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Flying Solo #2
Houseful of Strangers
Flying Solo -- single parents, second chances and the power of love...
HOUSEFUL OF STRANGERS:
**Finalist, National Readers' Choice Awards, Oklahoma Romance Writers
**Award of Merit--Holt Medallion, Virginia Romance Writers
After breaking his arm, Dr. Eric Mitchell is forced to seek help with his rural veterinary practice in upstate New York. The temp he hires is a surprise. At first glance, she seems too fragile to handle the large animals he caters to, and emotionally, she seems fragile as well. Her smiles are rare and don’t reach her eyes, especially around Joey, Eric’s ten-year-old son.
Two years after losing her husband and son, Dr. Alison Truesdale accepts a six-month position far away from her New York City home in an effort to pull herself together and move on with her life. A new environment and new challenges at work should help her to begin again. She hadn’t counted on a boss with an attitude. A man wary of women because of a bitter divorce and custody battle. She hadn’t counted on sharing a house with a sweet young boy, a painful reminder of her loss.
As trust begins to grow between Eric and Alison, another youngster enters their lives. An abused but street-smart runaway from the city hides in Eric’s barn which doesn’t thrill the vet. Surprisingly, this teenage girl might hold the key to transforming a houseful of strangers into a home full of love.
HOUSEFUL OF STRANGERS:
**Finalist, National Readers' Choice Awards, Oklahoma Romance Writers
**Award of Merit--Holt Medallion, Virginia Romance Writers
After breaking his arm, Dr. Eric Mitchell is forced to seek help with his rural veterinary practice in upstate New York. The temp he hires is a surprise. At first glance, she seems too fragile to handle the large animals he caters to, and emotionally, she seems fragile as well. Her smiles are rare and don’t reach her eyes, especially around Joey, Eric’s ten-year-old son.
Two years after losing her husband and son, Dr. Alison Truesdale accepts a six-month position far away from her New York City home in an effort to pull herself together and move on with her life. A new environment and new challenges at work should help her to begin again. She hadn’t counted on a boss with an attitude. A man wary of women because of a bitter divorce and custody battle. She hadn’t counted on sharing a house with a sweet young boy, a painful reminder of her loss.
As trust begins to grow between Eric and Alison, another youngster enters their lives. An abused but street-smart runaway from the city hides in Eric’s barn which doesn’t thrill the vet. Surprisingly, this teenage girl might hold the key to transforming a houseful of strangers into a home full of love.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2007
About the author
Linda Barrett
57 books144 followersLinda's emotional stories of contemporary romance have earned many industry awards through Romance Writers of America chapter contests. In 2011, Quarterback Daddy took first place in the Write touch Reader's contest while in 2010, Summer at the Lake did the same. Previously, she's garnered the Holt Medallion and The Award of Excellence among others. With laughter and tears, she touches the hearts of her readers by writing stories they'll remember long after the book is finished.
This year, Linda is publishing her first women's fiction novel. Family Interrupted will be available in the spring of 2013.
This year, Linda is publishing her first women's fiction novel. Family Interrupted will be available in the spring of 2013.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 29, 2017
I loved book one in this series and was looking forward to this one. Ms Barrett did not disappoint us with this story.
The story revolves around Eric, a veterinarian who recently injured his arm and needs help and Alison, also a veterinarian, who applies for the temporary position to help him. After a bitter divorce , Eric has custody of his young son and has no desire of marrying again. Alison, lost her child and husband, and the heartache has been unbearable so the move to assist Eric is welcomed.
But it is really more than a story about these two. It’s a story about family, loss of a child, about the effects of a nasty divorce, about child abuse and the runaways, in this case, one that sneaks into the barn and into the hearts of everyone, about hope and above all , love.
A complex story that will touch your heart, and even though at times you will want to cry, and at others you will cheer for the characters , it’s one that in the midst of the heartaches, heartwarming feelings will prevail.
Kudos to Ms Barrett for such a thought provoking story.
I was gifted this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
The story revolves around Eric, a veterinarian who recently injured his arm and needs help and Alison, also a veterinarian, who applies for the temporary position to help him. After a bitter divorce , Eric has custody of his young son and has no desire of marrying again. Alison, lost her child and husband, and the heartache has been unbearable so the move to assist Eric is welcomed.
But it is really more than a story about these two. It’s a story about family, loss of a child, about the effects of a nasty divorce, about child abuse and the runaways, in this case, one that sneaks into the barn and into the hearts of everyone, about hope and above all , love.
A complex story that will touch your heart, and even though at times you will want to cry, and at others you will cheer for the characters , it’s one that in the midst of the heartaches, heartwarming feelings will prevail.
Kudos to Ms Barrett for such a thought provoking story.
I was gifted this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
July 25, 2019
This was another good book by Linda Barrett (I really enjoyed the first book in the flying solo series).
Again she deals with some hard issues so it is not a light feel-good read (though it has the happy ending we all want in our romance novels). The characters are real, with good and bad traits, and feel a whole gambit of emotions along the way.
The one thing for me was that the sex scene felt like it came out of nowhere. It left me feeling like the writer's aim was to squeeze one in rather than actually set it up properly. If she just fleshed out the scene prior to it, it might have fitted a bit better. Picky, I know, but there it is.
I will happily reach for book 3 in the series.
Note: Flying Solo 1 and 2 were completely independent, so they don't need to be read in order at all.
Again she deals with some hard issues so it is not a light feel-good read (though it has the happy ending we all want in our romance novels). The characters are real, with good and bad traits, and feel a whole gambit of emotions along the way.
The one thing for me was that the sex scene felt like it came out of nowhere. It left me feeling like the writer's aim was to squeeze one in rather than actually set it up properly. If she just fleshed out the scene prior to it, it might have fitted a bit better. Picky, I know, but there it is.
I will happily reach for book 3 in the series.
Note: Flying Solo 1 and 2 were completely independent, so they don't need to be read in order at all.
July 22, 2019
Linda Barrett has recently become one of my favorite romance writers. Every book in her “Flying Solo” series is full of heart and genuine emotion.
In each story there is loss, love, children and family, intermingled with challenges to overcome—rape, suicide, injury and broken trust.
In “Summer at the Lake” and “The Apple Orchard” the protagonists must find a way to overcome trauma and risk taking a chance at love.
In “House Full of Strangers” and “Quarterback Daddy” strangers must overcome their doubts, learn to trust and form family bonds that can’t be broken.
Every book is skillfully written and once I started reading, I didn’t want to put them down. I will caution that there are sex scenes that were well written but unnecessary to the story. I still recommend this series.
In each story there is loss, love, children and family, intermingled with challenges to overcome—rape, suicide, injury and broken trust.
In “Summer at the Lake” and “The Apple Orchard” the protagonists must find a way to overcome trauma and risk taking a chance at love.
In “House Full of Strangers” and “Quarterback Daddy” strangers must overcome their doubts, learn to trust and form family bonds that can’t be broken.
Every book is skillfully written and once I started reading, I didn’t want to put them down. I will caution that there are sex scenes that were well written but unnecessary to the story. I still recommend this series.
June 18, 2017
I just love Linda Barrett books and the feel-good sensation when you finish. She has done it again with "Houseful of Strangers" where you meet Alison, who lost her little boy and then her husband. She is off from the city to take a temporary vet position to help a farm vet while he nurses a broken arm. The farm vet, Eric Mitchell, has some healing to do besides his broken arm after losing his wife. Of course, who could resist Eric's little boy Joey and Eric's mom, Ruth. When you add a homeless teenager in the mix, Dani, you definitely get a housefull of strangers that blend into a family like no other. Awesome read that will make you go awww in the end.
July 22, 2023
Eric and Allison will touch your heart and have you in their corner cheering them on to getting a second chance for love and happiness. He is working towards getting over a divorce while Allison has lost her son and husband to an accident. Being around each other is difficult especially having his son there but will a street-smart runaway be the key ingredient to getting these two to bridging the gap and moving towards a happily ever after.
I am volunteering to leave a review for an ARC of this book.
I am volunteering to leave a review for an ARC of this book.
September 11, 2019
First time reading this order. I have now read the first 3 books in the Flying Solo Series and have just started the 4th. The characters are so believable and just trying to do what is best for their children in difficult circumstances. This book was my favorite. The blended family came together in different ways with such care and love.
June 23, 2017
Great read
Love reading your books just wished you would make another one to go with them to see how each families have turned out. This is one of them and please think about it. I Feel lost not knowing.
Love reading your books just wished you would make another one to go with them to see how each families have turned out. This is one of them and please think about it. I Feel lost not knowing.
March 22, 2020
A real tearjerker
I loved this book. All Linda Barrett books I've read so far have been wonderful. I can't wait to read the other two in this series. Dani, the young teenager, is so smart and so brave. I love everything about this book. Good life lessons included.
I loved this book. All Linda Barrett books I've read so far have been wonderful. I can't wait to read the other two in this series. Dani, the young teenager, is so smart and so brave. I love everything about this book. Good life lessons included.
September 29, 2023
A sweet story where three unhappy individuals who’ve had a rough time of it, find family together. Did think the story seemed a bit uneven on occasion, particularly the romance, but Dani’s story made up for that.
June 18, 2017
It was a pretty interesting book. I was totally hooked from beginning to the end. Everything you can hope for in a story and more.
August 11, 2018
Another great book by Linda Barrett. I really enjoy the way this author deals with difficult subjects. Highly recommend.
September 12, 2019
Two Strangers in the House
Clean, wholesome and real. Disliked premarital sex and lack of mention of faith or spiritual force (Holy Spirit) driving decisions.
Clean, wholesome and real. Disliked premarital sex and lack of mention of faith or spiritual force (Holy Spirit) driving decisions.
May 2, 2020
(Flying Solo) 2. Houseful of Strangers
An interesting story of people learning to grow and find their path to a future to make a family that they didn’t know they could have.
An interesting story of people learning to grow and find their path to a future to make a family that they didn’t know they could have.
October 6, 2021
Houseful
I read this book in just a few hours. It didn't really have a great plot it was so heartwarming
I read this book in just a few hours. It didn't really have a great plot it was so heartwarming
February 6, 2016
I SO enjoyed this book!! Dani is such a special teen and Eric and Ruth are so great.
This indeed is a Super Superb romance and I hope LB writes a longer book soon.
Just reread (9/15/17) & enjoyed again. Not perfect, really a 4.5 --premarital sex--but hope to read more well-rounded stories like this one.
My first book by this author. Home run!
This indeed is a Super Superb romance and I hope LB writes a longer book soon.
Just reread (9/15/17) & enjoyed again. Not perfect, really a 4.5 --premarital sex--but hope to read more well-rounded stories like this one.
My first book by this author. Home run!
August 8, 2015
I was leaning towards 4 stars, but there are too many cheesy lines. Good story, though.
April 19, 2016
Another uplifting story
Linda Barrett brings together those who are really suffering and helps them work through their troubles to a satisfying conclusion.
Linda Barrett brings together those who are really suffering and helps them work through their troubles to a satisfying conclusion.
December 26, 2022
I would've loved to watch this as a movie... but as a book, it felt like the story and characters were here, there, and everywhere. Still, an engaging read, albeit an at-times confusing one.
July 19, 2018
Mostly fairly enjoyable. Protagonists afraid of commitment is an exhausting trope, and not particularly fun to read. In this case the side characters save the book.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews