THE DANCE BEGINS is a 47 page short story by Diane Chamberlain. This is the prequel to PRETENDING TO DANCE which is being released in October 2015.
ITHE DANCE BEGINS is a 47 page short story by Diane Chamberlain. This is the prequel to PRETENDING TO DANCE which is being released in October 2015.
I really love Diane Chamberlain. I have read most if not all of her books and have really enjoyed them. I have been anxiously awaiting her next book so this was a nice little treat to tide me over until then.
Psychologist Graham Arnette's only wish is that he could dance with his six-year-old daughter Molly. Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis he can no longer dance and has started to require the use of a cane and scooter due to his declining condition. He may not be able to dance with her in the traditional way, but despite his limitations he is determined to enjoy and share things with Molly.
Graham and members of his family and friends are turning an old spring-house into a playhouse for Molly. The playhouse is on family land. A beautiful place anyone would love to raise a family. However, there are some old hostilities and anger that emerge throughout the project. But this novella shows how healing can begin with love.
I really liked the characters that were introduced. Graham, Molly, Graham's wife Nora and family friend Amalia as well as some other family members. I think most will likely make an appearance in PRETENDING TO DANCE. Graham comes across as such a loving and devoted father. Molly is the cutest and lovable child. I'm excited to learn more about all of them.
I believe this short story is not essential to read in order to enjoy PRETENDING TO DANCE but it provides some additional back story which can provide extra insight into the character's backgrounds. I think it was really well written and I enjoyed it immensely. The pages flew by and I finished it in one short sitting.
I do admit it leaves me wanting more and wish I didn't have to wait to read PRETENDING TO DANCE. However, I'm sure it will be worth the wait.
Merged review:
THE DANCE BEGINS is a 47 page short story by Diane Chamberlain. This is the prequel to PRETENDING TO DANCE which is being released in October 2015.
I really love Diane Chamberlain. I have read most if not all of her books and have really enjoyed them. I have been anxiously awaiting her next book so this was a nice little treat to tide me over until then.
Psychologist Graham Arnette's only wish is that he could dance with his six-year-old daughter Molly. Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis he can no longer dance and has started to require the use of a cane and scooter due to his declining condition. He may not be able to dance with her in the traditional way, but despite his limitations he is determined to enjoy and share things with Molly.
Graham and members of his family and friends are turning an old spring-house into a playhouse for Molly. The playhouse is on family land. A beautiful place anyone would love to raise a family. However, there are some old hostilities and anger that emerge throughout the project. But this novella shows how healing can begin with love.
I really liked the characters that were introduced. Graham, Molly, Graham's wife Nora and family friend Amalia as well as some other family members. I think most will likely make an appearance in PRETENDING TO DANCE. Graham comes across as such a loving and devoted father. Molly is the cutest and lovable child. I'm excited to learn more about all of them.
I believe this short story is not essential to read in order to enjoy PRETENDING TO DANCE but it provides some additional back story which can provide extra insight into the character's backgrounds. I think it was really well written and I enjoyed it immensely. The pages flew by and I finished it in one short sitting.
I do admit it leaves me wanting more and wish I didn't have to wait to read PRETENDING TO DANCE. However, I'm sure it will be worth the wait....more
Everyone is supposed to be excited and happy on their wedding day. All that waiting until they walk down the aisle to their beloved. However, twenty-six year old Aimee's wedding day has turned into a nightmare. Instead of walking down the aisle to marry the love of her life she is mourning the loss of him at his funeral. It's not just her fiance, James in the casket it's also all of their hopes and dreams that will be buried along with him.
"Same Church. Same flowers. Wrong Ceremony"
Meeting when they were eight years old, Aimee and James were first best friends then childhood sweethearts. After all those years together, they were the perfect couple. However, even though everything appeared to be perfect in their lives, things weren't exactly as they seemed. James and Aimee had a secret and James had secrets of his own, secrets that could devastate Aimee.
At the funeral, Aimee feels like she's about to break down and decides to slip away from the mass of people offering their condolences. As she leaves she's approched by a woman who gives her some shocking information about James. She wants to tell her more but Aimee's friends come along and whisk her away...
"Don't be naive, Aimee. People will take advantage of you."
It was supposed to be a quick business trip. James said he would be back in less than four days. Instead...James was gone. After missing for two months apparently his body washed up on shore. What really happened on this business trip? Is James the man she thought he was? And what does this stranger know about what happened?
Will Aimee be able to move on without James or will she be pulled back into the past? The secrets that are revealed have the ability to break Aimee or make her stronger, and she will have some very difficult decisions to make.
I thought this was a pretty good debut novel. It flowed fairly well and it was a quick read. We get to see just how James and Aimee's friendship started and developed over the years through flashbacks. I can't imagine how heart breaking it would be losing someone and burying them on what was supposed to be your wedding day. How hard it would be to go on after spending so many years together.
The story had a decent amount of suspense. I was intrigued and really wanted to know what happened to James. With many twists and turns I wasn't even close to figuring out what actually happened and was quite surprised. However, I did find some of it to be a bit far-fetched.. Some of Aimee's decisions seemed a bit bizarre to me. But all in all I thought it was still an enjoyable story.
When I read the book I didn't realize there was going to be a sequel so I was a bit frustrated with the ending. Now that I know there's going to be another book I'm not as irritated. "What we leave behind" is the sequel to this novel and will be published in 2017.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Kerry Lonsdale for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Everyone is supposed to be excited and happy on their wedding day. All that waiting until they walk down the aisle to their beloved. However, twenty-six year old Aimee's wedding day has turned into a nightmare. Instead of walking down the aisle to marry the love of her life she is mourning the loss of him at his funeral. It's not just her fiance, James in the casket it's also all of their hopes and dreams that will be buried along with him.
"Same Church. Same flowers. Wrong Ceremony"
Meeting when they were eight years old, Aimee and James were first best friends then childhood sweethearts. After all those years together, they were the perfect couple. However, even though everything appeared to be perfect in their lives, things weren't exactly as they seemed. James and Aimee had a secret and James had secrets of his own, secrets that could devastate Aimee.
At the funeral, Aimee feels like she's about to break down and decides to slip away from the mass of people offering their condolences. As she leaves she's approched by a woman who gives her some shocking information about James. She wants to tell her more but Aimee's friends come along and whisk her away...
"Don't be naive, Aimee. People will take advantage of you."
It was supposed to be a quick business trip. James said he would be back in less than four days. Instead...James was gone. After missing for two months apparently his body washed up on shore. What really happened on this business trip? Is James the man she thought he was? And what does this stranger know about what happened?
Will Aimee be able to move on without James or will she be pulled back into the past? The secrets that are revealed have the ability to break Aimee or make her stronger, and she will have some very difficult decisions to make.
I thought this was a pretty good debut novel. It flowed fairly well and it was a quick read. We get to see just how James and Aimee's friendship started and developed over the years through flashbacks. I can't imagine how heart breaking it would be losing someone and burying them on what was supposed to be your wedding day. How hard it would be to go on after spending so many years together.
The story had a decent amount of suspense. I was intrigued and really wanted to know what happened to James. With many twists and turns I wasn't even close to figuring out what actually happened and was quite surprised. However, I did find some of it to be a bit far-fetched.. Some of Aimee's decisions seemed a bit bizarre to me. But all in all I thought it was still an enjoyable story.
When I read the book I didn't realize there was going to be a sequel so I was a bit frustrated with the ending. Now that I know there's going to be another book I'm not as irritated. "What we leave behind" is the sequel to this novel and will be published in 2017.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Kerry Lonsdale for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review....more
Another stellar novel by Chris Whitaker! Definitely a five star read for me!
After reading and loving "We Begin at the End", I was excited to get my hAnother stellar novel by Chris Whitaker! Definitely a five star read for me!
After reading and loving "We Begin at the End", I was excited to get my hands on this book.
I was happy to have both the audiobook and ebook for "All the Colors of the Dark" as once I started reading, I didn't want to stop. I'm pretty sure I read and listened for most of the day yesterday and I finished just a few minutes ago.
I loved the story and characters. I think this story will stick with me just as the last one did. I'm happy to see there's a few more Chris Whitaker books for me to read.
An exciting and gripping story!
I can't wait to see what's next from this talented author!...more
Nora Roberts knocked this one out of the park! 5 Stars!!!
Over the years I have read many Nora Roberts books and enjoyed them. I have to say though thNora Roberts knocked this one out of the park! 5 Stars!!!
Over the years I have read many Nora Roberts books and enjoyed them. I have to say though that "Mind Games" is definitely one of my favorites!
A compelling, entertaining, and heartbreaking story that pulled me in right from the start. The storyline and characters are unforgettable. I finished this awhile back and I'm still thinking about it.
I had the ebook but had to get my hands on the audio too. So glad I did as it was very well performed.
So this was my first Emily Henry and I loved it! I don't know why I waited so long to check it out. I see now why so many reviewers ravAll the stars!
So this was my first Emily Henry and I loved it! I don't know why I waited so long to check it out. I see now why so many reviewers raved about this book and the author.
The story was wonderful and the audio was extremely well performed. It was a nice break from all the thrillers and suspense novels I had been reading.
I'm really looking forward to reading more from Emily Henry. I think the hard part will be deciding which one I will read next!...more
Anna and Zoe are identical twins. Though they look the same that's where their similarities end. They are co Another compelling read from Adele Parks!
Anna and Zoe are identical twins. Though they look the same that's where their similarities end. They are complete opposites in every other way. That being said they are still incredibly close.
So when Anna meets the man of her dreams, Zoe is positive he MUST be to good to be true.
This was a gripping and entertaining read that I finished in a few sittings. I wasn't far in to the story when I figured out one of the main twists. I think I figured it out only because I happened to read something a little similar a while back. However, there were other twists and turns I didn't see coming and I was excited to see how it all came together in the end. I wasn't disappointed.
Another well written and entertaining novel from Aggie Blum Thompson.
We really don't know what goes on behind closed doors. The Calhoun family are thrAnother well written and entertaining novel from Aggie Blum Thompson.
We really don't know what goes on behind closed doors. The Calhoun family are throwing their annual Cherry Blossom party. Unfortunately, the party does not go as planned. In fact, it goes entirely off the rails when someone is murdered.
A story about a truly dysfunctional family with many secrets. A suspenseful family drama that had some great twist and turns and kept me intrigued from start to finish.
I look forward to reading more from Aggie Blum Thompson!...more
I've read quite a few of Lucinda Berry's books. Her full length and short stories always entertain. I 4.5 Stars
An emotional and thrilling short-story!
I've read quite a few of Lucinda Berry's books. Her full length and short stories always entertain. I came across this one and after reading the synopsis wanted to start it right away. I listened to it straight through.
This audiobook was very good and very well performed. If you are going to check this out I definitely suggest the audio.
**Some parts may be emotionally challenging and/or triggering for some readers....more
Ten years earlier there was an awful car accident that took the life of Phoebe Dean. Her brother, Grant was driving that night. Why did it take him tw Ten years earlier there was an awful car accident that took the life of Phoebe Dean. Her brother, Grant was driving that night. Why did it take him twenty-seven minutes to call for help after the accident? Would she still be alive if he'd called sooner?
Ten years later and three days before the tenth anniversary of Phoebe's death, there's another accident on the same bridge where she died. Now wounds that still hadn't entirely healed were broken open again. The rumors and gossip are starting up again. Everyone has questions about what happened that night. Some people fear the truth. What will happen when it is finally revealed?
It was just a terrible accident. Wasn't it?
I'd seen the mixed reviews for Twenty-Seven Minutes so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was intrigued by the description though and really wanted to give it a try.
I'm glad I did. I found this story entertaining and was excited to find out what happened that fateful evening. The story is told from multiple points of view and alternates between past and present. As what happened ten years ago is slowly revealed we learn more about the characters involved in and surrounding the accident.
An excellent debut suspense story with some great twists! I am really looking forward to reading more from Ashley Tate! ...more
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