Two troubled lives equal one great love...
351710
Echo Emerson used to be one of the popular girls. Talented in art, with long gorgeous red hair, the tall girl with the interesting name had the quarterback boyfriend and everything it seemed.

Then there was the night her mother tried to kill her. Echo has no memories of the evening, but the scars that grace her arms will never let her forget. Now an outcast, with an even more over bearing father, due to have a new baby with Echo's former babysitter - yeah- it's not as if her life could get any worse.

Noah Hutchins is a product of the foster care system. Dark and foreboding, he's shed his basketball star rep for drugs and looking every evening for a new one night stand. His only pressure for getting on the straight and narrow are his younger brothers, taken from him after his parent's tragic death.

Brought together but their pesky guidance counsellor, Echo and Noah try to repel each other until they discover how much they've lost. Both have secrets, both are so alone. But together they could find the answers that will help them move on from their haunting past.

This is fantastic romance YA! A round of applause for McGarry and Harlequin! I loved how this book was the perfect blend of teenage angst and toned down traditional adult romance novel. Only disclaimer - lots of foul language, so not for tweens.

This is a romance with heart. This is falling in love that isn't clichd, cheesy or unrealistic. There is vulnerability with both of the characters and their back-stories are engagingly brilliant! Ridiculous and fantastic - Pushing the Limits is a true romance book that is so much more than just the love of two lead characters. The love of family is stronger and I can't recommend this book enough for romance junkies!

The rest of the series follows Noah's best friends lives in separate books. I love the idea and can't wait for the last book to be published in the fall!
2922701
This is a wonderful book. are two characters who have found one another after many years and the death of the spouse of one of them.  They have a great house near all of the things that they enjoy, very private, and they can entertain like adults.  Their lives have meshed and they have a future all planned.  Having known one another for years and years there are no surprises--until a teenaged girl comes to their front door.  What a fabulous story unfolds!  There is an ill mother who is suffering greatly and has only one request of her daughter; there is another couple who have blended their families into a very happy home that becomes disrupted; and there are the "friends" who weigh in on all issues.  The story is fabulous.  I found myself agreeing with first one and then the other of the leading characters and then wondering if there could be any resolution.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book, you will too.
1662813
This is a beautifully written story of heartbreak and hope that can only be told by those who have experienced great love and loss. Sarah is that person. Through her deep love for her husband and the profound loss that followed, she dared to risk love again by choosing to have a daughter from her deceased husband, only to face a mothers worst fear - the loss of a child. Through miraculous intervention her daughter survived against all odds. This is a captivating story of great faith in the midst of deep suffering; a story of life in the midst of death. A story of hope in the depths of despair. Now we need to read the next chapter of the story from this woman of great faith and love of how she willingly chose to open her heart again to a new man and family. I greatly anticipate the sequel.  God bless you, Sarah.
4522159
Sometimes bad things happen to come between two people in love, but when a second chance comes along it can change their lives profoundly. It makes love all the more sweeter. That is what this story is about.  Enjoyed this book so much.
4597659
Young widow Devan Anderson is trying to make a life for herself and her 4-year-old daughter Blakeley.  Busy with her nursery and landscaping business, Devan is torn between performing a top-notch job for her customers and being a good mother to Blakeley.  Relying on her in-laws Connie and Jerrold to take up the slack by pitching in with day-care for their beloved granddaughter, Devan soon realizes Connie and Jerrold are not who she thought they were.

Mead Regan, an ex-military man is back in town minus much of his memory.  Only after giving 4-year-old Blakeley a terrible scare does Devan realize who Mead is.  It doesn't take long for Mead to realize that there is something very familiar about Devan.  Finally, Devan shares the secret of the one passion filled night she and Mead spent together years before.  But not everyone was happy to see Devan and Mead get together.  As they embark on a passion filled relationship, able to finish each other's sentences and share love, heartbreak and passion...enter Pamela Regan, Mead's own mother.  A spoiled, rich woman used to getting her own way and who will stop at nothing to rip apart the one joy Mead has in his life...Devan.

This is a tender love story of heartbreak, intrigue, love, family and finding your own place in life.  Excellent novel!!
981036
The author does an amazing job of portraying the tenderness of two people in love, woven with the struggle of a declining quality of life. Every page brings wonderful descriptions that allow you to get to know the characters intimately. I hope I never have to face these decisions, but if I do, Ill be better prepared for having experienced the struggle through this book.
3169712
I liked both stories of love and triumph.  I especially like the fact that even though there were perceived obstacles in both stories, each couple realized that their love for each other was strong enough for them to weather any storm.  I was somewhat surprised that the second story delved into interracial relationships.  Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed both stories.  Good job Mrs. Jackson, good job.
3271298
This is essentially a redemptive love story. The depth of this novel is due to the fact that it is a love story despite being set against domestic violence and dysfunctional families where love is lacking. The novel has a deep internal logic created through the intensive dialogue that allows for flow and ease of reading. Although this is Nats story, we utlimately follow the development of the relationship between Nat and Kane throughout the novel. As characters they are both strong and appealing. Both have a moral compass, an inner sense of what is right. They have their highs and lows, their pushing and pulling that plummets them to depths both regret. Theirs is, however, a love that sees them find their way out, to clear the dark and relish the light. You knew that they were different from their environment in the way their physical relationship developed. Kane never forces Nat to be more sexual rather he allowed her to slowly develop and grow as she moves from feeling nothing and wanting physical pain to feeling actual love, until what is between them feels just right. However, underlying the hopeful development of Nat and Kane is sadness. Both have their own sadness, the degradation of Nats father, her mothers complete lack of love for her, her sisters death, the death of Bey and Reesey and Darnishs brain injury.  But by the end of the novel you had the feeling that both chose to heal. They chose the Church and the Drummonds. Kane chose legal work versus illegal.  Both in the ultimate act chose to parent Joey. To change the worst of domestic violence into the best of loving families. To see a positive future for their family, Nat, Kane and Joey, despite everything that has happened in their past. The book leaves us with their future looking hopeful. That they have really overcome violence, lack of love and dysfunction to embrace love, light and happiness.
2555801
Terrific character development in a lovely tale of two sympathetic people with intertwining lives. A wonderful read!
2047522
I thought that this was a beautifully crafted story about two people who are attracted to each other.  One is established as a university professor while the other is a gardener, one is older while the other is younger, and one has had his heart broken while the other is afraid to give his heart a chance.  This is a journey between two people who essentially want the same things in life, forever love, trust and belonging to each other.  Can they navigate between their two worlds?  Wonderfully written!
2389421
A three part story that brings lives together that are meant to be.  It's a lovely yet riveting story of two women and how one becomes weakened and one becomes strengthened by her contact with a narcissistic spoiled rich boy who finds his joy in demeaning others  The real hero is the humble, hard working handy man who knows and shares the real joy of loving and helping others.. A real happy ever after ending.
2790149
Petal and Luka have a complicated and muddy relationship. Lies and miscommunication have torn these two apart. Forgiving themselves and each other is a difficult trail to navigate. There is a HEA when two lovers find themselves and their love in each other.

We all have a past and a story that makes us who the people we are today.  What really matters in life is if you can take the time to reflect on those choices, and hopefully change us for the better. That's my take on the "Happy Trail," no pun here, just hopefully a happy life. #CheersToTheTrailLife

***I received an arc for and honest review.***
582469
Two strong characters seem an unlikely couple but to their and other's surprise love finds a way, forming a relationship which is going to last through at least one more book,a great read.
1802485
Truthfully speaking, Seven For A Secret is not just one love story, but two. Although both are told simultaneously and are set in the same city of Chicago, they take place 75 years apart from one another. One story takes place during the Roaring 20s and is centered around Lon and Eva. Lon is a man who is attempting to discover his own place in the world, away from the societal expectations of his upbringing.

Staring down at the floor as he strode deeper down the corridor, Lon lost his focus in observation of the intricate design, step after colorfully tiled step  until his wingtips stubbed against a marble lip rising about an inch from the floor. He looked up to meet the life-sized stone likeness of a courtier wooing a fair maiden above a fountain. The couple was white as purity and forever frozen mere inches from embrace.

The thrill of the chase, Lon murmured. The only thrill there is.

Lon isn't looking for love, but finds it anyhow when he attends a party and meets Eva, a young and intelligent woman who immediately captures his eye.

There was no doubt about it: she was exquisite. Lon knew this not to be a matter of his opinion, but a fact. This beauty had nothing to do with which eye beheld it. It was there, filling all eyes in the same way, no more, no less. She is for everyone.

In stark contrast is the story of Kate and Dexter, set in the year 2000. By all accounts, Kate has found a good man in her work colleague, Dexter. But as their relationship deepens and the pressure mounts for Kate to make a long-term commitment she becomes insistent on setting boundaries by moving out of his condo and into her own studio apartment.

The music next door had stopped, perhaps already had some time ago while she and Dex had beenwhat? Making love? Just passing the time? What was it that shed really wanted when shed walked out of that Lake Shore condo? Suddenly, she couldn't breathe as the responsibility for Dexters heart crushed down on her own. Absence was only making things foggier so far.

Kates desire to establish some personal distance from Dexter provides some potential complication when she notices a good looking stranger in her new building  a man she soon begins to speculate is her next door neighbor.

Suddenly shy and anxious about what might happen next, she turned to press her palm against the wall behind her. It felt warm, a soothing contrast to her room that had just turned so cold. She imagined Hot Neighbor sitting there with his hand against the wall, too, directly opposite her. What if hed noticed her before and wanted to get her attention? Maybe seen her around sometime, even if just out his window, and then followed the sound of her footsteps and door slams to trace her to this unit? Kind of stalkerish, but awfully flattering, Kate thought. After all, she was doing the same thing with him.

The historical love story is dramatic and dark, while the modern contemporary tale is lighter and humorous. At first glance it might be tempting to think there is too much story within one novel, but Rumer Haven balances it all so well. Both love stories are compelling, intelligent and heart-warming. Havens narrative is both poetic and endearing and I quickly found myself admiring the effort and devotion that went into writing this story. There were moments in Seven For A Secret when I laughed out loud, shed a few tears and held my breath while I read.

This novel hit all the right spots emotionally for me, and I highly recommend it. Typically, Im stingy in doling out 5 star ratings. I only do when I know that a book has made a lasting impression on me and when I know that others will feel the same way once theyve given the story their time and attention.

Seven For A Secret receives an enthusiastic 5 star rating from me!
4841252
This book is difficult to award a star number.  It is as if the reader is given an opportunity to critique the author Jon Katz and his love, Maria Wulf.

Two talented people, a writer and an artist, in pain, searching for something and not knowing where to find it for too long ....find each other.

I cannot qualify this as a 'dog story'  because it is truly a 'second chance story' for two people and a dog named Frieda.

For some, happiness and love and security are elusive.  The loneliness, the desperation at times, the struggles are a most painful walk.

To see a light, to turn that light 'on and get a second chance...I am happy for these two unique people...and for Frieda.
4829021
This is not a sexy love story, but there is love and there is sex. There's also brutal sexual violence, drug abuse and a vileness that's deplorable. This is a story about relationships both good and bad, and above all it's a story of hope.

Lilith Bresson, famous artist, is given no choice but to reside at Albermarle Hall and paint a portrait for Lady Blaine Albermarle. Whilst there she meets Blaine's beautiful companion, Finn Strachan. At first glance, and to an untrained eye, everything seems perfect...... Things are not always as they seem and Albermarle Hall is witness to the utmost depravity. Lilith finds herself becoming deeply embroiled, both physically and emotionally.

Lilith is a girl with issues, shes tough, a realist who likes to be in control. I love her no nonsense attitude; she lives and speaks with a dose of reality and wit. I love her spirit, her courage and her heart. She has a gift of reading people, and if I'm honest, I was slightly skeptical about the 'gift.' However, I have to admit that it worked within the story as a whole, so I went with it.

Finn is beautiful to look at but inside he's being slowly broken apart. He's damaged. Drugs are his escape from reality, a reality created by Lady Albermarle, they make his life almost bearable.

He was made to do things.
Would Lilith be made to do things?

Lady Albermarle Blaine is a lady of class and style, always dressed to perfection, a beautiful woman but over the pages with her vile actions and words she became overtly grotesque to me. Shes evil personified. A twisted bitch. She looks for weakness and then she pounces like the devil. They dance to the tune of Blaine and it's not pleasant.

The Tied Man is written from the dual point of view of Lilith and Finn who, among the depravity and evil, develop a gorgeous friendship that's destined for more, it may be dysfunctional but I loved the reading experience. The girl swoops in with her painting tools and becomes the rescuer, just wonderful!

It's a carefully crafted story with a sprinkling of Britishness and I truly appreciated the experience. What I need now is to know their future. Could any of their past damage be healed? Can they find forever in each other? This is a stand alone story but I'm hoping the next book will give me that little bit more I crave.

The Tied Man is beyond disturbing but the brilliant writing carried the story and the characters to my book heart. It took me on a unique journey with Lilith and Blaine. A journey of brutality, hurt and grotesque evil, but with an overriding feeling of hope laced throughout. Sometimes, the darker a story goes, the more I feel the light at the end and that's certainly the case with this book. If you are yet to read The Tied Man and like a darker challenging read then pick up this book, you'll not be disappointed.
317753
This is the second time I have read through this story by Robert Goolrick, and I enjoyed it as much as the first.  Mr. Truitt is a widower in a small town in Northern Wisconsin.  He puts a personal ad in the newspaper seeking a, "reliable wife" (among other things); an arrangement made for (seemingly) companionship, not for love.  His ad is answered by Catherine Land, a poor, plain  spinster who is seeking escape from her humble existence.  Right from the start, we find that things aren't what they seem and people aren't who they seem to be at all.  All players in this drama are scarred from their past, have ulterior motives, and each is seeking redemption of one kind or another.  Can we atone for the sins of the past? Can we change who we are for who we wish to be? These are the central questions in this drama as it hurdles towards its climax.