THE POWER OF LOVE ~ anthology

Twelve talented authors come together in one anthology to show just how strong THE POWER OF LOVE can be…. 

Lori Foster kickstarts this anthology with Sweet Dreams.  Cara Compton awakens from a sexy dream of her neighbor, Jamison Lawton.  But is the dream about to become reality?   

Lori Foster does a beautiful job at creating characters who evoke deep emotional responses.  Cara has endured a lot in her life and her triumph over tragedy is both admirable and uplifting.  And who can resist a story in which best friends recognize the love that is right in front of their very faces? 

In Erin McCarthy’s Unpredictable, Hannah Godwin is tired of not fitting in.  Her spotty psychic premonitions lead her straight into the path of police officer Luke Warner.  Can Hannah finally find happiness?   

Erin McCarthy’s clever story has both humor and heat to spice up the pages.  Ralph, the police dog, is a great addition to the story as he adds just the right amount of warmth to Luke’s character.  Domestic violence isn’t only dangerous to those involved but also to the police officers responding to the calls; Erin McCarthy inserts this much needed reminder into the storyline in a very true to life scenario. 

After Hours by Toni Blake features an office romance.  Administrative Assistant Marla Shepherd has desired her boss, Michael Gates, but their roles have kept them apart.  Is it time for Marla to move on? 

Toni Blake writes a fabulous tale about pursuing your dreams!  Marla is torn between her love for Michael and her lifelong dream job.  Ms. Blake perfectly captures both the dilemma and the healthy resolution of these two seemingly irresolvable goals. 

In Dianne Castell’s Last of the Red Hot Mammas, Gloria has devoted her life to her career since her divorce.  Will the new high school principal, Rab Langley, help convince her that she can find happiness in a relationship? 

Dianne Castell’s story touches on some deep issues affecting women.  I won’t give any spoilers away, but suffice to say that she adds a twist that makes Last of the Red Hot Mammas a true winner.  Gloria’s breezy attitude hides a multitude of past hurts and her happily-ever-after is romance at its finest. 

Salesman of the Year by Karen Kelley begins with Jennifer and her fiancé, Adam, house hunting.  There is trouble in paradise between these two, however.  Will a blast from Jennifer’s past help Jennifer see her own worth? 

Wow, Salesman of the Year really struck an emotional chord with me!  Adam’s domineering and demeaning attitude towards Jennifer had me shaking in anger. The insidious emotional abuse by Adam permeates the pages and it was ever so satisfying to see Jennifer recognize and move beyond her acceptance of that behavior.  Kudos to Karen Kelley for such an emotional tale! 

Rosemary Laurey’s Dance the Fandango features Magda Stephenson a year and nine days after the death of her husband.  With all of her adult children around her, Magda prepares to show them she has moved on with her life.  Can her family accept Magda’s revelations? 

What a beautiful tale of second chances!  Rosemary Laurey creates such a strong character with Magda.  Her family is important to her but she is also still a healthy woman, able to love again.  The atmosphere of this tale is so well done as there are no real surprises and yet the reader is captivated.   

The Girl Next Door by Janice Maynard is a story about finding one’s place in the world.  Jason Ratcliff had put his personal dreams on hold to raise his two sisters.  Now, he has a chance to pursue those dreams… but what about the love he feels for Felicity Jones, The Girl Next Door? 

Janice Maynard writes a bittersweet tale with The Girl Next Door.  Jason’s willingness to put aside his dreams to raise his sisters makes him truly heroic.  Both Felicity and Jason are likable characters.  Seeing these two friends recognize the love between them makes for a very satisfying read. 

LuAnn McLane’s Chicken Soup for Annie is the heartwarming story of Annie Alexander and Josh Wainscot. Annie reluctantly enters the thrift shop run by Josh only to find herself returning to volunteer.  Will love get a chance to heal Annie’s heart? Oh, LuAnn McLane’s story is aptly named! 

Chicken Soup for Annie is one of the most heartbreakingly poignant stories I can ever remember reading.  Who can’t help but shed a tear as the story unfolds?  Josh is the ideal hero for Annie and I can’t rave enough about just how touching Chicken Soup for Annie is! 

In Lucy Monroe’s No Angel, Cheryl Gentry gets her second chance at love.  She excels at keeping her boss, CEO Zack Alexander, on task.  Can she also find love in his arms? 

Lucy Monroe perfectly captures the difference between an abusive and an alpha male in No Angel.  Yes, Zack is pure alpha male, but the contrast between Zack and Cheryl’s ex-husband points out those vital differences.  I love how Lucy Monroe takes a woman once battered and shows how her inner strength can blossom. 

Patricia Sargeant’s Angel in the Alley starts off with Sara Barber finding a homeless man’s temporary shelter in front of her new store, just before the grand opening.  Raphael tells her he has nowhere else to go… so she offers him a job.  Little does she realize just how far reaching the consequences will be. 

Patricia Sargeant offers up an intense read in Angel in the Alley!  Sara has some dark demons in her past and facing them may be the hardest test of her life.  Her inner kindness shines through from the very first moment, as she can’t turn even a homeless stranger away.  Ms. Sargeant’s story is sure to touch even the hardest of hearts with Angel in the Alley! 

Hannah’s Choice by Kay Stockham starts off with Hannah Pruitt’s jump into the canal.  Mitch Donovan can’t believe she dived in but then he sees the bag she had to rescue from the waters and it all makes sense.  Can Hannah and Mitch rekindle the flame between them?  Or is Hannah too scarred by her past? 

Hannah’s Choice is a heartbreaking story of the damage that abuse can do.  I couldn’t help but admire Hannah for her courage and her inner strength.  The men she’s known have tried to destroy her but she has survived.  As her story unfolds, be prepared with a box of Kleenex as Kay Stockham has written a tearjerker! 

J.C. Wilder concludes the anthology with The Mouse Who Roared.  Amy Mouse has dreams of her ideal career but in the meantime works hard to keep her boss, Eve Maxwell, happy.  Amy overhears Eve’s true opinion of her.  Is it time for her to act on both her career dreams and the crush she has on Jack O’Reilly? 

Oh, what a perfect story to end with!  Abuse comes in many forms, with an abusive boss being one of the trickiest ones to escape.  I cheered for Amy every step of the way.  And the best part?  It doesn’t take a transformation for Amy to get Jack’s attention!  J.C. Wilder concludes THE POWER OF LOVE with a story that is uplifting as Amy pursues her dreams. 

THE POWER OF LOVE is a strong anthology as all of the stories are both powerful and well written.  I will admit to having a soft spot for books that are written to benefit charities but THE POWER OF LOVE exceeds all expectations.  Each one of the authors contributes a story exemplifying the feminine experience.  The added touch of including the multitude of social issues addressing women today in the various stories is nothing short of genius.  Kudos to all these phenomenal authors, both for their talent and for their willingness to donate to a worthy cause.  THE POWER OF LOVE is highly recommended!

The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge