Two outcasts shared a friendship in childhood, but for Asher Swain, his memories were tortured by an accident that claimed his only friend.Years later, he met a woman reading as she sat by a pond in a park. The two strangers began a friendship over a love of literature that developed into love for each other. But, when Asher realized they shared a past as well as their present, he kept his … well as their present, he kept his secret, afraid for Penelope to find out who he really was.
When the truth is revealed, will they be ripped apart or will their love make them stronger?
Loosely based on the fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling.
Language and sexual situations similar to what you would find in an R-rated movie.
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A romance that will last the ages. I could see what was coming and read with anticipation for the author to put all the pieces together. A tale of “The ugly duckling” or rather two of them. These two characters were perfect for each other, I thoroughly enjoyed their story. At times I was choked up with tears. What a beautiful story this was.
I’ve always loved the concept of this series based loosely on fairy tales. I’ve read everyone one of them, but this one is my favorite to date. Miss Ethel’s boys grow up to be such outstanding men from such rough beginnings all due to Miss Ethel’s ever-present love and acceptance. This was truly a beautiful book and am tempted to immediately reread it.
Wow, what a story. Mary Ann Jordan never ceases to amaze me as a writer. This book will grab your heart and take you on a romantic journey. Heartbreak and heartwarming at the same time. This is Asher and Penny’s beautiful love story. Grab a comfortable spot because once you start reading you’ll find this book hard to put down. Emotional and gripping. Asher was one of Miss Ethel’s boys and this story is loosely based on the fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling. A great read that I read as an arc and voluntarily chose to review.
I always know that I’m going to love a book when I know Maryann Jordan has written it. She’s one of my favorite authors and I throughly enjoy every single story that she pens.
Asher is the sixth book in the Heroes at Heart Series and what a book! This book is ALL THE FEELS! I think that this is a book with such deep emotions that you can’t help but fall in love with both Asher and Penelope. A second chance so to say. A slow burn. A friends to lovers. A unputdownable story of finding your soulmate.
Asher has been the quietest of all Ms Ethel’s boys. I couldn’t wait for his book. And now that I’ve read it my heart is about to burst with the love within the pages of this story.
Asher is out running one day when a chance meeting happens. Once their eyes see each other that’s pretty much all she wrote for these two. But once Penelope opens up to Asher there is a bond that these two have had and he doesn’t quite no what to do with the info. Falling in love with Penelope wasn’t on his agenda but the heart knows what they hearts wants. Once the secret is revealed we find that these two have a love like no other.
Two lonely kids who befriend each other in Kindergarten, find each other 20+ years later.
We get everything we love in a romance. Maryann Jordan’s books keep getting better and better. I always wonder, can she really outdo the last one and YES she can and she does. Asher has now become my most favor of hers to date. Y’all are going to love this book.
Highly recommended.
*I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest and voluntary review. All thoughts and opinions are those of my own.*
When a book has tears running from your eyes the first couple of chapters you know it’s going to be a heart tugging superbly awesome read. That’s how this book started with me! I love MaryAnn Jordan’s books but this one touched my soul on so many levels.
Asher (Johnny) and Penelope (Penny) were lucky to have each other in kindergarten. Each suffered the loss of the other in different ways. But the ugly ducklings become beautiful swans
This book is a true love story with so many emotions from so many people on every page.
I could identify with Johnny and Penny for so many reasons but to know what a 6 year old child feels in those circumstances is heart wrenching when it brings back memories of your childhood for different reasons. There are things a child should never feel or hear from parents and/or caregivers.
But the lucky ones don’t let their childhood scars define who they are as adults. Asher and Penelope are two of those people.
I can’t do this book justice without spoilers so I’ll simply say: have tissue handy and prepare to stop reading multiple times to wipe your eyes and even suppress a sob at times.
Miss Ethel plays a big part in this book and all the boys were so lucky to have had her in their childhood. She is a shining star in this book.
I volunteered to read and review an advanced readers copy of ASHER .
I so love this story . It is absolutely so beautiful . I sat flipping the pages with tears running down my face . It is such an emotional story . Asher and Penny both experienced terrible childhood trauma . Asher landed softly while Penny not so much . My heart broke for them as children , but my heart was full as they became adults . This story also reminds me how cruel some people can be . We should all try to be more thoughtful and caring in our lifetime . My hat goes off to this story and Mrs.Jordan this is truely a
Masterpiece . I highly recommend taking the time to read and enjoy .
Maryann Jordan this is one story I will never forget. It has touched me in so many ways. I loved every second of it. I don’t think I’ve ever been this emotional while reading. Sad tears, mad tears and lots of happy tears.
Asher and Penny found each other when they were very young and desperate for an escape from their abusive lives. They formed a special bond. Then an unthinkable tragedy took penny away. Asher lost his best friend and first true love. That horrific day never leaves Asher. He has a sadness in his heart that just won’t go away. Until he meets a beautiful woman in the park. He begins to feel happy and alive again.
Could it be that he’s found the missing piece of his heart?
Penelope carries pain around with her daily. One tragic day and her life was shattered and will never be the same again. Then she meets a handsome stranger in the park. Everything changes. He’s gorgeous, sweet, loves to read. He’s perfect. But Penelope has dark secrets that she’s to afraid share.
The more time they spend together the deeper Asher falls. Their stories of the past start to blend together. Asher begins to realize Penelope is his penny. Should he tell her the truth? When he does will he lose Penny forever?
“I voluntarily received this arc book for an honest
I absolutely loved this book! It is everything I want in a romance story. Characters I could love and root for. Heartache, heartbreak and heart-soaring feels. I never struggled to feel the emotion of the characters.
“Your scars don’t bother me, sweetheart,” he said. “They’re part of you. Tragic badges of what you went through, but badges of honor of what you survived.”
She held his gaze and asked, “Who’s quote did you just repeat?”
Shaking his head slowly, he replied, “No one. That’s straight from my heart to yours.”
Every time I read a book by Maryann Jordan I’m struck by how much thought and meaning she puts into every name, every quote and every event that she weaves into her stories. In Asher, these meanings and connections are really highlighted as this story of “ugly ducklings” who find that they are truly magestic “swans”.
-5 Stars!-
We are back with Miss Ethel’s “boys”, all now hard working men. Boys she gave a home filled with love, hope and strong values.
Asher was one of those boys who came from a childhood filled with hardship and made to believe he was useless and ugly. A little boy whose only friend , a little girl he befriended in school, was torn from his life.
Now an adult , he meets a young woman to whom he unexpectedly is drawn to. Little did he know that meeting would change his life forever.
The story is at times heartbreaking , so have tissues ready. At others , heartwarming and in the end , a story filled with hope, learning to trust, love and new beginnings.
I specially love a quote the author used written by Steve Maraboli. “Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness”. Something we should all take a moment to consider and follow.
Another winner in this touching series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
OMG…THIS IS THE BOOK!! The emotions in this book are so BIG I literally bawled like a baby in the beginning, loved in wonder in the middle and bawled like a baby in the end. Grab this book and take a wonderful journey and see these 2 go from ugly ducklings to the most beautiful swans!!!
The newest Heroes at Heart installment is Asher and is loosely based on the Ugly Duckling book. Asher went to live with his brother’s and Miss Ethel after a horrific accident took his best friend, his only friend. Or so he thought. That has haunted him his whole life, even though he has tried to move on. Now as an adult he meet’s a woman reading in the park, and after sitting for a moment, they strike up a conversation. And a friendship that he begins to hope can lead to more. Not realizing that this woman is the child who was his best friend. Or the horrible things that she went through after they were separated.
I absolutely loved Asher’s story!! He has a hellish childhood and because of Miss Ethel, he became a good man. He rose above what happened to him and worked to make other’s lives better. Penny also had a hellish time growing up, almost more so than he did. But she is this beautiful woman who rises above what happened and works to make her life better. I loved them both! What Asher goes through when he figures out who she is, it’s heartbreaking. But the fact that it just reinforces his belief that she was always meant to be his? I loved it! They both get the life and love that they deserve and it’s absolutely beautiful!
I just love Miss Ethel and her boys!! I haven’t read the earlier books, other than Jayden, but the love and care taken with these two stories made me fall in love w/ all the guys and their women.
Asher & Penny’s story is especially emotional, because of their history together & their individual histories. Stories about kids in foster care always hold a special place in my heart, and when they’re written as well as these, even more so! I highly enjoyed their interactions & their friendship building into love. And the ending…!! SWOON!!!! : )
Asher had me in tears from the jump. Maryann Jordan tells the story of 2 children who befriend each other due to their circumstances at home and how they are tragically separated. We get to revisit Miss Ethel and her boys and watch how Asher comes to terms with the guilt he has carried from childhood and the guilt he has when he meets someone from his past. Loosely based on the fairy tale The Ugly Duckling, Asher is a story of abuse, low self-esteem, love, and empowerment. It is a beautiful story that will tug at your heartstrings. I received this as an Arc and voluntarily give my review.