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Balancing Act
A twist of fate
A promise to her sister sends rising ballet star Cheryl Steele temporarily back to the hometown she fled years ago in disgrace. Then an unexpected snowstorm and an injured foot land her in the home of Sam Hardin.
Sam's two little girls wrap themselves around her heart…while they scheme to make Cheryl not a guest or temporary nanny, but their new mom. But staying with the Hardin family makes Cheryl uneasy. She fears confessing past secrets to Sam and fears her plans for the future are unraveling. Because the longer Cheryl stays with Sam, the more it all feels so right…
A promise to her sister sends rising ballet star Cheryl Steele temporarily back to the hometown she fled years ago in disgrace. Then an unexpected snowstorm and an injured foot land her in the home of Sam Hardin.
Sam's two little girls wrap themselves around her heart…while they scheme to make Cheryl not a guest or temporary nanny, but their new mom. But staying with the Hardin family makes Cheryl uneasy. She fears confessing past secrets to Sam and fears her plans for the future are unraveling. Because the longer Cheryl stays with Sam, the more it all feels so right…
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
11 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Davids
142 books405 followersI was born and raised in Northcentral Kansas. I'm a farmer's daughter, but I now make my home in the city of Wichita. I'm an RN. Neonatal nursing has been the main focus of my career. What can I say? I love babies. I was invited to the highschool graduation of a baby I took care of. Talk about making me feel old!
In June of 2011 I became a widow after my husband of 36 years and 11 months died from multiple brain tumors. It was a very sad time, but thanks to the three f's, my faith, my family and my friends, life is moving forward. I have four brothers, one daughter and two grandchildren who all work at making me feel loved.
I'm the author of more than 30 books and I'm currently writing a series called The Brides of Amish Country for Love Inspired.
In June of 2011 I became a widow after my husband of 36 years and 11 months died from multiple brain tumors. It was a very sad time, but thanks to the three f's, my faith, my family and my friends, life is moving forward. I have four brothers, one daughter and two grandchildren who all work at making me feel loved.
I'm the author of more than 30 books and I'm currently writing a series called The Brides of Amish Country for Love Inspired.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 22, 2022
This was a nice g rated book. Cheryl returns to her hometown after many years away. Her sister was getting married and urges her to stop by and visit their grandmother and to see the house they grew up in. Cheryl is a traveling ballerina, and takes the day off to attend the wedding and assures her director that she will be back for the next night's performance, which is several hours away by car. Before convincing herself otherwise, she decides to at least drive by their town, and gets stuck in a snow storm and meets Sam, a rancher. She's afraid her checkered past will catch up with her, as she gets to know Sam and his family. She's terrified every time she's seen in town that someone will recognize her.
Cute story.
Cute story.
March 2, 2022
I have read some SERIOUSLY horrific 'Love Inspired' novels. They were written by people who should have never been published, and I've trashed the ever-lovin' heck out of them, here on GoodReads. I have also found a few rare treasures among the dross.
Books like this one are the reason
to slog through the bad ones.
An amazing story about redemption, finding lost faith, mending fences, and falling in love. It's about a ballerina and a cowboy who find themselves at several different crossroads. She's got a career she adores and doesn't want to give up. He's got a ranch, but he desperately wants to design houses, too. She's terrified of her past catching up with her. He's terrified of giving his heart to another woman who could hurt him as badly as the first did.
By the way, the cover is total *CRAP* - the twins are five years old, have brown eyes, chubby hands, and dark brown curls. The girls on the front are ten year old blondes. What the farts!?
But it doesn't take away from how amazing the book is.
The *ONLY* problem I had with it was the 'you gotta go to church' tripe that chrischuns always have to throw in there. Like Moses, Abraham, Elijah and Messiah went to church on Sundays? Think again. "How will God hear our prayers?" the little girl in this story asks. If He don't hear your prayers at home, honey, why say them before bed? I don't like that whole thing, but then I'm not a christian, so there's that.
Having said? FIVE STARS for this one. Because everything else about it was just *WONDERFUL*.
Books like this one are the reason
to slog through the bad ones.
An amazing story about redemption, finding lost faith, mending fences, and falling in love. It's about a ballerina and a cowboy who find themselves at several different crossroads. She's got a career she adores and doesn't want to give up. He's got a ranch, but he desperately wants to design houses, too. She's terrified of her past catching up with her. He's terrified of giving his heart to another woman who could hurt him as badly as the first did.
By the way, the cover is total *CRAP* - the twins are five years old, have brown eyes, chubby hands, and dark brown curls. The girls on the front are ten year old blondes. What the farts!?
But it doesn't take away from how amazing the book is.
The *ONLY* problem I had with it was the 'you gotta go to church' tripe that chrischuns always have to throw in there. Like Moses, Abraham, Elijah and Messiah went to church on Sundays? Think again. "How will God hear our prayers?" the little girl in this story asks. If He don't hear your prayers at home, honey, why say them before bed? I don't like that whole thing, but then I'm not a christian, so there's that.
Having said? FIVE STARS for this one. Because everything else about it was just *WONDERFUL*.
November 12, 2018
I really liked this story. My twin daughter did too. I was just taken aback by how unsupervised the twins were. They were always staying with this person or that person and one time they were missing for half a day before anyone noticed! Maybe it bothered me so much because I have twin girls and none of my children were ever out of my sight. But then, my kids never got into mischief either.
March 30, 2019
I listened to this book on Audible at an increased speed for my own preference.
This was a nicely written Christian romance. The plot, setting and characters were all likable and believable... well except maybe the fingernail polish— although I personally have known large animals that gentle! I found myself laughing and smiling throughout this book.
I would read this author again.
This was a nicely written Christian romance. The plot, setting and characters were all likable and believable... well except maybe the fingernail polish— although I personally have known large animals that gentle! I found myself laughing and smiling throughout this book.
I would read this author again.
July 31, 2020
Adorable and sweet comes to mind. I suppose it could be called a love story, but it seemed more like a walk through the lives of two people who needed to give faith another chance, while putting their pasts behind them. Very inspirational.
January 4, 2020
Not my thing
I would start enjoying the book then I felt like I was in church or worse.
I would start enjoying the book then I felt like I was in church or worse.
June 10, 2022
Good story about finding God and growing in his love. All the characters were strong.
August 6, 2022
A religious love story. Sweet and innocent. Another garage sale find.
October 19, 2025
These books are decent reads, but so predictable.
September 14, 2021
easy read, probably geared more toward teenagers
August 22, 2011
Balancing Act by Patricia Davids, Harlequin Heartwarming. First released as Love Thine Enemy (Love Inspired).
Cheryl Steele has a new life as a ballerina. She is no longer Cheryl Thatcher from Kansas. Her sister Angie is getting married in Witchita and then Cheryl will return to her role as lead dancer in Alice in Wonderland as they tour eight states. Ballet brings joy in her life, at least while she is on the stage. She is determined to keep her past buried even if it's buried alive.
Angie tries to talk her into visiting the old homestead and face her past so she can forgive and move on. For some foolish reason Cheryl turns off the highway to her past before her big show that night. A choice that will change her future and upset her balanced life. She looks towards the homestead and then leaves as quickly as she can. A late snow storm has hit in April and to avoid running over a man on a horse, Cheryl ends up in a ditch with a ruined rental car. Suddenly she feels more like Alice falling into the rabbit hole.
Sam Hardin and his horse, Dusty, came within inches of danger. The car almost ran them over. What maniac would be driving fast on a dark snow filled night? It ends up being a beautiful woman that’s who. After he works at getting her foot out of the bended metal of her car, Sam, Dusty and the woman go back to his home. Sam keeps telling himself not to be attracted to Cheryl. She is as mismatched to him as his ex-wife, Natalie, was. And she would be leaving as soon as she could.
Cheryl lost her wallet so she could not leave yet as well as having a broken foot. She could not stay in this area long. She found out Sam's mom would know her from school and if others recognized her it could ruin her career. She was too much of a coward to fight being called names and be reminded of her past. Once she meets Kayla and Lindy, Sam's twin girls, she quickly falls in love with them and agrees to stay awhile longer to help care for them. She can't work with her broken foot anyway.
Great story. Two mischievous twins girls, a cocky cat, a handsome cowboy, a cantankerous grandmother and more. It once again is a story that reminds us to allow people to put their past behind them and give them a second chance or it can remind us personally to let go of a past and not allow it to drag us down. Sometimes the past wrongs are so dark we miss the good and positive things that were there as well.
Book received through NetGalley for review.
Cheryl Steele has a new life as a ballerina. She is no longer Cheryl Thatcher from Kansas. Her sister Angie is getting married in Witchita and then Cheryl will return to her role as lead dancer in Alice in Wonderland as they tour eight states. Ballet brings joy in her life, at least while she is on the stage. She is determined to keep her past buried even if it's buried alive.
Angie tries to talk her into visiting the old homestead and face her past so she can forgive and move on. For some foolish reason Cheryl turns off the highway to her past before her big show that night. A choice that will change her future and upset her balanced life. She looks towards the homestead and then leaves as quickly as she can. A late snow storm has hit in April and to avoid running over a man on a horse, Cheryl ends up in a ditch with a ruined rental car. Suddenly she feels more like Alice falling into the rabbit hole.
Sam Hardin and his horse, Dusty, came within inches of danger. The car almost ran them over. What maniac would be driving fast on a dark snow filled night? It ends up being a beautiful woman that’s who. After he works at getting her foot out of the bended metal of her car, Sam, Dusty and the woman go back to his home. Sam keeps telling himself not to be attracted to Cheryl. She is as mismatched to him as his ex-wife, Natalie, was. And she would be leaving as soon as she could.
Cheryl lost her wallet so she could not leave yet as well as having a broken foot. She could not stay in this area long. She found out Sam's mom would know her from school and if others recognized her it could ruin her career. She was too much of a coward to fight being called names and be reminded of her past. Once she meets Kayla and Lindy, Sam's twin girls, she quickly falls in love with them and agrees to stay awhile longer to help care for them. She can't work with her broken foot anyway.
Great story. Two mischievous twins girls, a cocky cat, a handsome cowboy, a cantankerous grandmother and more. It once again is a story that reminds us to allow people to put their past behind them and give them a second chance or it can remind us personally to let go of a past and not allow it to drag us down. Sometimes the past wrongs are so dark we miss the good and positive things that were there as well.
Book received through NetGalley for review.
August 22, 2011
Balancing Act by Patricia Davids, Harlequin Heartwarming. First released as Love Thine Enemy (Love Inspired).
Cheryl Steele has a new life as a ballerina. She is no longer Cheryl Thatcher from Kansas. Her sister Angie is getting married in Witchita and then Cheryl will return to her role as lead dancer in Alice in Wonderland as they tour eight states. Ballet brings joy in her life, at least while she is on the stage. She is determined to keep her past buried even if it's buried alive.
Angie tries to talk her into visiting the old homestead and face her past so she can forgive and move on. For some foolish reason Cheryl turns off the highway to her past before her big show that night. A choice that will change her future and upset her balanced life. She looks towards the homestead and then leaves as quickly as she can. A late snow storm has hit in April and to avoid running over a man on a horse, Cheryl ends up in a ditch with a ruined rental car. Suddenly she feels more like Alice falling into the rabbit hole.
Sam Hardin and his horse, Dusty, came within inches of danger. The car almost ran them over. What maniac would be driving fast on a dark snow filled night? It ends up being a beautiful woman that’s who. After he works at getting her foot out of the bended metal of her car, Sam, Dusty and the woman go back to his home. Sam keeps telling himself not to be attracted to Cheryl. She is as mismatched to him as his ex-wife, Natalie, was. And she would be leaving as soon as she could.
Cheryl lost her wallet so she could not leave yet as well as having a broken foot. She could not stay in this area long. She found out Sam's mom would know her from school and if others recognized her it could ruin her career. She was too much of a coward to fight being called names and be reminded of her past. Once she meets Kayla and Lindy, Sam's twin girls, she quickly falls in love with them and agrees to stay awhile longer to help care for them. She can't work with her broken foot anyway.
Great story. Two mischievous twins girls, a cocky cat, a handsome cowboy, a cantankerous grandmother and more. It once again is a story that reminds us to allow people to put their past behind them and give them a second chance or it can remind us personally to let go of a past and not allow it to drag us down. Sometimes the past wrongs are so dark we miss the good and positive things that were there as well.
Book received through NetGalley for review.
Cheryl Steele has a new life as a ballerina. She is no longer Cheryl Thatcher from Kansas. Her sister Angie is getting married in Witchita and then Cheryl will return to her role as lead dancer in Alice in Wonderland as they tour eight states. Ballet brings joy in her life, at least while she is on the stage. She is determined to keep her past buried even if it's buried alive.
Angie tries to talk her into visiting the old homestead and face her past so she can forgive and move on. For some foolish reason Cheryl turns off the highway to her past before her big show that night. A choice that will change her future and upset her balanced life. She looks towards the homestead and then leaves as quickly as she can. A late snow storm has hit in April and to avoid running over a man on a horse, Cheryl ends up in a ditch with a ruined rental car. Suddenly she feels more like Alice falling into the rabbit hole.
Sam Hardin and his horse, Dusty, came within inches of danger. The car almost ran them over. What maniac would be driving fast on a dark snow filled night? It ends up being a beautiful woman that’s who. After he works at getting her foot out of the bended metal of her car, Sam, Dusty and the woman go back to his home. Sam keeps telling himself not to be attracted to Cheryl. She is as mismatched to him as his ex-wife, Natalie, was. And she would be leaving as soon as she could.
Cheryl lost her wallet so she could not leave yet as well as having a broken foot. She could not stay in this area long. She found out Sam's mom would know her from school and if others recognized her it could ruin her career. She was too much of a coward to fight being called names and be reminded of her past. Once she meets Kayla and Lindy, Sam's twin girls, she quickly falls in love with them and agrees to stay awhile longer to help care for them. She can't work with her broken foot anyway.
Great story. Two mischievous twins girls, a cocky cat, a handsome cowboy, a cantankerous grandmother and more. It once again is a story that reminds us to allow people to put their past behind them and give them a second chance or it can remind us personally to let go of a past and not allow it to drag us down. Sometimes the past wrongs are so dark we miss the good and positive things that were there as well.
Book received through NetGalley for review.
September 6, 2011
Balancing Act by Patricia Davids, Harlequin Heartwarming. First released as Love Thine Enemy (Love Inspired).
Cheryl Steele has a new life as a ballerina. She is no longer Cheryl Thatcher from Kansas. Her sister Angie is getting married in Witchita and then Cheryl will return to her role as lead dancer in Alice in Wonderland as they tour eight states. Ballet brings joy in her life, at least while she is on the stage. She is determined to keep her past buried even if it's buried alive.
Angie tries to talk her into visiting the old homestead and face her past so she can forgive and move on. For some foolish reason Cheryl turns off the highway to her past before her big show that night. A choice that will change her future and upset her balanced life. She looks towards the homestead and then leaves as quickly as she can. A late snow storm has hit in April and to avoid running over a man on a horse, Cheryl ends up in a ditch with a ruined rental car. Suddenly she feels more like Alice falling into the rabbit hole.
Sam Hardin and his horse, Dusty, came within inches of danger. The car almost ran them over. What maniac would be driving fast on a dark snow filled night? It ends up being a beautiful woman that’s who. After he works at getting her foot out of the bended metal of her car, Sam, Dusty and the woman go back to his home. Sam keeps telling himself not to be attracted to Cheryl. She is as mismatched to him as his ex-wife, Natalie, was. And she would be leaving as soon as she could.
Cheryl lost her wallet so she could not leave yet as well as having a broken foot. She could not stay in this area long. She found out Sam's mom would know her from school and if others recognized her it could ruin her career. She was too much of a coward to fight being called names and be reminded of her past. Once she meets Kayla and Lindy, Sam's twin girls, she quickly falls in love with them and agrees to stay awhile longer to help care for them. She can't work with her broken foot anyway.
Great story. Two mischievous twins girls, a cocky cat, a handsome cowboy, a cantankerous grandmother and more. It once again is a story that reminds us to allow people to put their past behind them and give them a second chance or it can remind us personally to let go of a past and not allow it to drag us down. Sometimes the past wrongs are so dark we miss the good and positive things that were there as well.
Book received through NetGalley for review.
Cheryl Steele has a new life as a ballerina. She is no longer Cheryl Thatcher from Kansas. Her sister Angie is getting married in Witchita and then Cheryl will return to her role as lead dancer in Alice in Wonderland as they tour eight states. Ballet brings joy in her life, at least while she is on the stage. She is determined to keep her past buried even if it's buried alive.
Angie tries to talk her into visiting the old homestead and face her past so she can forgive and move on. For some foolish reason Cheryl turns off the highway to her past before her big show that night. A choice that will change her future and upset her balanced life. She looks towards the homestead and then leaves as quickly as she can. A late snow storm has hit in April and to avoid running over a man on a horse, Cheryl ends up in a ditch with a ruined rental car. Suddenly she feels more like Alice falling into the rabbit hole.
Sam Hardin and his horse, Dusty, came within inches of danger. The car almost ran them over. What maniac would be driving fast on a dark snow filled night? It ends up being a beautiful woman that’s who. After he works at getting her foot out of the bended metal of her car, Sam, Dusty and the woman go back to his home. Sam keeps telling himself not to be attracted to Cheryl. She is as mismatched to him as his ex-wife, Natalie, was. And she would be leaving as soon as she could.
Cheryl lost her wallet so she could not leave yet as well as having a broken foot. She could not stay in this area long. She found out Sam's mom would know her from school and if others recognized her it could ruin her career. She was too much of a coward to fight being called names and be reminded of her past. Once she meets Kayla and Lindy, Sam's twin girls, she quickly falls in love with them and agrees to stay awhile longer to help care for them. She can't work with her broken foot anyway.
Great story. Two mischievous twins girls, a cocky cat, a handsome cowboy, a cantankerous grandmother and more. It once again is a story that reminds us to allow people to put their past behind them and give them a second chance or it can remind us personally to let go of a past and not allow it to drag us down. Sometimes the past wrongs are so dark we miss the good and positive things that were there as well.
Book received through NetGalley for review.
November 8, 2011
5 STARS
Its a family romance on a ranch. With twin little girls, bulls wearing nail polish and throw in cattle rustlers. Makes for a fun enjoyable story.
Cheryl Steele goes to her sister wedding and has to drive aways to get to her ballet performance. She has a starring role in the traveling ballet. Angie tries to make her sister promise to go out to the ranch where they used to live. Cheryl keeps telling her no but finds her almost to the ranch and she turns the car around in the snow and hurry down the road so she won't be late and she almost runs a cowboy on his horse down. Cheryl is able to advoid him but wrecks the car and traps her foot. Sam Hardin is finally able to free her foot and they ride his horse to the ranch.
Cheryl is stuck their till the roads opens in a few days and finally gets to hospital and her foot has two broken bones. Cheryl is fired from the ballet, she's leased her apartment out for the 6 months she was on tour and her wallet is missing. Cheryl does not want to tell her past and that she used to live here in this area years ago.
Sam is cattle rancher and architect raising his twin girls. His mother baby sits for him when he has to go away to work. But she has to go help her daughter who has three children and just got put on bed rest for the rest of her pregnacy. Cheryl agrees to stay and help take care of the girls while he works for a while.
The twins are adoreable and get into lots of things they shouldn't and want her to stay longer. Cheryl falls for them quickly but does not want her past mistakes and family history of trouble to be found out. She is afraid someone will reconsise her.
I had a great time seeing what happens next in the story. Its clean feal good story. I want to read more from Patricia Davids. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.
Its a family romance on a ranch. With twin little girls, bulls wearing nail polish and throw in cattle rustlers. Makes for a fun enjoyable story.
Cheryl Steele goes to her sister wedding and has to drive aways to get to her ballet performance. She has a starring role in the traveling ballet. Angie tries to make her sister promise to go out to the ranch where they used to live. Cheryl keeps telling her no but finds her almost to the ranch and she turns the car around in the snow and hurry down the road so she won't be late and she almost runs a cowboy on his horse down. Cheryl is able to advoid him but wrecks the car and traps her foot. Sam Hardin is finally able to free her foot and they ride his horse to the ranch.
Cheryl is stuck their till the roads opens in a few days and finally gets to hospital and her foot has two broken bones. Cheryl is fired from the ballet, she's leased her apartment out for the 6 months she was on tour and her wallet is missing. Cheryl does not want to tell her past and that she used to live here in this area years ago.
Sam is cattle rancher and architect raising his twin girls. His mother baby sits for him when he has to go away to work. But she has to go help her daughter who has three children and just got put on bed rest for the rest of her pregnacy. Cheryl agrees to stay and help take care of the girls while he works for a while.
The twins are adoreable and get into lots of things they shouldn't and want her to stay longer. Cheryl falls for them quickly but does not want her past mistakes and family history of trouble to be found out. She is afraid someone will reconsise her.
I had a great time seeing what happens next in the story. Its clean feal good story. I want to read more from Patricia Davids. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.
August 18, 2011
The Deal: Cheryl Steele planned to just make a small detour for her sister's wedding and leave Kansas and her past behind for good, focusing on her ballet tour and the part of her life.
But her sister makes her promise to visit their childhood home, and taking that turn of the road results on Cheryl getting into an accident and landing in the care of Sam Hardin.
Cheryl has a bad history with the Hardins, and the people of their small town, most of whom turned their backs on her mother and her whole family due to her father's misdeeds.
However, living with Sam and his little daughters changes her perspective of things, making her stop and wonder, for the first time ever, if she was so focused on her career that she forgot to live.
My Thoughts: Balancing Act wasn't exactly what I was expecting, from the blurb I expected something different and the story turned out to be a little less complicated than I originally thought it would be.
The story was mostly about Cheryl accepting her past and finally letting go, and stopping long enough to realize that not all people in the world are bad. It was also a little about Sam learning to trust again after his ex-wife left him and their two daughters because she just didn't want to live in a small town in the middle of nowhere.
For me, the most delightful part of the story was the twins, Kayla and Lindy and their cat Bonkers, who were funny and acted like little girls.
The romance was a bit watered down, I expected a little bit more of it, but it was, over all, an entertaining story, even if sometimes certain interactions and dialogue sounded a bit deliberate and scripted.
But her sister makes her promise to visit their childhood home, and taking that turn of the road results on Cheryl getting into an accident and landing in the care of Sam Hardin.
Cheryl has a bad history with the Hardins, and the people of their small town, most of whom turned their backs on her mother and her whole family due to her father's misdeeds.
However, living with Sam and his little daughters changes her perspective of things, making her stop and wonder, for the first time ever, if she was so focused on her career that she forgot to live.
My Thoughts: Balancing Act wasn't exactly what I was expecting, from the blurb I expected something different and the story turned out to be a little less complicated than I originally thought it would be.
The story was mostly about Cheryl accepting her past and finally letting go, and stopping long enough to realize that not all people in the world are bad. It was also a little about Sam learning to trust again after his ex-wife left him and their two daughters because she just didn't want to live in a small town in the middle of nowhere.
For me, the most delightful part of the story was the twins, Kayla and Lindy and their cat Bonkers, who were funny and acted like little girls.
The romance was a bit watered down, I expected a little bit more of it, but it was, over all, an entertaining story, even if sometimes certain interactions and dialogue sounded a bit deliberate and scripted.
July 4, 2013
I know of Patricia Davids and her writing from her 'Love Inspired' novels: romances produced by the Harlequin company that have an emphasis on faith. This book was from a line of Harlequin books called 'Harlequin Heartwarming'. The premise is almost the same: a sweet, clean romance; but the faith element is not featured.
I have to say, I missed the discussion of faith. Yes, the characters in this novel exhibited character growth (forgiveness, learning to trust, etc), but there was just that little reminder of WHY forgiveness is possible and WHO we need to put our trust in that would have made this novel so much better.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters. Sam and Cheryl were each strong in their own right for the most part, and overcame challenges to become even better by the end of the book. However, as adorable as the twins were, they sure got away with a WHOLE lot of shenanigans! For instance, there was one incident in the book where they were grounded for a period of time. If *I* had pulled a stunt like the one they did, the consequences would have been far worse! I think that made for somewhat of a 'disconnect' with me in this book.
I waffled between giving this 2 and 3 stars, but ended up with 3 because, overall, I did like the story. Sometimes, I really wish GoodReads would let us give ratings with 1/2 stars, and not just whole stars! *wink*
I have to say, I missed the discussion of faith. Yes, the characters in this novel exhibited character growth (forgiveness, learning to trust, etc), but there was just that little reminder of WHY forgiveness is possible and WHO we need to put our trust in that would have made this novel so much better.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters. Sam and Cheryl were each strong in their own right for the most part, and overcame challenges to become even better by the end of the book. However, as adorable as the twins were, they sure got away with a WHOLE lot of shenanigans! For instance, there was one incident in the book where they were grounded for a period of time. If *I* had pulled a stunt like the one they did, the consequences would have been far worse! I think that made for somewhat of a 'disconnect' with me in this book.
I waffled between giving this 2 and 3 stars, but ended up with 3 because, overall, I did like the story. Sometimes, I really wish GoodReads would let us give ratings with 1/2 stars, and not just whole stars! *wink*
March 16, 2012
This was a cute, fun read that I really enjoyed. Building off of a basic idea of being stranded, the author was able to pull in aspects of the characters' past and present to create a pleasantly complicated plot. The characters had enough depth to be interesting and understandable. Cheryl and Sam have a cute interplay between them. The romance is sweet and light and has your heart wrenching along with theirs. Side characters fill the story in nicely and made me wonder if the author ever wrote out stories for the others. The pace was good with some exciting points and good conflicts. Altogether it was an enjoyable read and definitely a cute story.
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October 11, 2011This one was super sweet. I loved the twins! Cheryl was a good heroine. I enjoyed her battle between her goal as a dancer and the new possibilities Sam and his girls offered her. It is nice to read books where people have to face a past they would rather forget. I liked the ending too. Sometimes going for a new dream doesn't mean abandoning the old one. I really liked watching Sam and Cheryl fall in love.
June 28, 2014
Awww...the ballerina, the twin five year old little girls, the handsome cowboy,..they all worm their ways into your heart. When the ballerina confronts her past and comes to her relationship with God, He heals her past and gives her a future like she never dreamed of. I really liked this book and will read more by this author
March 25, 2016
Stranded in her old hometown, that was the last place Cheryl Steele ever wanted to be. Too many secrets. . . and family heartaches. After an accident, Sam Hardin takes her in his home, exposes her to his twin girls and forces her to make decisions she's not ready to face.
December 19, 2008
Again, I loved the characters and the situation was challenging and i liked how they got through it.
February 2, 2009
I thought this was a fun book to read. There's not a lot of depth to the plot in my opinion, but was still entertaining ad it had a great ending!
February 3, 2012
Good quick reading for a 'small' book!
February 21, 2014
A very unique story. It had some predictability, but also some surprises. I enjoyed the story very much.
June 21, 2014
got a bit put off by the premise that the character had been sent to juvenile prison as part of rustling committed by her father
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February 12, 2015I had read this book before. It is better written than most Love Inspired books...although still delightfully predictable.
September 25, 2014
I enjoyed the story line It was heart warming and refreshing Even my husband liked the book
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