When Dianne Jacobson returns to her home town of Wichita Falls, Texas after a fifteen year absence, she hopes to find peace while recovering from panic and anxiety brought on by a mugging in New York City. The last person she expects to see is her first love, Kip Mahan–the man she left without explanation more than a decade ago.Kip Mahan never expected the woman he couldn't forget to walk into his life at the Equestrian Therapy Center. He doesn’t know why she left him, or why she’s back now with a haunted look in her eyes.
Slowly, the two find their way to the love lost years ago. But when Dianne’s ex-husband tracks her down, it puts not only their newfound love but their very lives in danger. Will Dianne’s destiny slip from her grasp before she’s even found it?
Available at: Wild Rose Press
REVIEW:
RATING: 4.5 Stars
Dianne Jacobson grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, suffering a lot of bullying from other kids because her father was in prison. But her mother was strong, and built a solid home for her daughter, and Dianne found a wonderful friend in Kip Mahan, a boy from a much more socially acceptable family. Then, Dianne’s mother died of cancer, Dianne was thinking that Kip deserved a better mate, and when she was offered a college scholarship to a different university than the one Kip was going to attend, she took it. Without really explaining anything to Kip, she simply left Texas.
Now, fifteen years later, after building a career in New York and marrying a wealthy and influential attorney, Dianne runs home to Texas. She had been viciously mugged, and was suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. Her therapist recommends that she try equestrian therapy, so she goes to the Horses of Hope Ranch, only to find that Kip, now the owner of a horse ranch, is also in charge of the therapy horses.
All this is just the opening of this intriguing love story. From there, readers will find themselves wondering if Dianne will be able to aptly apologize to Kip so they could get back together – but what about her husband, who turns out to be an arrogant ass who refuses to accept a divorce, and wants to force her to return to him? And then there’s the ugly scrimshaw doll Dianne felt compelled to buy at an estate sale – just exactly does the doll have to do with any of this?
A lot happens in this story. Dianne is desperate to recover from the after-effects of being mugged, there is still a lot of chemistry between Dianne and Kip, and then Simon, her scoundrel of an ex-husband, shows up, willing do just about anything to get her back. Dianne’s best friend Jocelyn comes to visit, and tries to guard and help Dianne. And then there’s Rosa, the scrimshaw doll with the rose painted on its torso; could it be cursed? It’s hard to put the book down for any length of time, because there is so much going on, and the characters are all so interesting, everything pulling you into Wichita Falls, hoping for a happy conclusion.
I really enjoyed this book. It was skillfully written, tightly put together, and inhabited by carefully constructed characters. Romance and intrigue blended with character development and the beautiful use of horses and equestrian therapy. I rate ‘Dianne’s Destiny’ worth 4.5 stars, and am grateful for the reviewer’s copy I received.
Reviewed by: Roberta
Now, fifteen years later, after building a career in New York and marrying a wealthy and influential attorney, Dianne runs home to Texas. She had been viciously mugged, and was suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. Her therapist recommends that she try equestrian therapy, so she goes to the Horses of Hope Ranch, only to find that Kip, now the owner of a horse ranch, is also in charge of the therapy horses.
All this is just the opening of this intriguing love story. From there, readers will find themselves wondering if Dianne will be able to aptly apologize to Kip so they could get back together – but what about her husband, who turns out to be an arrogant ass who refuses to accept a divorce, and wants to force her to return to him? And then there’s the ugly scrimshaw doll Dianne felt compelled to buy at an estate sale – just exactly does the doll have to do with any of this?
A lot happens in this story. Dianne is desperate to recover from the after-effects of being mugged, there is still a lot of chemistry between Dianne and Kip, and then Simon, her scoundrel of an ex-husband, shows up, willing do just about anything to get her back. Dianne’s best friend Jocelyn comes to visit, and tries to guard and help Dianne. And then there’s Rosa, the scrimshaw doll with the rose painted on its torso; could it be cursed? It’s hard to put the book down for any length of time, because there is so much going on, and the characters are all so interesting, everything pulling you into Wichita Falls, hoping for a happy conclusion.
I really enjoyed this book. It was skillfully written, tightly put together, and inhabited by carefully constructed characters. Romance and intrigue blended with character development and the beautiful use of horses and equestrian therapy. I rate ‘Dianne’s Destiny’ worth 4.5 stars, and am grateful for the reviewer’s copy I received.
Reviewed by: Roberta
Thank you for such a lovely and much appreciated review. It means a great deal to me.
ReplyDeletecongratulations, Nona.
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