You Send Me

by Toni Blake

The daughter of an over-protective father, Millicent Anderson has never been permitted an ounce of freedom? her father has kept her completely sheltered from boys, and even quashed her dream of being a teacher. But when a family trip leads her to tiny Moose Falls, Montana, and she catches sight of bad boy Johnny Pickett, her heart flips -- and before she knows it, she's breaking all the rules to be near him. In Johnny's arms, Millie discovers passion, and Millie is just what Johnny needs to heal after war. When her father tries to separate them by dangling her old dreams before her, however, Millie's forced to make a choice: Will she choose the love of her family and the opportunity to build a career -- or will she leave everything behind for the hot guy she's fallen for?

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Short Stories

41 pages, ebook

First published May 13, 2008

About the author

Toni Blake's love of writing began when she won an essay contest in the fifth grade. Soon after, she penned her first novel, nineteen notebook-pages long, and announced to her mother over breakfast one day that she was going to be a writer when she grew up. Since then, Toni has become the author of more than forty contemporary romance novels. Her work has been excerpted in Cosmo, she's been a recipient of the Kentucky Women Writers Fellowship and she's been a nominee for the prestigious Pushcart Prize. In addition to being a two-time finalist for the Rita Award, she's received both the National Readers Choice Award and the Booksellers Best Award. Toni lives in the Midwest with her husband and enjoys traveling, crafts, and being outdoors.

Toni has also written under the name Toni Blair.

Photo: Cassandra Stella

Reviews

[Auntee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet prequel to the fantastic Letters to a Secret Lover (which really should be read before this one). This is Aunt Millie's story, taking place in the late 1950's. Millie's a sheltered, virginal, 22 year-old young woman, a recent college grad, ready to make her mark on the world, but her loving but over-protective father keeps holding her back. On a family vacation/business trip to tiny Moose Falls, Montana, Millie finally gets some backbone and rebels against her father's smothering love, hooking up with a dangerous looking 'bad boy'/war vet who makes her all hot and bothered, 26 year old Johnny Pickett. When her one week vacation is over, will Millie choose the man she's come to love, or will she 'do what's expected of her' and heed her father's wishes and grab a chance at a career she's always wanted?

I love Toni Blake's writing, and I was all ready to settle in to a juicy story. I could tell that Millie the 'good girl' and Johnny the 'bad boy' were characters who I could really fall in love with. But I was startled (and disappointed) by how short it was! Boy, did I want (and expect) more.:(

For fans of Ms. Blake's writing, you won't want to miss this little nugget (no matter how short it was). There's plenty of 50's atmosphere here (the music and clothing), and for some reason, Millie and Johnny (and even Millie's father) seemed like they stepped right out of the 'Dirty Dancing' movie. When Johnny stood up to Millie's father, saying "Millie's done nothing wrong. She's a grown woman. You can't treat her that way!" I had a flashback of Patrick Swayze saying "Nobody puts Baby in a corner.":) Nice potential here but had me hungering for a lot more. 4 stars

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

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You Send Me is a prequel to Letters To A Secret Lover and tells the story of Aunt Millie and how she found herself in Moose Falls Montana, and how she met Johnny Prickett, the love of her life.

In Letters To a Secret Lover, we came to love Aunt Millie, even though we never met her, and so it was such a joy getting a glimpse into this young woman who went on to affect so many lives.

Thanks for this story, Ms. Blake. It was short, it was sexy and it was romantic, and it put a smile on my face and warmed my heart.

[Miss Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww...I wish this was a full length story. For those that have read Letters from a Secret Lover will enjoy this little prequel about beloved Aunt Millie and Johnny. It is the kind of story that just makes you smile and feel all gooey inside.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Send Me by Toni Blake is a 2009 Harper Collins publication.
This very short story with approximately 55 pages centers on a young woman in 1957 named Millie who is in her early twenties but still under the thumb of her parents especially that of her father. While on vacation in Montana, Millie meets Johnny and it's lust at first sight. But, Johnny is the type of guy Millie's father would never approve of for his daughter. So, when push comes to shove will Millie once more submit to her father's will or will she finally stand up for what she feels in the right direction for her life to go?

This book is a prequel to “Letter to a Secret Lover”. However, the story can stand on it's own two legs and winds up being a really sweet love story. Two people who are from very different backgrounds quickly forge a bond that is powerful enough to give them the strength and courage to change the path they are on.

I picked this one up in the kindle store during a promo and it was either free or 99 cents. I see that it is now all the way up to $2.99. Since half of the book is the story you are paying for and the other half of the book is a preview for a new book by this author, I don't know if I would say the story was good enough to merit such a high price. If you catch it on sale then buy all means check it out. But, it took me about 15 minutes to read it, if that. Just sayin.

This one gets 3.5 stars rounded to 4

[Splage · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know this existed until I saw Auntee's wonderful review. Toni Blake is one of my favorite authors; great stories, well developed, likable characters, with some good sizzling sex scenes- they have always been a hit with me. This story is about Aunt Millie from "Letters to a Secret Lover" it was very short, 35 pages, a cute, sweet read. It reminded me of the Grease era, Johnny with his ducktail hairdo and leather jacket- very reminiscent of Danny, Millie- the sheltered, virginal Sandy. The story is about how they meet and fall in love. Since it is so short, there wasn't much detail and over development, but it still worked- a good love at first sight story that takes 30 minutes to read.

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read, but too darn short. I shouldn't have expected something as good as Letters to a Secret Lover, but hope springs eternal - and disappointment lurks in the corner. Oh well...

[Nancy Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the time of the war in Korea, this is a short story romance of a young woman, Millie, being thwarted in her life and career by her father, meets bad boy Johnny while on vacation with her family. He gives her an opportunity to experience life and love, but will her father permit it? Who will she choose? To stay close to home (and family) or to be with the man she had come to love (and start her teaching career)?

Also the edition I read had the prologue and a couple chapters of a novel: All I Want is You. It is a contemporary romance.

[Eternal-Love78 Michelina Sabio Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A COMMENDABLE PREQUEL TO "LETTER TO A SECRET LOVER!"

This short-novella reminded me of my MOST favorite movie of all time, "DIRTY DANCING!" Hence there was absolutely NO dancing, but the storylines were similar.

Good, well-behaved young lady, Millicent Anderson, has done every single thing her father had ever asked her to do. Go to a Catholic School, attending an all-girls college, and eventually graduating with her teacher's degree. However, Millie's father, Harold, doesn't want her to teach in Appalachia, where Millie has dreamt of teaching since childhood, instead he would rather her become a replacement for his secretary.

It's not until they visit Moose Falls, Montana for a week trip, commending Millie's recent graduation (yet it's disguised as a business venture for her father), when Millie truly allows to LET-IT-ALL-HANG-LOOSE!

She meets Johnny Pickett, at the infamous boathouse from "Letter to a Secret Lover," that his father owns and he is currently employed at. It was LOVE at first sight, for both of them. Nonetheless, Johnny is not what Harold would ever consider boyfriend material for Millie. The boy from the wrong side of the tracks, or in his case the boy who went to war, and returned a man.

There is an instant attraction to Johnny and Millie, one that cannot be extinguished by anyone who gets in their way, especially Harold. But could they truly and undeniably make it work?

My ONLY qualm about this story was its EXTREMELY short. Had Ms. Blake actual written a full novel, then I would've given it beyond a 10 star rating. Yet overall, what a CAPTIVATED insight to the WORLD-WIND ROMANCE, who technically started it all, Johnny & Millie. DEFINITELY WITHOUT-A-DOUBT A 4 1/2 STAR RATING!!

[Heather L · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to be impartial and critical of someone you know, but... I have to take exception to the "just then" that occurred a mere four pages into the story. I admit I may be over-sensitive to the use of this phrase since That Book read two months ago that blatantly abused it, but it cannot be helped. I still believe that it is week writing, that sentences are stronger without it. No matter how good or popular the author, no matter how much I like the author, or whether it be an author I know -- every time I see it now, I cringe and am thrown out of the story.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars/Fiction; Romance

Admittedly, I really like Toni Blake's writing so I tend to rate her books pretty high.

This short story is a good example of her work and how she develops the characters/situations at a quick, comfortable pace. If you like this book, you should definitely check out her other books. You won't be disappointed!

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

To me, this one had the feel of the movie Dirty Dancing. I felt for Millie and how trapped she felt, was happy that she defied her father and found something special with Johnny. I hated how things looked like they were going to end. Millie's mother surprised me, that she was the one that to talk sense to her father. I loved that Johnny was ready to follow Millie's dream.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short and now I want to read more about them? Does this continue? I read another book about Moose Falls and thought this was the one with the grandmother of that girl in that book? I'll have to check..lol.

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good short story. The subject is a little on the Dirty Dancing side without the dirty dancing.
It is about a young woman whose father is over protective. They go on a family vacation and Millie falls in love with a bad boy

[Huluriasquias · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and Sweet. The ending was a bit abrupt for my taste. (Many issues remained unsolved)

[Nichole Lupardus · Rating 3 out of 5]

First story I have read by Mrs. Blake in a long time. It was a cute little story and now I need to go read Letters to a Secret Lover

[Gwynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want to know what happens to the couple.

[Vikki Andrews]

Not her best; glad I have read her latest books since they are excellent. Had I read this book first I probably would not have picked up another.