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Called Home: Two Hearts Answer
Emma Benson's view of life was crafted by the death of her brother as a child, abandonment by her father and later, the man she trusted she would marry, until David Schlosser-back in town after years in New York writing best-selling novels-threatens her neatly tended life. Romance blooms. Emma and David eventually persevere in the face of tragedy, refusing to leave their dreams behind.
342 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2010
80 people want to read
About the author
Gloria Schumann
2 books81 followersGloria Schumann is dedicated to producing sweet, sensual romance novels with deep, believable and loving characters. A highly developed interest in relationships and what makes them work, are central in her writing. She graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee. Currently, she is living and writing from Austin, TX.
Romance is my chosen genre, because it's my first passion in books and movies. All categories interest me sometimes, but love grabs me all the time.
Romance is my chosen genre, because it's my first passion in books and movies. All categories interest me sometimes, but love grabs me all the time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 24, 2011
I had the honor of getting an arc copy of Called Home Two Hearts Answer and once I read the description knew this would be a book right up my alley. Gloria didn't disappoint. The story has a good plot and a mystery you think you have all figured out but in the end is a twist I did not see coming. I loved the sweet romance that developed between Emma and David. I have to say the many kissing scenes were excellent and satisfying.The only thing that bugged me was that Emma kept going back and forth with her feelings. Gloria has a eye for detail and you feel like you are a fly on the wall watching everything unfold between Emma and David. I would recommend this read to romance lovers and those who love a good mystery!I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!
June 10, 2011
Emma Benson has moved away from the farm where she was raised, but her mother's health is failing and she can no longer run the place by herself. Emma comes home to help her mother manage the property and finds that she missed home more than she thought she would.
David Schlosser grew up down the road, and his writing career took him to the bright lights of the big city, where he became a best-selling novelist. He realizes, though, that his heart is back on the farm, working with his hands and staying in touch with nature. He's intrigued to learn that Emma has also returned home. They went to school together, although he was a little older than her, and he remembers her as a bright, spunky teenager. Anxious to see the woman she has become, he pays her a visit on her farm, and is a little surprised to see that she's not as emotionally open as she used to be.
Emma's life has not been easy. Her brother died when she was a child, her father abandoned the family, and then she was betrayed by the man she thought she would marry. She has built walls around herself so she won't get hurt again. When David shows up, handsome and successful, she's glad to see him, but at the same time, she's very reluctant to open herself up to him. He's artless and charming, ready to pick up their friendship and be a help to her on the farm, but she's resistant to making herself vulnerable to anyone ever again, even if it is just friendship. And when David decides he wants more than just that, she becomes frightened. Risking her heart again is just too much.
"Called Home: Two Hearts Answer" is a contemporary romance by author Gloria Schumann. I enjoyed the interplay between the two characters as David tries to get Emma to loosen up, and Emma clings tightly to her privacy. I appreciated the care both of them took of Emma's mother and the way they felt connected to the land, like stewards over something precious. I did wish for just a little more back story for David and Emma, things they might have experienced together as teenagers to help set the stage for what happens between them as adults, but I found the story enjoyable and engaging, and I recommend it to any reader who is looking for a clean romance with some nice heart-thumpy kisses and a plot line they can care about.
David Schlosser grew up down the road, and his writing career took him to the bright lights of the big city, where he became a best-selling novelist. He realizes, though, that his heart is back on the farm, working with his hands and staying in touch with nature. He's intrigued to learn that Emma has also returned home. They went to school together, although he was a little older than her, and he remembers her as a bright, spunky teenager. Anxious to see the woman she has become, he pays her a visit on her farm, and is a little surprised to see that she's not as emotionally open as she used to be.
Emma's life has not been easy. Her brother died when she was a child, her father abandoned the family, and then she was betrayed by the man she thought she would marry. She has built walls around herself so she won't get hurt again. When David shows up, handsome and successful, she's glad to see him, but at the same time, she's very reluctant to open herself up to him. He's artless and charming, ready to pick up their friendship and be a help to her on the farm, but she's resistant to making herself vulnerable to anyone ever again, even if it is just friendship. And when David decides he wants more than just that, she becomes frightened. Risking her heart again is just too much.
"Called Home: Two Hearts Answer" is a contemporary romance by author Gloria Schumann. I enjoyed the interplay between the two characters as David tries to get Emma to loosen up, and Emma clings tightly to her privacy. I appreciated the care both of them took of Emma's mother and the way they felt connected to the land, like stewards over something precious. I did wish for just a little more back story for David and Emma, things they might have experienced together as teenagers to help set the stage for what happens between them as adults, but I found the story enjoyable and engaging, and I recommend it to any reader who is looking for a clean romance with some nice heart-thumpy kisses and a plot line they can care about.
December 4, 2011
Emma moves back home to help her mom with her dairy farm in Brooks, Wisconsin. She wants to reconnect and be there for her mom for once. Emma adapts well to the farming life even though financial concerns loom large over the mother & daughter.
David is a successful author who has become jaded with city life and wants to get back to his roots and a quieter lifestyle. He spent his entire childhood trying to get away and prove he wasn't going to be some small time farmer but now he can't think of anything better. Well maybe one thing; if he can share that life with Emma.
Called Home is a sweet, small town contemporary romance with a dash of cozy mystery thrown in.
The two are initially thrown together during a violent thunderstorm when David seeks shelter with Emma and her mom as a tornado rolls through. There is an instant connection but Emma is not going to let a man take over her life again. Which is a bit of problem because David is all too ready to do some taking over.
Emma becomes the target of a series of scary events (I don't want to give too much away on that front) that adds an element of mystery to the story. I have to admit I was 100% sure who the culprit was all along but wasn't entirely correct.
All the danger keeps Emma and David connected as he tries to keep her safe. Emma of course wants to handle everything herself. This is the aspect that I did not enjoy in this book. Emma is just protecting herself from having her heart broken but that girl was downright mean to David.. She's afraid to let anyone take care of her and is sure David is going to leave for the big city life again. There's being feisty and then there's being rude and ungrateful. She more often was the latter. We got a reason later on but I wish it would have came sooner so that I could have had more sympathy for her character earlier on.
Called Home has a very innocent feel. There is a lot of steamy kissing but it is all very chaste. This wasn't quite my taste in romances but I know a lot of people are looking for something without a lot of sex and this is a nice story about finding your way home to family and faith.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book from the author for my honest review
David is a successful author who has become jaded with city life and wants to get back to his roots and a quieter lifestyle. He spent his entire childhood trying to get away and prove he wasn't going to be some small time farmer but now he can't think of anything better. Well maybe one thing; if he can share that life with Emma.
Called Home is a sweet, small town contemporary romance with a dash of cozy mystery thrown in.
The two are initially thrown together during a violent thunderstorm when David seeks shelter with Emma and her mom as a tornado rolls through. There is an instant connection but Emma is not going to let a man take over her life again. Which is a bit of problem because David is all too ready to do some taking over.
Emma becomes the target of a series of scary events (I don't want to give too much away on that front) that adds an element of mystery to the story. I have to admit I was 100% sure who the culprit was all along but wasn't entirely correct.
All the danger keeps Emma and David connected as he tries to keep her safe. Emma of course wants to handle everything herself. This is the aspect that I did not enjoy in this book. Emma is just protecting herself from having her heart broken but that girl was downright mean to David.. She's afraid to let anyone take care of her and is sure David is going to leave for the big city life again. There's being feisty and then there's being rude and ungrateful. She more often was the latter. We got a reason later on but I wish it would have came sooner so that I could have had more sympathy for her character earlier on.
Called Home has a very innocent feel. There is a lot of steamy kissing but it is all very chaste. This wasn't quite my taste in romances but I know a lot of people are looking for something without a lot of sex and this is a nice story about finding your way home to family and faith.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book from the author for my honest review
July 6, 2011
I received my copy of this book for free, from the author, in exchange for a review.
The first half of Called Home: Two Hearts Answer by Gloria Schumann is difficult at times to get through, yet, even during the struggle, there are moments which highlight Schumann's potential as a writer. The second half, however, will make whatever struggle you did have worth your time. It was this second half that moved the rating from 2 cups (Ok) to 3 cups (Liked).
Emma and David's interactions, at first, feel forced and extremely stilted. A lot of that can be attributed to Emma who is pretty much hostile towards David because of her issues in trusting men. Sadly, we don't learn why Emma is this way until much later in the story. The explanation goes a long way in making her more understandable and more relatable instead of hostile and juvenile, as she tends to come across.
What would be termed the romantic aspect of Called Home is another area of discomfort at first, yet throughout the story the suspense portion was on target.
Emma and David's relationship was a touch too stereotypical of a bad romance novel. There was tons of inner turmoil and countless scenes of hot and heavy kissing with David perpetually walking away while leaving Emma stunned. Yet, Schumann's potential starts to shine through in their dialogue. There were quite a few moments of "Aha! There's the fun banter! There's the personality!"
The criminal activities that start to plague Emma and David are accurate and gripping in their escalation of violence. As stated, this part of Called Home is an area where Schumann shines. The reactions to the lesser offenses, the tendency of people to attribute minor events to their own faulty memory, the reaction to the escalation, and the mixed emotions in the face of true violence all rang true.
Overall, Gloria Schumann's definitely has the potential to hone her craft into excellence, and there will undoubtedly be bestselling titles in her future. So run out and get your copy of Called Home: Two Hearts Answer, that way when she's a well-known author you can say you "knew" her when.
The first half of Called Home: Two Hearts Answer by Gloria Schumann is difficult at times to get through, yet, even during the struggle, there are moments which highlight Schumann's potential as a writer. The second half, however, will make whatever struggle you did have worth your time. It was this second half that moved the rating from 2 cups (Ok) to 3 cups (Liked).
Emma and David's interactions, at first, feel forced and extremely stilted. A lot of that can be attributed to Emma who is pretty much hostile towards David because of her issues in trusting men. Sadly, we don't learn why Emma is this way until much later in the story. The explanation goes a long way in making her more understandable and more relatable instead of hostile and juvenile, as she tends to come across.
What would be termed the romantic aspect of Called Home is another area of discomfort at first, yet throughout the story the suspense portion was on target.
Emma and David's relationship was a touch too stereotypical of a bad romance novel. There was tons of inner turmoil and countless scenes of hot and heavy kissing with David perpetually walking away while leaving Emma stunned. Yet, Schumann's potential starts to shine through in their dialogue. There were quite a few moments of "Aha! There's the fun banter! There's the personality!"
The criminal activities that start to plague Emma and David are accurate and gripping in their escalation of violence. As stated, this part of Called Home is an area where Schumann shines. The reactions to the lesser offenses, the tendency of people to attribute minor events to their own faulty memory, the reaction to the escalation, and the mixed emotions in the face of true violence all rang true.
Overall, Gloria Schumann's definitely has the potential to hone her craft into excellence, and there will undoubtedly be bestselling titles in her future. So run out and get your copy of Called Home: Two Hearts Answer, that way when she's a well-known author you can say you "knew" her when.
September 3, 2011
Called Home was hard for me to get interested in for the first couple of chapters but as I read on the story line unveiled a jaw clenching, nail biting novel I didn't want to put down.
The main character Emma is portrayed as a real pain in the buttocks. You will gradually learn why she is so rude and distant. I can't fault the novel because of this character. There are people like Emma in this world so why not write about them.
David enters the picture thinking he will be a knight in shining armour and seems to find her intriguing. He is persistent in making a connection with her whether she wants one are not. David sees through her masquerade. Gently he presses her to find out what happened in her past that causes her to distance herself from him.
Unexplained events began to happen and kept me as confused as Emma and David as to why all these suspicious events were happening to them. It definitely kept my eyes glued to the book wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I want to quote Emma's thoughts as she is reading a mystery book. "It was a section in which it is necessary for someone else to remove it from the readers' hand as he clung to every twist and turn in the plot, trying to ascertain its meaning."
That is how I felt about reading this book. When you read this book all the way to the end you might feel ashamed of yourself for having such a harsh opinion of Emma. Some people only see what is on the surface of a person.
I would recommend this book to my best friends.
I am rating this book 4 out of 5 only because I was tempted to stop reading the book all together at the very beginning. I am glad I kept reading because I would have missed out on a very good read.
The main character Emma is portrayed as a real pain in the buttocks. You will gradually learn why she is so rude and distant. I can't fault the novel because of this character. There are people like Emma in this world so why not write about them.
David enters the picture thinking he will be a knight in shining armour and seems to find her intriguing. He is persistent in making a connection with her whether she wants one are not. David sees through her masquerade. Gently he presses her to find out what happened in her past that causes her to distance herself from him.
Unexplained events began to happen and kept me as confused as Emma and David as to why all these suspicious events were happening to them. It definitely kept my eyes glued to the book wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I want to quote Emma's thoughts as she is reading a mystery book. "It was a section in which it is necessary for someone else to remove it from the readers' hand as he clung to every twist and turn in the plot, trying to ascertain its meaning."
That is how I felt about reading this book. When you read this book all the way to the end you might feel ashamed of yourself for having such a harsh opinion of Emma. Some people only see what is on the surface of a person.
I would recommend this book to my best friends.
I am rating this book 4 out of 5 only because I was tempted to stop reading the book all together at the very beginning. I am glad I kept reading because I would have missed out on a very good read.
July 17, 2011
First let me be honest about something, I usually don’t read romance novels. When Gloria Schumann emailed me and asked me if I would be willing to read and review her book which was “ a sweet romance with plenty of passion and longing without sex scenes, and a bit of crime and suspense thrown into the mix to make a compelling story”, I thought I’d give it a try. By that I meant I would try it because it had the element of crime and suspense mixed in. It was those elements as well as how well she crafted the romance that drew me in.
Emma was rude at times to David. I identified with her situation somewhat. After my divorce I thought I’d never remarry. Why take a chance again? I’d lost my first fiancé to cancer and later my husband left me with two small children. When my current husband and I got together, we’d both had failed marriages so I figured marriage was out of the picture. My husband was patient and persistent. Like Emma I’m a teacher who grew up on a farm. I connected with David wanting to go back to the quiet life. I live in a city, and long for the day I can move to the country. The author has done an excellent job of creating a realistic romance that is not mushy. The suspense is great. I will gladly read anything else this author comes out with.
Emma was rude at times to David. I identified with her situation somewhat. After my divorce I thought I’d never remarry. Why take a chance again? I’d lost my first fiancé to cancer and later my husband left me with two small children. When my current husband and I got together, we’d both had failed marriages so I figured marriage was out of the picture. My husband was patient and persistent. Like Emma I’m a teacher who grew up on a farm. I connected with David wanting to go back to the quiet life. I live in a city, and long for the day I can move to the country. The author has done an excellent job of creating a realistic romance that is not mushy. The suspense is great. I will gladly read anything else this author comes out with.
July 30, 2011
This book grabs you from the start and doesn't let you go until the end. The characters are well defined and strong willed..
It was so cute how they first met with a tornado baring down on the Benson's house and David showing up.....Priceless! I mean he was only trying to warn them.....Really Emma....Did you have to be so Rude???
Emma is clearly a woman out to prove no man will ever be needed in her life after the one who threw her in the garbage. David just move back home, missing life really, only to fall head over heals for Emma. She sure in the heck isn't going to make it easy on him.
I'm still having problems trying to decide which is my favorite part....
The one where she thought she could still do everything even after being shot (by the way that was totally awesome how David came to save the day!) or dinner with his family.....or the horse race at the end....Oh Gloria what have you done to me???????
This book clearly shows that when a man is in love he will go through Hell to get his woman (even if that woman doesn't realize she's in love...LOL)
Great anytime read.....
It was so cute how they first met with a tornado baring down on the Benson's house and David showing up.....Priceless! I mean he was only trying to warn them.....Really Emma....Did you have to be so Rude???
Emma is clearly a woman out to prove no man will ever be needed in her life after the one who threw her in the garbage. David just move back home, missing life really, only to fall head over heals for Emma. She sure in the heck isn't going to make it easy on him.
I'm still having problems trying to decide which is my favorite part....
The one where she thought she could still do everything even after being shot (by the way that was totally awesome how David came to save the day!) or dinner with his family.....or the horse race at the end....Oh Gloria what have you done to me???????
This book clearly shows that when a man is in love he will go through Hell to get his woman (even if that woman doesn't realize she's in love...LOL)
Great anytime read.....
August 10, 2011
Called Home by Gloria Schumann is a lighthearted romance with a bit of suspense thrown in. Broken hearts and longing for a peaceful life have brought both David and Emma to small town Wisconsin. I live in Wisconsin and also live in a small town and can understand the need to want to live there. Emma came to help her mother out and David came to get away from the big city hassles and to write. A lot of bad things happen to the farm that Emma came home to. A tornado starts out the story, with Emma, her mother and David who just happened to come to the farm seeking shelter. The story goes on from there swiftly with David wanting more than Emma is willing to give. But as strange things start happening at the farm and Emma's place of work, Emma soon wants to have David around to protect her from whatever is going on. To say more gives away the story, so I will say that if you like romance with a lot of kissing, no sex scenes, and a good amount of mystery thrown in then this is the book for you. I enjoyed it and recommend it.
October 26, 2011
First line of book:“It felt like home and yet it didn’t.”
Until now Emma Benson’s life has not been easy, all the important men in her life left her. Her relationship with the man she loved ended, her brother died when she was young and she saw how her father walked away from her and her mother. She left Wisconsin to be a teacher but came home to help her mother save the farm she grew up on from financial ruin. She does not need another man in her life telling her what to do, these days she only relies on herself to avoid another disappointment. She did not bank on David Schlosser to be so persistent to help her and the fact that he is so attractive to her does not help her case either.
David Schlosser could not wait to get away from the small town he grew up in, determined to make something of himself he went to New York to become a successful writer. Now, years later, he is a successful and famous writer but he is tired of the fast life in the big city. He craves for the charms of the friendly, little town he grew up in, he goes back to buy himself a place he can call home. He ends up seeking shelter from a tornado at the Benson farm where he meets Emma. He cannot get her out of his mind but she has made it clear she wants nothing from him, but David is not one to back down from a challenge. So now he is not only hunting for a place to call home, he is also determined to make Emma his.
Emma is a headstrong, fierce, outspoken, prickly and too-independent-for-her-own-good kind of woman. She has learnt the hard way that she can only rely on herself so she will never ask for any help when necessary. She is distant and does not really participate in life to avoid emotional pain.
David is a well-balanced person. He is kind, honest and successful. He is at a point in his life that he knows exactly what he wants and goes for it. He is very patient with Emma and seems to know exactly what she needs; it was very easy to connect with David because he is so laid-back.
And then there is Nancy, Emma’s mother. Nancy is a lovely, caring and hardworking lady who lost her son and had to raise Emma on her own while running a farm. Although she had a tough life she is never bitter and always tries to make the best of things. She is getting older and needs help, but she is shrewd enough to know that David will be good for Emma so she pushes Emma and encourages David.
Called Home has a suspense part and a romance part, and though the focus of Called Home is on the romantic development between Emma and David, the romance goes hand in hand with the suspense. The changes in Emma’s and David’s relationship are slow and subtle, but would imo not have been possible without the suspense part. Some thug attacked Emma in the bookstore where she works in the evenings, after this happens the attacker continues to threaten her. This leaves Emma vulnerable and she allows David to help her and protect her, it opens the door for them to become closer.
Emma and David are at very different points in their lives. While David is financially secure for life and has the career as a best-selling thriller author he always wanted, he came home voluntarily to create a home for himself. Emma came home because she was needed at the farm, to help her mother. She has given up her passion to teach and does not live her life the way she had hoped or planned. She struggles to save the farm but also with herself.
Without the attack Emma would have kept the wall around her heart firmly in place, now David can slip through the cracks of that wall to get through to her, to convince her that he won’t leave her. There are no steamy love scenes in Called Home, but the story does not need it and I did not miss them at all. There is the undeniable, smoldering chemistry between David and Emma and there are plenty of stolen kisses to back up their romance.
There are not many secondary characters besides Nancy, but there are a lot of town folks who pass in review. I love how they all add to the charms of a rural, little town where everyone knows each other’s business and everyone looks out for another. Gloria Schumann has a keen eye for details and somehow she manages to bring to life a whole, small town with its shops and inhabitants.
The story is even-paced yet it pulled me in instantly. As a reader I got dropped in the kitchen of the Benson farm at page 1 and at once I connected with Emma, Nancy and David while they tried to survive a tornado. And though I had a pretty good idea how this story would develop it did not stop me from reading and it had a few surprises here and there. I loved how this story is about “normal” people and their struggles with life, I loved following Emma and David on their journey towards happiness, not once was it boring and I believed in them as a couple.
This is the first story of Gloria Schumann that I read, but it won’t be the last. I love her voice, the fluent writing and her keen eye for details and characters. All the characters in this story are “real” and belong to that little town, their actions fitted in the story perfectly. The romance is beautiful and the heart-wrenching. Called Home is a must-read for readers who love a classic romance with a touch of suspense!
July 18, 2011
Called Home: Two Hearts Answer by Gloria Schumann
Release Date: May 8th, 2010
Publisher: Savant
Page Count: 333
Source: Directly from author for review
Emma Benson's view of life was crafted by the death of her brother as a child, abandonment by her father and later, the man she trusted she would marry, until...
David Schlosser -- back in town after years in New York writing best-selling novels -- threatens her neatly tended life. Romance blooms. Emma and David eventually persevere in the face of tragedy, refusing to leave their dreams behind.
What Stephanie Thinks: Sweet small town romances can turn out one of two ways: tragically emotional and heartbreaking, or undeniably corny. Called Home: Two Hearts Answer contains all the elements of the latter; the sequence of the story is predictable and bland. I don't feel the "chemistry" between Emma and David, but it's portrayed like it's strong and passionate (but to me, it isn't. At all). Their relationship seems rushed, forced, and fake, as if it was scripted for a clichéd romance novel.
The main reason I think I can't feel the love between Emma and David is because of their personalities. They're both highly dislikable; Emma acts stingily and as if she's eleven years old -- and god, she is SUCH a prude -- and David is too demanding and cocky. While I can bring myself up to ignore David (because most men are demanding and cocky anyway), I just want to slap Emma in the wherever-it-would-be-most-painful. That girl's got something shoved up her ass! And she's in denial for the majority of the book too; though she kisses David and fantasizes about him in a more-than-platonic way, she won't admit she even likes him til the very end. She can't not only admit her love, but her LIKE for him til the very end. Like I said before -- is she eleven years old? What does it take to act civilly towards a guy who hasn't touched a hair on her head?
Regardless, David seems stunned by her as a woman. I find nothing extraordinary about Emma, by the manner of her speech, attitude, and style, and yet David is still perplexed by her femininity, beauty, grace, and all that other crap. This is why I find their relationship unlikely; Schumann does a poor job of convincing me that they could really fall for each other. Another reason for this may be the chastity. No love scenes are consummated, and aside from heavy kissing, nothing happens. Nothing. While I appreciate this in a sweet contemporary romance, it also seems unlikely in a real-life relationship.
Aside from the nonexistent connection between the characters, another problem I have with this book is the unnecessarily detailed and superfluous writing style. Schumann expounds the exact descriptions of attire (and furniture, exteriors, cars, etc.), names of minor (and once-appearing) characters, and redundant facts (such as "The silence was not at all awkward. Emma found it very comfortable." Oh, really? Because I thought an unawkward silence would be totally uncomfortable).
One thing I will give props to, is the structure of the story. The plot is coherent and consistent, and therefore easy to follow. I don't find this an easy read persay, since the language tends to drag on and repeat itself, but the events happen in order and are reflected back upon, facilitating my understanding of the occurring action. The mystery, though easy to guess, is frightening and overall well-crafted. The pace doesn't pick up until the temperature starts heating (in a life-threatening way, not sexually) -- but that isn't until the last quarter or so of the book. I think lovers of a good, clean romance will find this one enjoyable, but I personally didn't like it that much.
Stephanie Loves: "She wanted to smack him with a cracking good blow across the cheek.
She wanted to drag him to her bed, and slide her hands beneath the well-tailored façade of civility he wore. Wanted to stroke and tempt and touch until his bare skin shivered beneath her fingers."
Radical Rating: 5 hearts-Doesn't particularly light any of my fires; I feel indifferent about this book.
Release Date: May 8th, 2010
Publisher: Savant
Page Count: 333
Source: Directly from author for review
Emma Benson's view of life was crafted by the death of her brother as a child, abandonment by her father and later, the man she trusted she would marry, until...
David Schlosser -- back in town after years in New York writing best-selling novels -- threatens her neatly tended life. Romance blooms. Emma and David eventually persevere in the face of tragedy, refusing to leave their dreams behind.
What Stephanie Thinks: Sweet small town romances can turn out one of two ways: tragically emotional and heartbreaking, or undeniably corny. Called Home: Two Hearts Answer contains all the elements of the latter; the sequence of the story is predictable and bland. I don't feel the "chemistry" between Emma and David, but it's portrayed like it's strong and passionate (but to me, it isn't. At all). Their relationship seems rushed, forced, and fake, as if it was scripted for a clichéd romance novel.
The main reason I think I can't feel the love between Emma and David is because of their personalities. They're both highly dislikable; Emma acts stingily and as if she's eleven years old -- and god, she is SUCH a prude -- and David is too demanding and cocky. While I can bring myself up to ignore David (because most men are demanding and cocky anyway), I just want to slap Emma in the wherever-it-would-be-most-painful. That girl's got something shoved up her ass! And she's in denial for the majority of the book too; though she kisses David and fantasizes about him in a more-than-platonic way, she won't admit she even likes him til the very end. She can't not only admit her love, but her LIKE for him til the very end. Like I said before -- is she eleven years old? What does it take to act civilly towards a guy who hasn't touched a hair on her head?
Regardless, David seems stunned by her as a woman. I find nothing extraordinary about Emma, by the manner of her speech, attitude, and style, and yet David is still perplexed by her femininity, beauty, grace, and all that other crap. This is why I find their relationship unlikely; Schumann does a poor job of convincing me that they could really fall for each other. Another reason for this may be the chastity. No love scenes are consummated, and aside from heavy kissing, nothing happens. Nothing. While I appreciate this in a sweet contemporary romance, it also seems unlikely in a real-life relationship.
Aside from the nonexistent connection between the characters, another problem I have with this book is the unnecessarily detailed and superfluous writing style. Schumann expounds the exact descriptions of attire (and furniture, exteriors, cars, etc.), names of minor (and once-appearing) characters, and redundant facts (such as "The silence was not at all awkward. Emma found it very comfortable." Oh, really? Because I thought an unawkward silence would be totally uncomfortable).
One thing I will give props to, is the structure of the story. The plot is coherent and consistent, and therefore easy to follow. I don't find this an easy read persay, since the language tends to drag on and repeat itself, but the events happen in order and are reflected back upon, facilitating my understanding of the occurring action. The mystery, though easy to guess, is frightening and overall well-crafted. The pace doesn't pick up until the temperature starts heating (in a life-threatening way, not sexually) -- but that isn't until the last quarter or so of the book. I think lovers of a good, clean romance will find this one enjoyable, but I personally didn't like it that much.
Stephanie Loves: "She wanted to smack him with a cracking good blow across the cheek.
She wanted to drag him to her bed, and slide her hands beneath the well-tailored façade of civility he wore. Wanted to stroke and tempt and touch until his bare skin shivered beneath her fingers."
Radical Rating: 5 hearts-Doesn't particularly light any of my fires; I feel indifferent about this book.
April 5, 2011
Emma Benson is feeling a little lost. She is giving up on her teaching career to return to her family home in Wisconsin. She once had little love for the rural Podunk town of her childhood, but after the collapse of her engagement she suddenly feels the need to reassess her life and go back to the beginning. Her childhood wasn’t exactly idyllic, punctuated by the death of her brother and abandonment by her father. But when the family dairy farm faces foreclosure, Emma is happily pulled home to help her mother.
Coincidentally, David Schlosser is also coming home to Wisconsin… and the fortuitous return of the prodigal son is heralded by a tornado. David takes shelter at the nearest farm, the Benson’s (much to Emma’s chagrin).
David extends the olive branch of friendship to Emma, but his efforts aren’t solidified until the night he’s there to intercede a robbery that takes place at the bookstore where Emma works. Thus triggers a series of mysterious and frightening events of vandalism and threat that pose a danger to Emma, and a threat to the tentative romance she has started with David.
‘Called Home: Two Hearts Answer’ is the debut novel by Gloria Schumann.
The novel is a bit of a cozy mystery – heavy on the romance, with a sprinkle of distress and mayhem. I would say the book has a definite ‘Midsomer Murders’ vibe – it’s all about the picturesque village with a murderous underbelly. And really, the small-town setting is one of the best aspects of the book. Schumann really lands the reader in the middle of scenic Wisconsin, America’s quintessential Podunk state. She writes the rural accents with pitch-perfect description, so that even as an Australian I could hear the lovely twang.
The romance between Emma and David is the real focus of the book. Emma has not had many great male role-models in her life. Between her father abandoning their family and her brother’s death, Emma’s life has been irrevocably marked by people leaving her. Add to that her fiancée as the latest man to disappoint, and Emma is a woman with her guard up. Enter David – an A-list novelist who is giving up his New York life to become a writer-in-residence back home in Wisconsin. Emma and David have a surprise meeting (tornado, anyone?) and from that moment David is pretty much smitten with the reluctant Emma. . .
I did think that David’s feelings were a little too spontaneous, especially considering Emma’s treatment of him. Emma is really rude, bordering on awful, when she first meets David. I understand that she has a wounded heart and is determined to avoid further pain, but I couldn’t fathom why David would bother with her when she was so cutting and awful.
Schumann somewhat explains David’s instant attraction when he plays knight in shining armour to Emma during a robbery. Add to that the fact that David himself is surprised at the instant chemistry and the romance becomes more plausible. At some point I just had to put my scepticism aside and accept the romance, and really David is a sweetheart and the romance is hotly sweet;
. . . his depth of feeling for Emma clearly crystallized. He would have never thought it possible for a person to become ingrained into his life in a matter of days, but she had. Now, the fear he felt at the thought of the remote chance of losing her was physically apparent, his head and stomach churned and his pulse raced. However irrational the thought of losing her at this point was, it didn’t matter. It exited. So did the ache in the very core of him.
The mystery aspect of the book is twistingly brilliant. For a long time I thought Schumann had written a very simple mystery, as I was convinced I knew who the one culprit was . . . as it turns out, Schumann wrote a very good red herring. I won’t give anything away, but it was a pleasantly surprising ‘whodunit’.
‘Called Home’ is a lovely little cozy mystery and an impressive debut novel. The mystery aspect a twisted fare, and the romance is sweetly romantic. This is definitely a novel for lovers of the good old cozy!
Coincidentally, David Schlosser is also coming home to Wisconsin… and the fortuitous return of the prodigal son is heralded by a tornado. David takes shelter at the nearest farm, the Benson’s (much to Emma’s chagrin).
David extends the olive branch of friendship to Emma, but his efforts aren’t solidified until the night he’s there to intercede a robbery that takes place at the bookstore where Emma works. Thus triggers a series of mysterious and frightening events of vandalism and threat that pose a danger to Emma, and a threat to the tentative romance she has started with David.
‘Called Home: Two Hearts Answer’ is the debut novel by Gloria Schumann.
The novel is a bit of a cozy mystery – heavy on the romance, with a sprinkle of distress and mayhem. I would say the book has a definite ‘Midsomer Murders’ vibe – it’s all about the picturesque village with a murderous underbelly. And really, the small-town setting is one of the best aspects of the book. Schumann really lands the reader in the middle of scenic Wisconsin, America’s quintessential Podunk state. She writes the rural accents with pitch-perfect description, so that even as an Australian I could hear the lovely twang.
The romance between Emma and David is the real focus of the book. Emma has not had many great male role-models in her life. Between her father abandoning their family and her brother’s death, Emma’s life has been irrevocably marked by people leaving her. Add to that her fiancée as the latest man to disappoint, and Emma is a woman with her guard up. Enter David – an A-list novelist who is giving up his New York life to become a writer-in-residence back home in Wisconsin. Emma and David have a surprise meeting (tornado, anyone?) and from that moment David is pretty much smitten with the reluctant Emma. . .
I did think that David’s feelings were a little too spontaneous, especially considering Emma’s treatment of him. Emma is really rude, bordering on awful, when she first meets David. I understand that she has a wounded heart and is determined to avoid further pain, but I couldn’t fathom why David would bother with her when she was so cutting and awful.
Schumann somewhat explains David’s instant attraction when he plays knight in shining armour to Emma during a robbery. Add to that the fact that David himself is surprised at the instant chemistry and the romance becomes more plausible. At some point I just had to put my scepticism aside and accept the romance, and really David is a sweetheart and the romance is hotly sweet;
. . . his depth of feeling for Emma clearly crystallized. He would have never thought it possible for a person to become ingrained into his life in a matter of days, but she had. Now, the fear he felt at the thought of the remote chance of losing her was physically apparent, his head and stomach churned and his pulse raced. However irrational the thought of losing her at this point was, it didn’t matter. It exited. So did the ache in the very core of him.
The mystery aspect of the book is twistingly brilliant. For a long time I thought Schumann had written a very simple mystery, as I was convinced I knew who the one culprit was . . . as it turns out, Schumann wrote a very good red herring. I won’t give anything away, but it was a pleasantly surprising ‘whodunit’.
‘Called Home’ is a lovely little cozy mystery and an impressive debut novel. The mystery aspect a twisted fare, and the romance is sweetly romantic. This is definitely a novel for lovers of the good old cozy!
June 25, 2011
I thought that Called Home was a wonderful story. Both Emma and David were amazing characters, and they felt incredibly real. The story was told in alternating points of view, the two most prevalent POVs were David's and Emma's. However, several other characters did have smaller sections with their points of view. I really liked the set-up that was created with the narrations. It was fascinating to transition between Emma and David's points of view...especially when they were both thinking about each other. :P
Emma was stubborn, independent, and had many characters of a woman who has been betrayed too many times. While, David carried many of the characteristics of a ladies man and quite the eligible bachelor. He's also a fairly popular author, and just moved back home from New York. He and Emma meet, well again anyways. They actually went to High School together, but they were a few years apart, so they didn't really know each other back then. Anywho, when they meet, they both feel a lot of attraction for each other. Throughout the book their attraction intensifies, and David heavily pursues it, while Emma consistently tries to resist the draw that she feels for David.
The backgrounds of Emma and David aren't clear from the beginning of the book, but as it progresses, they learn more about one another. For the most part the reader learns of their pasts through their interactions with each other, but there are some brief mentions during their through processes too. Emma's past is one of the most well guarded parts of the book...aside from the mystery aspect of it that is, but I'm going to keep my mouth shut about that because it is far too exciting for me to ruin for you. As mentioned in the blurb of this book, Emma's brother passed away when she was a child, her father abandoned her family shortly afterwards, and she was also abandoned by the man she thought she would spend her life with. She is incredibly afraid of being abandoned again, and she doesn't want to fall too hard for David because she's afraid he'll go back to New York and leave her. As you can expect, Emma has serious trust issues. but David isn't the type to give up...and you will love him for trying so hard.
I read Called Home at a pretty gradual pace, but it is definitely the type of story that can keep you up at night because you just need to know what happens next. It's not a sweltering romance, but trust me David and Emma do have a pretty heated relationship (sometimes they argue...and sometimes they make-out, pretty heavily I might add :P), but their relationship was founded on more than mere attraction, which I loved. They genuinely wanted to know more about each other. Emma even reads one of David's books, and David is constantly trying to get Emma to open up. Their relationship was so real, even if they did get involved in some super crazy situations and it's always refreshing to see relationships like that in books.
I think that fans of contemporary romance will love Called Home: Two Hearts Answer, especially if they love a little mystery thrown in with it. ;)
Emma was stubborn, independent, and had many characters of a woman who has been betrayed too many times. While, David carried many of the characteristics of a ladies man and quite the eligible bachelor. He's also a fairly popular author, and just moved back home from New York. He and Emma meet, well again anyways. They actually went to High School together, but they were a few years apart, so they didn't really know each other back then. Anywho, when they meet, they both feel a lot of attraction for each other. Throughout the book their attraction intensifies, and David heavily pursues it, while Emma consistently tries to resist the draw that she feels for David.
The backgrounds of Emma and David aren't clear from the beginning of the book, but as it progresses, they learn more about one another. For the most part the reader learns of their pasts through their interactions with each other, but there are some brief mentions during their through processes too. Emma's past is one of the most well guarded parts of the book...aside from the mystery aspect of it that is, but I'm going to keep my mouth shut about that because it is far too exciting for me to ruin for you. As mentioned in the blurb of this book, Emma's brother passed away when she was a child, her father abandoned her family shortly afterwards, and she was also abandoned by the man she thought she would spend her life with. She is incredibly afraid of being abandoned again, and she doesn't want to fall too hard for David because she's afraid he'll go back to New York and leave her. As you can expect, Emma has serious trust issues. but David isn't the type to give up...and you will love him for trying so hard.
I read Called Home at a pretty gradual pace, but it is definitely the type of story that can keep you up at night because you just need to know what happens next. It's not a sweltering romance, but trust me David and Emma do have a pretty heated relationship (sometimes they argue...and sometimes they make-out, pretty heavily I might add :P), but their relationship was founded on more than mere attraction, which I loved. They genuinely wanted to know more about each other. Emma even reads one of David's books, and David is constantly trying to get Emma to open up. Their relationship was so real, even if they did get involved in some super crazy situations and it's always refreshing to see relationships like that in books.
I think that fans of contemporary romance will love Called Home: Two Hearts Answer, especially if they love a little mystery thrown in with it. ;)
October 16, 2011
****I was given a copy of this book for my honest review****
I have a mix review about this book. I know I'm not the type to like romance books but I don't mind them when there are a bit mystery and crime along with it. It was an easy read, it was not one that I couldn't put it down and have to finish it type book. When I was asked to review this the synopsis really caught my eye and I must say that was about it.
Emma was one out of the two main characters in this book. When we first meet her we see she is self sufficient and doesn't need anyone's help. We also find out she has trust issues when it comes to the opposite sex. To see her so feisty in the opening of the book and see how stubborn she is was lacking. I personally would of liked to see her developed more before we saw her attitude. We don't find out till nearly the end of the book why she distrusts men. Even after finding out the why it kept me wondering if there wasn't something else that kept her away. You have her dad and that reason and then you have an ex-boyfriend. I don't know if that is really enough for a woman to distrust men so much, to the point of almost driving them away. Showing her distrust of David and no matter what he did she wouldn't let him in and no matter what he said she still kept stonewalling. I just don't really understand why it took her so long before allowing David to be fully in her life.
She then has a crime against her and funny things happening around the farm, the place she works. The police seem like they are not doing anything to help her during this spree. I never really got the why on this. Why did the culprit really want to commit these crimes against her? Why all the stuff going on. I mean the build up was ok, but I never really understood the why. Even when I found out who it was, I couldn't remember where this person entered into her life. You find out about the person then there is no more talk of it till later. I forgot about the person personally.
We then have David, the second main character within the story. I feel that he was just to good. I mean do we actually have men out in the real world just like David? I feel he was to good to be true. He quickly falls in love with Emma and I also think that is to good. Him wanting to be her protector at all cost when he hardly knows her is strange.
I feel that the book could of used a little less to good to be true moments. I also feel that the storyline of the crimes happening to Emma and David were a bit more detailed and had a bit more ebb and flow. I really do not like giving bad reviews but I must for this one.
Some of you might just like this type of story. I particularly do not.
I have a mix review about this book. I know I'm not the type to like romance books but I don't mind them when there are a bit mystery and crime along with it. It was an easy read, it was not one that I couldn't put it down and have to finish it type book. When I was asked to review this the synopsis really caught my eye and I must say that was about it.
Emma was one out of the two main characters in this book. When we first meet her we see she is self sufficient and doesn't need anyone's help. We also find out she has trust issues when it comes to the opposite sex. To see her so feisty in the opening of the book and see how stubborn she is was lacking. I personally would of liked to see her developed more before we saw her attitude. We don't find out till nearly the end of the book why she distrusts men. Even after finding out the why it kept me wondering if there wasn't something else that kept her away. You have her dad and that reason and then you have an ex-boyfriend. I don't know if that is really enough for a woman to distrust men so much, to the point of almost driving them away. Showing her distrust of David and no matter what he did she wouldn't let him in and no matter what he said she still kept stonewalling. I just don't really understand why it took her so long before allowing David to be fully in her life.
She then has a crime against her and funny things happening around the farm, the place she works. The police seem like they are not doing anything to help her during this spree. I never really got the why on this. Why did the culprit really want to commit these crimes against her? Why all the stuff going on. I mean the build up was ok, but I never really understood the why. Even when I found out who it was, I couldn't remember where this person entered into her life. You find out about the person then there is no more talk of it till later. I forgot about the person personally.
We then have David, the second main character within the story. I feel that he was just to good. I mean do we actually have men out in the real world just like David? I feel he was to good to be true. He quickly falls in love with Emma and I also think that is to good. Him wanting to be her protector at all cost when he hardly knows her is strange.
I feel that the book could of used a little less to good to be true moments. I also feel that the storyline of the crimes happening to Emma and David were a bit more detailed and had a bit more ebb and flow. I really do not like giving bad reviews but I must for this one.
Some of you might just like this type of story. I particularly do not.
July 14, 2011
This was truly a fun read. I was smitten with this book from almost the first few pages. The author drew me in with the strong and spirited Emma and the sweet and good-humored David. And, of course, who doesn't love a nice country setting where the reader is spirited away from the big city problems? This book was a fantastic escape to a simple world with just enough complications to keep things interesting.
I was intrigued from the start by the banter between David and Emma. The more they argued, the closer they got--as it should be. Even when my interest waned in certain sections of the story, I was hooked by this love-hate relationship between these characters. The author indeed has a fantastic sense of comedic timing.
I was not expecting the bit of mystery that entered the story. There was no doubt how it would end--after all, this is a romance--but I found that I was uncertain as to path of the conclusion. I found the explanation of the mystery was not quite sufficient--it was rather illogical in my opinion--but not everything has to make perfect sense in fiction after all.
I appreciated the way in which God was an integral part of the story. It was assumed that all go to church, and I feel that the characters relied on God for guidance. Better still, I loved the fact that the characters were not sexually active before marriage! They were on guard, and even when placed in positions where they could have compromised, they did not! It is so rare to read romances where the characters do abstain.
What were my criticisms? The only real fault I found in this book was that the physical affection between Emma and David got rather boring at times. Don't get me wrong--I loved reading about it. But I felt that all too often, the descriptions were the same thing over and over. And the reader knew after the first few times how the physical intimacy in a particular scene would end. It was the same thing over and over. I also did not see the financial struggles of Emma and her mother as central as I felt they should be. It seems that Emma has plenty of time and resources--maybe too much. But then that gives her and David more time together, right?
I, for one, found this a delightful summer read, and if you are looking for a clean romance that you can read in enjoy in a weekend, look no further!
The author, Gloria Schumann, gave me a copy of the book to read and review in exchange for this review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
I was intrigued from the start by the banter between David and Emma. The more they argued, the closer they got--as it should be. Even when my interest waned in certain sections of the story, I was hooked by this love-hate relationship between these characters. The author indeed has a fantastic sense of comedic timing.
I was not expecting the bit of mystery that entered the story. There was no doubt how it would end--after all, this is a romance--but I found that I was uncertain as to path of the conclusion. I found the explanation of the mystery was not quite sufficient--it was rather illogical in my opinion--but not everything has to make perfect sense in fiction after all.
I appreciated the way in which God was an integral part of the story. It was assumed that all go to church, and I feel that the characters relied on God for guidance. Better still, I loved the fact that the characters were not sexually active before marriage! They were on guard, and even when placed in positions where they could have compromised, they did not! It is so rare to read romances where the characters do abstain.
What were my criticisms? The only real fault I found in this book was that the physical affection between Emma and David got rather boring at times. Don't get me wrong--I loved reading about it. But I felt that all too often, the descriptions were the same thing over and over. And the reader knew after the first few times how the physical intimacy in a particular scene would end. It was the same thing over and over. I also did not see the financial struggles of Emma and her mother as central as I felt they should be. It seems that Emma has plenty of time and resources--maybe too much. But then that gives her and David more time together, right?
I, for one, found this a delightful summer read, and if you are looking for a clean romance that you can read in enjoy in a weekend, look no further!
The author, Gloria Schumann, gave me a copy of the book to read and review in exchange for this review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
June 14, 2011
My skin is crawling!! Ahh!! Called Home was filled with suspense and mystery!! This was about two adults that had moved away from their hometown but had decided to return for different reasons. David is a mystery author and decides to move back to the small home town after spending some time in NY making a name for himself as a best-selling author. Emma is an Elementary teacher that moves back home to help her mom pay for the farm and help her out! These two have interesting ways of meeting and things continue to get more complex as the story progresses. They find themselves in the middle of a mystery and it'll either tear them apart or push them together.
There were some great things about this story!! The best thing was the romance, the passion and the stolen kisses were just fantastic!! I'm all for a good kissing scene and there was plenty of those in this book to go around. The plot was pretty unique and I thought I had the ending figured out but I sure was surprised at what enfolded. I loved the mystery and was really freaked out at times.
The things I didn't like about the book were small but maybe worth mentioning; I got confused a few times as to what perspective and voice we were reading. One minute you were hearing what Emma was thinking then all of sudden it was David and it was at times a bit hard to follow but really didn't distract from the story because I did understand what was going on.
I also struggled with liking Emma but she really grew on me as the story progressed. At first I just wanted her to stop being so stubborn but then I felt like she was learning to lean on others as time went on and I really did enjoy her change of attitude.
I really enjoyed the character David; he was dreamy in the sense that he was buff and extremely handsome but also put a lot of value in his family and he loved to look out for his neighbors and help Emma deal with her past and her current problems.
Those that like to read my reviews to find out whether a book is clean or not should know that I feel this is a pretty clean book. There are a lot of kissing scenes, but they are done tastefully and there is no sex, which is great. I also have a lot of readers that read Christian only and I wanted to express that this is not a Christian romance but just a clean romance.
I received this book free from the author in exchange for my personal and honest review. All opinions are my own!
There were some great things about this story!! The best thing was the romance, the passion and the stolen kisses were just fantastic!! I'm all for a good kissing scene and there was plenty of those in this book to go around. The plot was pretty unique and I thought I had the ending figured out but I sure was surprised at what enfolded. I loved the mystery and was really freaked out at times.
The things I didn't like about the book were small but maybe worth mentioning; I got confused a few times as to what perspective and voice we were reading. One minute you were hearing what Emma was thinking then all of sudden it was David and it was at times a bit hard to follow but really didn't distract from the story because I did understand what was going on.
I also struggled with liking Emma but she really grew on me as the story progressed. At first I just wanted her to stop being so stubborn but then I felt like she was learning to lean on others as time went on and I really did enjoy her change of attitude.
I really enjoyed the character David; he was dreamy in the sense that he was buff and extremely handsome but also put a lot of value in his family and he loved to look out for his neighbors and help Emma deal with her past and her current problems.
Those that like to read my reviews to find out whether a book is clean or not should know that I feel this is a pretty clean book. There are a lot of kissing scenes, but they are done tastefully and there is no sex, which is great. I also have a lot of readers that read Christian only and I wanted to express that this is not a Christian romance but just a clean romance.
I received this book free from the author in exchange for my personal and honest review. All opinions are my own!
August 12, 2011
Emma Benson is back in her small Wisconsin home town, intent on saving the farm she grew up on for her mother and herself. There are painful memories here: Her brother's death when she was five, her father's subsequent retreat into alcoholism and then desertion, in his own inability to cope with the loss, but it's also the center of her happy memories, as she and her mother worked the farm together while she grew up. Emma has moved on to pursue a career as a teacher, but with her mother struggling and in danger of losing the farm to foreclosure, she needs to do more than send checks to help save her childhood home.
When a tornado threatens the farm, another recent returnee turns up on her doorstep, seeking shelter from the storm. David Schlosser has been living in New York and writing best-selling mystery novels; he's now ready to settle down permanently in the town he grew up in, and where his parents still live.
During this first meeting, sparks--of both temper and attraction--are flying in both directions.
David knows what he wants--his own home, a family, and Emma. Emma is more confused. She loves her home, but loves being a teacher, too, and wants to follow that calling. She likes David and is attracted to him, but she's been badly hurt, by her father's desertion and by the man she expected to marry, and she's more intent on protecting herself from future heartache than finding happiness. It's an up-and-down courtship, with Emma torn between her attraction and her fear, David respectful of her limits but determined to win her heart and her trust, and Emma's mother Nancy, despite her own disappointments, a happy cheerleader for the relationship.
The tension ramps up when Emma acquires a stalker, who pulls some creepy pranks and them some really scary ones, and vandalizes David's car, too. As the incidents get more violent, David becomes more determined to protect her, and to make her a permanent part of his life, while Emma is torn between her attraction to David and her certainty that he'll leave her and break her heart again.
Emma's a strong, determined personality, prickly and sometimes rude in her need to protect her injured heart, but loyal, resourceful, kind, and tougher than she thinks she is. David is strong enough to be gentle and patient, and insightful enough to respond to Emma's fears rather than be driven away by them.
Recommended.
I received a free egalley for review from the author.
When a tornado threatens the farm, another recent returnee turns up on her doorstep, seeking shelter from the storm. David Schlosser has been living in New York and writing best-selling mystery novels; he's now ready to settle down permanently in the town he grew up in, and where his parents still live.
During this first meeting, sparks--of both temper and attraction--are flying in both directions.
David knows what he wants--his own home, a family, and Emma. Emma is more confused. She loves her home, but loves being a teacher, too, and wants to follow that calling. She likes David and is attracted to him, but she's been badly hurt, by her father's desertion and by the man she expected to marry, and she's more intent on protecting herself from future heartache than finding happiness. It's an up-and-down courtship, with Emma torn between her attraction and her fear, David respectful of her limits but determined to win her heart and her trust, and Emma's mother Nancy, despite her own disappointments, a happy cheerleader for the relationship.
The tension ramps up when Emma acquires a stalker, who pulls some creepy pranks and them some really scary ones, and vandalizes David's car, too. As the incidents get more violent, David becomes more determined to protect her, and to make her a permanent part of his life, while Emma is torn between her attraction to David and her certainty that he'll leave her and break her heart again.
Emma's a strong, determined personality, prickly and sometimes rude in her need to protect her injured heart, but loyal, resourceful, kind, and tougher than she thinks she is. David is strong enough to be gentle and patient, and insightful enough to respond to Emma's fears rather than be driven away by them.
Recommended.
I received a free egalley for review from the author.
July 11, 2011
When I was first contacted by the author to review this book, she told me that although this is a sweet romance, the character, Emma, is not so sweet. Boy, she sure wasn’t kidding. Emma is bitter, rude and mean. I was really put off by her character. For a good part of the book, Emma states that she has reasons to be rude, but we don’t really know as a reader, what those reasons are. They are very slow coming forth, and in the meantime, all I could think was, “wow, this is one witchy woman.” Unfortunately, by the time I got around to understanding Emma’s background, I was too firmly in the “not so fond of Emma” corner. I know firsthand that life can hand us all hard things. Piles of hard things. I’m not so sure that this excuses anyone from being polite and kind to others.
I will say that Emma did eventually have a change of heart and begin to act more kindly towards the very end. She recognized her fault and made an effort to undo the damage.
I guess that I would consider David to be the resident Saint in the book. That boy just kept coming back for more and more. I’m not so sure I was convinced at what he saw in Emma in the beginning that made him keep coming back, but in this instance, patience paid off. David is quite a determined fellow. I kind of like how he would just kiss Emma and then walk off, leaving her flustered and unsure. It was funny.
I really wished a few times in the book that I had more background into both David and Emma. Maybe some insight to life before the book started. I got bits and pieces as the book progressed but I didn’t really get it fully, I guess. Like the relationship between David and his parents, or David and his friends. I think if could have understood Emma’s relationship with her brother and father better, I might have been more sympathetic to her plight.
The book was the perfect balance of romance and mystery for me. The kisses were nice and steamy without crossing the line into something else which I, personally, really appreciated.
My thanks to Gloria Schumann for allowing me to read and review her book. She has done a good job here with a sweet romance that I was interested in from beginning to end.
I will say that Emma did eventually have a change of heart and begin to act more kindly towards the very end. She recognized her fault and made an effort to undo the damage.
I guess that I would consider David to be the resident Saint in the book. That boy just kept coming back for more and more. I’m not so sure I was convinced at what he saw in Emma in the beginning that made him keep coming back, but in this instance, patience paid off. David is quite a determined fellow. I kind of like how he would just kiss Emma and then walk off, leaving her flustered and unsure. It was funny.
I really wished a few times in the book that I had more background into both David and Emma. Maybe some insight to life before the book started. I got bits and pieces as the book progressed but I didn’t really get it fully, I guess. Like the relationship between David and his parents, or David and his friends. I think if could have understood Emma’s relationship with her brother and father better, I might have been more sympathetic to her plight.
The book was the perfect balance of romance and mystery for me. The kisses were nice and steamy without crossing the line into something else which I, personally, really appreciated.
My thanks to Gloria Schumann for allowing me to read and review her book. She has done a good job here with a sweet romance that I was interested in from beginning to end.
August 11, 2011
Emma comes home to her Wisconsin farm to be of some help to her mother and David comes home to reclaim a calmer, simpler life style than the one he has been living as a bestselling author in the big city of New York. Together, they begin to navigate their new lifestyles on a farm in Wisconsin, slowly growing closer together.
This book started off like a tornado! Literally. There was a tornado at the very beginning of the book that threw our two love birds together. David needed refuge and he just happened to be at Emma’s farm, so he sought shelter there and was able to get reacquainted with the girl he had gone to school with. What he found was very appealing to him indeed and he began an intense campaign to win Emma’s heart. And what a campaign it was; every time Emma turned around David was there sneaking bit by bit into her life. Emma was a very difficult heroine to like. She was standoffish, cold, rude, and very stubborn. She didn’t appreciate David’s interference one bit and she let him know it every opportunity she could. She refused help of any kind and was adamant about making it on her own. But David came into her life and showed her that she didn’t have to do things alone and that she could depend on him. And that’s just what Emma needed. By the last quarter of the book, she was relaxing more and accepting David and turning to him in times of need. It was nice to see that David finally got the reward he deserved after all the hard work and patience he put in. What I liked about this book is that things moved along at a nice quick pace and there were a LOT of interactions between the hero and heroine and I love that. We didn’t have to wait pages and pages for their next interaction or conversation and there were plenty of conversations that were had. I also liked the author’s way of describing things, it was very tangible. After reading about the characters eating ice cream cones, I craved one! The steam is lukewarm, Emma and David only share kisses, but there were many of them. I would have liked more steam, but it is a very sweet romance with a very sweet hero and reluctant, eventually sweet heroine with a little bit of mystery thrown in.
*provided to me by the author for review
This book started off like a tornado! Literally. There was a tornado at the very beginning of the book that threw our two love birds together. David needed refuge and he just happened to be at Emma’s farm, so he sought shelter there and was able to get reacquainted with the girl he had gone to school with. What he found was very appealing to him indeed and he began an intense campaign to win Emma’s heart. And what a campaign it was; every time Emma turned around David was there sneaking bit by bit into her life. Emma was a very difficult heroine to like. She was standoffish, cold, rude, and very stubborn. She didn’t appreciate David’s interference one bit and she let him know it every opportunity she could. She refused help of any kind and was adamant about making it on her own. But David came into her life and showed her that she didn’t have to do things alone and that she could depend on him. And that’s just what Emma needed. By the last quarter of the book, she was relaxing more and accepting David and turning to him in times of need. It was nice to see that David finally got the reward he deserved after all the hard work and patience he put in. What I liked about this book is that things moved along at a nice quick pace and there were a LOT of interactions between the hero and heroine and I love that. We didn’t have to wait pages and pages for their next interaction or conversation and there were plenty of conversations that were had. I also liked the author’s way of describing things, it was very tangible. After reading about the characters eating ice cream cones, I craved one! The steam is lukewarm, Emma and David only share kisses, but there were many of them. I would have liked more steam, but it is a very sweet romance with a very sweet hero and reluctant, eventually sweet heroine with a little bit of mystery thrown in.
*provided to me by the author for review
August 19, 2011
Called Home by Gloria Schumann takes place in the small town of Brooks, Wisconsin. Brooks is a charming little town that has all the characteristics that you would suspect. This is a town where you can keep your doors unlocked, people still look you in the eye and say good morning, and everyone knows everyone else's business. This is a great setting for Called Home.
Emma Benson is the main character in this novel. She moves back home to help her mother manage their farm. She's fiercely independent almost to a fault. She's been burned by relationships in the past and has a lot of baggage. Emma is a likable character but she acts a bit childish at times. She's attracted to David but she is mistrusting of men. David has moved back to Brooks after living in New York for some time. As a kid he couldn't wait to leave Brooks but as a man, he couldn't wait to get back to the quiet life. He is instantly attracted to Emma. He's a man who knows what he wants and then goes after it. He has to knock down all the walls that Emma is erected between them. He's a great leading character. He's tall, dark, handsome and bookish. What more could a girl ask for?
When a tornado comes through Brooks, it shakes up more than just the town. It forces Emma to take a closer look at herself and she has to learn to trust again. However things start to go haywire when someone starts harassing David and Emma. Their characters are put in perilous situations that leave you guessing as to who the assailant is. Gloria Schumann throws a few red-herrings in for good measure as well. The story-line is also laced with themes such as forgiveness, love and learning to move on. The story line is a bit predictable at times but it's a sweet story.
Overall, I like this book. It's got romance, mystery and suspense. My favorite character in this novel is Nancy, Emma's mom. She reminded me of my mom whose name also happens to be Nancy. She's a spunky woman who lets her opinion be known. This is a pretty clean romance with minimum language, no sex but lots of smooching.
Emma Benson is the main character in this novel. She moves back home to help her mother manage their farm. She's fiercely independent almost to a fault. She's been burned by relationships in the past and has a lot of baggage. Emma is a likable character but she acts a bit childish at times. She's attracted to David but she is mistrusting of men. David has moved back to Brooks after living in New York for some time. As a kid he couldn't wait to leave Brooks but as a man, he couldn't wait to get back to the quiet life. He is instantly attracted to Emma. He's a man who knows what he wants and then goes after it. He has to knock down all the walls that Emma is erected between them. He's a great leading character. He's tall, dark, handsome and bookish. What more could a girl ask for?
When a tornado comes through Brooks, it shakes up more than just the town. It forces Emma to take a closer look at herself and she has to learn to trust again. However things start to go haywire when someone starts harassing David and Emma. Their characters are put in perilous situations that leave you guessing as to who the assailant is. Gloria Schumann throws a few red-herrings in for good measure as well. The story-line is also laced with themes such as forgiveness, love and learning to move on. The story line is a bit predictable at times but it's a sweet story.
Overall, I like this book. It's got romance, mystery and suspense. My favorite character in this novel is Nancy, Emma's mom. She reminded me of my mom whose name also happens to be Nancy. She's a spunky woman who lets her opinion be known. This is a pretty clean romance with minimum language, no sex but lots of smooching.
May 4, 2012
Here's the review on my blog: http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blo...
Let me start off by saying: I really wanted to like this book. I've had a bad streak with romances lately, so I was really hoping it would end with this book.
Unfortunately, the bad streak continues.
I couldn't finish this book for the following reasons:
1. No special-ness to it
It's not like the book is bad. It's not like the book is great either. It just didn't leave an impression on me unfortunately.
It just didn't draw me, didn't wow me, it didn't do what it was suppose to. My teacher once told me something, and it has stuck with me ever since: You're in constant competition with Twitter, Facebook and all other social networking sites.
And this one line is so true. We, as writers, need to capture the attention of the reader in that one sentence, that one paragraph, those few seconds, and if we don't then we left the reader hungry for more. And we lost a reader forever. There is no second chance (most of the time).
And unfortunately for Ms. Schumann, she lost me as a reader.
2. Unrealistic Dialogue
I don't know what it was, but the dialogue sounded off and wrong for each character. The only dialogue that I believed was authentic to the character was the mother of the main character.
3. Thick Paragraphs
This is a pet peeve of mine when paragraphs are longer then four lines. Anything pass that it gives me a headache. It's hard enough to read on my computer, but when the paragraphs are like long, it just makes it harder for me to read your book.
Overall, this book just wasn't my type. It wasn't wowing me, exciting me or begged me to continue reading. I just got more and more withdrawn the more I read it. So eventually, I just put it down.
This book just wasn't right for me, but it could possibly be for you. However, if you're looking for a book to suck you in and never let you go, then this isn't the book.
Let me start off by saying: I really wanted to like this book. I've had a bad streak with romances lately, so I was really hoping it would end with this book.
Unfortunately, the bad streak continues.
I couldn't finish this book for the following reasons:
1. No special-ness to it
It's not like the book is bad. It's not like the book is great either. It just didn't leave an impression on me unfortunately.
It just didn't draw me, didn't wow me, it didn't do what it was suppose to. My teacher once told me something, and it has stuck with me ever since: You're in constant competition with Twitter, Facebook and all other social networking sites.
And this one line is so true. We, as writers, need to capture the attention of the reader in that one sentence, that one paragraph, those few seconds, and if we don't then we left the reader hungry for more. And we lost a reader forever. There is no second chance (most of the time).
And unfortunately for Ms. Schumann, she lost me as a reader.
2. Unrealistic Dialogue
I don't know what it was, but the dialogue sounded off and wrong for each character. The only dialogue that I believed was authentic to the character was the mother of the main character.
3. Thick Paragraphs
This is a pet peeve of mine when paragraphs are longer then four lines. Anything pass that it gives me a headache. It's hard enough to read on my computer, but when the paragraphs are like long, it just makes it harder for me to read your book.
Overall, this book just wasn't my type. It wasn't wowing me, exciting me or begged me to continue reading. I just got more and more withdrawn the more I read it. So eventually, I just put it down.
This book just wasn't right for me, but it could possibly be for you. However, if you're looking for a book to suck you in and never let you go, then this isn't the book.
August 12, 2011
I enjoyed reading this contemporary romance novel. The setting is a small, farm town in Wisconsin. Emma has returned home to help her mother run the dairy farm. Emma is an independent woman, determined to keep her farm afloat, without the help of untrustworthy men. David, a now successful novelist, returns to his roots ready to settle down, after spending years in New York city. Both Emma and David are called home for their own reasons, and when their paths cross, they feel attraction that neither is prepared for.
Called Home is more than just a romance novel, there is a suspenseful element involved as well. Emma becomes the target of pranks and criminal acts, and while trying to stay safe, Emma draws closer to David. The romance develops in a very realistic and steady manner. Emma has serious abandonment and trust issues with the male sex,and she has to face these issues in the novel. At first, her character is so independent, she comes off rude and callous. As I got to know her character more, I better understood Emma's issues. I appreciated David's character, even though he is a successful writer, he is humble and patient, an easy character to like.
I did have a few issues with Called Home. There were some timing errors, or places in the novel where I was confused as to how much time had passed. Also, there seems to be some significance to the number 1002, and I never did figure out what that significance was. These issues are fairly minor, but I am still curious as to the 1002 number...
The romance is sweet and believable, and I became attached to the characters. Also, the romance was very clean and not heavy on the sexual side. On the whole, in Called Home, the characters, the setting, and the romance created a highly enjoyable contemporary romance read.
Called Home is more than just a romance novel, there is a suspenseful element involved as well. Emma becomes the target of pranks and criminal acts, and while trying to stay safe, Emma draws closer to David. The romance develops in a very realistic and steady manner. Emma has serious abandonment and trust issues with the male sex,and she has to face these issues in the novel. At first, her character is so independent, she comes off rude and callous. As I got to know her character more, I better understood Emma's issues. I appreciated David's character, even though he is a successful writer, he is humble and patient, an easy character to like.
I did have a few issues with Called Home. There were some timing errors, or places in the novel where I was confused as to how much time had passed. Also, there seems to be some significance to the number 1002, and I never did figure out what that significance was. These issues are fairly minor, but I am still curious as to the 1002 number...
The romance is sweet and believable, and I became attached to the characters. Also, the romance was very clean and not heavy on the sexual side. On the whole, in Called Home, the characters, the setting, and the romance created a highly enjoyable contemporary romance read.
September 6, 2011
I am sad to say that I didn't like this book very much. There are aspects of the novel that I thought held potential, but there were two main problems that prevented me from enjoying the story as a whole.
1) The relationship between Emma and David just didn't work for me. First of all, I didn't understand how they didn't know anything about each other. It seems like they live in a small town and David mentions that they went to high school together, but that never goes anywhere. They know nothing about each other, which was strange to me. Secondly, the tension between them was drawn out far too long. It got to the point where I was seriously disliking Emma because David was a nice guy and she was making up reasons to be mean and to hate him. On the one hand, it makes sense because of her past with guys, but we don't really know about that until much later. On the other hand, she doesn't even take the time to be civil to the guy. She's overtly hostile and mean. Despite that, she still lets him kiss her without putting him in his place. I think the kisses could have waited until later when she starts accepting him.
2) I couldn't get past the writing. There are times when the same idea is expressed within two or three sentences in a row. Had that been cut down, the story would have been much cleaner and it would have flowed much better. Also, I thought that the dialogue was completely unrealistic, and there is a lot of dialogue in this novel.
I did like the mystery aspect added in with the romance. I thought that was a nice touch and it is fairly suspenseful. A lot more could have been done with it to make it truly scary, but that's probably not what the author was going for. Overall, however, I just couldn't get myself interested in this novel.
*I was provided a free copy of this book by the author for my honest review.*
1) The relationship between Emma and David just didn't work for me. First of all, I didn't understand how they didn't know anything about each other. It seems like they live in a small town and David mentions that they went to high school together, but that never goes anywhere. They know nothing about each other, which was strange to me. Secondly, the tension between them was drawn out far too long. It got to the point where I was seriously disliking Emma because David was a nice guy and she was making up reasons to be mean and to hate him. On the one hand, it makes sense because of her past with guys, but we don't really know about that until much later. On the other hand, she doesn't even take the time to be civil to the guy. She's overtly hostile and mean. Despite that, she still lets him kiss her without putting him in his place. I think the kisses could have waited until later when she starts accepting him.
2) I couldn't get past the writing. There are times when the same idea is expressed within two or three sentences in a row. Had that been cut down, the story would have been much cleaner and it would have flowed much better. Also, I thought that the dialogue was completely unrealistic, and there is a lot of dialogue in this novel.
I did like the mystery aspect added in with the romance. I thought that was a nice touch and it is fairly suspenseful. A lot more could have been done with it to make it truly scary, but that's probably not what the author was going for. Overall, however, I just couldn't get myself interested in this novel.
*I was provided a free copy of this book by the author for my honest review.*
November 17, 2011
Emma Benson has lived a hard life. Her brother died when she was young, her father couldn’t cope with his son’s death and left and the man she always thought she would marry, well he wasn’t on the same page. So now she’s living back at home on her mother’s farm, trying to keep the farm going and working at a book store, just to make ends meet.
When a tornado rips through their Wisconsin town, David shows up on Emma’s door step, like a knight in shining armor, although Emma is a little too stubborn to let him in. But the tornado is just the first thing to bring the two together. A criminal set his sights on Emma and David may be the only one to keep Emma safe and Emma may eventually quit fighting fate.
I have a really bad habit of 1. either not reading a description completely for a book or 2. not remembering what I read when I agreed to reading the book and then being surprised when I get around to it. Luckily in this book, it was a good surprise.
I somehow overlooked the criminal part of this book in the description, although it was right in front of my nose. So when it came up on me, I couldn’t quit reading. David is an awesome, chivalrous character who I immediately fell in love with. It didn’t hurt that he’s a best selling author. *Swoon*
Emma on the other hand….well she’s a love-hate character. You love her for her strength and independence. But, you just want to smack her when she is too hard-headed to just let David, the most wonderful man in the world (in a fictional sense), in her life. Yes, I know I haven’t walked in her shoes, or her cow poo covered boots, but c’mon, just be nice every once in a while.
This is a great love story, with a little crime and passion thrown in the mix to make a well-rounded novel. I give Called Home – Two Hearts Answer 5 bookmarks.
When a tornado rips through their Wisconsin town, David shows up on Emma’s door step, like a knight in shining armor, although Emma is a little too stubborn to let him in. But the tornado is just the first thing to bring the two together. A criminal set his sights on Emma and David may be the only one to keep Emma safe and Emma may eventually quit fighting fate.
I have a really bad habit of 1. either not reading a description completely for a book or 2. not remembering what I read when I agreed to reading the book and then being surprised when I get around to it. Luckily in this book, it was a good surprise.
I somehow overlooked the criminal part of this book in the description, although it was right in front of my nose. So when it came up on me, I couldn’t quit reading. David is an awesome, chivalrous character who I immediately fell in love with. It didn’t hurt that he’s a best selling author. *Swoon*
Emma on the other hand….well she’s a love-hate character. You love her for her strength and independence. But, you just want to smack her when she is too hard-headed to just let David, the most wonderful man in the world (in a fictional sense), in her life. Yes, I know I haven’t walked in her shoes, or her cow poo covered boots, but c’mon, just be nice every once in a while.
This is a great love story, with a little crime and passion thrown in the mix to make a well-rounded novel. I give Called Home – Two Hearts Answer 5 bookmarks.
March 1, 2011
I was asked to review this book by Gloria. I was hooked from page 1 when David comes into the picture at Emma's farm. They last through an ordeal that forced them together at the beginning of the book. Emma is head strong, independent woman who wants to do it all. David gives her a run for her money in the small town of Wisconsin. These two go at it head to head and causes a lot of humor in this romance. I have laughed out loud several times while reading this book. Watching Emma and David come together during several situations in the book make their friendship work at times.
Why do I love the book? For me, it is the relationship with the whole town not just David and Emma. It is amazing reading about small towns who help each other in the times of need. My mom grew up in a small town in Georgia just like the setting for Called Home. It brought back some found memories.
I also enjoyed reading the banter between Emma and David. Emma is so reserved from a past relationship that went sour. She has a hard time letting a man in. She also has abandonment issues from the passing of her older brother and he father. Thus leaving her mother and small child taking care of a diary farm. I liked watching Emma open up and letting David in little by little. You can see grow from this friendship.
The bit of mystery in the book was great as well. I had a feeling it was one person and turned out to be something different( don't want to spoil the fun). Gloria does a great job interacting the romance and the mystery.
This book will keep you wanting for more. I had to put the book down a few times and hated doing so, as I wanted to read it straight through.
Why do I love the book? For me, it is the relationship with the whole town not just David and Emma. It is amazing reading about small towns who help each other in the times of need. My mom grew up in a small town in Georgia just like the setting for Called Home. It brought back some found memories.
I also enjoyed reading the banter between Emma and David. Emma is so reserved from a past relationship that went sour. She has a hard time letting a man in. She also has abandonment issues from the passing of her older brother and he father. Thus leaving her mother and small child taking care of a diary farm. I liked watching Emma open up and letting David in little by little. You can see grow from this friendship.
The bit of mystery in the book was great as well. I had a feeling it was one person and turned out to be something different( don't want to spoil the fun). Gloria does a great job interacting the romance and the mystery.
This book will keep you wanting for more. I had to put the book down a few times and hated doing so, as I wanted to read it straight through.
July 7, 2011
My thoughts
When the author, Gloria Schumann, contacted me I knew nothing about the book or about her. So I didn't know if I was going to enjoy or not her book. And I'm glad to say I really liked it.
At first sight, Called Home: Two Hearts Answer looks like a normal romantic story. The main characters are presented almost immediately, so there are not long introductions. Emma, a really stubborn woman with some love related problems returns home (to her small town) to help her mother with her farm, and there she will meet again David, a best seller author who tired of New York is also back in town.
The romance is kind of obvious at the beginning (you know what is going to happen) but really sweet and enjoyable, specially how Emma behaves at the beginning of the story, where you can see a little bit of love-hate relationship between them, that made me laugh a couple of times. (You can read a teaser here- Teaser Tuesday) Also, this book is clean, and what I mean is that there are only kisses, so this is a good book for those who prefer avoiding sex scenes.
An then, after some pages is when you realize that this is not a simple romance novel, there is also suspense and mystery, something that I really enjoyed and made the story more complex and interesting. I couldn't stop reading until I finished.
So, what can I say? This is a really good book, with nice characters and a good plot. So if you like love stories with a little bit of mystery, you should try this one. You will not regret it.
My Rating: 4 stars
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank You.
When the author, Gloria Schumann, contacted me I knew nothing about the book or about her. So I didn't know if I was going to enjoy or not her book. And I'm glad to say I really liked it.
At first sight, Called Home: Two Hearts Answer looks like a normal romantic story. The main characters are presented almost immediately, so there are not long introductions. Emma, a really stubborn woman with some love related problems returns home (to her small town) to help her mother with her farm, and there she will meet again David, a best seller author who tired of New York is also back in town.
The romance is kind of obvious at the beginning (you know what is going to happen) but really sweet and enjoyable, specially how Emma behaves at the beginning of the story, where you can see a little bit of love-hate relationship between them, that made me laugh a couple of times. (You can read a teaser here- Teaser Tuesday) Also, this book is clean, and what I mean is that there are only kisses, so this is a good book for those who prefer avoiding sex scenes.
An then, after some pages is when you realize that this is not a simple romance novel, there is also suspense and mystery, something that I really enjoyed and made the story more complex and interesting. I couldn't stop reading until I finished.
So, what can I say? This is a really good book, with nice characters and a good plot. So if you like love stories with a little bit of mystery, you should try this one. You will not regret it.
My Rating: 4 stars
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank You.
June 17, 2011
Emma Benson has returned home to Wisconsin to help her mom with the family farm. Her father abandoned the family and her brother died as a child. She has real trust issues especially when it comes to men.
David Schlosser also returns to Wisconsin from New York as a well known author. No matter how hard Emma fights it, these two just seem to connect. Can they be happy or will David let her down like every other man in her life? With all the drama in their lives are their dreams too big? Will there be a happily ever after?
Being set in Wisconsin really drew me to this book and was pleasantly surprised the this was more than a romance story, it is filled with mystery and a little suspense as well.
I would have liked more history about the main characters and for some reason the event in story being continuously called a rodeo without ever mentioning a horse or horse like events nagged at me a little. I think the author really meant a fair, like a county fair held all around the U.S. in the summer months.
I had a hard time liking Emma at first but she grew on me and while the romance seems to overshadow the mystery, the mystery is well plotted and more complicated that I first suspected.
This is a really good debut from this author and the story is very enjoyable. Gloria Schumann is an author I will continue to watch.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
David Schlosser also returns to Wisconsin from New York as a well known author. No matter how hard Emma fights it, these two just seem to connect. Can they be happy or will David let her down like every other man in her life? With all the drama in their lives are their dreams too big? Will there be a happily ever after?
Being set in Wisconsin really drew me to this book and was pleasantly surprised the this was more than a romance story, it is filled with mystery and a little suspense as well.
I would have liked more history about the main characters and for some reason the event in story being continuously called a rodeo without ever mentioning a horse or horse like events nagged at me a little. I think the author really meant a fair, like a county fair held all around the U.S. in the summer months.
I had a hard time liking Emma at first but she grew on me and while the romance seems to overshadow the mystery, the mystery is well plotted and more complicated that I first suspected.
This is a really good debut from this author and the story is very enjoyable. Gloria Schumann is an author I will continue to watch.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
August 11, 2011
I love novels that take place in rural settings. I’ve read my share of novels set in the Western Frontier. However, this novel just didn’t work out for me.
Emma is a complex character. She initially writes David out of her life without reason despite her obvious attraction to him. I know she’s meant to come off as an independent woman at the beginning, with the tragedy in her life revealed later. Instead, she comes off as opinionated and unreasonable. It would have helped to have more of her back-story at the beginning because I thought I knew her character only to be corrected later on.
Speaking of back-story, two things really bugged me about David and Emma’s relationship. One, David gets Emma to open her door and shelter him from the tornado by telling her that they went to high school together, but Emma doesn’t know him and David doesn’t know she has a brother. Two, their relationship progresses too slowly in some areas (like Emma accepting him) and too quickly in others (like David kissing her spontaneously a bunch of times without her permission, despite being as opposed to a relationship as she is).
Not to say that there wasn’t anything not to like about Called Home. I did enjoy the carnival scene and was disappointed that more wasn’t shown. In the long run, the plot was disappointing, the novel’s pacing was off, and the ending was anticlimactic. All that kept me reading was my desire to know who Emma’s stalker was.
I don’t like writing negative reviews, so I’m going to stop here. It’s received a fair share of good ratings, but it just wasn’t for me.
Emma is a complex character. She initially writes David out of her life without reason despite her obvious attraction to him. I know she’s meant to come off as an independent woman at the beginning, with the tragedy in her life revealed later. Instead, she comes off as opinionated and unreasonable. It would have helped to have more of her back-story at the beginning because I thought I knew her character only to be corrected later on.
Speaking of back-story, two things really bugged me about David and Emma’s relationship. One, David gets Emma to open her door and shelter him from the tornado by telling her that they went to high school together, but Emma doesn’t know him and David doesn’t know she has a brother. Two, their relationship progresses too slowly in some areas (like Emma accepting him) and too quickly in others (like David kissing her spontaneously a bunch of times without her permission, despite being as opposed to a relationship as she is).
Not to say that there wasn’t anything not to like about Called Home. I did enjoy the carnival scene and was disappointed that more wasn’t shown. In the long run, the plot was disappointing, the novel’s pacing was off, and the ending was anticlimactic. All that kept me reading was my desire to know who Emma’s stalker was.
I don’t like writing negative reviews, so I’m going to stop here. It’s received a fair share of good ratings, but it just wasn’t for me.
August 11, 2011
This story starts off with a ban! It actually starts off with a tornado. And from there, it is a tornado of emotions. Emma has recently moved back home to help her Mom with the family farm. David is a well known author that has recently fled the busy life of New York City. They have known each other in the past but have not seen each other in a long time. But when they meet again, the sparks begin to fly. Emma is a very independent, stubborn girl and it is hard for David to get past her tough exterior. But there is something about her and he cannot stop thinking about her.
Despite the fact that she keeps blowing him off, he continues to make sure that he has reasons to be in her company. It is not an easy task to get to know her. But, he keeps at it until finally she seems to relax a little. This book is a wonderful, clean story. There are some passionate kissing, but no graphic sex scenes. I think the reason I liked this book so much is because Emma reminds me of my Grandmother( in her younger days). Like Emma, she was a self sufficient, strong willed, stubborn, independent, beautiful woman. It was interesting to see a woman with these personality traits being pursued by a successfull, Handsome man. I kept thinking, Girl what is your problem! Go for it!
Visit my reviw at http://booktalkswithcharla.blogspot.com
Despite the fact that she keeps blowing him off, he continues to make sure that he has reasons to be in her company. It is not an easy task to get to know her. But, he keeps at it until finally she seems to relax a little. This book is a wonderful, clean story. There are some passionate kissing, but no graphic sex scenes. I think the reason I liked this book so much is because Emma reminds me of my Grandmother( in her younger days). Like Emma, she was a self sufficient, strong willed, stubborn, independent, beautiful woman. It was interesting to see a woman with these personality traits being pursued by a successfull, Handsome man. I kept thinking, Girl what is your problem! Go for it!
Visit my reviw at http://booktalkswithcharla.blogspot.com
June 22, 2011
Gloria contacted me and asked me to read and review her book and I am glad that she did. I was not previously aware of this good book. I'm glad that it was pulled into my radar.
Emma has come home to her small town to help her mother who has a farm that is failing financially. She is stressed and out and dealing with quite a bit of heartache and abandonment issues.
David has a successful career as a novelist. He realizes that success and the big city are not the life that he wishes to lead and finds himself back home to the same small town as Emma. He wants to settle down and live a quite life.
It literally takes a tornado to bring them together. Once their paths have crossed the sparks begin to fly. The kissing scenes are pretty intense, but kissing is as far as Gloria takes us. This is a clean read that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good romance with a bit of a thriller and mystery element.
My only issue is that sometimes it became a little confusing with who is speaking. Once you catch Gloria's rhythm in writing it is easier to follow along.
I look forward to reading more from Gloria.
Emma has come home to her small town to help her mother who has a farm that is failing financially. She is stressed and out and dealing with quite a bit of heartache and abandonment issues.
David has a successful career as a novelist. He realizes that success and the big city are not the life that he wishes to lead and finds himself back home to the same small town as Emma. He wants to settle down and live a quite life.
It literally takes a tornado to bring them together. Once their paths have crossed the sparks begin to fly. The kissing scenes are pretty intense, but kissing is as far as Gloria takes us. This is a clean read that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good romance with a bit of a thriller and mystery element.
My only issue is that sometimes it became a little confusing with who is speaking. Once you catch Gloria's rhythm in writing it is easier to follow along.
I look forward to reading more from Gloria.
January 16, 2012
When Emma's mom calls for help, Emma moves back home to help her on the farm. Emma has abandoment issues - her brother died when they were young, her father left shortly after, and the man of her dreams dumped her. Who wouldn't be afraid of looking for love?
David and Emma actually went to high school together, even though Emma was a few grades behind. So when he has decided he had had enough of the city life, New York City, he decides to come back home. He has done well for himself as a writer, but doesn't put on big shot city pants. He is who he is and he wants a small town life and is ready to settle down.
When he runs into Emma again, she is pretty blunt with him. But there is a spark there and David pursues it. Will Emma be ready to thaw the ice around her heart to have a life with David? A sparkling romance, with a mystery tossed in, will keep readers enthralled. Never been to Wisconsin myself, I appreciated the background details. A nice clean romance with a twist of suspense that most contemporary romance readers will enjoy. As a debut novel, Schuman does a great job and is sure to charm her way to the top!
David and Emma actually went to high school together, even though Emma was a few grades behind. So when he has decided he had had enough of the city life, New York City, he decides to come back home. He has done well for himself as a writer, but doesn't put on big shot city pants. He is who he is and he wants a small town life and is ready to settle down.
When he runs into Emma again, she is pretty blunt with him. But there is a spark there and David pursues it. Will Emma be ready to thaw the ice around her heart to have a life with David? A sparkling romance, with a mystery tossed in, will keep readers enthralled. Never been to Wisconsin myself, I appreciated the background details. A nice clean romance with a twist of suspense that most contemporary romance readers will enjoy. As a debut novel, Schuman does a great job and is sure to charm her way to the top!
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