make the questions moot?


Wounded at Home, a “whodunit’ love story with a unique family and a guard dog named Sully is attention-keeping. How Mitzi Pool Bridges weaves them into a story with Skylar Chapman’s business associates and her pampered sister is a captivating read.

Skylar, a smart, successful financial advisor, finds herself in the middle of a murder and ten million dollar theft. The FBI thinks she knows where the money is. Her sister is in jail charged with the murder of her husband. On top of all that, the real killer threatens to kill Skylar and her sister if she doesn’t find the money and give it to him in forty-eight hours.. What a mess, and what an engrossing story!

Dirk, an ex-SEAL who has an investigation business and guard dog business, along with his unusual family, rally around Skylar determined to find the killer and the money. The reader gets a vicarious experience of the “stay-up-late” variety.

Wounded at Home is packed full of interesting characters and lots of suspects. Dory, Skylar’s sister is spoiled and self-centered but scared to death in jail. They have never been close, but Skylar can’t turn her back on her nor can she ignore the killer’s threat. While the way she meets Dirk seems a little contrived, it doesn’t matter because it gets the right people together to set things up for action and for love to get in full swing.

Bad memories of the past make Dirk and Skylar both afraid to commit to a relationship. How they struggle with inner conflicts, while working to keep Skylar alive and find ten million dollars flitting from place to place in cyber space kept me turning pages.

This is one in the Wounded SEAL Trilogy but stands by itself beautifully. However, it does make me want to read the other books in the series. Coop, Dirk’s brother, has the love of his life and a baby girl. Now I’m betting Matt, Dirk’s other brother, gets his own story that just might include the irrepressible Carrie. GOOD reading!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Heartfelt by Carol Owen

September 6, 2016 By Leave a Comment

HEARTFELT
Heartfelt by Carol Owen
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (289 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Shay is recovering from breast cancer and months of chemo. The last thing she’s expecting is a good looking, charming man to come into her world and turn it upside down.

Drew Bennett, an artist getting ready for a big show, needs a place to live and work while his townhouse in Boston is being renovated. He rents an apartment in Shay Morgan’s cliff side house in Maine.

Shay and Drew are instantly attracted to each other, but both of them recognize the timing is wrong. Drew is dealing with a teen-age daughter who was seriously injured in a car accident. Shay is emotionally fragile from her illness and filled with worry her cancer will return.

Can they overcome bad timing to find their way to each other?

These SO REAL fictional characters deal with real life situations that grab one’s attention. How they cope makes a story that touches the heart.

Shay Morgan deals with inner conflict, uncertainty, and a monster called cancer that had attacked her viciously. She’d defeated it, but it was still out there. Silent, lethal, and could attack again at any time. Her emotions are on overload when Drew Bennett, a man she loves almost at once, comes into her life and soon longs to be a forever part of Shay’s life. Working her way through her emotional quagmire, Shay despairs of there ever being a RIGHT time for them to have a relationship.

Drew Bennett fights his own battles and feelings of guilt. His patience is a beautiful golden thread woven through the tapestry of this story.

While the primary theme is Shay and Drew’s, a sub-theme is about Drew’s daughter Patti and her struggles and inner turmoil as she recuperates from an accident that killed her mother. The physical struggle is not easy, but the psychological struggle is incredibly hard. The reader’s heart aches for her.

Woven into the story is the amazing “Belle Harbor Mafia” Shay’s unfailing, true friends, and the Yo-Yo email support group that Shay belongs to, all of whom have had cancer.

A pithy part of the story is the pragmatic, sensible sayings of Shay’s deceased mother. They impact Shay’s thoughts and actions. Some give her hope and courage and others pretty much tell her to put on her big girl panties, “screw her courage to the sticking point” and claim what she so desperately wants while she can. Carol Owen’s writing flows smoothly as it deals with, not up-roaring conflicts, but with the inner conflicts that almost cripple at times and threaten to deprive the characters of their joy for life.

Heartfelt is a great title for this very human story.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »