I am so glad that I'm not a writer b/c I think we non-writers really don't get how hard it is. This was Donna's first published book. I hate to do this review -- it's kind of a backhanded compliment. This book was okay. (cringing here -- sorry Donna!) What it really did for me, though, was to point out how quickly Donna developed as a writer. I've read all her books up to 2008 (haven't read her 2008 releases yet) and I can say that she is an author I highly recommend. I would say that in one or two books, she really learned how to give us the emotion that we look for in the HR line (which she now writes for). So, buy the book to support someone who's been part of the community for a long time (remember when she was Canadian Cook?) and to study her development . . .NFM
Join the 2008 Book (Reading) Challenge!!! It’s for a good cause and it’s FUN!
Come find my teammates and me at The DFWPlus Blog!
LOL Penn
Don't worry Penn....I get it. And maybe I shouldn't admit it, but I agree. It was the point where I was *this* close to selling to HR but not quite. I have said to aspiring writers that once I zeroed in on HR as where I fit, things moved quickly. I really started to "get it" and thank you for saying I developed lol!
To put it in perspective time-wise, this book was bought in March of 06, the next in April, and my first HR in July.
Most of all, I really appreciate everyone who supports me personally and goes in search of my backlist. :-) E-harl is such a great community.
Donna
FALLING FOR MR DARK AND DANGEROUS, Romance, August 08, Aus/NZ Sept. 08
THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS, Romance, January 09
HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE, Romance, June 09
http://www.donnaalward.com
http://www.donnaalward.blogspot.com
I knew you would see this and I really did cringe.
Something clicked in between this book and Hired By the Cowboy (what a great read THAT one was!). It really was big leap from Girl Most Likely to HBTC. From okay/enjoyable to pulling on my heartstrings all the way through. (I still mist up when I think of Connor's gran asking Alex, "When was the last time you were loved?" Is it on page 71? Did it hit me so hard that a year later I remember the page right?)
Hope you're settling in. I so don't envy you the work of the move, but I would love it if dh's job took us closer to family like yours did. We spend all our vacation time and money going to see one side or the other (we're from different parts of the country), and I'd really like a "real" vaccy. But we wouldn't NOT see our family so . . . I imagine that you can relate.
Penn
Join the 2008 Book (Reading) Challenge!!! It’s for a good cause and it’s FUN!
Come find my teammates and me at The DFWPlus Blog!
Aw, thank you for saying
Aw, thank you for saying that about Alex and Gram. I really do enjoy some of those secondary relationships. And you were completely right and I didn't take offense at all.
You were honest and fair and kind, like all your reviews.
And yes, I know exactly what you mean about vacations always being to see family. We combined them a few years ago and went to Disneyworld with dh's sister and her family, and it was a great trip. Of course with the move this year we don't have any travel plans for a while...though next year I'm hoping to do Nationals.
Donna
FALLING FOR MR DARK AND DANGEROUS, Romance, August 08, Aus/NZ Sept. 08
THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS, Romance, January 09
HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE, Romance, June 09
http://www.donnaalward.com
http://www.donnaalward.blogspot.com