Still the One

STILL THE ONE by Robin Wells is a story full of heartache, pain, and love. Like so many other wives before her, Katie suffers the shock of finding that her husband has been killed during his second tour of duty in Iraq. That right there should be enough to hook many readers and tug on a few heartstrings. Ms. Wells takes the story of the war widow and brings it to life within the pages of this book. Readers are left to ponder the question of what they would do if their spouse, their love, was gone, leaving behind only a few material possessions and no biological legacy. That's certainly what ripped my heart open anyway. It's not enough that Katie's husband is dead, he has to leave her with no children as well. What could make this situation any worse than it already is? Katie has actually already had a child and gave that baby girl up for adoption nearly seventeen years ago. Still raw with the pain of losing her husband and therefore the opportunity to have children and family of her own, Katie is in for a nasty surprise when an ex-lover shows up along with her sixteen-year-old daughter. What made STILL THE ONE such a great ready was Ms. Wells ability to create a realistic and believable story while manipulating our emotions in every way imaginable. One would think, okay, so Gracie and Zack show up. So what? It's not like the sudden appearance of her daughter would be enough to suddenly put joy into Katie's heart. The daughter might be angry and could just walk out and leave, then where would Katie be? And Zack? What reason would he have to stay? He's the father to Gracie and only just recently discovered as much. He has every reason in the world to be mad at Katie for not telling him about their child. Ms. Wells solves this dilemma by introducing a reason why the three need to stay together - Gracie is pregnant. Gracie needs her parents in this confusing time and both Katie and Zack have to find a way to forgive each other in order to help her. Who knows, perhaps forgiveness will remind the two of the connection their hearts once shared. I found the mix of pain and love in STILL THE ONE to be the main factor in keeping the pages flipping as fast as my eyes would allow. Simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful, Ms. Wells writes a story that sticks in the mind and permeates dreams. Her characters are relatable and it's impossible not to feel a certain amount of involvement with them. This is one of those books where, once the last page has turned and the characters are left behind, you sit staring at the back cover trying to figure out what you feel such a sense of loss and loneliness. I recommend STILL THE ONE to any fans of romance fiction. I couldn't ask for a more touching story, one that truly gives you hope in the world and the people in it. As a sidetone, if you've read Between the Sheets by Robin Wells, you will probably recognize some characters and references in STILL THE ONE.

Author Robin Wells is an accomplished romance author, having written over a dozen titles for Harlequin and won the National Readers' Choice Award for her title, Baby, Oh Baby. She has also won the prestigious National Golden Heart Award from the Romance Writers of America, and her novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Before writing romance she was an advertising and public relations executive. Other titles include: Wild About You, Between the Sheets, Ooh La La, Babe Magnet, Plain Jane Gets Her Man, The Wedding Kiss, The Executive's Baby, and Nine to Five Bride. She resides just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana with her husband and two daughters. Two years ago Katie Charmaine's husband was killed in his second tour of duty in Iraq, leaving her only with a closet full of clothes, some pictures, and fond memories. Despite her friends meddling in her life, she doesn't want a romantic entanglement, knowing the love she lost was her true soul mate. Then Zack Ferguson shows up in town with the daughter Katie gave up for adoption seventeen years ago. Zack was Katie's first love, and apparently she hasn't gotten over the chemistry that once flared between them. But Zack was and still is a commitment phobe, so what was the point in going down that road again? Except now there was Gracie to consider. Their daughter is seventeen, pregnant, and needs both her parents to help her through this ordeal after losing her adoptive parents. Can these three forgive the sins and hurt from the past to become a real family? I had the pleasure of reading one of Robin's other books for review, HOW TO SCORE, which was a hilarious read, but this book was more of a heart-breaker tugging at the emotions. And that's in no way a complaint. Every once and awhile you read a book that stays with you. This is one of them. I love a good southern drama. The setting in Louisiana was ideal. This is also the perfect example of a hero and heroine who warrant a happily ever after. You can't help but feel their pain, loss, and struggle as you root for them to be happy. Same goes for the secondary characters. From Gracie to Annette to Dave, they jump off the page and propel the plot. A perfect book to curl up with on the beach or by the fire. Not to be missed! Kelly Moran, Author and Reviewer

I was so glad to see a new book released by Robin Wells and this one does not disappoint. Still The One brings together a lot of issues that really touch the heart strings - a war widow, the reunion romance of a long-lost love, the feelings of a mother who has had to give her child up for adoption, even the inner turmoil of the child who can't decide whether she wants to love or blame the natural parents she never knew. It all makes for a rich, dramatic story with three dimensional charactors that come alive. Readers who have followed Ms. Wells's know that she writes with an equal mix of tenderness, humor and passion. However, in this book I think she has taken her storytelling to a new level and has written a book that will go on my "keeper" shelf!

Zack and Katie were childhood sweethearts who, in a single moment of passion, produced a child who was put up for adoption. Seventeen years later, that child walks into the individual lives of her birth parents, each of whom has made life choices which kept them apart. The child is needy and pregnant and these facts set about a series of events in which the birth parents begin to parent their own child and heal themselves as well. There is a charming secondary story within the main story which is one of forgiveness and second chances at happiness in life. The story is well told and it captures the feelings of the reader to the end.

In Chartreuse, Louisiana Kate Charmaine and Zack Ferguson spent the greatest and worst summer of their lives together. They were in love, but he was unable to commit to her. She became pregnant and depressingly gave up her child for adoption. Seventeen years later, Zack returns to town accompanied by pregnant teenager Gracie, who is the daughter Kate gave up for adoption. Her adoptive parents are dead and her guardian demands she remain with Zack with the stipulation he shares custody with Kate. Stunned by the turn of events, Kate, a widow since her spouse died in Iraq two years ago, is euphoric to meet her biological daughter, looks forward to being a relatively young grandma, but has doubts about Zack who hurt her the first time around. The return to Chartreuse (see Between the Sheets) is worth the time as Robin Wells provides a poignant often amusing family drama. The lead triangle is solid as each is fully developed with flaws and problems. Readers will enjoy the second chance contemporary while rooting for a finish from the Bard: "All's well that ends well". Harriet Klausner