Just Look Up

For some busy, just trying to cross off all the items off their daily "to do" list would make them feel accomplished, but not for Lane Kelley. To say that she lives for her job would simply be an understatement. She lives and breathes her job as a potential promotion as creative director looms before her based on the success of her presentation. She knows her ability to tap into exactly what the client needs and aside from the nervousness residing within her, she knows she shouldn't be at all worried. I mean everything in her career has lead up to this one pivotal moment in her life, so the fact she spent every waking moment practicing her speech and presentation should count for something. It has all lead up to this moment to sell her idea to a tech saavy company known as Solar.

Just as she is about to face her fears, she is interrupted by a phone call from her assistant conveying to her, she has to take this call. Even the company head is looking her way wondering if she will pass this up for a phone call. However when Chloe tells her its from her family and she NEEDS to take that call, she wonders what could be so important that it couldn't wait for a couple of hours. Her brother Nate has been in a serious motorcycle accident and it doesn't look good. Despite her well-meaning intentions, she is told not to wait and get home right away. It is a home she walked away from years ago and despite all their attempts to lure her home and away from her job, she had never looked back. Now it seems with the only choice but to head home, she might just be giving up her promotion. Her company will give her a couple of days but they expect her back by Monday.

Lane knew one day that motorcycle would lead Nate into an accident and that is exactly what has happened. He had been out riding with his best friend Ryan Brooks, who also crashed, but he was the lucky one. Her brother remained in a coma. Lane and Brooks had grown up together and it should be no surprise that he is one of the first people to greet her at the hospital. He always seemed to be the one to protect her even when people and friends teased her about being fat, nicknaming her Pudge, but now that person no longer exists even shedding all those pounds in an effort to leave her past behind. But for Ryan, Lane has always been the one person who knew him the best and even despite their rough childhood, they shared something more than what meets the eye. Now all he has to do is convince himself that he can't share his feelings with Lane since it is only a matter of time before she heads back to her busy job in the city and once again walks out of all their lives.

I received Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh compliments of Tyndale House Publishers. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. This is such a coming of age in reverse story as Lane has to deal with her lack of self esteem and bullying when she was in school, not only from those in her class but those in her family as well. Even her heart's desire in hoping to land a husband was taken away from her and now she must do what she can to get back to work as quickly as she can or else her entire identity will be lost again, but was it ever her true self anyway? I can understand so many things from Lane's point of view from becoming so consumed by work that it fills up every ounce of time and you don't see it happening. You trade off one success to make up for past failures and I love that Ryan has never lost hope in her and teaches her that life awaits outside of work once again and that family is what you make of it. 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Just Look Up, Courtney Walsh or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh

You can find Courtney Walsh on Facebook, to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

You can read more reviews on Just Look Up by visiting Tyndale House Publisher's website. 

All Summer Long

"Whether the subject of change was partners, possessions, or places, some people had an easy time letting go."

I love capturing the essence of the novel I'm reviewing by its opening sentence and this one launches All Summer Long, the latest novel from best selling author Dorothea Benton Frank. Readers who are looking for something wonderful to read this summer, will definitely want to add this to their beach or lakeside bag as it is sure to provide you with simply all the entertainment and virtual escape you will need.

Olivia Ritchie, an interior designer and owner of her own company, has been living in two worlds. One in New York where she has made a wonderful living working on upscale designs for some of New York's wealthiest clientele. She has a great marriage with her husband Nick Seymour, an English professor and southern gentlemen who has made Olivia promise that one day they will leave the rat race and settle back in his childhood home of Charleston, South Carolina. For Olivia that day has come.

The one thing she has failed to do, is to clue Nick in on their finances. He has retired and while drawing his retirement, small pension and social security, Olivia had always felt confident she could handle all the finances. That is until the market began to dry up and clients could no longer afford those expensive homes that fed her salary requirements to keep the lifestyle she loved afloat. Without telling Nick, she agrees to sell their New York condo in lieu of keeping her promise and downsize to Charleston. It also means that her love of collecting trinkets to decorate their home, will have to go as well. But she vows she will do what is necessary to keep them alive until her next client comes through, which in this case is Bob and Martiza Vasile.

To say they're are rich is a complete understatement and this affords them the luxury of experiencing what it's like to be rich without all the hassle when they are invited on trips to private islands aboard a yacht, last minute trips to Spain for their son's wedding or whenever Maritza need's a good friend to talk to, Olivia is the one to call. But like the saying goes, life isn't always greener on the other side and when Olivia and Nick see what turmoil Maritza and Bob's marriage is, they vow to do all they can to help. I mean if you can't help your very well off friends, who can you help? After all, these trips are all 100% paid for by the Vasile's who don't seem to have a bottom to their bank account.

I received All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank compliments of William Morrow Publishers, a division of Harper Collins Publishers in exchange for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my personal honest unbiased opinion. I absolutely LOVED this novel. From the catty arguments between the rich friends who show up on these excursions, to the far fetched things Bob decides to spend his money on. It's like living vicariously through this novel what it might be like to either have that kind of money or simply be able to enjoy it from those who do. I love the relationship that Nick and Olivia have as well because at the heart of it all, they have what works, and it shows that money can't buy it all. I would rate this one 4 out of 5 based on my rating system as there is some profanity used in this novel that might offend readers. Without that, it would be a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about All Summer Long, Dorothea Benton Frank or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank

You can find Dorothea Benton Frank on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on All Summer Long, please visit William Morrow's website.