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Jasper #3
Finding Home
Sometimes that imaginary line in the sand is the only thing stopping you from loving. Parker is homeless. He's hot, tired, hungry, and thirsty. He has never expected miracles in his short life. They don't happen to him. When he's picked up on the side of the road by a well-meaning grandfather, he's driven to Jasper. Another small town on another long stretch of highway. One that would be nothing but a place to get a meal with the twenty he reluctantly accepts from the compassionate driver. Ian can well remember the sight of his niece that long ago morning Caleb brought her shivering, terrified, and homeless to his door. Unable to leave the young man, he offers the first kindnesses Parker will have known in more than three years. Through Ian, Caleb, and their family, Parker regains his dignity, and his ambition to reach goals taken from him. It's a slow process for him because trust doesn't happen overnight. But by the time he's found a family, love, and dreams, he also realizes he may have found home.
133 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2013
8 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Diana DeRicci
71 books186 followersDiana DeRicci is the sexy, flirty pen name of Diana Castilleja. A romance author at heart, DeRicci’s writing takes you into a saucier spectrum of sensuality and sexual adventure, where a happily-ever-after is still the key to any story.
Diana lives in Central Texas with her husband, one son and a feisty little Chihuahua named Rascal.
Diana lives in Central Texas with her husband, one son and a feisty little Chihuahua named Rascal.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 1, 2013
Sometimes, I like a feel good story. Diana DeRicci's story, Finding Home, starts out rough for our main character, Parker. He's gotten the crap kicked out of him by life. Sometimes, pride is all a person has left but Parker takes the ride and the $20 offered to him by a well-meaning older man. Even more amazingly... just a short time later, he takes the help offered by a local gay couple, one of which is a local cop, to stick around for a while.
People pop up to help Parker settle in to Jasper. No one offers him a handout after the initial effort of the ride and a bit of money for food, but they certainly offer him a hand up. I loved the realism of the struggles Parker faces as he begins to stand on his own two feet once more.
Diana could've given us a pat romance device of uniting Parker with his first love, and the reason for his journey on the road, but she's a better writer than that. I loved the interweaving of Parker's past life and people from it with the connections he was making in the present with Ian and Caleb's families. I adored Summer, as we were meant to, of course.
Okay, so the plot moves a bit fast for all the changes and the emotional leaps for the characters. I'd have enjoyed more story and getting to know Parker and his romantic interest more as a couple. That, however, is exactly what every really good story I read leaves me wanting. I know as an author that isn't always the way it works, but as a reader, I WANT! lol
All in all, I definitely recommend reading this story! Oh, and I read this outside of the series, having never read the first or second, and had no troubles keeping up with the story as a stand alone. I'm sure I might have been more familiar with a few of the other characters had I read it after them, but it wasn't necessary.
People pop up to help Parker settle in to Jasper. No one offers him a handout after the initial effort of the ride and a bit of money for food, but they certainly offer him a hand up. I loved the realism of the struggles Parker faces as he begins to stand on his own two feet once more.
Diana could've given us a pat romance device of uniting Parker with his first love, and the reason for his journey on the road, but she's a better writer than that. I loved the interweaving of Parker's past life and people from it with the connections he was making in the present with Ian and Caleb's families. I adored Summer, as we were meant to, of course.
Okay, so the plot moves a bit fast for all the changes and the emotional leaps for the characters. I'd have enjoyed more story and getting to know Parker and his romantic interest more as a couple. That, however, is exactly what every really good story I read leaves me wanting. I know as an author that isn't always the way it works, but as a reader, I WANT! lol
All in all, I definitely recommend reading this story! Oh, and I read this outside of the series, having never read the first or second, and had no troubles keeping up with the story as a stand alone. I'm sure I might have been more familiar with a few of the other characters had I read it after them, but it wasn't necessary.
September 30, 2013
Please leave comments on Lucky's 5 sweet pea review of Finding Home at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
“You were just taken down by forty-five pounds of pure fluff.”
Parker is alone. Has been for years since he was thrown out of his family. His crime? Being gay. Parker travels a lonely road, accepting kindness from strangers, doing what he has to in order to survive. Despite it all, or maybe because of it, he's become a stronger person. All that power of character won't help him as he's down on his luck and needs a helping hand.
Enter Grint, a kindly old man who picks Parker up at the side of the road and brings him into town where Parker finds...well, he finds a life.
Diana DeRicci has done a wonderful job with Parker. He's sympathetic and you can't help but feel for him the way the townspeople do.
One of the scars that Parker carries from his final encounter with his father is a cracked tooth. He needs a dentist desperately. His new friends take him to the town dentist whose name, oddly enough, is Will Parkinson (shhh, don't tell anyone, it's me in disguise!) Dr. Parkinson feels a kindred soul in Parker and he wants to help the troubled young man.
From these feelings, a bond of friendship forms. It's good to see them grow as people, real people, with hopes, dreams, aspirations, fears, and the whole nine yards.
When Parker gets a phone call from home he knows he needs to be there. Will the trouble waiting for him there force him to stay? Will he ever find his way back to the family he's created?
Finding Home should never have to be a choice, but Parker will have to face it head-on.
“You were just taken down by forty-five pounds of pure fluff.”
Parker is alone. Has been for years since he was thrown out of his family. His crime? Being gay. Parker travels a lonely road, accepting kindness from strangers, doing what he has to in order to survive. Despite it all, or maybe because of it, he's become a stronger person. All that power of character won't help him as he's down on his luck and needs a helping hand.
Enter Grint, a kindly old man who picks Parker up at the side of the road and brings him into town where Parker finds...well, he finds a life.
Diana DeRicci has done a wonderful job with Parker. He's sympathetic and you can't help but feel for him the way the townspeople do.
One of the scars that Parker carries from his final encounter with his father is a cracked tooth. He needs a dentist desperately. His new friends take him to the town dentist whose name, oddly enough, is Will Parkinson (shhh, don't tell anyone, it's me in disguise!) Dr. Parkinson feels a kindred soul in Parker and he wants to help the troubled young man.
From these feelings, a bond of friendship forms. It's good to see them grow as people, real people, with hopes, dreams, aspirations, fears, and the whole nine yards.
When Parker gets a phone call from home he knows he needs to be there. Will the trouble waiting for him there force him to stay? Will he ever find his way back to the family he's created?
Finding Home should never have to be a choice, but Parker will have to face it head-on.
February 19, 2015
This one follows on in the same vein as the previous books.
Sweet smooth reading. A little hurt comfort but mostly just comfort.
Sweet smooth reading. A little hurt comfort but mostly just comfort.
September 29, 2013
YEA! I soooo enjoyed this return trip to Jasper. I really liked Tougher To Love and Second Chance Summer. Visiting with Caleb and Ian's family that they were born into and the family that they have made is a great place to be.
When homeless and hungry Parker just about collapses at Ian's feet, he sees something that he just can't walk away from. It turns out that Parker has been on his own for some time and he's not used to trusting anybody or having anybody care about him and make the effort. Caleb and Ian aren't pushovers and they see somebody who is really down on their luck and needs a break. When they find out why he's on his own and understand how badly he has been hurt, they encourage him to stay and make a new plan.
When Parker meets Will - over a very bad dental infection - they make a connection that they both fight for a while. They feel their way along slowly as Parker is learning to trust people and Will is worried about pushing too hard with someone who has been through a lot.
I liked the pacing of the story as well. Will and Parker take time to get to know each other. Parker is determined to move his life in the right direction - with the help he accepts from his new family. I LOVED getting the visit with Jake and Brice and Jeannie and Wanda and little Summer.
Just a very feel good story that shows that sometimes all anybody needs a little help and their whole life can turn around.
When homeless and hungry Parker just about collapses at Ian's feet, he sees something that he just can't walk away from. It turns out that Parker has been on his own for some time and he's not used to trusting anybody or having anybody care about him and make the effort. Caleb and Ian aren't pushovers and they see somebody who is really down on their luck and needs a break. When they find out why he's on his own and understand how badly he has been hurt, they encourage him to stay and make a new plan.
When Parker meets Will - over a very bad dental infection - they make a connection that they both fight for a while. They feel their way along slowly as Parker is learning to trust people and Will is worried about pushing too hard with someone who has been through a lot.
I liked the pacing of the story as well. Will and Parker take time to get to know each other. Parker is determined to move his life in the right direction - with the help he accepts from his new family. I LOVED getting the visit with Jake and Brice and Jeannie and Wanda and little Summer.
Just a very feel good story that shows that sometimes all anybody needs a little help and their whole life can turn around.
November 27, 2014
Well. By the end I am not quite as enthusiastic as one might think.
There was just a lot of mush and needless delaying at the end. Or maybe not that much compared to some books, but I don’t quite seem to be in the mood. To be fair, it’s hot and I am tired. Didn’t even realize I’d reached the end until I’d turned the page and it was over. I actually had to re-read the last few lines to make sure. And that’s clearly not a fault of the writing but of my current state.
Some of this appealed to me quite a bit. It simply did not zing with me on the whole.
Added to that I kept noticing a problem the author appears to have with “dangling adverbs” (for want of a better term). As in, “Gratefully, Parker did not notice.” When what is actually meant is that Will, the current viewpoint character, was relieved that Parker didn’t notice something. Looks like the author intended to use “thankfully” instead (which would have worked, although “luckily” would have been even safer) – but those words in that function are not exchangeable. And I wouldn’t even mention this now if it hadn’t been a recurring theme. Ah well.
Still a nice book with a slow, gentle romance and that well-loved theme of a protagonist rebuilding his life after having lost everything. There should be a whole subgenre for romances that begin with a main character being picked up off the roadside; I’m a sucker for that. (Even wrote half a novel about it. Hah.)
Anyway. After this fitting finish to this small series, I should switch authors since clearly I’m getting impatient with this one for now. Variety, whee!
There was just a lot of mush and needless delaying at the end. Or maybe not that much compared to some books, but I don’t quite seem to be in the mood. To be fair, it’s hot and I am tired. Didn’t even realize I’d reached the end until I’d turned the page and it was over. I actually had to re-read the last few lines to make sure. And that’s clearly not a fault of the writing but of my current state.
Some of this appealed to me quite a bit. It simply did not zing with me on the whole.
Added to that I kept noticing a problem the author appears to have with “dangling adverbs” (for want of a better term). As in, “Gratefully, Parker did not notice.” When what is actually meant is that Will, the current viewpoint character, was relieved that Parker didn’t notice something. Looks like the author intended to use “thankfully” instead (which would have worked, although “luckily” would have been even safer) – but those words in that function are not exchangeable. And I wouldn’t even mention this now if it hadn’t been a recurring theme. Ah well.
Still a nice book with a slow, gentle romance and that well-loved theme of a protagonist rebuilding his life after having lost everything. There should be a whole subgenre for romances that begin with a main character being picked up off the roadside; I’m a sucker for that. (Even wrote half a novel about it. Hah.)
Anyway. After this fitting finish to this small series, I should switch authors since clearly I’m getting impatient with this one for now. Variety, whee!
February 18, 2015
Review Written for http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Parker has been homeless three years. He was kicked out by a homophobe father when he was just 17. He has been walking and just surviving, never going backwards. One day he is walking and so hot and tired when a Man in a pickup stops and offers him a ride into Jasper. He also gives him twenty dollars and tells him to go into the café for a hot meal. As he is entering he sees a cop and has a panic attack nearly passing out. A man helps him offers him a meal. Parker sees the man kiss the cop and call him husband. Ian, Caleb’s ( the sheriff) husband, Takes pity on the boy and feels a strong need to help him. Parker never knew how much one ride to a small town could change his life.
I absolutely loved this book. The story was so sweet and interesting. All the characters are intriguing. This is a nice happy story even if there is some of parkers past brought up and a twist near the end but all and all this is a sweet loving happy story. I would like to think there are people as kind as Caleb and Ian that could take in a stranger and treat them as their own. It makes life worth living in this time of so much hate, and sorrow. This is a refreshing read, though I would have liked a bit more sex especially near the end (can’t say more it would be a spoiler)
If you like a good love story about acceptance, family and love, small ton sheriff ( yes a hot man in uniform) mechanics, dentists and I even got my cowboy! This one is for you!
Parker has been homeless three years. He was kicked out by a homophobe father when he was just 17. He has been walking and just surviving, never going backwards. One day he is walking and so hot and tired when a Man in a pickup stops and offers him a ride into Jasper. He also gives him twenty dollars and tells him to go into the café for a hot meal. As he is entering he sees a cop and has a panic attack nearly passing out. A man helps him offers him a meal. Parker sees the man kiss the cop and call him husband. Ian, Caleb’s ( the sheriff) husband, Takes pity on the boy and feels a strong need to help him. Parker never knew how much one ride to a small town could change his life.
I absolutely loved this book. The story was so sweet and interesting. All the characters are intriguing. This is a nice happy story even if there is some of parkers past brought up and a twist near the end but all and all this is a sweet loving happy story. I would like to think there are people as kind as Caleb and Ian that could take in a stranger and treat them as their own. It makes life worth living in this time of so much hate, and sorrow. This is a refreshing read, though I would have liked a bit more sex especially near the end (can’t say more it would be a spoiler)
If you like a good love story about acceptance, family and love, small ton sheriff ( yes a hot man in uniform) mechanics, dentists and I even got my cowboy! This one is for you!
March 14, 2014
Okay, so here's the deal. Me and Miss DeRicci get along almost all of the time. I am quite fond of this Jasper series, to the point where I always want more. I love reading about their lives and their families. I loved seeing Ian, Caleb, Brice, and Jake. I fell in love with Summer!
You see, Parker didn't know what a real family was before he landed himself in Jasper (I would have liked to have seen more of Grint). His "dad" was a real bigot down in Texas and I am glad Parker got out of there.
I liked seeing him skittish, but yet at the same time I liked seeing him accept help from his "family".
The pacing was kind of fast, I would have liked more of Parker's path. He may have been only 20 years old, but he had to grow up fast. I am guessing he was never really a kid to begin with with the asshole of a father he had.
Then a prior injury leads him to his love interest. I liked how things were slow going. I liked how they didn't rush their relationship. I liked how patient the both of them were.
Parker and Summer's relationship? Some of my favorite moments. He was SO good with her.
Overall, I want more from Jasper!
You see, Parker didn't know what a real family was before he landed himself in Jasper (I would have liked to have seen more of Grint). His "dad" was a real bigot down in Texas and I am glad Parker got out of there.
I liked seeing him skittish, but yet at the same time I liked seeing him accept help from his "family".
The pacing was kind of fast, I would have liked more of Parker's path. He may have been only 20 years old, but he had to grow up fast. I am guessing he was never really a kid to begin with with the asshole of a father he had.
Then a prior injury leads him to his love interest. I liked how things were slow going. I liked how they didn't rush their relationship. I liked how patient the both of them were.
Parker and Summer's relationship? Some of my favorite moments. He was SO good with her.
Overall, I want more from Jasper!
January 7, 2017
Let me start by saying, I am NOT a big rodeo fan! I had a slight scare there for a bit... but the story quickly moved on! The story started off great... I loved seeing the kindness, compassion and understanding that we have come to know and love being shown by members of the Jasper community! Ian and Caleb see that Parker is in need and they offer the hand of friendship and beyond. This story being told is not a new story and is always a sad story no matter the outcome. I will admit that about 2/3 of the way in things started to drag... after the funeral, it just seems to be bleh. Yes, I loved both Parker and Will and yes, I was given my HFN with a strong indication of a HEA... but, I felt a little... bored? Perhaps it was just the "horse" things... as I said, I am NOT a big fan and have a tendency to just skim the description of the horses, barn and such.
Even with all that being said... I look forward to the next installment and hopefully we will hear the pitter-patter of two little feet in Parker and Will's life! *grin*
Even with all that being said... I look forward to the next installment and hopefully we will hear the pitter-patter of two little feet in Parker and Will's life! *grin*
November 13, 2013
This is probably the last Diana DeRicci I'm going to read for a while. I've really, really enjoyed some of her books (especially The Charlie Factor)but the last few have fallen flat, and this one was really disappointing. The start was promising, and I loved the idea of meeting Caleb and Ian again, but the pace of the story was awkward, the resolution was too smooth, I never believed the chemistry between the two MC's and most of the characters were very two-dimensional.
I don't know exactly what went wrong here, but I was definitely aware that it was not as well edited as some of her previous books. Among other issues the POV jumped around a lot, which is not the kind of technical problem I'd expect from such a seasoned author.
This could have been a great book and I really, really hope she finds her groove again soon.
I don't know exactly what went wrong here, but I was definitely aware that it was not as well edited as some of her previous books. Among other issues the POV jumped around a lot, which is not the kind of technical problem I'd expect from such a seasoned author.
This could have been a great book and I really, really hope she finds her groove again soon.
October 5, 2013
Hm, overall this is an easy written third part in Jasper series, but I wasn't as satisfied with it, as the others. I saw the problem in the writing style, which was way to fast paced. The main storyline emotionally didn't feel real or experienced. I couldn't really connect with Parker's changes. How he changed from being a drifter to getting a true stability with Ian, Caleb, and their family. Parker path wasn't developed enough, his past wasn't explained enough. Emotionally we couldn't experience how Parker changed from being a drifter to becoming a person with a new home and a new Boyfriend. His and Will's love story wasn't convincing, definitely emotionally to pretty and nice. Blah, boring!
January 14, 2021
This is the 3rd in a very enjoyable series and there is now a 4th follow up book to these 2 MC's (well all of them really). I was not sure about the homeless part, but the author really makes it all make sense and you really feel for the MC. Plus, all the characters from the first 2 books play a large role in this story and, since they are all hot and fabulous, it's a bonus! This is a really sweet love story too. I highly recommend all the books!
February 23, 2014
a sweet feel good book. i havent read any of the other books i think that are before this one though i didnt feel like i was missing out at all. it is a stan alone book. its about a man learning to trust again. it was short and quick to read. more emotion than sex. thats good in a book simetimes. the story was believable and ran the course u would predict.
October 12, 2013
Very sweet addition to the series. I really enjoyed reading about Parker and Will, and I really enjoyed how their relationship progressed in the story. I thought this was a very sweet romance with minimal angst and a happy ending. I hope there will be more in this series, I have enjoyed them all!
October 5, 2013
wonderful story
October 3, 2013
If you are searching for a romantic story plot with cowboys, family and friends you found book for you.
October 24, 2013
good book with likable MCs
June 1, 2023
Another excellent instalment set in Jasper, Iowa.
September 13, 2016
3.5 stars
May 5, 2014
Review later
March 31, 2015
Not bad...
October 22, 2018
A nice and wise story, and a happy end I really love.
October 13, 2013
3.5 stars
November 2, 2013
A GREAT STORY, A MUST READ
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews