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Freak
Hans Finesse enjoys a relaxed life as a requested massage therapist in a ritzy, high-end Napa spa until he gets a call that will change his life forever. It's not enough that his manager is also his surly ex, or that he has an embarrassing foot fetish he has to work desperately to hide, now his family appears to be unraveling at the seams. With his mother's suicide attempt looming over them, he must team up with his younger sister Gretchen in order to figure out how to make the family whole again.
Desperate to marry the accomplished writer she dates, nineteen-year-old half-Japanese Wendy Phillips finds herself at a loss for purpose in her life. She aspires to be a writer herself, but somehow never finds the time to finish anything, including college. Her boyfriend gives her all the money she wants for massages and clothes, but the only time he spends with her consists of her meeting his sexual needs. When she attempts to propose, he scoffs and tells her to "hold her horses," causing her to feel like the hole in her heart will never be filled.
When Wendy receives a massage from Hans that leaves her breathless, she realizes everything she wants is right in front of her. The problem is that she's too insecure to leave the luxury of her current relationship in order to experience true happiness. The other problem is her neighbor who knows she still has drug connections in Vegas and won't stop asking her to help him score. Wendy knows she escaped her old life just barely, but her neighbor's tempting offer makes it hard for her to refuse him and the pull of her deadly past.
Hans finds himself attracted to Wendy, but several things stand in the way of him making a move including the ethics of his client-therapist relationship, his vengeful ex and his chaotic family. When he attempts to bring his family closer by visiting his mother in the psychiatric hospital, he finds she doesn't even know where she is. His sister decides that she needs to quit school and move in with Hans in order to help the family, but Hans knows it will be hard to keep his fetish a secret in the confines of his one-bedroom apartment. Family pressures combined with an explosive secret from his ex-girlfriend cause Hans to realize that in order to do the honorable thing, he will most certainly lose the love of his life forever.
Freak is about the hard choices we make in life and the real love we always yearn for. It is a deeper look at mental illness, family dynamics and taking risks. We have to reach for our dreams even if it means exposing ourselves to pain. We have to trust that everything will work out for us, and that even if we feel alien amongst others we are, each and every one of us, special.
Desperate to marry the accomplished writer she dates, nineteen-year-old half-Japanese Wendy Phillips finds herself at a loss for purpose in her life. She aspires to be a writer herself, but somehow never finds the time to finish anything, including college. Her boyfriend gives her all the money she wants for massages and clothes, but the only time he spends with her consists of her meeting his sexual needs. When she attempts to propose, he scoffs and tells her to "hold her horses," causing her to feel like the hole in her heart will never be filled.
When Wendy receives a massage from Hans that leaves her breathless, she realizes everything she wants is right in front of her. The problem is that she's too insecure to leave the luxury of her current relationship in order to experience true happiness. The other problem is her neighbor who knows she still has drug connections in Vegas and won't stop asking her to help him score. Wendy knows she escaped her old life just barely, but her neighbor's tempting offer makes it hard for her to refuse him and the pull of her deadly past.
Hans finds himself attracted to Wendy, but several things stand in the way of him making a move including the ethics of his client-therapist relationship, his vengeful ex and his chaotic family. When he attempts to bring his family closer by visiting his mother in the psychiatric hospital, he finds she doesn't even know where she is. His sister decides that she needs to quit school and move in with Hans in order to help the family, but Hans knows it will be hard to keep his fetish a secret in the confines of his one-bedroom apartment. Family pressures combined with an explosive secret from his ex-girlfriend cause Hans to realize that in order to do the honorable thing, he will most certainly lose the love of his life forever.
Freak is about the hard choices we make in life and the real love we always yearn for. It is a deeper look at mental illness, family dynamics and taking risks. We have to reach for our dreams even if it means exposing ourselves to pain. We have to trust that everything will work out for us, and that even if we feel alien amongst others we are, each and every one of us, special.
158 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2013
6 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Pierce Chinelli
12 books6 followersIf magic were real, Katherine, “K.P.” Chinelli would probably still need to take copious notes about it instead of embarking on thrilling adventures. Her brain gets shiny-ball syndrome, so she has published ten books on a variety of subjects including self-help and romantic adventures. As well as being a Certified Massage Therapist and Health Educator, she has traveled to ten countries outside the U.S. including Egypt, where she got to see the pyramids up close. As a stay-at-home mom she is able to indulge in a multitude of hobbies, with learning useless skills being her favorite. Check out her eclectic collection at Smashwords and Amazon.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 18, 2017
I thought this book was very well written, I am an avid reader and I enjoy a large variety of genres and topics this was kind of a first for me. I feel like this book may have been lacking in something along the lines of what is popular right now in the new adult book and that may have spiced it up a bit.
The characters were slightly dull but they all meshed well together and kept the story moving Hans is an interesting guy, he is secure in what he likes, slightly nervous about women, confident in his job and what he's good at and that makes him attractive. His sister is a bit of a nut but offers diversity to Han's life. Wendy is great, slightly cowed in at home and still independent in the ways that really matter. She has a bit of a crazy past but is actively working to distance herself from it.
Not sure what is going on with the crazy moms in the story, I feel like all the characters have all this back story and history that I only get a small glimpse of here and there. Though everything seems to tie in together and nicely. The story itself is very good and I'm glad that I got to read it. I will be reading more from Katherine Pierce Chinelli in the future.
The characters were slightly dull but they all meshed well together and kept the story moving Hans is an interesting guy, he is secure in what he likes, slightly nervous about women, confident in his job and what he's good at and that makes him attractive. His sister is a bit of a nut but offers diversity to Han's life. Wendy is great, slightly cowed in at home and still independent in the ways that really matter. She has a bit of a crazy past but is actively working to distance herself from it.
Not sure what is going on with the crazy moms in the story, I feel like all the characters have all this back story and history that I only get a small glimpse of here and there. Though everything seems to tie in together and nicely. The story itself is very good and I'm glad that I got to read it. I will be reading more from Katherine Pierce Chinelli in the future.
August 21, 2014
I was given this book for an honest review
Freak where to start. Oh my freakin goodness this was not what I was expecting. Don't get me wrong I read the synopsis but still. While first reading this book I was like WTH and laughing at the same time because I could not believe that this was going on. It got to a point that I wanted to stop and just say that I could not finish this book and take it as a lost but I continued on and I realized that this is a really good book once you get past the shock of what was going on. I actually like Hans and his unique way and Wendy was the best. I was glad that I stuck this book out. The characters were delightful and the story line was good. This was the first book that I have ever read by Katherine and I look forward to reading more from her
Freak where to start. Oh my freakin goodness this was not what I was expecting. Don't get me wrong I read the synopsis but still. While first reading this book I was like WTH and laughing at the same time because I could not believe that this was going on. It got to a point that I wanted to stop and just say that I could not finish this book and take it as a lost but I continued on and I realized that this is a really good book once you get past the shock of what was going on. I actually like Hans and his unique way and Wendy was the best. I was glad that I stuck this book out. The characters were delightful and the story line was good. This was the first book that I have ever read by Katherine and I look forward to reading more from her
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews