Donna FasanoAnmeldelser

Short and sweet. This is the story of Jenna Butler whose sister has died leaving behind a 5 month old daughter who is half Lenape indian. The council of elders won't let her raise the girl because she is white so she convinces Gage Dalton a Lenape who owes her a life debt to marry her. Gage lost his own wife and child a year ago in an accident and is still grieving. During their marriage Jenna teaches him to love again. This was well written. The story was short so there wasn't time for a lot of indepth character building. Some elements of Native American culture were explored.

I absolutely loved this Christmas Romance. I voluntarily chose to review this story and I've given it a 5* rating. This sure had the feels and the hanky moments in it along with a lot of planning by a little girl. Well, while most time things seemed innocent, later things were found out. Not sure this should be read by the under 18 readers, but this addresses grief in a big way. Maybe we should think about our friends this Christmas.

Taking Love In Stride by Donna Fasano
Story about Andrea and she teaches PE at high school level. One of the girls, Denise is not really interested in sports, running or anything physical.
She loves to paint but she's afraid to tell her dad. Problem is he shows up at the school demanding his daughter run in the marathon because of his father...
By the time the principal has talked she is being told she must teach the dad how to run in order to get money for school equipment.
She sees him as being too busy for not only his daughter-which he knows nothing about but he's always flying somewhere for work and has no time to train.
He is putting his best foot forward to train and she puts him through lots of struggles. He has sore muscles after the work out but he's determined to keep going...
There is some conflicts along the way with other things that come to light... Like hearing how this book comes out in the end, quite a feat!
Would like to read more from this author-good attention to details and descriptions. Few characters so it's easy to keep track of them.
Note from the author is included at the end and list of other works by the author are highlighted at the end.
Free from Amazon and this is my honest opinion.

Return of the Runaway Bride by Donna Fasano
Story starts with Savanna and she can't go through with the wedding. Her whole life has been planned out for her and she rebels...
Story also follows Daniel who was left at the altar. Six years later she comes back to town and is hoping to redo the house and sell it.
She purchased it from her parents when they moved to the city. There is so much she has no idea about in her absence.
Others also have not heard about her and what she's done over the years. She felt like she had to prove herself.
Love the idea of her career and how it can help the hospital raise money. Daniel is now the laywer in town and heads up many committees.
They are forced to work together on the fund raiser with others and spend a lot of time together where they open up to one another about the past.
Like how the whole community is there for everybody else, similar to the town we live in.
Good story but a bit predictable. About the author is included at the end.
Free from the author and this is my honest opinion.

I enjoy Donna Fasano's writing. Her books draw you in with raw human emotion. The story can have you laughing one minute and crying the
next. That human element that allows you to feel for her characters is what makes for a good story. Following His Heart is a good story but it felt like it was missing something for me.

I received an ARC of Hearts and Kisses for an honest review. This is a box set of books about love written by a compilation of authors. Like most box sets of books --there are some stories that you love and others you do not. Some of the books this set contained I already owned and others I discovered through the set I was gifted. All of the stories in this set are entertaining and worth a look.

A sweet twist on the Grinch scenario. Gordon bottles up his anger and resentment along with loneliness and pain to the point where his bitterness overshadows everything that has importance in his life. Holly is the optimist that turns his life upside down and pulls him kicking and screaming into the magical season of hope, charity and faith. Maybe even love. I am not normally a fan of stories with Grinch or Scrooge like characters but there was something so compelling about Gordon that I couldn't look away. Deck the Hearts exposes what an open heart and open mind can do for the soul and the difference one action can make in the lives of others.

Love, Christmas - Movies You Love (The Holiday Series #2) Anthology  
Review: Love, Christmas - Movies You Love (The Holiday Series #2) by Mimi Barbour, Leanne Banks, Joan Reeves, Mona Risk, Rebecca York, Jacquie Biggar, Alicia Street, Nancy Radke, Katy Walters, Stephanie Queen, Aileen Fish, Rachelle Ayala, Dani Haviland, Traci Hall, Taylor Lee, Donna Fasano, Cynthia Cooke, Susan Jean Ricci, Tamara Ferguson, Suzanne Jenkins, Natalie Ann, Ev Bishop, Alyssa Bailey, Stacy Eaton, Jen Talty
 
 
Love, Christmas - Movies You Love is an emotional high. This group of authors blend multiple feelings into one overpowering voice. There is a dreamer in us all and Ayala, Barbour, Banks and Risk help it break free. York gives that sense of danger. While Biggar, Fasano and Hall give us reason to hope. With tons of heart, bundles of laughs and charismatic characters this boxset is an irresistible find.

Derrick Richmond has uprooted his life, resigned his naval commission, and started his own accounting business so that he can provide a stable home life for his godson, Timmy. He's raising his godson now because, ten months ago, Timmy's father, his cousin James, also a Navy officer, died in a training accident.

Timmy has never really had a stable home life, and Derrick has never before James's death been responsible for a child. He knows he has a lot to learn, and a lot to work through with Timmy.

But when Anna Maxwell, Timmy's kindergarten teacher, says Timmy is having behavior problems and needs "extra help," Derrick has visions of the labeling of the "special ed" kids when he was in school, and is determined not to listen to her on the subject.

But he very much does want to do right by Timmy, and knows he needs help.

Meanwhile, Anna Maxwell loves kids, but has her own little secret on the subject, one which she thinks is an insurmountable obstacle to true love.

It's a nice story, about novella length I think, and Anna and Derrick are both likable. This is a nice little read, or listen. Recommended.

I received this audiobook as a gift from the author.

I really enjoyed this short read by Donna Fasano. It was my first novel by her, but it definitely will not be my last. I found the novel to be sweet, interesting and the characters well developed.

There is a great collection of stories out called, Love, Christmas-Holiday stories that will put a song in your heart. I read , We Need A Little Christmas by the talented Leanne Banks. It was sweet, well written and I loved the characters very much.

Lilly is a wonderful , caring person. She spends her time helping the homeless and checking on her neighbors that aren't able to always get out . I loved how the author shared about the homeless and made readers aware that this is an ongoing problem. It was very emotional to read how Lilly would take the coat off her back and give to someone living on the streets . Have you ever helped someone in need? Lilly wants to provide coats to the homeless this Christmas and hopes to get lots of donations.

Justin is the CEO of a prosperous retail company. He does do charity work, but tries to avoid cameras or publicity. It reminded me of the verse in the Bible about doing things to help others without trying to get recognition for it. I loved his giving heart and humble attitude. He is always being asked to give to so many charities and of course they want to meet him. What happens when Lilly asks Justin's company for donations?

I loved how the two meet and makes the story so interesting. There is a theme of trust, forgiveness and giving that makes the story an uplifting read.Be sure and pick up your copy of this beautiful story and find out what happens between Lilly and Justin.

I received a digital copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.

This is the first book by Donna that I have read & it won't be the last. I loved this book! It pulled me in from the first & keep me enthralled to the end.

Heather is the owner of a B & B. She has pulled away from the dating scene & stays remote. She nursed her mother through breast cancer for 3 1/2 years until she lost the battle. Then she was tested & discovered she had the gene & opted for surgery. After the way her fiancee reacted, she let it color her own perception of herself.

Daniel is a writer that rented the entire B & B for the winter so he could have peace & quiet. Daniel has his own secrets & they are starting to weigh heavily on him. After he realizes his request is causing a hardship on his landlady, he reaches out to her.

Will their chemistry prevail? Will their secrets pull them apart? Can Daniel heal Heather? I love the detail that Donna incorporates into her book. There were secrets to reveal & twists & turns enough to keep you involved in the book. The plotline doesn't get bogged down & keeps moving. I loved this & am going to go buy Book 1 of the series while I wait for the third!!

Hearts and Kisses: 12 Contemporary Valentine Novels and Novellas Boxed Set
by Sophia Knightly

I don't usually read boxed sets, but I was asked to read/review in exchange for an honest review. The books looked interesting so I decided to give it a try. I do recommend Hearts and Kisses: 12 Contemporary Valentine Novels and Novellas Boxed Set to those who love romance stories. I feel romance lovers will enjoy these stories.

Heart Tamer (Heartthrob Series Novella) by Sophia Knightly (5 stars)
Fashion designer Kate must convince her estranged ex-husband (Alec) to agree to an unusual request. Original, fresh a nice read.

The Sometime Bride by Ginny Baird (4 stars)
A jilted bride and a ditched bachelor make a "fake fiancé" deal. A fun read. I liked the plot and the characters. Quite enjoyable.

The Surrogate's Secret by Mimi Barbour (4 stars)
Bachelor, Miguel, forces his dead brother's, surrogate to marry him so he can take her and her twins to Chile. Interesting and original, a good read.

Breaking the Rules by Mel Curtis (3 stars)
The Gordon's marriage has been in trouble for some time. Jack has the solution. Lock them inside a safe room. Original, but a bit too much sex for me. The plot was good, it kept me reading to see how it all turns out.

Take Me, I'm Yours by Donna Fasano (4 stars)
Single dad Derek learned the hard way to never trust a beautiful woman. He is indebted to Lainey for stopping a kidnapping attempt on his daughter. Will the two become a couple? Original, =compelling, a good read.

Valentine Babies by Mona Risk (3 stars)
Dr. Greg Gets involved with reporter, Roxanne. Their relationship becomes more complex than he expected. Another original story, interesting enough to keep me reading.

The Army Doctor's Valentine's Baby by Helen Scott Taylor (5 Stars)
An abandoned baby brings two lonely army doctors together. Very unique story line. Heart-felt. I enjoyed this read.

The Rock Star's Wedding by Ari Thatcher (3 stars)
Kenzie vacations in St. Thomas, she reunites with her high school sweetheart and rock star Chaz. It gets complicated for Kenzie. The plot is different, I wanted to see how it all unfolds.

Love Struck by Patrice Wilton (4 stars)
Serendipity Falls is no longer safe, with the discovery of gold. Samantha and Kyle try to end this craziness. Will the let love bring them together? Another new, fresh story. I liked Samantha and Kyle. A nice read.

Ambrosia by the Sea by Traci Hall
After a bitter betrayal by her late husband, self-taught chef Celia Langdon moves to the sea, where dive shop owner Dax Smith dares her to heal from the heart. Review to follow: I have this book in my TBR list and will be reading it next.

Reading Between the Lines by Anna J Stewart (5 stars)
When Ethan Sutherland was in high school, he'd do anything to hide his secret. He is back in town and hopes Cassidy will forgive him for betraying him many years ago. Original story line. I like how the story unfolds. An enjoyable read.

After 15 years of single motherhood, Tyne Whitlock finds herself desperately needing help with her son. She turns to the one man she never thought she'd see again, Lucas Silver Hawk, her son's father.
This is a beautifully written story that takes us on the journey with Tyne, Lucas, and Zach as they find their way to be a family, face their past, and plan for the future.

I haven't had a chance to read all ten of these books but I have read several of them and I loved them all. Fun uplifting stories they have kept me entertained for hours. Ten incredible authors found in one place, you can't go wrong. Highly recommended!!

I LOVE this collection! I've read 8 of the 14 stories and have nothing but good things to say. If sweet holiday reads are what you enjoy then this is definitely the collection for you! Each story will tug at your heart and get you in the holiday spirit!

Wonderfully heartwarming story that you must not miss. After losing her husband at such an early age Sara Carson lives her life keeping busy. She owns her own business, has wonderful friends, and helps her mother when she needs her. She's content. Maybe not happy but content. Small town Kansas farmer Landon Richards comes to town being drawn to the ocean for reasons he can't explain but once he lands in Ocean City he feels "at home". They are immediately drawn to each other but as their relationship develops strange dreams plague Landon and unveil truths that could tear them apart.

I highly recommend this book, it is one that will stay with you.

The Merry-Go-Round by Donna Fasano
This story had a complexity that had the reader turning the page wondering what was next. At first, it appeared to be the typical divorced woman plot but the interaction with the other characters brought unique twists. While I honestly did not like that the husband was a weak character. It does take all types in the world and not every book needs to show positive traits in the main character. It just doesn't happen often and does add to the uniqueness of the book. From my perspective, this book shows the type of man to avoid. Stay far away from this man. I strongly recommend this book as an exercise in demonstrating co-dependent relationships.

This Anthology starts strong with a series of well written novels concentrating on romance. It was edited well by interspersing the weaker novels in the middle. A fantastic choice was made to end strong with the novel that used the Cancer Relay for Life as the centerpiece for a new romantic beginning for a character widowed by cancer. One of the best selected and edited anthologies that I have read in a number of years!!!

Cora Rules by Mel Curtis

This third book in the Hollywood Rules Series and focus on the Cora Rules character. This book provides the story of Jack and Vivian from another perspective that is not told in previous books. While the other books provide the ending, this book gives the details in the context of learning about Cora. It is a fast paced, high charged, emotional book. All the emotions are well written into the context of a journey into the past that turns into a discovery of what is needed for developing a wholeness for a healthy productive relationship and life. The trueness of the characters shine in this insightful book. I would highly recommend it.

Surrender to Love by Raine English

A suspenseful mystery with the right amount of intrigue, rivalry, and love interest. It starts out slow and builds fast with the characters developing relationships both good and bad quickly. A heartwarming story that shows how the challenges of aging can be solved with the care and concern of family. Not the usual coming of age relationship story. Loved the premise.

The Merry-Go-Round by Donna Fasano

This story had a complexity that had the reader turning the page wondering what was next. At first, it appeared to be the typical divorced woman plot but the interaction with the other characters brought unique twists. While I honestly did not like that the husband was a weak character. It does take all types in the world and not every book needs to show a positive traits in the main character. It just doesn't happen often and does add to the uniqueness of the book. From my perspective, this book shows the type of man to avoid. Stay far away from this man. I strongly recommend this book as an exercise in demonstrating a co-dependent relationships.

Twist of Fate by Patti Forsythe

This story was a great coming of age story. It explored the what if factor and showed how mistakes in teenage years can build character while really turning out for the best. A second chance at love for the major characters also provided insight into cultural differences. Life balance brings us challenges and this book offers the reader an excellent, well-written, romantic escape into the lives of the characters. Great book!!

Her French Count by Mona Risk
At the beginning, a strong start brings the reader into the story by narrowing the focus to trying to discover who is not just a doctoral student. It seems like everyone in the story has an agenda. Remarkably well played with the characters providing twists and turns in the plot. The author has a main character who grabs the reader's attention and sympathy from the beginning without an overdrawn finish despite a wrap up that is typical romance. Highly suspenseful and entertaining.

Love Me Forever by Ari Thatcher

This book provides a glimpse into a second chance at love. The author hits the usual high notes by plotting a reconnection with a former flame but then adds depth with the search for independence by the main character. It is a good storyline that embraces the ability of women to reconnect with themselves after divorce.

Playing the Rookie by Rachelle Ayala

A lighthearted, spoofy romance brings attention to the existence of cultural differences that still exist. This author shows how arranged marriages can be harmful if not taken seriously by both individuals. The main characters fall in love but run into challenges due to lack of truthfulness. An intriguing look into the Korean culture of marriage and society that had me visualizing the antics of the characters. Loved the story!!

Duke of Devonwood by Carly Carson

This story, while an excellent romance between two characters, had such confusion between time periods. It could not decide whether to be a regency or contemporary romance. There were elements from the Regency period when hand sewing was the norm and servants did certain things. There were plot elements that were not fully developed such as the bet at the beginning of the story. In all, while the premise was good, the book needed further refining and editing.

True North by Kelly Collins
An engaging novel that looks at family dynamics. This love-at-first-sight storyline takes us through the challenges of developing a relationship despite baggage. Truly, a well-balanced and insightful second chance. Loved it!!

Fashion Victim by Suz deMello

Loved this fast paced mystery that layered intrigue and romance to a suspenseful conclusion. The reader was kept engaged through the twists and turns of the romantic journey that brought the main characters together. I highly recommend this well written glimpse into the fashion world.

Season Unforgettable by Keta Diablo

This novel is a myriad of expectations and understandings. It allows the reader to think about how our upbringings shape a person but, also, how a person can overcome an upbringing to become better than the parent. I liked seeing the developing storyline and the challenges of life with unethical individuals. Loved the story and highly recommend it!!

Most Likely to Turn up the Heat by Cheryl Harper

A look at life and why it is hard for some people to form relationships. Lively, vivacious characters connect the reader to the dialog in the novel making it more real. I really appreciated the topic of how disconnect from a sense of community limits the ability to trust in relationship. Loved the happiness in the ending.

My Favorite What If by Lyssa Layne

It is a book that has a second chance at love from many perspectives. The plot is multi-layered and each twist just adds to the heightened suspense. Finding out at almost the end of the book to what happened to the one of the main characters is a gripping aha moment. A masterful story that I would highly recommend.

Relay for Love by Susan Ann Wall

This book speaks to and from the heart. The author shows how the grieving process influences aspects of developing new relationships. A theme in the book is that the presence of loved ones plays an active role in new relationships. As someone with a cancer diagnosis whose numbers are good, this story was an inspiration. The relay for life solidarity cheered me and encouraged me since there is no cure for my cancer. Additionally, my husband died last year of a rare cancer that was metastatic when it was discovered. It is hoped that this well written novel of happiness, growth, and strength in togetherness will continue to raise awareness. I highly recommend this book!!

There’s something to be said when you open a book and just get lost in the words, and once again Donna Fasano has captivated me with her story and characters. There is just something about her writing that feels comfortable and familiar, and she never fails to make me smile, bring a tear to my eye, and reaffirm my belief in the happy ever after.

I just loved the friendship between Sara, Heather, and Cathy – their banter had me laughing and you could really tell these three ladies cared deeply for one another. It was clear from their actions and from some of the stories told that they always had each other’s backs and would continue to be each other’s strength in times of need.

Landon was such an interesting character. As his story unfolds and we learn more about his past, it was hard not to fall for him even more. And Landon and Sara together has some major chemistry going on – and it extended far past the physical. I loved being able to feel the fun and friendship between the two, and then see those feeling begin to grow. Sara was a bit frustrating at times for me, and even though I could certainly understand her reaction to some things, I totally agreed with her mother - "Sara, you're going to have to get over yourself sooner or later."

Which brings me to one one of my favorite character from the book - Sara’s mother Geneva. She certainly had been dealt a bad hand, but boy did I love her outlook on life. I loved the relationship between Sara and Geneva, it was so honest and caring, and even though they may have been through some bad times together, you could tell that their mother/daughter relationship was rock solid. She was always full of spot-on advice - and I loved how she always knew when to interject a bit of humor to break the tension…

“Oh, you can do all manner of preaching to yourself,” Geneva said. “You can make all sorts of promises. But your heart isn't like a puppy. It can’t be trained. You can’t teach it to sit, roll over, stay. If your heart wants to wee on the carpet, honey, that’s just what it’s going to do.”

This was another great read from Donna Fasano – one that should find its way to everyone’s TBR!

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

Having only read the first two stories in this collection I know I will have much fun reading to come between now and Christmas. If the first two are anything to go by these stories are steamy and loving and full of fun!

The first story in this bundle was written by Ruth Cardello and is about a college graduate from a wealthy loving family who has just heard a “secret” and is not happy so flies off in her private jet to France. This story of Madison and Richard, the wealthy princess and the talented chef, is one that is sweet and loving and filled with the message that family and love of family is very important. As with all love stories there is a glitch to deal with but it is also a happily ever after story perfect for the holidays.

The second book is by Nina Bruns and is the story of Nick and Emily. He is a vice cop trying to catch a human trafficker before joining the K-9 squad and she is looking for a new job in the city that will provide more excitement than she had in small town New Hampshire. There is chemistry and fun with an almost love at first sight beginning. There is also danger and action before the happy ending. Another great story for the holidays.

I can hardly wait to read the rest of the books in this bundle…eight more to go and eager to read each and every one of them! And…how can you beat the price at 99cents for all ten?

The book is labeled a romantic comedy and the humor was not really about the romance so I was disappointed there. The ending was fairly predictable, and like others, I was disappointed that the whole thing could have been resolved if only they had talked. That said, I read it all the way through and I had some sympathy for the main character as she worked out her problems.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Merry-Go-Round by Donna Fasano was originally published in 2009. This is a Hard Knocks Publication, now available in digital format. After a long separation, Lauren finally gets her ex, Greg, to sign the divorce papers. In the divorce settlement, Lauren is deeded a piece of property she was not aware Greg even had. The other big changes in Lauren's life is that her father is moving in with her. The two of them argue a lot. Her father is always suffering from some phantom ailment and Lauren is always blowing it off. To her complete shock, she finds out that her father has a love interest. The elation and relief Lauren expected to feel after she finally got the divorce finalized, never came. The adjustment to having her peace and quiet disrupted by her father moving in with her and a new client whose father is interested in getting to know Lauren on a more personal level, has Lauren feeling confused. When she finally makes it out to inspect her new property, she finds it's little more than a barn. But, inside it, is a old merry-go-round. Intrigued, Lauren does a little internet research and finds that if a little work was done on it, she could sell it and recover some of the losses Greg caused with his failed business. Maybe she could afford to set her father up in an apartment of his own. But, Lauren is shocked to the core when she finds out that Greg has been living in the barn. Her father is allowing Greg to use her shower when she is not at home. Greg is also up to his old tricks by working for free. A war widow is having some work done on her house and Greg is helping her out for free. Lauren is jealous and angry that Greg still hasn't learned his lesson. Lauren is also going through some hormonal issues causing her think about sex all the time. This makes her vulnerable to how nice Greg looks, and also to her new love interest. Lauren begins to find out that life without Greg is not all it's cracked up to be. She begins to see past his flaws and look back on their marriage with a different perspective. But, Greg is getting close to the widow he's been helping out. Is it really over for good between Lauren and Greg? Each chapter began with a quote. Some of these I had heard before, but it had been awhile and I had to chuckle, but some of the quotes I hadn't heard and I laughed out loud at them. The story was a really good contemporary romance. It's not uncommon for married folks to argue over money. When Greg inherited his father's hardware store, he did everything he could to keep it afloat. It didn't work out. By that time he had used up Lauren's retirement and savings with nothing to show for it. It's easy to become angry and bitter about things like that. Lauren was so mad at Greg she was blinded by everything else. Some of Lauren's attitudes stem from her upbringing. It's understandable that she feels like failure was not an option. She was so accustomed to being in charge and in control of things. Her father is also beginning to see his failures had a bearing on the unhappy life Lauren is now living. He is also having trouble moving on with his own life, being way too involved in Lauren's. A great lesson is the trials of marriage and family and what is really important in life. Money issues come and go and the economy slaps us down, and it is more than a little stressful. But, it's more important to stick together no matter what. Hopefully, it won't be too late for Lauren and Greg. Overall this one gets an A

AudioBook Review:
This was a sweet, engaging and at times, laugh out loud funny tale told through Lauren’s point of view, with the occasional interjection of sense and nonsense from the other characters. A plausible romance, with a love relationship not torn asunder by fear of vampires or pack responsibilities: no, these were real people, with honest issues that many will find applicable to their own lives. There’s nothing wrong at all with escape romance, but the profusion of supernatural and paranormal romance novels often lead readers (and authors) to forget that real people are sometimes as, if not more fascinating than their paranormally infused counterparts.

Written with attention to pacing and characters, the story unfolds to present a series of surprises for Lauren. When the judge awards her a barn that her ex-husband had not mentioned in the assets statement for the divorce proceedings, Lauren finds an old merry go round, still glorious despite the grime and neglect. The carousel is a perfect metaphor for the story, neglected beauty and joy, travelling only in circles and tarnished brass detracting from its glory. Lauren spends much of the book doing just that, relying on her anger, hurt feelings and incorrect assumptions to keep her travelling in one single circle, never looking up or out. As the layers of grime are removed, and the renovation of the merry go round begins, Lauren begins to lose her crust of anger and hurt, and starts to look at her own behaviour as potential cause of her unhappiness.

The narration by Margie Lenhart was a perfect accompaniment to the story: modulating her tone and pacing slightly to indicate the different characters, without overreaching and making it feel forced or overworked, her words brought characters well defined by the author into brilliant bas relief, and the book was a joy to listen to.

For me, there is no requirement that every romance have a happily ever after, but this one does, in a sweetly described scene that left a smile on my face. While the book contains adult themes, and even references to sex, there was no swearing or overt sexual descriptions, this was a sweet read with allusion and reader imagination working to fill in the blanks.

You won’t go wrong with this story for a quiet afternoon listen or read, and you may just find it was your best decision all week.

I received an AudioBook version of the book from the author in exchange for honest review as part of The Heard Word promotion at I am, Indeed. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions were my own responsibility.

An AudioBook Review
Have you ever wondered why most romance stories are not laden with children, families and other assorted issues that real people face each day? Because we read to escape, we read to find potential in dreams penned of dashing heroes and damsels in distress, that hope for the happy ending. It’s a difficult balance, because we all have those groundhog days in our relationships, when family is the overwhelming attention grabber, and the time for romance gets pushed to the side.

Donna Fasano has managed that delicate balance in An Accidental Family and creates a story that both entertains and realistically portrays many of the situations faced in today’s relationships. Although Jonas and Robin are tossed into turmoil with the loss of family members and the responsibility of parenting their just one year old nephew, they also must learn to work together and deal with their own personal conflict while doing the best for young Tony.

While they are struggling with their own and the baby’s grief, the sleepless nights and the inevitable battles that all parents know, Fasano has also managed to give Robin and Jonas incredibly strong and well defined interior voices, some interesting and often humorous conflicts and dialogue that is real in tone and content. Both characters grow throughout the story, both personally and in their estimation and feelings for one another.

Beautifully narrated by Laura Jennings, you can hear her smile in the words that she is reading, especially in the parts that would strike a reader as humorous. A good combination of story and narration made for a perfect listen on a rainy and cold afternoon.

I received an AudioBook version from the author for purpose of honest review and feature on the Heard Word at I am, Indeed. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.