Reprise Review: Reclaim My Heart by Donna Fasano @DonnaFaz #Montlake

Genre: Romance/ Native American/ Contemporary

Description:

“Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined.”

“Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn't rip them apart.”

Author:

Donna Fasano was the winner in Books and Pals first ever Readers’ Choice awards in the romance category. She is also a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold just shy of 4 million copies worldwide and been published in nearly two dozen languages. Ms. Fasano also enjoys posting delicious recipes on her website where you can also find out about her other books. You may also like to follow her on FaceBook.

Appraisal:

Beyond the entertainment provided by a good book there is often more to be gained for a savvy reader. Fictional characters can be like windows into the minds and hearts of others and sometimes can provide a catalyst to a better understanding of ourselves. Any book in the romance genre almost always has this. While we’re being entertained by the foibles and human frailties of the hero and heroine we’re also gaining insight into how other people think and react in different situations. The best authors are keen observers of human nature and able to translate what they’ve found into their stories. I’ve read many of Donna Fasano’s books and from her very first, Mountain Laurel, originally published a few decades ago, have been impressed by her ability to create characters that rang true to life. Reclaim My Heart continues this streak, but it also has something extra.

In addition to the type of themes you’d expect in a romance novel mostly revolving around romantic relationships, marriage, and commitment, are several others. While issues of the role and importance of the immediate family, a couple and any children involved, this book also explores extended family and how these relationships influence lives in both good and bad ways. Ideas around this subject are looked at from multiple perspectives, Tyne’s relationship with her parents, the relationship Lucas and Zach (Tyne’s son) have with Lucas’ Uncle Jasper, and the relationship between an Amish woman who figures into Lucas’ life and her father. Other themes such as culture, religion or spirituality, and the concept of home and roots (both familial and geographical) play a part in the story. The result is Fasano’s best book yet. One that should satisfy the romance reader looking for entertainment, but a story with more complexity under the surface than a typical romance.

Buy now from:   Kindle US    Kindle UK    Paperback

FYI:

This book contains adult language and situations that may be offensive to some.

Added for Reprise: Reclaim My Heart was the winner in the Romance category for 2014 Readers' Choice Awards at BigAl’s Books and Pals. Original review ran May 20, 2013.

Format/Typo Issues:

My review is based on a pre-release copy and I’m unable to judge this area.

Approximate word count: 65-70,000 words

Rating: ***** Five stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Review: Two Hearts in Winter by Donna Fasano @DonnaFaz

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Description:

“Loss and betrayal have caused Heather Phillips to give up on love. She’s thrown herself into running The Lonely Loon, her Bed and Breakfast located on the boardwalk of Ocean City, Maryland. The 'off season' in this tourist town is usually a time of rest and reflection for her; however, DB Atwell, a famous author, arrives at The Loon for the winter to finish his long-overdue novel. Daniel, too, has faced grief, and tragedy continues to haunt him. Once Heather and Daniel meet, their lives will never be the same.”

Author:

“USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR DONNA FASANO is a three-time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, a Golden Heart finalist, and a two-time winner of Best Romance of the Year given by BigAl's Books & Pals Review Blog. Her books have sold 4 million copies worldwide and have been published in two dozen languages. Her novels have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #5.”

Learn more about Ms. Fasano at her website In All Directions and feel free to stalk her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

You can always count on Ms. Fasano to write about a topic that many women struggle with and do it with finesse. Her characters are also always strong but flawed. How she is able to shine a light on these flaws and allow us to follow their journey to completeness or happiness as they gain insight to tackle their problems head on is one of Ms. Fasano’s greatest strengths.

In this second book of Ms. Fasano’s Ocean City Boardwalk series we meet Heather Phillips, the owner and operator of The Lonely Loon Bed and Breakfast. She seems to have her life on track after suffering through a devastating break-up with a fiancé years ago over a decision she made for her own wellbeing. She’s now happy, prosperous, and has good friends she can count on. Her life would be almost perfect if it wasn’t for this cranky author, DB Atwell, who has rented the entire Bed and Breakfast for the whole winter so he can have peace and quiet to finish his next best seller. Heather has been walking on egg shells for over a month now and the quiet is driving her nuts. Heather is a social person who loves getting to know her guests, which is one reason her B&B is such a success, and it is Christmas Eve.

It turns out Daniel is dealing with more than his next novel and he is hiding from the paparazzi. I love the way Ms. Fasano is able to unfold her characters through realistic dialogue, it gives the reader a genuine sense of who they are. Daniel’s story is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching as he tries to navigate international politics while trying keep his sanity. When Heather begins to learn his story a compassion is awakened in her that she thought she had safely buried and she is forced to confront her past decision in a way she never imagined. I was able to feel her emotional turmoil as if it was my own.

The plot moves at a steady pace, but never too slowly, because there is a lot going on. We also get to revisit and learn more about people and events from her earlier works in this series. While it is not necessary to have read the first book of this series, Following His Heart or the related novella, An Almost Perfect Christmas to enjoy these parts of this story, I have to say that you are missing out on a couple of gems if you haven’t read them. Now I am anxious to learn more about Cathy!

I found Two Hearts in Winter a unique, captivating, emotional tale that will keep you thoroughly enthralled until the very end. Don’t miss this one, it will make your heart smile.

Buy now from:        Kindle US      Kindle UK      Paperback

FYI:

Two Hearts in Winter is Book 2 in the Ocean City Boardwalk series. This book can be read as a standalone story, as is true with other series books by Ms. Fasano.

Format/Typo Issues:

I found exceptional editing.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Print Length: 288 pages