Another Triumph by Wendy Reakes
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Making each character immediately and simultaneously likable and relatable, Wendy Reakes presents number of vignettes that soon blend together into a massive plot that weaves reality with speculation, relationship pathos with hope, every-day contexts with extraordinary circumstance.

Everything Wendy writes has that special touch, that effortless magnetism, which without unnecessary fanfare or gratuitous pathos pulls the readers into the heart of her characters' lives. This book is no exception. As a resident of Florida where sinkholes are all too well-known, and where in fact news articles about these atrocities opening up under houses, businesses and stretches of highway are almost commonplace, I can say with some authority that Ms. Reakes has captured the phenomenon with skill and accuracy. But then she adds the elements of humanity to which we can all relate, and the product is a unique, perfectly paced story that can only be further described as "a real page-turner."

Among all the books flooding today's market, Wendy Reakes' work stands out like a polished gem atop a pile of dusty rubble.
2891371
As Wendy Davis shares her journey, she reminds us of the essence of democracy, freedom, and sacrifice. Her story is at once familiar and inspiring. It's a story that every single Texan would do well to embrace.

The person who can get through chapters 13 & 14 without being affected is a person I hope never to know. But if such a person exists, I'm certain that Wendy would fight as arduously for their rights as she has the rights of her constituents here in Fort Worth and all across this great state.

Thank you, Wendy.
2018679
What can I say about Katy Regnery, that hasn't already been said a hundred or more times before?  She brings all the feels, time and time again, and she makes it seem almost effortless.  Her power with the written word grows stronger every day.  Dark, Sexy Knight is no exception.  The fourth in her Modern Day Fairytale series,  this one is loosely based on The Legend of Camelot and its cast of characters will blow you out of the water.  The story centers around Colton and Verity but it's hard not to be swept away with Ryan and Melody and Joe as well.  The pure sweetness of all the love in this story left me wrapped up in a happy warmth all day long after staying up all night to read it in one setting, when no one would be around to interrupt me.  It just breathes sweet love and makes you long for a sweet place of your very own.  Of course there are also those love to hate characters that Mrs. Regnery is so good at but I won't name names and spoil you finding out for yourself.  It's a story that hits close to home for this reviewer on a lot of levels.  It deals with the personal and family responsibilities that a lot of people have today and how they juggle them and still find time to have their own lives.  Mrs. Regenery handles some sensitive topics with the compassion and delicate touch that her fans love so much.  It is a compassion that Mrs. Regnery is known for in the book community.  She is also known for her Philanthropy and once again her newest release is being used to help raise money for a deserving cause close to her heart and the heart of the book.  25% of the net profits from the sale of the book in June and July will be donated to The Prospector Theater in Ridgefield CT. The Prospector is a not-for-profit commercial movie theater that trains and employs adults with disabilities.
3304101
Wendy is an orphan who leads an unhappy life, which is even worse since she doesn't really like herself. A little too fat, a little too shy, a little too unexciting: why would anyone want to be her friend? Well, she does have the three younger boys she lives with (much younger) and gets along very well with them, but are those friends? A visit to the theater changes her entire life as she finds a mysterious letter, inviting her to LATCH - a magical society which will change her life completely.

I enjoyed this. Wendy is a wonderful little girl, and her self-assurance problems make her even more likable. She doesn't mope around and complain but accepts the fact that she's not as wonderful as everyone else. Of course, this isn't true, and through LATCH she learns to realize that she is someone special. She's faced with exciting challenges, has to master difficult situations and stands up for what she knows is right - all with a slight twist of magic.

Unlike many heroes/heroines, Wendy doesn't always get through her problems on her own. Friendship, trust and hope play a huge role. It was nice to see the reminder that we do need other people helping us through difficult times and can trust that they will. And if these fuzzy feelings weren't enough, Wendy is constantly reminded that if she believes in herself, she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.

In other words, this is a fast paced, exciting book chucked full of things every kid in this age group needs to hear again and again and again.
4500447
A beautiful story of Wendy's accomplishments, and a loving family.  Well written and a joy to read.  This book was shared with family who were all overwhelmingly in agreement.
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Intriguing read, it reminded me of the Jeanette Wall's stories.  I am amazed at Wendy's ability to overcome such obstacles and make something of herself.
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Wendy of the Wallops by Gill McKnight is an absolute delight.  PC Wendy seems to be permanently awkward and embarrassed, especially around attractive women.  She has recently come out to her friend and local vicar, Jane and her partner Renata from the first book in the series.  She hasn't quite worked up the courage to tell her family or her work colleagues.  When she is asked to keep an eye out on young Lexi, whose father has gone on the run from his witness protection programme, she comes into contact with local artist and Guide Leader Keira.  Between being constantly annoyed by Keira, her hot new boss from the Met and her cute doctor, Wendy is surrounded by women who confuse and arouse her.  This is a story about a totally adorable character following her path towards accepting and being happy with her sexuality.  It is also hilarious and sweet and I highly recommend it.

I was given this ARC by Ylva Publishing in return for an honest review.
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Wendy (although she looks emaciated!) does a great job of this mystery.  It is believable and carries through to the very end.  My husband and I truly enjoyed it.
300760
The Delicate Nature of Love is sensitive, expertly-written women's fiction at its finest. With its intriguing layered characters, a plot that won't let go until the very end, and the poignancy of the overlapping stories, I couldn't put this story down. Once again, Wendy Paine Miller reaches into our hearts and touches us in ways we didn't expect. Like all Wendy's books, this one is a must-read.
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Ascend was everything I hoped for and so much more in Amanda Hocking's final novel in her Trylle Trilogy. It made me laugh and made me cry. Wendy's road to the throne is bittersweet and heartbreaking at times, but she has grown into an amazing, strong woman capable of ruling a kingdom.

I've really enjoyed this series and how the characters have developed along the way. Bravo, Amanda!
3978385
Susan May Warren has done it again with her second installment in the Montana Rescue Series, Rescue Me. We get to explore two new characters, Sam Brooks and Willow Rose. There are several things I appreciate about how Warren has written this book.

First, she did not ignore the characters from her first book of the series, Wild Montana Skies. She did an excellent job overlaying and weaving in Pete and Jess's story, and this is something that her devoted fans specifically enjoy about her storytelling style.

Second, the emotions she describes are genuinely palpable. When one of her characters feels conflicted, you can feel the tension jumping off the page. While this is partially due to her writing style, I think primarily it is her excellent character development that allows the reader to empathize with her characters' emotions.

Finally, she has really grabbed me, personally with this series being set in Montana. My husband and I took a trip to Montana several years ago, and the spirit of that environment has never left my heart. She beautifully captures the wonder and awe of Glacier National Park in Rescue Me.

Contemporary Romance is generally not my favorite genre, but the Montana Rescue series is an exception I have easily made. The series is truly action-packed and could easily be turned into a feature film. I'm looking forward to her next book in the series, A Matter of Trust, due to be released this Summer.

I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
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Amanda Hocking is two for two, continuing to win me over with TORN, the second book in the Trylle Trilogy. The story seamlessly picks up where SWITCHED left off. Wendy's story just gets more intense in this installment.. with more action, many questions answered, juicy secrets divulged, and even a few more suitors introduced. We get a much awaited look into the world and Trolls of the Vittra and some very intriguing characters are brought forth, including their royals.  The newly introduced blood prove to be quite entertaining and definitely add some spice to the plot, while the original cast continue to hold strong and true to whom we have grown attached.  Wendy's powers expand advancing and strengthening, while she is forced to grow as a person, facing life changing choices of love and duty.

The plot twists and thickens in a real "page turner" kinda way that will have readers finding it hard to put down. In my experience as a pretty avid reader, the first book in a series is usually superior to any that follow, but in this case (and Much to Hocking's credit) TORN is every bit as good as its predecessor.. if not better. The set-up for the final book, ASCEND is promising and I'm anticipating another fantastic read.
3808114
After reading Breakthrough and enjoying it so much,  I couldn't wait to read Gromley's sequel, Leap, and started reading it that very same day. I couldn't put it down until I finished it. The sequel is just as good as the first, which is not true in many cases. I raved about these books so much that my spouse picked up the first book and started reading; she loves it, too, and hasn't been able to put it down yet. She's still reading as I'm writing this review. I hope the author is working on another sequel, so that the story continues--I love these characters in these novels, especially Dirk and Sally. I can't wait to see what happens in the next saga.
1241921
Another Tamara Leigh book--another winner!  I'll admit, the first few chapters and the goings on in the harem had me a bit nervous about this clean read rewrite.  However, Ms. Leigh has purpose in every word, and no one does words quite as well as she.  I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the exotic setting, and the story line.  In the most challenging of situations, two young people purposed to please God with their lives, rather than themselves.  You just can't go wrong with Tamara Leigh books with their spunky heroines and gallant heroes.  Now I eagerly await the release of Baron of Godsmere.
2123804
First, I would like to extend a heartfelt Thank you to Debra Clopton and her publisher for sending me a copy of "Kissed By A Cowboy" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me.

Kissed By A Cowboy by Debra Clopton is the amazing third offering in her Four of Hearts Ranch series.  Opening the cover of this engaging page-turner is like visiting old friends for those who have read the first two books in the series.  But this novel also reads well on its own, so I recommend it even if you haven't experienced the previous stories.

Jarrod Monahan took it hard when he discovered his fathers betrayal of his family.  He and his brothers worked very hard to rescue the Four of Hearts Ranch.  Now that the ranch is finally about to become profitable, cattle rustlers put them in jeopardy again.  So when he sees some activity at his abandoned neighbors property, he is surprised to see the girl he kissed then ran away from so many years ago.

Cassidy Starr has returned to Wishing Springs, Texas and the property her Aunt Roxie left her now that shes come to her senses, filed for divorce and sworn off romance for good.  With plans to make a life for herself by running her property as a bed and breakfast and a strawberry farm, she finds herself fighting those old feelings when she sees Jarrod and he continues to offer to help her.

Debra Clopton has written another beautiful story in a series that Ive got on my keeper shelf.  These books will bring giggles and tears and a sigh or two and are easily enjoyed over and over again.
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Mariposa was the perfect sequel to Memoirs of a Gothic Soul. Rebekah once again had me in a literary tizzy. I loved it, and I absolutely adore the characters she so painstakingly brought to life. I would read anything Rebekah writes.
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Sometimes it's hard to review Joanna Trollope's books for fear of putting off a potential reader. Such is the case with "Other People's Children," which is a brilliant look at what step- families are really like. I know that I, reading the above sentence, would think, "Oh, not again, it's been done to death, yuck." And then I would have missed one of Trollope's best works, one that is not boring in the least, and that has such insight, such truth, that it can enrich any reader.
So. That having been said, please bear with me as I try to explain this book, which is slight on plot and heavy on insight. It involves a number of very nice people of all ages, from young Rufus, just 7 when the book begins, to a 20-something engaged couple, to a 30-something newly married pair who are blending their respective families, to a May-September relationship between a single woman in her early 40s, Elizabeth, and a twice-married architect with two adult children from his first marriage, and Rufus from his second. This man's name is Tom. It is his adult son, Lucas, who is engaged (to Amy), and his second wife, Josie, mother of Rufus, whose recent remarriage has blended two families. Her husband, Matthew, has his hands full with his teenaged girl and boy, and a younger girl as well, all of them products of a highly dysfunctional mother whose sick dependence on them makes it nearly impossible for Matthew and Josie to have a normal life, especially with Lucas added to the mix.
It is Tom's adult daughter Dale, however, who causes the most destruction in this story, once again illustrating Trollope's favorite "no man is an island" theme. Having lost her mother at the tender age of 4, Dale, now a successful businesswoman in her 30s, cannot let go of her clinging (and cloying) attachment to her father Tom or her brother Lucas. She retains a key to her childhood home and barges in whenever she feels like it, despite the fact that Elizabeth, Tom's fianc&eacute;e, now lives there, and that Dale's young step-brother Lucas spends some weekends there as well.
Dale is the catalyst for the eventual destruction of some relationships, and the triumph of others. The rippling effect of her neurotic behavior is catastrophic, even though she consciously means no harm. Does love conquer all? Not in this book--and not in real life, either. Kudos to Trollope for pointing this out, and for having the courage to resist a pat ending.