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Jim and Rachel are believable characters with flaws and all. ”Ruth Roberts | 5 reviewers made a similar statement
“I especially loved the passage where Rachel bungles the language of texting while trying to make amends with Jim. ”Caroline Squire. | 2 reviewers made a similar statement
“This is a quick, fun read. ”Carlene | 3 reviewers made a similar statement
Jim believes he has met his ideal woman in single mother Rachel. However, as they get to know each other better, he is bothered by what he perceives as flaws. Enter another woman, who more closely matches his fantasies. But is she what he really wants? When Jim finds himself missing Rachel, "warts and all," he must take a closer look at his criteria for a life partner and decide whether fantasy is as good as reality.
Bonnie McCune has written a humorous, provocative story, complete with loveable characters, about falling in love in real life.
It may not be a long read, but it is a delightful one, penned in McCune's highly polished but gentle hand. The story concerns Rachel, not your average petite and pretty romantic heroine, but something of a klutz. An outspoken single mother, slightly plump and with mousey hair that has a mind of its own, Rachel meets struggling lawyer Jim considering the scandalous price of apples outside the local supermarket and cupid strikes at once.
But, of course, love at first sight only happens in fairy stories and when these two finally overcome the everyday obstacles fate puts in their way, it seems they have to fall out of love before they can fall in love and see each other - and their own hearts - with any clarity. And this makes it rather different to the traditional and predictable romances.
McCune's composed but witty style shines through as the protagonists move precariously through their journey of discovery. The misunderstandings arising from their communication by text had me LOL-ing in my chair while Jim's prevarications and misjudgements made me want to shout out and shake him at times. Rachel is delightfully drawn and her journey quite poignant; Jim less so in my eyes as he struggles between what his head thinks he needs and what his heart knows he wants. But then I suppose most men are dazzled by Barbie-doll-types at some point in their lives, so maybe I'm being harsh on Jim.
All in all, a quick and charming read and a delightful way to while away an hour or two.
Jim is not ready to settle down, but when he sees Rachel at a grocery store he can’t get her out of his mind. He is so captivated with her that he goes back to the same store several times hoping to run into her. He had given up hope of ever seeing her again when he finally finds her. He is delighted, until things start getting a little too serious way too fast. He begins to wonder if Rachel really is the one, especially when a seemingly perfect woman crosses his path. Will Jim find love with the woman of his dreams or will he choose Rachel with all her little quirks?
Heart-Strong was a cute and sweet romance. Jim and Rachel are believable characters with flaws and all. This was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed spending a rainy evening getting to know them.
Format:Kindle Edition
In Heart-Strong, Rachel and Jim meet sweet outside the supermarket. Is it love? Not so fast. First,
girl-next-door Rachel must learn to trust her heart; not her practical, curly head; and guy-next-door Jim must dodge the wiles of the Perfect Woman. As always, Bonnie McCune's characters are wonderfully human, funny and oh-so-easy to identify with. I especially loved the passage where Rachel bungles the language of texting while trying to make amends with Jim. This quick, hard-to-put down read left me charmed.
girl-next-door Rachel must learn to trust her heart; not her practical, curly head; and guy-next-door Jim must dodge the wiles of the Perfect Woman. As always, Bonnie McCune's characters are wonderfully human, funny and oh-so-easy to identify with. I especially loved the passage where Rachel bungles the language of texting while trying to make amends with Jim. This quick, hard-to-put down read left me charmed.
By A. D. Roland
Format:Kindle Edition
Reviewer- DMP for Rorreviews . wordpress . com
I really must applaud McCune for going off the proverbial hero/heroine stereotype board by making Jim "not as handsome as she first thought" and Rachel being "A little more plump than he had originally thought". There are just NOT enough of realistic characters in books for my liking, but McCune succeeded in pleasing my appetite.
The lively and fun dialogue McCune creates in this romance made me recall many personal life experiences with my 'true love' and as McCune quotes in her book, woman have many true loves in their lifetime, if done right.
I absolutely love how she weaved the blossoming romance between Jim and Rachel. Tender yet passionate at various times. The strength McCune brings out in Rachel had me cheering her on and the realization from the beginning that Jim showed when recognizing Rachel's simple life had me wishing more real life men would be in-tuned to that behavior.
I really must applaud McCune for going off the proverbial hero/heroine stereotype board by making Jim "not as handsome as she first thought" and Rachel being "A little more plump than he had originally thought". There are just NOT enough of realistic characters in books for my liking, but McCune succeeded in pleasing my appetite.
The lively and fun dialogue McCune creates in this romance made me recall many personal life experiences with my 'true love' and as McCune quotes in her book, woman have many true loves in their lifetime, if done right.
I absolutely love how she weaved the blossoming romance between Jim and Rachel. Tender yet passionate at various times. The strength McCune brings out in Rachel had me cheering her on and the realization from the beginning that Jim showed when recognizing Rachel's simple life had me wishing more real life men would be in-tuned to that behavior.
By Esther JG
Format:Kindle Edition
Much of the plot of Heart-Strong centers around what it means to be "perfect," especially perfect for someone. Is the slender, perfectly groomed, perfectly behaved blonde perfect? Is the curvy, less-than-perfectly groomed and behaved brunette? The contrast between the two characters couldn't be more marked, although both are divorced mothers of sons (big contrast between the boys, too, of course). The distinctions are, naturally, superficial. What's really important is that Rachel and Jim, as do so many of us, construct a vision of what they think would be "perfect" for them, ignoring their own natural impulses and instincts.
I liked the structure of the book, which starts with an appealing set-up and brings the characters right back to it at the end. It's a nifty mechanism, but it works because it also illustrates the theme of perfection. Vivid characters also bring the theme to life in a way that keeps it fresh.
I liked the structure of the book, which starts with an appealing set-up and brings the characters right back to it at the end. It's a nifty mechanism, but it works because it also illustrates the theme of perfection. Vivid characters also bring the theme to life in a way that keeps it fresh.
5.0 out of 5 stars Real Life Love, March 11, 2013
By
Kathleen Williams (Longmont, CO United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Heart-strong (Kindle Edition)
In Heart Strong, Bonnie McCune explores the dilemma of ideals versus reality.Jim believes he has met his ideal woman in single mother Rachel. However, as they get to know each other better, he is bothered by what he perceives as flaws. Enter another woman, who more closely matches his fantasies. But is she what he really wants? When Jim finds himself missing Rachel, "warts and all," he must take a closer look at his criteria for a life partner and decide whether fantasy is as good as reality.
Bonnie McCune has written a humorous, provocative story, complete with loveable characters, about falling in love in real life.
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and engaging, March 7, 2013
This review is from: Heart-strong (Kindle Edition)
Ms. McCune's heroine, Rachel, has several near misses on her way to romance. Fun dialogue with enough real world, daily grind to make us think it's the young mom in the next apartment looking for a way to set things right. It is a perfect read that assures us all is well in the world of love. In this book Bonnie McCune has made the other possible romance just appealing enough that I wasn't sure who to root for. This added a fun twist that I hadn't expected. Set in Denver the book gives a great feel to the city. It is a perfect match for you and your e-reader or phone app. Enjoy.
5.0 out of 5 stars Contemporary and Relatable, February 28, 2013
This review is from: Heart-strong (Kindle Edition)
Heart-Strong is a touching tale about the trials of finding one's soul mate in today's world. I enjoyed the story very much. The characters were realistically flawed and the storyline was contemporary and relatable. I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
5.0 out of 5 stars Quick and charming read, February 27, 2013
This review is from: Heart-strong (Kindle Edition)
I loved 'A Saint Comes Stumbling In' by Bonnie McCune so much so that it sits firmly in my top ten of favourite books read in 2012 and possibly many years. I therefore did a happy dance when I saw this author had produced a new title, albeit a short story. I much prefer longer novels, but, having waited so long for a new offering, I immediately seized and devoured 'Heart-Strong'.It may not be a long read, but it is a delightful one, penned in McCune's highly polished but gentle hand. The story concerns Rachel, not your average petite and pretty romantic heroine, but something of a klutz. An outspoken single mother, slightly plump and with mousey hair that has a mind of its own, Rachel meets struggling lawyer Jim considering the scandalous price of apples outside the local supermarket and cupid strikes at once.
But, of course, love at first sight only happens in fairy stories and when these two finally overcome the everyday obstacles fate puts in their way, it seems they have to fall out of love before they can fall in love and see each other - and their own hearts - with any clarity. And this makes it rather different to the traditional and predictable romances.
McCune's composed but witty style shines through as the protagonists move precariously through their journey of discovery. The misunderstandings arising from their communication by text had me LOL-ing in my chair while Jim's prevarications and misjudgements made me want to shout out and shake him at times. Rachel is delightfully drawn and her journey quite poignant; Jim less so in my eyes as he struggles between what his head thinks he needs and what his heart knows he wants. But then I suppose most men are dazzled by Barbie-doll-types at some point in their lives, so maybe I'm being harsh on Jim.
All in all, a quick and charming read and a delightful way to while away an hour or two.
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute, Sweet Romance!, February 21, 2013
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This review is from: Heart-strong (Kindle Edition)
Rachel is a single mom with a love of all men, just never a suitable one. Until she meets Jim. Could he finally be the one? He appears to be normal compared to all the others. Given her track record that can’t be possible , so she waits to figure out what’s wrong with him. Does she wait to long? Will she find her happy ending with her Mr Right? Or will someone else see what she didn’t, that he really is a great guy?Jim is not ready to settle down, but when he sees Rachel at a grocery store he can’t get her out of his mind. He is so captivated with her that he goes back to the same store several times hoping to run into her. He had given up hope of ever seeing her again when he finally finds her. He is delighted, until things start getting a little too serious way too fast. He begins to wonder if Rachel really is the one, especially when a seemingly perfect woman crosses his path. Will Jim find love with the woman of his dreams or will he choose Rachel with all her little quirks?
Heart-Strong was a cute and sweet romance. Jim and Rachel are believable characters with flaws and all. This was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed spending a rainy evening getting to know them.
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