It Happened One Night

I thought this story was well thought out and very sweet to read! I liked the romantic tension between Lana and Eli, and I love the theme of love unfolding from friendship. I would recommend this book to anyone and can think of several people I will give a copy to for Christmas!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up It Happened One Night but after reading it I am hooked. I'm going to get her other book right now. It's not your usual romance book... its much better! It's filled with rich and beautiful writing that absolutely absorbs you.

Lana Biel dreams of seeing the world, but is devoted to helping her married sister Karin run their wildflower farm. Karin dreams of having a family but so far has not conceived. Lana ponders over living in Burlington and realizes she is not living her dream, but that of Karins'; she wants out without hurting her sibling but has no way to do so. Lana becomes pregnant, but has doubts about raising a child especially as a single mom; besides she fears an infant will nuke her plans to leave Vermont. She turns to her best Eli Ward for advice as she has already ruled out an abortion. However, Eli has his own issue as he wants to tell Lana he loves her, but fears his revelation could result in the end of their friendship. This is a fascinating Vermont contemporary extended family drama that is wildflower refreshed by the two sisters, who are realistic especially with their self indulgent whines (somewhat overdone with no cheese) making both of them not particularly likable. They make the tale as ironically Eli is a likable player, but seems underdeveloped. Not an easy read, It happened One Night is a deep look at what happens to people when dreams are not fulfilled and even when they are. Harriet Klausner

Lisa Dale writes the books that I wish I could. I don't know what it's like to go through a pregnancy, but I felt like I did with the novel's heroine Lana Biel. What I love about Dale's writing is that she crafts realistic romances, but the romances aren't the focal point of the story, IMO. This and her debut Simple Wishes are women's fiction. If you're a person who just can't get into romances, then buy this book because you're into strong feminine characters and want a female to cheer on. Dale won't disappoint; just buy her novels already :)

We spend so much of our lives rethinking the decisions and choices we make and find ourselves saying "I should have done this" or "I could have done that". But how many times do we ask ourselves "What If"? Not a complicated or detailed thought just a simple "what if".... What if the past is something you have to be able to shake off and you are struggling to deal with the emotional baggage brought on by an emotionally stagnant father who suddenly appears back in your life. What if you fear relationships and always leave before your partner does for fear of being deserted. What if you are searching for love and it turns out it could be the man you have always regarded as your best friend. What if nothing is turning out as planned? That is allot of what ifs for Lana Biel to handle and they all coming at her - crashing to the fore front of her life when instead of her sister Karin having a baby it turns out Lana is pregnant by a man she doesn't even know the last name of. Lana was supposed to be a world traveler and experience life to the fullest not stuck in Vermont with her sister as a salesperson in the wildflower business. But now she finds herself with all this responsibility hanging over her head and all the past issues she never faced challenging her and now she has to decide where to take her life from here. Can she parent or does she even want to parent. Her sister Karin does and has tried everything possible to get pregnant and now Lana is carrying the baby she so desperately wants and unexpected conflicts arise in their relationship at a time when Lana needs her the most. She has spent so many years running from one unstable relationship to another all the while avoiding the one person that has been her rock and best friend - Eli. They have danced around a relationship forever and now Eli wants to confront it but as usual Lana is afraid that the best thing in her life will change if she and Eli become more to one another but what if it does change and that change is not bad but beautiful. Is Lana strong enough to take that step and let Eli into her heart as well as her life? Eli has always loved Lana and spent too many years pining for her and trying to get her attention and take the relationship from friendship to lovers. But in the end what if Lana let's things come together as they should despite all the rocky roads she has traveled and that one huge what if becomes a what is! This book has a wonderful WOW factor to it. It speaks to you with a whisper as opposed to a roar and takes you on an emotional ride where you find yourself hopelessly in love with all these characters and relating to all the questions they are facing. There is intimacy between the main characters that is written without much detail yet you feel the warmth and love pour over the pages and tear at your heart. The grief and angst with the father that returns is heart breaking and when Ms. Dale describes the misery this man caused his daughters y