Monday, October 29, 2007

Harriet Klausner reviewed Hart's Victory

Hart's Victory
Michele Dunaway
Harlequin NASCAR, Dec 2007, $5.99
ISBN: 9780373217823

Single mom Kellie Thompson’s beloved son Charlie is battling for his life against cancer. Charlie is a rabid NASCAR fan; so when a NASCAR camp for terminally ill children is arranged, Kellie insures her child attends.

Charlie's hero NASCAR driver Hart Hampton has been in a slump so is relegated to the charity event for the terminally ill. After meeting mother and son, Hart agrees with Charlie that he and Kellie are perfect for one another. However, she rejects his attention although she is attracted to him; her focus is Charlie. Hart wants both in his life, but though he won the kid over and the mom recognizes he is a caring soul, she still refuses his overtures; Charlie comes in first, second and third.

The romance places second and NASCAR shows up third as the star of this heart-wrenching tale is Charlie as he fights for his life yet wants the best for his mom whom he believes is his hero Hart. The three prime players are fully developed leading to readers feeling deep emotions almost as if they know the ailing child and care for him as much as Hart does. Michele Dunaway provides an angst-laden five tissue box character driven tale.

For the original post and Harriet's blog, go to http://genregoroundreviews.blogspot.com/

Saturday, October 20, 2007

A Guest Post from my Daughter

So every weekday when my mom and I are driving in the deer-magnet we call our car, as soon as I can see the front porch, I'm craning my neck to see if there is a brown box there. And it's not my birthday just yet! I'm looking for a special box.

A Harlequin Box.

I, of course, am talking about Hart's Victory, aka: my first romance novel. I've never read a romance novel (besides to scratch off those cards in the middle of the book) and I'm pretty excited to actually get to read my first one. And here's the cool thing: anyone can read it!

What? A romance novel anyone can read? Well, yes, anyone can read Hart's Victory. Anyone can read this romance novel because there is absolutely nothing in it. No cursing, no sex on the page, if it was a movie it'd be PG at the very most. My response = cool.

Since anyone can read this, I'm doing a book report on it. We're doing a project where we are literally going to try and sell the book to the students in my class and grade. AND: I'm selling my mom's book. To my class. How many kids get to do that at school?

Anyway, the box has still not arrived yet (and I need the book BEFORE October 31st!) and I'm getting rather impatient. And I have to get to bed soon so I can get up go, to church,and come home so I can watch the race. Also, eventually ruin my vocal chords screaming for Carl Edwards (#99) to win. And hopefully, Monday I'll have my book.

- Alison Dunaway

Final note: Hart's Victory is a Harlequin NASCAR novel.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

A guest blog from one of my favorite readers

Book 172-The Christmas Date by Michele Dunaway (AR Dec 2007)
Reviewed by Julie Picraux
From her post on eharlequin.com

Over the past few months I have lost my job of 4 years, I have been down a
little with not wanting to do much of anything but read. And read some more,
then read some more. I could blog from here (eharlequin) until Christmas and not have all
the books blogged. It was not until Michele gave me an advance copy of her
December book, The Christmas Date , I knew I had to get back in the swing of
things. I started this year blogging and I was going to finish this year by
blogging.

Six years ago, I met Michele at a Girl Scout meeting. We started a
conversion over a book I had been reading. Since then I have had the
wonderful opportunity to watch Michele grow as a writer. I have also had a
chance to watch Michele enjoy the good times and struggle with the bad
times. Plus being friends with Michele I have had a few benefits, such as a
book dedicated to me ( Emergency Engagement- AR February 05 ) and something
stupid I did in a book (I'm not telling this one). And in this case Michele
gave me an advance copy of her new book, The Christmas Date , which is out
in December.

With some of Michele's books I'm there from the beginning,
however, this is one that I had only heard the idea of the book, but not
much else. To me, this book is one of Michele's better books. It's the right
mix of being light and zany but with enough tension. You could not help but
laugh at the secondary characters. At the sometime relate to them as well.
If you only read one American this December, read this one. It will get you
in the Christmas sprint, and lift your mood at the sometime. Awesome book,
Michele next to Emergency Engagement (AR February 05) and Legally Tender (AR
January 06) this goes on my list as one of my favorites.