Darlene Deluca

Let me start off by saying that I don't read romance novels. I learned that the author is from my area, so I read it to give a 'local' a try. I honestly wasn't expecting to like it much, but I have to say I really, really liked it!
The characters are well-drawn, the dialogue was realistic and the story unfolds with a pleasant pace. I loved Kate! You wouldn't expect that an educated, successful, beautiful woman would have the little crises of confidence and self-doubts that Kate does, but I know for a fact that they do! I suppose that's what made Kate feel so 'real' to me.
I will definitely read Ms. Deluca's other books.… (más)

Very readable book. Well written and fast moving even though it took place over about a year. Emotions and character development were consistent and believable. Dialog was good. This was the story of a girl who had made poor choices as a teenager and because of tragedy had a very difficult time moving on with her life. I thought that her backstory was realistic, interesting and believable. That kind of stuff happens and kudos to the author for making a relatable heroine who had not been lily white all her life. The hero was also believable. He met this girl he was attracted to who seemed to come with quite a bit of baggage and he wasn't sure he really wanted to go there. As their relationship developed he would occasionally wonder if he wanted to go on. Seemed very realistic to me. People make these kinds of decisions all the time in real relationships. He did figure out that he wanted to keep on with her and tried and tried to apologize for his one lapse of faith. So for months he tried while she kept shutting him out. I like a hero with perseverance. It didn't devolve into stalkerish behavior though. He really was a realistically drawn nice guy.

Yes there was a big coincidence at the end but I forgave it because the story was so strong otherwise and it wasn't totally unbelievable.

A lot of times indie authors are more hit than miss and I was very pleasantly surprised by this one.… (más)

"I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily reviewed this book and this is my honest review."

What a beautifully written romantic story about forgiveness, the ability to move past unspeakable tragedies, redemption and the pursuit of happiness.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to forget about everything else for a while. This book has such well developed characters that I found it very hard to put down. I wanted to keep reading to find out if the main character is ever able to forgive the heartbreak of her past and move into the future she so deserves. The interactions between the characters make them easy to relate too. They are true to life characters in real life situations.

I would love to see this author continue Mandi and Lane's story with another book.....Maybe a series is possible?… (más)

Goodreads Synopsis: Matt Dalton’s world is spinning off its axis. Without warning, he’s thrown into the world of parenting a teenager. Matt meets his son for the first time when the sixteen-year-old is dealing with the consequences of a tragic car accident. Not only has Brady lost his best friend, he faces disability and scars both physical and emotional.

Determined to do whatever it takes to give his son a second chance, Matt looks to his alma mater to step up and help Brady regain his athletic abilities and sense of self. But sparks fly when he meets the high school principal, the captivating Kate Austen. Kate is ready to take Brady under her wing, but to her that means helping him refocus and find a new passion – using his brains rather than his brawn. Kate fully expects the younger Dalton to come with issues and challenges . . . his father may prove to be the biggest one of all.

Though the chemistry is hard to ignore, Kate fights to keep her personal feelings and professional life separate. At the same time, Matt struggles to gain his son’s trust, and Brady must face the road to recovery and find a way to accept the changes in his life.

Unexpected Legacy is a compelling story of bravery, compromise and resilience.

My Review: This book was an unexpected surprise. I expected it to be... boring. To be just another book. And then I started reading it. It sucked me in from the beginning. It was an adventure just to read the book. The characters were so lifelike. They had real emotions. I could connect with them and go through what they went through. And then the story kind of lost me. I was liking the beginning, when Matt is meeting Brady, when the family is getting to know him, and he's getting better. As soon as he started going back to school there was just so much going on at once. It lost me. And then the end, when he's... well. you would know if you read it. It sucked me back in and helped me finish the book. Overall it was great. A fun read. Definitely check it out if you have the chance to.

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