Page Turners

January

Hart's Victory
by Michele Dunaway
Reviewed by Carol Monk

Michele Dunaway has done it again with another great book.  This is her fifteenth for Harlequin, and her first in the NASCAR series.   Hart's Victory has it all – wonderful, believable characters and an intelligent, emotional story. 

When single mom Kellie Thompson and her teenage son, Charlie, attend a camp for terminally ill kids, they meet NASCAR driver Hart Hampton, Charlie's idol.  Because of his illness, Charlie believes he won't be around forever and thinks Hart would be perfect for his mom.  The two of them have had a longstanding joke that the reason she isn't dating is because she's holding out for Hart, the heart throb of the NASCAR circuit.  Charlie seizes the opportunity and does his best to see that the two of them get together.

Hart has been in a losing slump and is coming off a wreck on the track.  Although he wasn't seriously injured, he's been told to stay away for the weekend and do a bit of charity work at the children's camp.  To improve his playboy image and repair public relations at the same time, Hart reluctantly agrees.

When he meets Charlie and Kellie he instantly falls for both of them.   In spite of her attraction to Hart, Kellie rebuffs his attentions.  She is one hundred percent focused on getting Charlie healthy.    However, Hart doesn't take no for an answer.  He easily wins Charlie over, then he works full time to gain Kellie's affections.  His life may have revolved around auto racing, but now he sees what he's been missing – a loving family to share it with.

This book works on three levels – the romance, the NASCAR aspect, and  the one I found most endearing, Charlie's fight for his life battling leukemia.  This is a heart-wrenching, emotional roller coaster of a read.  You will fall in love with Hart, just as Charlie and Kellie do.  It doesn't matter if you are a race fan, this is one character-driven tale of love and devotion that will keep you reading long into the night.  Keep the tissue box close. 

A PERFECT GIFT is five individual stocking stuffers wrapped in one book.  Christmas is a time for loved ones to come together and celebrate, but what happens if death, betrayal, or danger lurks in the darkness?

Annmarie McKenna’s “Look What Santa Brought” brings us the story of an all grown up Scott Wyatt from “Blackmailed.”  Scott has not let blindness stop him from living or running a successful Coffee House.  He has let it keep him from Tara Patrick; his sister’s best friend and his secret desire.  Tara finds herself falling for Scott while trying to get rid of her stalker ex-boyfriend.  How far will Scott have to go to protect Tara?

In Kate Davies “Home for Christmas” Sophia is spending her second Christmas as a widow.  Sophia doesn’t want to continue to lean on Ethan, her late husband’s business partner.  However, Ethan has other ideas.   He no longer sees Sophia as his late partner’s widow, but as a woman.  Kate Davies weaves a romantic tale of a woman in her forties who has raised a daughter and buried a husband and now must decide what to do with the rest of her life.  This story gives us hope that love has no age or limit.  Life can go on after grief and sorrow and while it may not be the same it can be just as wonderful.

In “Love Me, Still” by Maya Banks wolves Cael and Riyu tap into the mind of their dying father to see their love, Heather, betray the pack.  When a battered Heather returns to the pack to make sure that Magnus arrived okay she is not only shocked that he died, but that Cael, Riyu, and the entire pack thinks she is responsible.   Maya Banks writes an incredible tale of betrayal, love, and forgiveness.

In Stacia Wolf’s “Miracle at Midnight,” Saint Nick cursed Comtessa Amara de la Cortese to be turned to stone for her cold heart toward children.  Every fifty years she is set free for two days to discover the meaning of love.  Six year old Samantha Gamble sees Amara change from her father’s window and convinces him to check on the former statue.  Dr. Nicholas Gamble believes the woman to be a sick homeless person, but does not want to disappoint his daughter.  Nicholas wants his daughter to believe in him, but can he believe in Amara?  Amara knows if she can’t find the meaning of love this time she will become stone forever.  “Miracle at Midnight” has us believing that time can change people for the better and that we can open our hearts and believe.

Mackenzie McKade’s “Second Chance Christmas” brings Lori Dayton back home after four years.  She wants a peaceful Christmas with family and no Dean Wilcox.  Dean had been the love of her life until a tragic accident.  Seeing Dean again reminded her of their last argument and knew he hadn’t forgiven her.  Will they work their way back to each other or does time not heal all wounds?  Mackenzie McKade shows us that sometimes it is not what is said that drives people apart, but what is heard or not said.  Lori and Dean have incredible heat and still love and want each other.  Their way back to each other is realistic and erotic. This is my first read of Ms. McKade’s however; I can’t wait to see a sequel on Lori’s brothers.