It’s from an author I’ve not read and I’m excited about it. Mainly because the first few pages are looking good and the story has a fresh twist to it, so far at least.

After an innovative plot the next most important feature of the author’s style, for me anyway, is a “show not tell” approach. It is so much more relatable when there is movement taking the reader along for the ride. Strong characters are good too. This book has it so far.

One more absolutely necessary element, in my opinion, is a scaled back version of the whole PDA (public displays of affection) and high powered hormonal reactions to every touch or look.

They say you aren’t supposed to annoy your readers. This practice annoys me enough that I skip huge chunks of the story in rebellion, usually after a few chapters, It gets old real quick, I tell you, and it weakens the story. I think that’s my biggest objection of all… a weak story.

Maybe that’s why this passion element is added in to the plot so often. That route is easier than developing something strong and captivating.

And while we are on the subject … so much of it is unbelievable. How many normal people do you know who could give in to a passionate kiss in the middle of a crowd? Especially in a new relationship where they don’t know each other all that well.

I can tell you not very many, How do I know you ask? I’ve been trying to count up all of the passionate occasions I’ve observed in my lifetime. I’m still at zero. It would probably give the story more drama but real life people look for private nooks and crannies for those intense moments.

Unbelievable, I tell you.

It’s time to move along. I don’t know if this new story will be full of hormonal drama. It could be but I’m sincerely hoping not.

Saving Grace (A Horses and Hearts Inspirational Romance)

When winning is everything, there isn’t much room for grace.

For feisty and driven Hannah Whitney, winning is everything. She and her dressage horse Amazing Grace are headed towards the final qualifying competition for the Olympic games, when her trainer suddenly quits. With the competition just ten weeks away, Hannah’s dad hires Chase Livingston as the new trainer.

Chase is a Gold Medalist in dressage. After an incident in the show ring one day, he loses his nerve and goes into hiding from the media. He’s reluctant to come out just to train the spoiled, rich daughter of a real estate tycoon, but the money is good.

Hannah doesn’t want to be seen with him, but if she’s going to be ready for the competition, he may be her only hope. What she doesn’t count on is how attractive he is…

When faced with the question of what is most important in life, can two people with different answers ever find common ground?

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One more book before we go. Of the 7 book series this is the only one I don’t have. Awesome.

The Truest Home (Alaskan Hearts Book 3)

She just found out that everything she’s ever loved is a lie…

Liz Benjamin has lost her place in the world. Not only are her best friends too busy for her, but her father just married a horrible woman who has now moved into their home with her two horrible daughters.

Worse still, a handsome stranger arrives in town for the wedding and starts asking all the wrong questions. With his help, Liz soon finds that everything she thought she knew about herself is based on a terrible lie.

But just how far back does the deception go, and how will finding the truth about Liz’s past change her future?

Join Liz, Scarlett, Lauren, and their courageous team of sled dogs in this unforgettable tale of tenacity, trust, and finding where you belong from a New York Times bestselling author.

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I have a funny feeling that I have read this story in a collection somewhere along the line. I hope I’m wrong about that.

Happy Reading