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SAVING ALL MY LOVE - Donna Hill Parker Publishing/Passion November 2007 |
SYNOPSIS: Hill pens a love story of second chances and the redeeming power of love in this portrayal of a single mother who struggles to relate to her estranged daughter and to find closure in her failed relationship with her daughter's father--while building a new life and loving partnership with her new beau.
SERIES ROMANCE |2+| Adrienne Starkey
REVIEW: Ann Marie has spent most of her life doing what everyone
else thought she should. After escaping her overbearing ex-husband, she
raised a daughter on her own and established a lucrative real estate
career. With the opening of a new business, Ann Marie finally feels like
her life is starting again. When the wealthy Sterling Powers walks
through the doors of her spa, she’s getting hot and bothered in ways
she’d thought she’d never experience again. Sterling is instantly
attracted to Ann Marie, but sensing her resistance, he carefully charms
her into not only his bed, but his heart also. When Ann Marie’s daughter
and ex-husband complicate matters, Sterling stands behind her giving Ann
Marie the support she needs; even as she resists their developing
feelings.
This new series by author Donna Hill is an inspiring tribute to women
who’ve loved and lost and are finding love again. The foursome this
series is based on, Stephanie, Ann Marie, Elizabeth and Barbara, are all
strong and independent. However, these are the very traits that
challenge them in their quest for love. Because their stories are so
intertwined, as are their lives, it becomes a huge distraction in this
book. There is not enough depth in any particular story to fully engage
the reader. There is a little bit about all of their romantic
entanglements and it soon becomes just one big web. The dialogue moves
the story along, but I felt that these stories would have worked better
as an anthology rather than four separate books. The flow is choppy
because each chapter jumps from story to story, with little continuation
between the chapters. I wanted to take every chapter dealing with Ann
Marie and Sterling and put them all in one book. This would have made
for an easier read and given me the satisfying ending I look for in
romance novels.
The attraction between Sterling and Ann Marie was lukewarm compared to
Barbara and a blast from her past in the form of a former boyfriend.
Sterling’s persistence and determination to convince Ann Marie to give
him a chance was in direct conflict with his “bachelor for life”
philosophy to not get serious with anyone. Add that to his past
relationships leaving him soured on women, and I didn’t get the sense
that their connection was strong enough for Sterling to go through all
the trouble. Also, Ann Marie’s changing dialect throughout the book
distracted me from the actual exchange between characters.
This book was well written chapter by chapter, but the combining stories
took away from its overall impact. It was like a nice puzzle that didn’t
quite fit into its frame.
reviewer@romanceincolor.com |10th February 2007