Amazing Characters in a Wonderful Tale
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I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Meant for Her is a prime example of what makes a romance great. The characters in this novel leap off the pages. By the end of the story, I knew them so well, they seemed like friends. No amount of action scenes, murders, or sex can accomplish what a well developed character can. I'm not saying that the plot is boring, but what really mattered in this novel were the characters. The plot took a backseat to them.

Sierra is more than a ray of sunshine, she's the whole freaking sun. I'd say no one is that sweet and good if I didn't personally know someone like that. She can read people, which I think comes from the simple fact that she cares. When she meets Evan, she recognizes his dark despair and feels an overwhelming urge to help him. It doesn't hurt that she's madly attracted to him. I loved Sierra, rooted for her, wanted her to be happy. If Sierra wasn't happy at the end of the book, I think I would've been extremely irate.

Evan is in a dark place since the death of his mother. It's just been him and his mom for so long, and now he's all alone. He's terrified of setting down roots anywhere; of making friends that he might come to care for since his heart couldn't handle more loss. Evan is one of those strong males with a soft interior that makes me melt. He's a third baseman, so it goes without saying that he's athletic. Evan's also an animal lover, another endearing quality in a man. When he realizes he's falling for Sierra, he wants to push her away, but something within keeps fighting. Be sure to Google Alaskan Klee Kai if you're not familiar with the breed so you have an idea of what his dogs, Beck and Miller, look like. He named them after his favorite beer, priceless.

As I said earlier, the characters in this novel are fantastic. It's not limited to the main characters either. So many of the secondary characters are well developed and interesting. There's some suspense and mystery; someone has been sabotaging Evan's gear and his property, and Sierra is seriously creeped out by the petsitter, Geoff. This book is a bit on the long side, but it reads very fast. I ended up on the elliptical for an extra ten minutes without realizing it because I was so engrossed in the story.

I highly recommend Meant for Her to everyone 18+ (due to mature content and language) that enjoys a character driven romance. I've added this one to my favorites list on Goodreads. Add it to your to-read list. You won't regret it.

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2622531
The Storybook Hero is a beautiful tale and thrilling like an Indiana Jones Adventure.  I found myself totally engrossed in this story.

Alexander Sheffield is considered a rake and a wastrel by his family.  The youngest son of a wealthy noble British line he drinks too much and carouses too much too.  His older brothers think the worst of him and he lives down to their expectations.  He harbors an incredible guilt and it guides his actions.  His life gains purpose though when his uncle asks him to travel to Russia to retrieve their thirteen year old cousin who has recently lost his parents.  Alexander decides to embark on the dangerous quest (his cousins Russian uncle wants the young man dead so he can take all his money).

Octavia is on her way to Russia also.  She will be the governess to a twelve year old girl whose Aunt and Uncle are her guardians.  Octavia really has no family and she feels she is on the shelf.  She is outspoken and intelligent.

Alex and Octavia meet aboard ship and not in the best circumstances.  Alex is drunk and Octavia finds him melancholy and vulnerable.  She abhors his drunken state but responds to his aching soul.  For the rest of the voyage Alex teases the prim Octavia.  She likes his wit but does not fall for his flattery.

The two part ways in St. Petersburg.  Octavia travels to Moscow and finds her employers uncaring of their charge.  She and her student, Emma, hit it off immediately.  But trouble brews quickly for them.  Napoleon is marching toward Moscow and they have been left by Octavias employer to fend for themselves.  In an amazing feat of daring Octavia takes Emma and starts the trek toward St. Petersburg.

Alex finds his young cousin Nicholas and they too make their way to St. Petersburg.  They find Emma and Octavia along the way and the excitement increases tenfold.  There are marauders, and soldiers, the howling Russian winter and assassins the quartet must outrun.  Through it all Alex and Octavia grow closer.  They have such an emotional relationship.  Alex finds himself being someones hero and it fills his life with joy and determination.  Octavia is charmed despite herself.  She is prickly to be sure but she also accepts Alexs faults and she has insight to his wounded heart.  I loved this couple.

There are plenty of high action scenes but also some amazingly sweet ones between Alex and Octavia andwith their charges too.  They form a tight unit that is highly protective of one another.  Alex becomes a storybook hero and he finds his perfect heroine along the way.
2011213
This book contains all the essential ingredients of a classic tale. A gripping narrative, a blend of wonderful characters (good, bad or mad) and speaks to us about the mysteries of life on a number of levels without being preachy or pretentious.

Yet all the time the book cracks along at a fantastic pace and I was gripped (and missed my train station) to see if Emmaline's wish did come true with the help of Meriweather.

For me Merry's travails lay at the heart of this story. Andra has created one of the great characters in this flawed, brave, uncertain yet principled man whose desire to find peace with himself takes us on this wonderful geographic and metaphoric journey.

The book interpserses the sweaty, humid deep south of the United States with a pivotal time of the opening up of the Continent as its backdrop. But do not fear non-Americans! Although central to the story the writing is so precise and good that there is no need for any detailed knowledge of the country or the time period. It justs add bucket loads of texture and atmosphere.

The plot twists will grip you, the emotion will give you goose bumps and the ending may very well make you miss your train stop. Well worth it and I recommended it to the Train Guard!

Simply Wonderful.
2536242
This is a beautiful tale about love and learning that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Magical settings and a unique cast of characters made this a truly unforgettable story. I only wish it was much longer than it was. The premise itself was very unique. There are not many stories with a jinni as a main character are hard to come by and the author really fleshed out this character and made her relatable and more human.

Najwa is a jinni and a spy so there isn't much that surprises her except for the wish that one human named Zaylee makes her grant. I loved Najwa she was brilliant and seeing her try to pretend to be human was so much fun. The best aspect was seeing how these two learned about each others culture and came to understand each other better in the process.

Zaylee is a sweet girl who got stuck in a terrible situation. She was desperate, but at times it was hard to tell whether or not she didn't jump out of the frying pan and into the fire when she decided to trade places with Najwa. Pretending to be a jinni with no real magical powers is one tough feat.

There was most definitely some romance going on in this story as well. My personal favorite was Najwa and Kamal as they were too sweet and perfect for each other. I liked that although there was a good dose of it the romance didn't take over the whole story.

This is a magical read that any fantasy fan will not want to miss!
4046138
What a fantastic tale, it starts a little old fashioned, like a list but eventually the rhythm reveals itself and you find yourself swept away in a classic tale of good versus evil. The characters are vibrant and vast, you find yourself falling in love with them!
3448576
Abbiati has created a wonderful tale that engages the reader from start to end. I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it highly.
237358
This is a wonderfully told tale by a masterful storyteller. It should appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction, as well as those who enjoy the novels of Victoria Holt and Catherine Cookson.

After the French Revolution, the very young, beautiful and aristocratic Isabelle de Savigny flees France after the guillotining of her father. She turns to her cousin in England, the imperious and implacably cold Lady Rosaleen, who lives on a beautiful country estate called Nethergate. Expecting to find succor and a respite from her woes, Isabelle instead finds that, as a now poor relation, she is to be shown her place. which is little more than that of a servant, rather than that of an honored guest. She is manipulated by Lady Rosaleen into becoming little more than assistant to Lady Rosaleen's maid, Martha.

Unhappy with her lot and distressed with her treatment, she falls prey to the romantic overtures of Lady Rosaleen's youngest son, Alan, and they fall in love. When Martha discovers their involvement, she promptly reports it to Lady Rosaleen, who has her son recalled for service by his regiment, where he is sent overseas. In the meantime, discovering that Isabelle is pregnant, she arranges for Isabelle to be married to Martha's one armed, boorish brother, George, so that the baby will have a father. They leave for the country where they will be innkeepers. Lady Rosaleen simply tells her household that Isabelle has run away.

There, Isabelle meets Joanna, a woman well trained in the medicinal arts, who ends up helping her in a way that Isabelle could never imagine. After giving birth to a beautiful girl, whom she names Annabelle, and who is the spitting image of Alan, her life is barely worth living at the hands of her abusive husband. The fates and Joanna intervene and provide a way for her to leave the inn and seek a better future without George.

Isabelle turns her energies to providing for her young child, as best she can. She finds herself returning to Nethergate, where she takes charge of a destiny that will one day see her fortunes returned to her through Annabelle. This is the story of Isabelle's struggles to restore to her and her child the life and place in society that Isabelle once knew. It is a story of loss and betrayal, of love and hope. It is an enormously entertaining story and one which the reader will enjoy.
4560040
One of the few fantasy books I have read and it kept me on the edge of my seat, reaching for more of this beautiful tale.
The author not only brings the wizards and humans into a believable light with their actions and personalities, but his mythical creatures, the unicorns tug at the reader's heartstrings as well.
I cheered his characters, felt their sadness and heartache, and wished I was there to witness the wizards's magic fire and the beautiful flight of the unicorns.
A must read!
2843651
The story is set in the mid-1800's, where an orphan named Maria is sent to live in her ancestoral home in a mysterious village in England.  Maria is a wonderful child, full of life and all that is good.  The place where she is sent to live, Moonacre Manor, is wonderful and the people are kind and loving to Maria, esp. her uncle who becomes her caretaker.  The village and beyond is unusual and magical, and Goudge does a wonderful job with the imagery in the book.  Over time, Maria comes to realize that some things are not right, and that the transgressions of her ancestors created serious consequenses to life just outside the wonderful Moonacre Manor where Maria lives. She comes to understand her destiny is to make things right.  Maria is curious about things no one will discuss, such as the mysterious dark men who live in the forest, a place where Maria is forbidden to go.  Despite her fear, Maria must make things right, and when she does the world is new and good.

The Little White Horse was a magical rendition of a wonderful fantasy tale, written by a beloved author.  A must read, or must listen to, with children.  Like the book, Lad, a Dog, and other wonderful stories, this one will stay with you for a lifetime.
3226233
Swept Off Her Feet takes us into the world of unKilted men and antiques.

Hester Browne weaves of an amazing story about a woman who wants to keep her job and is sent off to a castle to hit the antique pay dirt but finds herself tossed in a reel of desire.

What Evie needs is to stop feeling the life through the antiques she buys, and find something more than the clutter of her home, but into the arms of someone special. Left to her own devices Evie just may get lost in the merchandise she buys for her employer in the antique trade, but she soon is set into a wild adventure inside of a historic castle in Scotland.
What Evie doesn't realize is love is closer than she thinks, and that learning Scottish Reels to replace her sister in a dance, can bring her closer to what she has been wanting for so long.

Browne uses fantastic description to make us fall in love with her characters. You can almost feel the old wood through the pages, along with the pounding of feet in the dances.
The main, and supporting characters were fabulous. Their stories and interactions were breathtaking as well as inspiring. While I may not get to run off to Scotland, I can feel a bit of the experience through this book.

If you would like an adventure, and a lesson in Scottish Reeling dance along the way, get ready to be swept away by Swept Off Her Feet. It was one of the most pleasurable reads I have had this year.
1764191
The author, Jessica Taylor, has crafted an amazing tale in "Wandering Wild."  It's a story of family, love, hopes and dreams and sometimes doing something painful to be where you need to be.  The characters jessica created are likable and real.  Talia "Tal" and her brother Wen belong to a family of Wanderers, where they've learned to live by cons and scams.  Tal, wants more.  She wants to wander on her own, travel to places a Wanderer would never go.  But she's got two problems 1) she's been bought and paid for, and her groom comes calling for her.  2) She fell in love with a Markie, a non-wanderer.  Unknowingly, Tal has set in motion a chain of events that can't be undone.
I never like to give away and ending, so you'll have to read it for yourself to see if Tal adheres to the Wanderers life and goes with the man who bought her, or go the way of the Markies?
2675663
What a delightful tale - one I could see transformed into an animated movie much like The Tale of Despereaux.  The author's skill was immediately apparent when I quickly found myself totally immersed in the lives and trials of this enchanting mouse kingdom. The setting was so intriguing and the maps that were provided at the beginning, helped enormously in following along as the story unfolded.  It is a quest for freedom, mirrored by all living creatures, full of betrayal and loyalty, cowardice and bravery, strong family ties and tenuous friendships, humor and terror, evil and redemption - with a touch of magical coincidences here and there that save the day!  I was so taken with this book that it caught me by surprise when I reached the end.  I wasn't prepared to leave this engaging world and its tiny inhabitants. I wanted more!
1376225
An amazingly wonderful story for any age.

This novel started off as something I would read with my younger son, who really enjoys the fantasy Harry Potter style books.
As we read more and more, I found myself very invested into the story, and the characters. So many of the themes in the book resonate so well with everyone. Bullying, not fitting in, feelings of self doubt, being sad and alone.
I was absolutely amazed at the beautiful descriptions and storytelling which had me imagining every twist and turn of the book. This has some deeply emotional parts that might even choke up a parent, so... no shame.. Just saying.

I would absolutely recommend this fantastic novel by David Pedersen, and all of his other books as well, such as the Angst series. Pick this up today!
4095553
The characters in this story are wonderful. Such a treat to read.
458559
The tale that Amy weaves is spellbinding. She immerses the reader in this highly detailed and unique war-ridden world full of magic, wonder, intrigue, and love despite the obstacles and differences. The intricacy she puts into creating this imagery for us is seriously commendable and unlike anything I've seen from a writer in a long time. The love is imperfect and all the more valuable for it. The protagonist, Vitala, has lived through some very powerful situations that have shaped her actions and speech in the story. The fact that Amy was able to capture that and set the characters apart with discernible characteristics is amazing. This romance, has enough elements to attract a different type of reader audience. For example, those that like more action and plot development in their story versus a constantly hot and heavy romance whose plot may not be as much a priority. Its potential is vast and Amy did a great job conveying that to us as her readers. Lucien is special in his own way and quite the personality. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience and I'd recommend it to anyone needing a little action in their life.
4216306
A wonderful story woven in a beautiful, descriptive realm. From the start you can see Bethany Adams is taking her time, building her magical eleven world and drawing you in with a tale spun with mystery and intrigue. The premise is one that I would love to read more about in the next books and the characters are realistically flawed, likeable and believable. Adams has created a strong female lead that is independent, well-developed and modern; one that shows bravery and tenacity as she navigates through this new, unknown world. The story is well written and enjoyable.
3328295
Enchanting and delightful to read this tale of a story. Without a doubt there is good character building here. To see the progression of the characters into a stand able characters that can hold their own is wnderful to see in a story. Sitting down and devouring it one setting, wanting to keep turning page after page. Can't wait to read more of this on going story.

I received a free copy of the book an exchange for an honest review.